Are you wanting to utilize the space over your septic mound and incorporate it into your landscaping?
The mound can be a great way to layer native plants and perennials with the variation in soil bed height. If you plant on your septic mounds you don’t have to mow it!
These are some plants that are easier care and once established will be a beautiful display of flowers and textures to enjoy over instead of something that once might have been an eye-sore.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) -Native
This native grows well in many soil types, including poor, dry soils. They have drought tolerance once established. New growth is usually late to appear in the spring. The mature plants can reseed in the area if you don’t remove the seedpods. They have a deep taproot so it’s hard to transplant them once established. They grow to about 2′-3′ tall and prefer full or part sun areas.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
Commonly called the “perfect perennial” because of its resilience and adaptability to any soil pH. Depending on the variety, you can have fragrant early blooms, mid, or late summer blooms as well as some that are re-bloomers. They are called daylily because one bloom doesn’t last more than 24 hrs with most of the flowers blooming later in the day. They typically have multiple blooms for an extended show of flowers. They prefer full or part sun areas. Varieties can be 1′-5′ tall.
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) – Native
It’s commonly known as pale purple coneflower and is a hairy-stemmed and leaf perennial of prairies, savannahs, glades and open dry rocky woods. It features narrow dark green leaves and large pale purple to pink flowers with drooping petals (ray flowers) and spiny, knob-like, coppery-orange center cones. Flowers appear on rigid stems to 2-3’ (less frequently to 4’) tall over a long summer bloom. They require full sun areas for blooms.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Native
The purple coneflower is a rough and hairy perennial that is native to moist prairies, meadows and open woods of the central to southeastern United States. Daisy-like purple coneflowers bloom throughout summer atop stiff ovate dark green leaves. The dead flower stems will remain standing well into the winter, and if flower heads are not removed, the blackened cones may be visited by birds that feed on the seeds. It typically grows to 2-4′ tall. They prefer full sun areas for blooms.
Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex Pennsylvanica) – Shade loving and no mow long grass.
Commonly called Pennsylvania sedge, this is a shade-loving perennial sedge that is native to thickets and dry woodland areas in Eastern and Central North America. It typically grows in loose colonies with a creeping habit. It is often found in areas with oak trees, hence the additional common name of oak sedge. This is a low sedge with soft, arching, semi-evergreen leaves. It typically grows in a clump to 8″ tall. It is semi-evergreen in moderately cold winter climates.
Prairie Clover (Dalea) – Native. Reseeds.
It’s common name is white prairie clover, and is a native perennial that typically occurs in glades, rocky open woods and prairies. Tiny white flowers form dense, cylindrical, elongated, cone-like heads ( bloom in summer on 1-2″ stems. Flowers bloom bottom to top. This is a nitrogen-fixing plant that is an important component of midwestern prairie restorations. Formerly known as Petalostemon candidum. Native Americans used the roots for food and the leaves for teas. Best for full sun or part sun areas.
Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) – Native
A compact plant with 6″ mounds of short downy flowers, and lacy-looking foliage. The unusual, drooping, tan/pinkish flowers rise just above the foliage. This can be rapid spreading wildflower. Prefers sandy, acid to neutral soil. Plant spacing 12″. An early spring bloomer. Prefers full sun.
Midland Blazing star (Dodecatheon meadia) – Native. State endangered.
The blazing star is a native wildflower that is indigenous to much of the eastern United States and typically occurs in open woods and glades, rocky wooded slopes, bluff ledges, meadows and prairies. From each basal rosette of lance-shaped leaves come 1-4 sturdy, leafless, center flower scapes rising to 20″ tall. Atop each flower scape is nodding, 1″ long flowers. These Blooms in late spring and can tolerate clay soil. They prefer part shade.
Wild Bergamot (Mondarda fistulosa) -Native
Wild bergamot, also known as bee balm, is a popular and showy perennial. Clusters of lavender, pink or white flowers, look like wispy pompoms, that bloom atop 2-5 ft. stems. This flower is a favorite among honey and bumble bees. The leaves can be made into a minty tea. This plants can bloom for a couple months. The leaves can be prone to powdery mildew if grown too close to other plants or with reduced circulation but it will not kill the plant or inhibit the blooms. They can also spread easily so make sure to give this plant some room. Provide full sun.
Violets (Viola) or Pansy – Annual
This is a great cool season annual that if you plant them to use as a temporary bedding plant in the spring, they may reseed themselves for the next year! Violas are tolerant of many conditions, and will thrive in full sun or part shade in the spring, and will easily fade in full sun during summer heat. At that time you can transplant to dappled shade until fall weather hits.