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Native Plant Selector

If you live in an urban or suburban area and would like to help our ecosystem by adding native plants to your landscape, this tool can be your guide. Search through the entire native plant selector or filter with specifics you are looking for, and this will take the guesswork out of choosing plants.

While all native plants are beautiful, not all are appropriate for smaller residential landscapes. This plant selector only includes plants that are an appropriate size and growth habit for an urban landscape. Overly tall or competitive plants are not included in this tool.

All plants in this native plant selector are native to the Chicago region. They are dependable and easy to grow in the right location.

  • Sun Exposure

  • Moisture Needs

  • Season of Interest

  • Ecological Significance

Found 116 Results
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Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Smells like licorice
  • Can be used as an herb
  • Steep leaves in hot water for delicious tea
  • Full to part sun
  • Dry to medium soil
  • 2′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms July thru September
  • Clump forming
  • Pollinator magnet
  • Extremely long bloom time

anise hyssop agastache foeniculum


Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms into October and November
  • Keystone Plant
  • Important plant for pollinators preparing to over-winter
  • Very late blooming (into November)

Aromatic Aster (symphyotrichum oblongifolium)


Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 6 to 10 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Flowers attract pollinators
  • Birds love the berries
  • Takes well to summer pruning
  • Larval host plant
  • Good fall color
  • Flowers smell unpleasant
  • Will form colonies
  • Not for small landscapes

Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)


Beak Grass (Diarrhena obovata)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Medium, moist or wet soil
  • Considered rare in parts of its range
  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Naturally found in high quality woodlands
  • Excellent ground cover for shady areas
  • Very adaptive
  • Full sun to deep shade
  • Prolific
  • Spreads easily from seed

Beak grass diarrhena obovata


Big Leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Large, heart-shaped leaves up to 8 inches
  • Good for a shade groundcover
  • Grows 12 inches tall
  • Part shade to shade
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Non-showy bloom from August through October
  • Shorter shade-tolerant aster

Big Leaved Aster (eurybia macrophylla)


Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 3 to 6 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium moisture
  • Blooms in May, June
  • Larval host plant
  • Berries rated as having one of the highest antioxidant capacity of all fresh fruits
  • This super fruit is also anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic
  • Berry flavor is astringent – not sweet but also not bitter or sour
  • Birds love this berry which ripens just in time for their fall migration
  • Gorgeous red Autumn leaves

Black Chokeberry (Symphyotrichum sericeum)


Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 4 to 6 feet tall
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Part shade to shade
  • Can bloom from June to September
  • Shade-loving plant
  • Can get rather large
  • Showy white flowers

Black Cohosh (actaea racemosa)


Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms June through September
  • Long bloom time
  • Attracts butterflies and other pollinators
  • Seed heads attract finches and other birds
  • Prolific
  • Will spread easily from seed

Black-eyed Susan (rudbeckia hirta)


Black-Haw (Viburnum prunifolium)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 6 to 12 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Flowers attract pollinators
  • Berries loved by birds
  • Takes well to summer pruning
  • Larval host plant
  • Good fall color
  • Fragrant flowers and sweet fruit
  • Forms colonies
  • Tends to spread
  • Beautiful red autumn leaves
  • Large shrub – needs space

Black-haw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)


Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 10 to 15 feet
  • Part to full shade
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms in May
  • Attracts pollinators and birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Interesting bladder-like fruit and striated bark
  • Black Walnut tolerant
  • Not for small landscape

Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia)


Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Attractive form in the landscape
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium Moisture
  • 3′ to 5′ tall
  • Blooms June, July
  • Attractive flowers
  • Great blue color
  • Can be aggressive
  • Tends to flop

Blue False Indigo (baptisia australis)


Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica shrevei)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Hardy plant for wet soil
  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Blooms in June and July
  • Full to part sun
  • Excellent for low wet areas
  • Loved by hummingbirds
  • Great plant for gutter down-spout or rain garden

Blue Flag Iris (Iris Virginica Shrevei)


Blue Fruited Dogwood (Cornus obliqua)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 8 to 10 feet tall
  • Part to full shade
  • Moist soil
  • Blooms June and July
  • Attractive to our native pollinators
  • Not a specimen plant
  • Good to prevent erosion along a stream bank
  • Larval host plant
  • Birds love the fruit of this plant
  • Fruit is edible but bitter
  • Will tolerate poor drainage

Blue Fruited Dogwood (Cornus obliqua)


Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 4 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds
  • Blooms July through September
  • Not aggressive
  • Good for damp clay
  • Could be considered a short-lived perennial
  • self-seeds and will move around

Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)


Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 to 4 feet tall
  • Full Sun to Part Shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Long blooming
  • Blooms July through September
  • Important nectar source
  • Great for butterfly gardens
  • Larval host plant
  • Non-aggressive
  • Very drought resistant
  • Good plant for rain garden swale or area with poor drainage
  • Will self-seed and move around

blue vervain (verbena hastata)


Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to wet soil
  • Blooms late into fall
  • Slow growing
  • Long-lived
  • Unique closed flowers
  • Pollinated exclusively by large bumblebees

Bottle Gentian (gentiana andrewsii)


Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 to 5 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Very adaptable
  • Larval host plant
  • Will move around
  • Can be aggressive

