Hey, I'm looking for some rare U.S. eastern species like: Sedum Pulchellum Diamorpha (Sedum) smallii Rhodiola (Sedum) rosea (eastern form preferred - but I'll take a western) Golden Heather (Hudsonia - any species) Minuartia carolina Saxifraga michauxii Or other interesting native eastern alpine, sand barren or rock plants. I've got lots of bog plants, orchids, native sedums and other rare native plants I'd be willing to trade.

Well, here's a few of my host plants: Common Hop Tree is used by both the Giant Swallowtail and the Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail around here. My Escarpment Black Cherry trees are used by the Tiger Swallowtail, Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail and the Red-spotted Purple. Right now the native Plateau Agalinis is up and looking good, but I haven't seen any Common Buckeye cats yet...although the butterflies have been around recently. Spicebush...well, that one is obvious, Spicebush Swallowtail. Velvetleaf Mallow (Allowissadula holosericea)...I've discovered that this native plant is a host to skippers, mainly the Texas Powdered Skipper. Common Sunflower or Zexmenia (Zexmenia hispida)...on occasion the Bordered Patch will use them...right now the cats are on the Sunflower. Mexican Milkweed and Texas Milkweed (Asclepias texana) for Monarchs and Queens. The only things that have eaten any milkweed so far this year are some beetles...really pesky things. Hopefully the Queens will lay eggs soon. I'll have to think about the rest. Kind of late right now.

The native eastern talinium (teretifolium) does okay in part sun, but won't bloom as well. (In the wild, I've even found it in full shade.) That said, most of our true alpine type rock plants which are succulent or form cushions will require full sun. I agree Sedum ternatum would be a notable exception. I haven't tried telephiodes in part sun or shade, mine is in full sun and I tend to find it in full sun in the wild. I haven't heard about folks growing Blue Mountain Heath (Phyllodoce caerulea?) as far south as PA, but I'd be interested to know if it is possible so I can attempt it in the mountains of VA! I've been trying to explore south-eastern rock gardening too, and while there are lots of great rock plants in the wild, there don't seem to be too many in the nursery trade. Alot of the pine barrens species would probably work well but I cant find a source for any of them. There are also some granite and shale barren species that are really interesting, but few of those seem to be available either. There have even been a few articles in the American Rock Garden Society journal about south eastern rock plants for gardens but I haven't found almost any of them in the trade. I'd say one of the best species I've found which is commercially available is Cumberland Rosemary. It is isn't a Pennsylvania native (or a VA one, for that matter) but it is an eastern native which does well in hot summers, has spectacular flowers, and can be used in cooking like European rosemary. It'll probably take part sun but won't look nearly as nice. Another great underused plant is Virginia Agave (Manfreda virginica). It is basically a small agave with fragrant flowers. Janet_e had some good suggestions, and many of those would work well in your situation.

Solidago caesia is called bluestem or wreath goldenrod. Zigzag goldenrod is S. flexicaulis. I grow them both and neither is invasive for me. Both are fine garden plants for shade, along with S. erecta, wand goldenrod. All three offer different form and leaf color as well as flower presentation. Here in middle TN they bloom in August and September, which isn't that late in this climate, anyway. Soeur