One of the easiest ways to get started with native plants and solve a common landscape problem is to start trying some woodland flowers beneath those tall trees where the grass doesn’t really like to grow.

Missouri has perhaps 50 species of wildflowers that can fit in a shady landscape — a lot more than the usual choices you hear mentioned for dry shade.

There’s the well-known Columbine and wild ginger with its heart-shaped leaves. Sqaw weed will remain green most of the year and puts out a pretty yellow flower in spring. It can be used as a ground cover.

Barren strawberry is another outstanding ground cover for a shady area. It produces no fruit, but has a pretty yellow flower.

Wild Geraniums have a pretty purple flower, as do wild sweet William.

For an early show, Virginia bluebells are striking‚ but they will go dormant and sleep away most of the summer. They should be planted with longer-lasting varieties.

If foliage is what you’re after, there are a variety of native ferns or try some Wild ginger. With its heart-shaped leaves growing low to the ground it’s an outstanding ground cover.

These are just a few of the many choices you’ll find listed at grownative.org, a Missouri Department of Conservation Web site that promotes the use of native plants in business and residential settings. The site lists plant sellers and has a number of helpful articles, garden plans and resources for those interested in native plants.

Barbara Fairchild, with the Grow Native! program, was recently in Park Hills to share just a taste of what native plants have to offer and how they can be used in a home landscape.

Rattlesnake master was one of the many lesser known natives she mentioned. “It doesn’t look like it belongs in Missouri at all,” she said. “It is sort of yucca-like and grows in low places in the prairies.”

The tips of the tall plant have round, spiky balls. When dried, the seeds rattle around inside. Indians used the plant to make cordage and cure snakebites. They believed it had magical powers and would tap people with the rattles.

While most natives do not need rich soil, this one does like a better soil and compost should be added to clay soils before it is planted there. It can be very hard to move once planted, because of a deep taproot, so it is important to figure out exactly where you want it early.

“We do have a native yucca also,” Fairchild said. “It’s not quite as showy as what we’re seeing alongside roads right now. We also have a cactus, it’s called prickly pear cactus. If you had those three you could have a southwestern garden with all native plants.”

Maybe what you really want are birds, bees, and butterflies. Wild bergamot would be a good choice for such a garden. It produces hundreds of blossoms and is very hardy. It is aggressive, but can be cut back to keep it from getting out of hand.

Add in several varieties of liatris or blazing star for the back of the bed and finish off with some rose verbena, a low-growing plant that blooms almost all summer.

If you have a wet area, stands of soft rush and cardinal flowers would be pretty. Or there are several varieties of irises that prefer wet feet.

Ornamental grass? Missouri has a low growing fountain grass called prairie drop seed that will keep its shape and produces an interesting, popcorn scent in the fall.

“It’s a nice formal look,” Fairchild said. “I have that at my house in combination with rose verbena.”

Maybe you have a spot for a little prairie. In that case, you might try little bluestem with pale purple coneflowers like the faux prairie in Fairchild’s yard.

Missouri natives offer a wide variety of choices for home landscapes, Fairchild said before turning the meeting over to a little hands-on design work in groups.

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