Brown-eyed Susan (rudbeckia triloba)


Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 2′ tall
  • Blooms June through August
  • Important Milkweed species for monarchs and other butterflies
  • Prolific orange blooms in hot sun
  • Clump forming plant

Butterfly Weed (asclepias tuberosa)


Button Bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 5 to 12 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Blooms in June
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Attracts hummingbirds
  • Great for wet areas
  • Takes well to pruning
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive foliage and unique flowers
  • Will even grow in standing water
  • Not for the small landscape

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)


Canada anemone (Anemone canadensis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Beautiful groundcover for sun
  • Can be aggressive in the right location
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Grows 12″ tall
  • Blooms May through July

Canada anemone (anemone canadensis)


Canadian Milk Vetch (Astragalus canadensis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 3 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Good nectar source for pollintors
  • Larval host plant
  • Blooms June through August
  • Interesting white flower
  • Has a tendency to sprawl

Canadian milkvetch (astragalus canadensis)


Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Long blooming in late summer
  • Brilliant red flowers will attract hummingbirds
  • Upright plant grows 2-4 feet
  • Blooms July, August, September
  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to wet soil

Cardinal flower (lobelia cardinalis)


Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 12 inches
  • Blooms April and May
  • Part to full shade
  • Medium soil
  • Wonderful plant for deep-shade problem areas

Celandine poppy (stylophorum diphyllum)


Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Full sun to full shade
  • Blooms May and June
  • Attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant
  • Adaptable plant that grows in full sun to shade
  • Tolerates a wide range of soils as long as drainage is good

Wild columbine (aquilegia canadensis) (1)


Common Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium albidum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • In the Iris family
  • Grows to 6 inches
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Loved by pollinators

Common blue-eyed grass (sisyrinchium albidum)


Coral Berry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 5 to 12 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms June and July
  • Can make an attractive hedge
  • Birds love the berries
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive foliage and berries
  • Suitable for smaller landscapes

Coral Berry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)


Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Category: Vines

  • Hummingbird magnet
  • Great for a trellis
  • Blooms on new growth
  • Grows 10 to 12 feet
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Heavy bloom in May, June
  • Sporadic bloom into the fall
  • Nectar is loved by butterflies and hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant

Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)


Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Can grow to 8 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms June and July
  • Pollinator magnet
  • Great specimen plant
  • Can be considered a short perennial or biennial
  • Easy to spread by seed
  • Is Phytotoxis so be careful
  • Can be confused with the Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), which is highly invasive

Cow parsnip (heracleum maximum)


Cream White Indigo (Baptisia bracteata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 2 feet
  • Blooms May and June
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Beautiful clusters of cream flowers
  • Low growing
  • Compact
  • Mounded
  • Long lived
  • Early bloomer
  • Essential plant for spring emerging bumblebee queens
  • Larval host plant
  • Beautiful plant but can be difficult
  • Doesn’t tolerate tall competition

Cream wild indigo (baptisia bracteata)


Culvers Root (Veronicastrum Virginicum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 3 to 6 feet tall
  • Full sun to shade
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms July and August
  • Great pollinator plant
  • Elegant white flower
  • Will self-seed and move around

Culver's Root (veronicastrum virginicum)


Downy Sunflower (Helianthus mollis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 2′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms August and September
  • Healthiest plant for bees
  • Needs plenty of room.

Downy Sunflower (helianthus Mollis)


Early Wild Rose (Rosa blanda)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 3 to 5 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms June, July
  • Attracts pollinators and birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Will spread by rhizomes and form dense stand

Early Wild Rose (Rosa blanda)


Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Category: Trees

  • Grows 15 to 20 feet tall
  • Part sun to part shade
  • Understory tree that likes morning sun or to be under larger trees
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms April, May
  • Important source of pollen and nectar for spring pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Leaves are a favorite for nesting leafcutter bees

Eastern Redbud (cercis canadensis)


Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 6 to 8 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Fruit is loved by birds
  • Great bird nesting site
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for the small landscape
  • Will spread by rhizomes
  • Can be aggressive

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)


Elm-Leaved Goldenrod (Solidago ulmifolia)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 3 feet tall
  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms July through October
  • Keystone species
  • Loved by native bees and butterflies
  • Shade-tolerant Goldenrod
  • Will self-seed and move around

Elm-Leaved Goldenrod (solidago ulmifolia)


False Aster (Boltonia asteroides)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Grows to 4 feet tall
  • Blooms August, September, October
  • Beautiful bounty of white flowers at a time when the landscape is mostly yellow
  • Favored by many butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects
  • Will spread but not aggressive
  • Attractive flower and foliage
  • Good rain garden plant
  • Will tolerate standing water

False Aster (boltonia asteroides)


Fire Pinks (Silene virginica)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Attracts hummingbirds
  • Prefers part-shade to full-shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 1′ to 2′ tall
  • Blooms May through July
  • Brilliant red flowers
  • Short lived
  • Will self-sow in well-drained soil

Fire Pinks (silene virginica)


Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Category: Shrubs, Trees

  • Grows 15 to 30 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms April, May
  • Flowers attract pollinators
  • Berries loved by birds
  • Attractive fall color
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive flowers
  • Can be considered a tree or shrub

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)


Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Moist to wet soil
  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Great for rain gardens
  • Very attractive
  • Clump-forming

Fox Sedge (carex vulpinoidea)


Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Adapts to many light conditions from full-sun to part-shade
  • Prefers medium dry soil
  • Grows up to 3′ tall
  • Blooms June, July
  • Easy to grow
  • Favorite of many native bee species

Foxglove Beardtongue (penstemon digitalis)


Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Very important plant for many pollinators
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium soil
  • Grows up to 3′ tall
  • Blooms April through June

Golden Alexander (zizia aurea)


Grape (Yellow) Honeysuckle (Lonicera reticulata)

Category: Shrubs, Vines

  • Woody vining shrub
  • Grows to 4 to 8 feet tall
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Loved by pollinators and birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive flowers and unusual berries
  • Fairly well-behaved vine
  • Will climb or free-stand

Grape Honeysuckle (Lonicera reticulata)


Gray’s Sedge (Carex grayi)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Moist to wet soil
  • 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Great for rain gardens, ponds, and containers
  • Easy to grow
  • Attractive seed head

Gray's Sedge (carex grayi)


Great Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Grows to 7 feet tall
  • Appropriate for the back of a garden border
  • Attracts many unique pollinators
  • Great specimen plant
  • Can be considered a short perennial or biennial
  • Spreads easily by seed
  • Is Phytotoxis so be careful

Great Angelica (angelica atropurpurea)


Green Dragon (Arisaema dracontium)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Part to full shade
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Grows to 3 feet
  • Great for under trees
  • Likes heavy shade
  • Similar habit as Jack-in-the-Pulpit
  • Can be slow to establish
  • Take care not to plant the imposter Pinellia tripartita, which is invasive!

Green Dragon (arisaema dracontium)


Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 18 inches tall
  • Full sun to shade
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Attracts bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
  • Attractive shorter Penstemon

hairy Beardtongue (penstemon hirsutus)


Hazelnut (Corylus americana)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 8 to 12 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms in May
  • Drought resistant
  • Loved by birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for a small landscape
  • Wind-pollinated via catkins
  • Sweet edible nut loved by wildlife

Hazelnut (Corylus americana)


Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Great plant for deep shade
  • Best to grow from corms
  • Can be slow to establish

Jack in the Pulpit (arisaema triphyllum)


Jacobs Ladder (Polemonium reptans)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full sun to full shade
  • Medium soil
  • Grows to 12 inches tall
  • Blooms April and May
  • Important source of nectar and pollen for some of the season’s first pollinators
  • Easy to grow

Jacobs Ladder (polemonium reptans)


Joe Pye (Eutrochium maculatum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Full to part-sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • 4′ to 6′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Easy to grow
  • Attractive seed head
  • Shorter than Sweet Joe Pye

Joe Pye (eutrochium maculatum)


Lead Plant (Amorpha Canescens)

Category: Flowering Perennials, Shrubs

  • Keystone Plant
  • Full to partial sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Grows to 3′ tall
  • Blooms June through August
  • One of the few woody plants of the prairie
  • Nice flower
  • Can be slow to develop
  • Mammalian herbivores love this plant

Lead Plant (amorpha canescens)


Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Up to 3′ tall
  • Blooms July through October
  • Great Fall Color
  • Spreads well via seeds
  • Tolerant of poor soil
  • Won’t establish against tall competition

Little Blue Stem (schizachyrium scoparium)


May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Part to full shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Grows one to two feet tall
  • Beneficial to early season pollinators
  • Ephemeral
  • Attractive plant
  • Will drop in heavy shade under trees

May Apple (podophyllum peltatum)


Monkey Flower (Mimulus ringens)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full sun
  • Moist to wet soil
  • Grows one to three feet tall
  • Attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant
  • Easy to grow
  • Great rain garden plant
  • Unusually nice flower

Monkey Flower (Mimulus ringens)


Nanny Berry (Viburnum lentago)

Category: Shrubs, Trees

  • Grows 15 to 20 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms in May
  • Can form a privacy hedge
  • Can be pruned into a single stemmed small tree
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Birds like it as a nesting site
  • Bood fall color
  • Larval host plant
  • Largest Viburnum
  • Could be considered either a small tree or large shrub

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)


New England Aster (Symphyotrichum Novae-angliae)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Trim back by one third to one half in June to keep a shorter and bushier plant
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Up to 5′ tall
  • Blooms August through October
  • Does not tolerate wet or dry conditions well
  • Can become leggy and flop over
  • Does better with tall competition

New England Aster (symphyotrichum novae-angliae)


New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

Category: Flowering Perennials, Shrubs

  • Great for small landscapes
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Blooms July and August
  • Stays small and mounded
  • Looks good in all landscapes
  • Can be planted to create a low growing hedge
  • Protect from rabbits the first two years
  • Larval host plant
  • Loved by pollinators and hummingbirds
  • One of the few woody plants of the prairie
  • Can be slow to develop
  • Mammalian herbivores love this plant

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)


Ninebark (Physocarpus opulus)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 5 to 10 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Adaptable and easy to grow
  • Takes well to pruning
  • Loved by many native pollinators
  • A great choice to increase biodiversity in your landscape
  • Liked by birds
  • Great all-season interest
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for small landscapes
  • Easy to grow

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)


Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Blooms July and August
  • Attracts pollinators
  • Especially loved by our native bumblebees
  • Will spread by self-seeding

Nodding Onion (allium cernuum)


Oak Sedge (Carex pensylvanica)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Very sought-after
  • Looks like traditional lawn
  • Grows to 8 inches
  • Good lawn replacement
  • Grows in full sun to full shade
  • Likes medium to dry soil
  • Great plant for shady, dry locations with poor soils

Oak Sedge (carex pensylvanica)


Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Loved by pollinators and hummingbirds
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • 2′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms August, September
  • Spreads via rhizomes
  • Can be aggressive in wet conditions

Obedient Plant (physostegia virginiana)


Ohio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Can be cut down to 6 inches when foliage starts to decline after blooming
  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to dry soil
  • 2′ to 3′ tall
  • Blooms May through July
  • Flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon in sunny weather
  • Will spread by self-seeding
  • Very adaptable to almost all conditions

Ohio Spiderwort (tradescantia ohiensis)


Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 3 to 5 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms June and July
  • Favorite nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds
  • Very drought tolerant
  • Does not like wet soils
  • Flowers earlier than Purple Coneflower
  • Flowers more droopy
  • Long, narrow leaves

Pale Purple Coneflower (echinacea pallida)


Prairie Alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms May, June, July
  • Likes good drainage
  • Hummingbirds and butterflies like the tubular flowers
  • Our native “Coral bell”
  • Adapts well to rocky or poor soils
  • Won’t do well against tall competition

Prairie Alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)


Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Loved by butterflies, pollinators, and hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Up to 4′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Spectacular flower
  • Can be difficult to transplant and establish
  • Flowers from top down

Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)


Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolpis)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium wet to dry soil
  • Grows to 2′ tall
  • Blooms August through October
  • Wonderful clump-forming grass
  • Best propagated by dividing dense clumps
  • Some say aroma is like buttered popcorn

Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolpis)


Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 6 inches
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Great edge or rock garden planting
  • Won’t tolerate tall competition
  • Likes barren soil that is rocky, gravelly, or sandy
  • Can be divided

Prairie Smoke (geum triflorum)


Prairie Willow (Salix humilis)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 4 to 6 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Blooms in April
  • Keystone plant
  • Important early source of pollen and nectar for emerging bees
  • Larval host plant
  • Shorter, slower-growing willow
  • Can get large when conditions are favorable

Prairie Willow (Salix humilis)


Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • A favorite nectar source for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
  • Visited by hummingbirds
  • Looks great in any size garden
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium wet to medium dry soil
  • Grows to 4′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Beautiful flower
  • Easy to grow
  • Could be considered a short-lived perennial
  • Will self-seed and move around

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)


Purple Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • 2′ to 6′ tall
  • Blooms June, July
  • Unique delicate flowers
  • Non-aggressive
  • Upright stems

Purple Meadow Rue (thalictrum dasycarpum)


Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms July, August
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive flower
  • Well-behaved once established
  • Doesn’t like tall competition
  • Nitrogen-fixing plant
  • Great for soil development and water retention
  • Large tap root

Purple Prairie Clover (dalea purpurea)


Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 5 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Wet soil
  • Blooms June, July, August
  • Great unique flower
  • Excellent rain garden plant
  • Clump-forming

Queen of the Prairie (filipendula rubra)


Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Attractive to many pollinators
  • Can fall over if not supported by other plants
  • Very deer and rabbit resistant
  • Full sun
  • Medium soil
  • 3′ to 5′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Interesting Yucca-like looking plant
  • Will self-seed and move around

Rattlesnake Master (eryngium yuccifolium)


Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 5 to 10 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Good fall color
  • Larval host plant
  • Birds don’t love this berry as much as they do the Black Chokeberry
  • Berries ripen later than the Black Chokeberry
  • Berries are not as rich in antioxidants as their black cousin
  • Shrub is taller and less bushy than the Black Chokeberry

Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutrifolia)


Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 6 to 10 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Blooms June, July
  • Great for areas that flood
  • Takes well to pruning
  • Flowers loved by pollinators
  • Birds love the berries
  • Larval host plant
  • Four-season interest
  • Attractive red stems used for floral arrangements
  • Will spread via suckers
  • Won’t tolerate hot dry sites

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)


Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Loved by many pollinators
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 2′ to 3′ tall
  • Blooms August, September

Rough Blazing Star (liatris aspera)


Royal Catch Fly (Silene regia)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 to 4 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Midium soil
  • Blooms July, August
  • Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
  • Rare Midwest native plant
  • Wonderful red flower
  • Handles competition well

Royal Catchfly (silene regia)


Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

Category: Trees

  • Grows 15 to 20 feet
  • Blooms in April, May
  • Forms fruits in June
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Moist, well-drained soil
  • Important source of pollen and nectar for spring bees
  • Birds love the delicious berries
  • Larval host plant
  • Prolific blossoms in spring
  • Gorgeous red foliage in fall

Serviceberry in bloom


Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Important for bumblebees
  • Ephemeral
  • Great edge or rock garden plant
  • Doesn’t handle tall competition
  • Will form colonies

Shooting Star (dodecatheon meadia)


Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Provides critical late season nectar for pollinators and migrating monarchs
  • Non-aggressive goldenrod
  • Does not spread by rhizomes
  • Larval host plant
  • Top-ranked plant for supporting biodiversity
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Up to 3′ tall
  • Blooms September through November
  • Does best with tall competition
  • Good companion for Sky Blue Aster or New England Aster

Showy Goldenrod (solidago speciosa)


Side Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Bright purple and orange flowers in August and September
  • Larval host plant for many butterflies and moths
  • Attractive, shorter grass
  • Well-behaved

Side Oats Grama (bouteloua curtipendula)


Silky Aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Grows 12 inches tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Dry soil
  • Blooms September, October
  • Very soft, silvery foliage
  • Great edge or rock garden plant
  • Does not compete against tall competition

SilkyAster (Symphyotrichum sericeum)


Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Grows to 3 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms August, September, October
  • Attracts a multitude of pollinators and beneficial insects
  • Attractive flower and floiage
  • Relatively easy to grow
  • Can struggle against taller competition

Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)


Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms June through September
  • A favorite of bees and other pollinators
  • Clump forming plant
  • White flowers very attractive to fauna

Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)


Smooth Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Very attractive to fall butterflies
  • Not aggressive
  • Beautiful arching branches
  • Larval host plant
  • Visited by many pollinators
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 2′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms August through October
  • One of the better-behaved asters
  • Easy to cultivate

Smooth Aster (symphyotrichum laeve)


Smooth Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Very beneficial to native bees
  • Larval host plant
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • 4′ to 6′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Shorter Ironweed
  • Beautiful flower

Ironweed (vernonia fasciculata)


Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 10 to 15 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for small landscapes
  • Attractive fruits that persist

Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)


Sneeze Weed (Helenium autumnale)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 4 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Wet soil
  • Blooms August through October
  • Attractive to pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Despite the name, it is not a cause of allergies
  • Good rain garden plant
  • Great for areas with poor drainage or flooding

Sneeze Weed (helenium autumnale)


Snow Berry (Symphoricarpos albus)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 4 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms May through July
  • Pollinators love the flowers
  • Birds love the berries
  • Good brushy shelter for winter birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive flower
  • Drupe type fruits
  • Easy to grow

Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)


Solomon Seal (Polygonatum commutatum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Part shade to shade
  • Blooms May and June
  • Attractive to pollinators
  • Loves shade
  • Interesting foliage
  • Strong enough to withstand adverse conditions

Solomon Seal (polygonatum commutatum)


Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 15 to 20 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms in May
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Nice fall color
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for small landscapes
  • Can be aggressive
  • Spreads via rhizomes

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)


Starry Campion (Silene stellata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Blooms July, August

Starry Campion (Silene stellata)


Stiff Coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms June through August
  • Attractive to pollinators
  • Perfect for difficult dry soils
  • Good for edge planting
  • Spreads by rhizomes
  • Can be aggressive

Stiff Coreopsis (coreopsis palmata)


Stiff Goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone species
  • Grows 3 to 5 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms August, September
  • Larval host plant
  • Loved by many pollinators and other beneficial insects
  • Seeds are enjoyed by birds
  • Easy to grow
  • Can flop
  • Can be aggressive

Stiff Goldenrod (solidago rigida)


Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Important larval host plant for the monarch butterfly
  • A favorite of many pollinators
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • 3′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms June through August
  • Attractive and elegant plant
  • The only milkweed that tolerates wet conditions
  • Can suffer in hot dry conditions

Swamp Milkweed (asclepias incarnata)


Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus levies)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 3 to 6 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Moist to wet soil
  • Blooms July, August, September
  • Loved by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
  • A favorite of hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant
  • Beautiful flowers
  • Great specimen rain garden plant
  • Does not tolerate drought

Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus levies)


Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 2 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Wet soil
  • Blooms May through July
  • Great choice for pond edges and shoreline restorations
  • Good rain garden plant
  • Thrives in areas with poor drainage or flooding

Sweet Flag (acorus calamus)


Sweet Joe Pye (Eutrochium purpureum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Grows 4 to 6 feet tall
  • Part to full shade
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms August, September
  • A favorite source of nectar for butterflies
  • Attracts many pollinators
  • Well behaved garden plant
  • Good tall woodland plant
  • Will self-seed and spread

Sweet Joe Pye (eutrochium purpureum)


Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to dry soil
  • 4′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Can be aggressive
  • More salt tolerant than other grass

Switch Grass (panicum virgatum)


Vernal Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 6 to 12 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms in March
  • Takes well to pruning
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for the small landscape
  • Winter flowering with interesting seed capsules that shoot out the seeds
  • Pollinated by flies and wasps

Vernal Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis)


Virginia Blue Bells (Mertensia virginica)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to moist soil
  • 1′ to 2′ tall
  • Blooms April, May
  • Ephemeral
  • Wonderful spring flower
  • Can form colonies
  • Very shade and woodland friendly

Virginia Bluebells (mertensia virginica)


Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to wet soil
  • Blooms July through September
  • Loved by many pollinators
  • Clump forming plant
  • White flowers very attractive to fauna

Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum


Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms July, August
  • Larval host plant for the monarch butterfly
  • Prefers poor well-drained soil or gravel
  • Attractive to many pollinators
  • Delicate interesting milkweed
  • Loves open areas
  • Doesn’t tolerate tall competition

