Union Township near Lloydsville in Belmont County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ohio Native Plants

Bee Balm - Red Osier Dogwood - Switch Grass Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 26, 2025

1. Bee Balm - Red Osier Dogwood - Switch Grass Marker

Inscription.

Ohio Native Plants. . , Bee Balm ,

Common Name: Bee balm , Botanical Name: Monarda didyma , Height/Width: 3 to 4 feet / 2 to 3 feet , Habitats: Full sun to part shade in woods, thickets, and bottomlands, Flowering Period: July through August , Bloom Color: Shades of red, pink, purple, and white , Wildlife Value: The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. The seed heads attract birds in the fall and winter. , History/Lore: Native Americans and early colonists used bee balm leaves and flowers to make a variety of medicinal salves and drinks. The name "bee balm" comes from the historic use of applying it to bee stings.

, Bee balm is a member of the mint family (lamiaceae). Its foliage has a strong aroma and is sometimes used in herbal teas, salads, and garnishes., Red Osier Dogwood ,

Common Name: Red osier dogwood , Botanical Name: Cornus sericea , Height/Width: 6 to 9 feet / 7 to 10 feet , Habitats: Full sun to part shade on shores and in thickets, marshes, and wet meadows Flowering Period: May through June , Bloom Color: White , Wildlife Value: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract bees, wasps, moths, flies, and butterflies. Deer, beavers, and rabbits nibble on the twigs and leaves. The dense thickets also provide cover to birds and small mammals. , History/Lore: Red osier dogwood was one of several plants referred to as kinnikinik by Native Americans for its use as a tobacco substitute.

, Switch Grass ,

Common Name: Switch grass , Botanical Name: Panicum virgatum , Height/Width: 3 to 6 feet / 2 to 3 feet , Habitats: Full sun to part shade on prairies, savannas, open woodlands, rocky bluffs, sand dunes, and marsh edges , Flowering Period: July through February , Bloom Color: Pink-tinged , Wildlife Value: Switch grass attracts birds and butterflies. The seeds are eaten by ground-feeding songbirds and game birds. It also provides cover and nesting material for wildlife. , History/Lore: Switch grass was important to native people in the Americas. They ground the seeds to make flour, mixed its roots with soapweed for washing hair, stuffed the grass into moccasins for padding, and made concoctions of the leaves for fevers. Today, it is used as a landscape plant, as livestock forage, and for biofuel.

Bee Balm

Common Name: Bee balm
Botanical Name: Monarda didyma
Height/Width: 3 to 4 feet / 2 to 3 feet
Habitats: Full sun to part shade in woods, thickets, and bottomlands

Flowering Period: July through August
Bloom Color: Shades of red, pink, purple, and white
Wildlife Value: The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. The seed heads attract birds in the fall and winter.
History/Lore: Native Americans and early colonists used bee balm leaves and flowers to make a variety of medicinal salves and drinks. The name "bee balm" comes from the historic use of applying it to bee stings.

Bee balm is a member of the mint family (lamiaceae). Its foliage has a strong aroma and is sometimes used in herbal teas, salads, and garnishes.

Red Osier Dogwood

Common Name: Red osier dogwood
Botanical Name: Cornus sericea
Height/Width: 6 to 9 feet / 7 to 10 feet
Habitats: Full sun to part shade on shores and in thickets, marshes, and wet meadows Flowering Period: May through June
Bloom Color: White
Wildlife Value: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract bees, wasps, moths, flies, and butterflies. Deer,
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beavers, and rabbits nibble on the twigs and leaves. The dense thickets also provide cover to birds and small mammals.
History/Lore: Red osier dogwood was one of several plants referred to as kinnikinik by Native Americans for its use as a tobacco substitute.

Switch Grass

Common Name: Switch grass
Botanical Name: Panicum virgatum
Height/Width: 3 to 6 feet / 2 to 3 feet
Habitats: Full sun to part shade on prairies, savannas, open woodlands, rocky bluffs, sand dunes, and marsh edges
Flowering Period: July through February
Bloom Color: Pink-tinged
Wildlife Value: Switch grass attracts birds and butterflies. The seeds are eaten by ground-feeding songbirds and game birds. It also provides cover and nesting material for wildlife.
History/Lore: Switch grass was important to native people in the Americas. They ground the seeds to make flour, mixed its roots with soapweed for washing hair, stuffed the grass into moccasins for padding, and made concoctions of the leaves for fevers. Today, it is used as a landscape plant, as livestock forage, and for biofuel.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 26, 2025

2. Bee Balm - Red Osier Dogwood - Switch Grass Marker

• Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 40° 3.798′ N, 81° 0.854′ W. Marker is near Lloydsville, Ohio, in Belmont County. It is in Union Township. It can be reached from Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway (Interstate 70) 5 miles east of Belmont-Morristown Road (Ohio Route 149), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 43700 I-70, Belmont OH 43718, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ohio Buckeye Tree (a few steps from this marker); Mile Marker (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (within shouting distance

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of this marker); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to the National Road (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Mile Marker (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lloydsville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on May 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.