Whorled Milkweed (asclepias verticillata)


Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Liked by pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Part sun to shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 12″ to 18″ tall
  • Blooms May and June
  • Easy to grow
  • Will spread by self-seeding

Wild Geranium (geranium maculatum)


Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • A favorite nectar source for many native pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Full to part sun
  • Dry to moist soil
  • 2′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Easy to grow
  • Can become aggressive

Wild Bergamot (monarda fistulosa)


Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds
  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to moist soil
  • 12″ tall
  • Blooms April through June
  • Great edge planting for shady areas
  • Rabbits love this plant

Wild Blue Phlox (phlox divaricata)


Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • An established groundcover can fend off invasive species
  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 12″ tall
  • Blooms May and June
  • Colony forming
  • Good ground cover for shade

Wild Ginger (asarum canadense)


Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 2 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Attractive to spring pollinators
  • Ephemeral
  • Colony-forming plant
  • Can be slow to establish by seed
  • Can be divided by clumps

Wild hyacinth (camassia scilloides)


Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Attractive to native pollinators
  • A favorite of hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 1′ to 2′ tall
  • Blooms June through August
  • Great edge or rock garden plant
  • Doesn’t tolerate tall competition
  • Spreads easily

Wild Petunia (ruellia Humilis)


Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 3 to 5 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms June through September
  • Flowers loved by pollinators
  • Beautiful garden plant
  • Long bloom time
  • Showy white flower
  • Clump forming

Wild Quinine (parthenium integrifolium)


Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 4 to 6 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium, moist, and wet soil
  • Blooms July and August
  • Great pollinator plant
  • Larval host plant
  • Favorite of bumblebees
  • Great wind-tolerant hedge plant
  • Butterfly host plant
  • Attractive winter seed heads

Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa)


Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

Category: Flowering Perennials, Vines

  • Keystone Plant
  • Larval host plant
  • Sun to Shade
  • Moist to dry soil
  • 6″ tall
  • Blooms April through June
  • Great weed-preventing groundcover for a variety of locations
  • Attractive fall color
  • Important for spring pollinators

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)


Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 8 to 10 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Moist to wet soil
  • Blooms in June, July
  • Loved by many native pollinators
  • Birds enjoy the beautiful berries
  • Takes well to pruning
  • One male can fertilize up to ten females within 50 feet
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for the small landscape
  • Dioecious – separate male and female plants
  • Attractive fruit that persists

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)


Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 10 to 15 feet tall
  • Full sun to shade
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms October, November
  • Takes well to pruning
  • Loved by pollinators and birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for the small landscape
  • Fall flowering with interesting seed capsules that shoot out the seeds
  • Pollinated by flies and wasps
  • Bark, twigs, and leaves are often used medicinally

Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)


Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 3 to 6 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms July through September
  • Attracts birds and pollinators
  • Easy to grow
  • Will move around by self-seeds
  • Can become aggressive

Yellow Coneflower (ratibida pinnata)


Zig Zag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Very attractive to pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Goldenrods are not the cause of hay fever
  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 1′ to 3′ tall
  • Bloom August through October
  • Shade-loving Goldenrod
  • Will move around
  • Great color companion for Asters in the fall

Zig Zag Goldenrod (solidago flexicaulis)

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  • Moisture Needs

  • Height

  • Season of Interest

  • Ecological Significance

Found 8 Results
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Beak Grass (Diarrhena obovata)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Medium, moist or wet soil
  • Considered rare in parts of its range
  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Naturally found in high quality woodlands
  • Excellent ground cover for shady areas
  • Very adaptive
  • Full sun to deep shade
  • Prolific
  • Spreads easily from seed

Beak grass diarrhena obovata


Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Moist to wet soil
  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Great for rain gardens
  • Very attractive
  • Clump-forming

Fox Sedge (carex vulpinoidea)


Gray’s Sedge (Carex grayi)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Moist to wet soil
  • 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Great for rain gardens, ponds, and containers
  • Easy to grow
  • Attractive seed head

Gray's Sedge (carex grayi)


Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Up to 3′ tall
  • Blooms July through October
  • Great Fall Color
  • Spreads well via seeds
  • Tolerant of poor soil
  • Won’t establish against tall competition

Little Blue Stem (schizachyrium scoparium)


Oak Sedge (Carex pensylvanica)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Very sought-after
  • Looks like traditional lawn
  • Grows to 8 inches
  • Good lawn replacement
  • Grows in full sun to full shade
  • Likes medium to dry soil
  • Great plant for shady, dry locations with poor soils

Oak Sedge (carex pensylvanica)


Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolpis)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium wet to dry soil
  • Grows to 2′ tall
  • Blooms August through October
  • Wonderful clump-forming grass
  • Best propagated by dividing dense clumps
  • Some say aroma is like buttered popcorn

Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolpis)


Side Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Bright purple and orange flowers in August and September
  • Larval host plant for many butterflies and moths
  • Attractive, shorter grass
  • Well-behaved

Side Oats Grama (bouteloua curtipendula)


Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to dry soil
  • 4′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Can be aggressive
  • More salt tolerant than other grass

Switch Grass (panicum virgatum)

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  • Sun Exposure

  • Moisture Needs

  • Height

  • Season of Interest

  • Ecological Significance

Found 81 Results
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Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Smells like licorice
  • Can be used as an herb
  • Steep leaves in hot water for delicious tea
  • Full to part sun
  • Dry to medium soil
  • 2′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms July thru September
  • Clump forming
  • Pollinator magnet
  • Extremely long bloom time

anise hyssop agastache foeniculum


Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms into October and November
  • Keystone Plant
  • Important plant for pollinators preparing to over-winter
  • Very late blooming (into November)

Aromatic Aster (symphyotrichum oblongifolium)


Big Leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Large, heart-shaped leaves up to 8 inches
  • Good for a shade groundcover
  • Grows 12 inches tall
  • Part shade to shade
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Non-showy bloom from August through October
  • Shorter shade-tolerant aster

Big Leaved Aster (eurybia macrophylla)


Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 4 to 6 feet tall
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Part shade to shade
  • Can bloom from June to September
  • Shade-loving plant
  • Can get rather large
  • Showy white flowers

Black Cohosh (actaea racemosa)


Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms June through September
  • Long bloom time
  • Attracts butterflies and other pollinators
  • Seed heads attract finches and other birds
  • Prolific
  • Will spread easily from seed

Black-eyed Susan (rudbeckia hirta)


Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Attractive form in the landscape
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium Moisture
  • 3′ to 5′ tall
  • Blooms June, July
  • Attractive flowers
  • Great blue color
  • Can be aggressive
  • Tends to flop

Blue False Indigo (baptisia australis)


Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica shrevei)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Hardy plant for wet soil
  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Blooms in June and July
  • Full to part sun
  • Excellent for low wet areas
  • Loved by hummingbirds
  • Great plant for gutter down-spout or rain garden

Blue Flag Iris (Iris Virginica Shrevei)


Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 4 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds
  • Blooms July through September
  • Not aggressive
  • Good for damp clay
  • Could be considered a short-lived perennial
  • self-seeds and will move around

Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)


Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 to 4 feet tall
  • Full Sun to Part Shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Long blooming
  • Blooms July through September
  • Important nectar source
  • Great for butterfly gardens
  • Larval host plant
  • Non-aggressive
  • Very drought resistant
  • Good plant for rain garden swale or area with poor drainage
  • Will self-seed and move around

blue vervain (verbena hastata)


Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to wet soil
  • Blooms late into fall
  • Slow growing
  • Long-lived
  • Unique closed flowers
  • Pollinated exclusively by large bumblebees

Bottle Gentian (gentiana andrewsii)


Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 to 5 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Very adaptable
  • Larval host plant
  • Will move around
  • Can be aggressive

Brown-eyed Susan (rudbeckia triloba)


Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 2′ tall
  • Blooms June through August
  • Important Milkweed species for monarchs and other butterflies
  • Prolific orange blooms in hot sun
  • Clump forming plant

Butterfly Weed (asclepias tuberosa)


Canada anemone (Anemone canadensis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Beautiful groundcover for sun
  • Can be aggressive in the right location
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Grows 12″ tall
  • Blooms May through July

Canada anemone (anemone canadensis)


Canadian Milk Vetch (Astragalus canadensis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 3 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Good nectar source for pollintors
  • Larval host plant
  • Blooms June through August
  • Interesting white flower
  • Has a tendency to sprawl

Canadian milkvetch (astragalus canadensis)


Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Long blooming in late summer
  • Brilliant red flowers will attract hummingbirds
  • Upright plant grows 2-4 feet
  • Blooms July, August, September
  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to wet soil

Cardinal flower (lobelia cardinalis)


Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 12 inches
  • Blooms April and May
  • Part to full shade
  • Medium soil
  • Wonderful plant for deep-shade problem areas

Celandine poppy (stylophorum diphyllum)


Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Full sun to full shade
  • Blooms May and June
  • Attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant
  • Adaptable plant that grows in full sun to shade
  • Tolerates a wide range of soils as long as drainage is good

Wild columbine (aquilegia canadensis) (1)


Common Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium albidum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • In the Iris family
  • Grows to 6 inches
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Loved by pollinators

Common blue-eyed grass (sisyrinchium albidum)


Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Can grow to 8 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms June and July
  • Pollinator magnet
  • Great specimen plant
  • Can be considered a short perennial or biennial
  • Easy to spread by seed
  • Is Phytotoxis so be careful
  • Can be confused with the Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), which is highly invasive

Cow parsnip (heracleum maximum)


Cream White Indigo (Baptisia bracteata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 2 feet
  • Blooms May and June
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Beautiful clusters of cream flowers
  • Low growing
  • Compact
  • Mounded
  • Long lived
  • Early bloomer
  • Essential plant for spring emerging bumblebee queens
  • Larval host plant
  • Beautiful plant but can be difficult
  • Doesn’t tolerate tall competition

Cream wild indigo (baptisia bracteata)


Culvers Root (Veronicastrum Virginicum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 3 to 6 feet tall
  • Full sun to shade
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms July and August
  • Great pollinator plant
  • Elegant white flower
  • Will self-seed and move around

Culver's Root (veronicastrum virginicum)


Downy Sunflower (Helianthus mollis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 2′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms August and September
  • Healthiest plant for bees
  • Needs plenty of room.

Downy Sunflower (helianthus Mollis)


Elm-Leaved Goldenrod (Solidago ulmifolia)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 3 feet tall
  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms July through October
  • Keystone species
  • Loved by native bees and butterflies
  • Shade-tolerant Goldenrod
  • Will self-seed and move around

Elm-Leaved Goldenrod (solidago ulmifolia)


False Aster (Boltonia asteroides)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Grows to 4 feet tall
  • Blooms August, September, October
  • Beautiful bounty of white flowers at a time when the landscape is mostly yellow
  • Favored by many butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects
  • Will spread but not aggressive
  • Attractive flower and foliage
  • Good rain garden plant
  • Will tolerate standing water

False Aster (boltonia asteroides)


Fire Pinks (Silene virginica)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Attracts hummingbirds
  • Prefers part-shade to full-shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 1′ to 2′ tall
  • Blooms May through July
  • Brilliant red flowers
  • Short lived
  • Will self-sow in well-drained soil

Fire Pinks (silene virginica)


Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Adapts to many light conditions from full-sun to part-shade
  • Prefers medium dry soil
  • Grows up to 3′ tall
  • Blooms June, July
  • Easy to grow
  • Favorite of many native bee species

Foxglove Beardtongue (penstemon digitalis)


Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Very important plant for many pollinators
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium soil
  • Grows up to 3′ tall
  • Blooms April through June

Golden Alexander (zizia aurea)


Great Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Grows to 7 feet tall
  • Appropriate for the back of a garden border
  • Attracts many unique pollinators
  • Great specimen plant
  • Can be considered a short perennial or biennial
  • Spreads easily by seed
  • Is Phytotoxis so be careful

Great Angelica (angelica atropurpurea)


Green Dragon (Arisaema dracontium)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Part to full shade
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Grows to 3 feet
  • Great for under trees
  • Likes heavy shade
  • Similar habit as Jack-in-the-Pulpit
  • Can be slow to establish
  • Take care not to plant the imposter Pinellia tripartita, which is invasive!

Green Dragon (arisaema dracontium)


Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 18 inches tall
  • Full sun to shade
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Attracts bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
  • Attractive shorter Penstemon

hairy Beardtongue (penstemon hirsutus)


Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Great plant for deep shade
  • Best to grow from corms
  • Can be slow to establish

Jack in the Pulpit (arisaema triphyllum)


Jacobs Ladder (Polemonium reptans)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full sun to full shade
  • Medium soil
  • Grows to 12 inches tall
  • Blooms April and May
  • Important source of nectar and pollen for some of the season’s first pollinators
  • Easy to grow

Jacobs Ladder (polemonium reptans)


Joe Pye (Eutrochium maculatum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Full to part-sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • 4′ to 6′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Easy to grow
  • Attractive seed head
  • Shorter than Sweet Joe Pye

Joe Pye (eutrochium maculatum)


Lead Plant (Amorpha Canescens)

Category: Flowering Perennials, Shrubs

  • Keystone Plant
  • Full to partial sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Grows to 3′ tall
  • Blooms June through August
  • One of the few woody plants of the prairie
  • Nice flower
  • Can be slow to develop
  • Mammalian herbivores love this plant

Lead Plant (amorpha canescens)


May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Part to full shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Grows one to two feet tall
  • Beneficial to early season pollinators
  • Ephemeral
  • Attractive plant
  • Will drop in heavy shade under trees

May Apple (podophyllum peltatum)


Monkey Flower (Mimulus ringens)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full sun
  • Moist to wet soil
  • Grows one to three feet tall
  • Attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant
  • Easy to grow
  • Great rain garden plant
  • Unusually nice flower

Monkey Flower (Mimulus ringens)


New England Aster (Symphyotrichum Novae-angliae)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Trim back by one third to one half in June to keep a shorter and bushier plant
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Up to 5′ tall
  • Blooms August through October
  • Does not tolerate wet or dry conditions well
  • Can become leggy and flop over
  • Does better with tall competition

New England Aster (symphyotrichum novae-angliae)


New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

Category: Flowering Perennials, Shrubs

  • Great for small landscapes
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Blooms July and August
  • Stays small and mounded
  • Looks good in all landscapes
  • Can be planted to create a low growing hedge
  • Protect from rabbits the first two years
  • Larval host plant
  • Loved by pollinators and hummingbirds
  • One of the few woody plants of the prairie
  • Can be slow to develop
  • Mammalian herbivores love this plant

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)


Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Blooms July and August
  • Attracts pollinators
  • Especially loved by our native bumblebees
  • Will spread by self-seeding

Nodding Onion (allium cernuum)


Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Loved by pollinators and hummingbirds
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • 2′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms August, September
  • Spreads via rhizomes
  • Can be aggressive in wet conditions

Obedient Plant (physostegia virginiana)


Ohio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Can be cut down to 6 inches when foliage starts to decline after blooming
  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to dry soil
  • 2′ to 3′ tall
  • Blooms May through July
  • Flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon in sunny weather
  • Will spread by self-seeding
  • Very adaptable to almost all conditions

Ohio Spiderwort (tradescantia ohiensis)


Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 3 to 5 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms June and July
  • Favorite nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds
  • Very drought tolerant
  • Does not like wet soils
  • Flowers earlier than Purple Coneflower
  • Flowers more droopy
  • Long, narrow leaves

Pale Purple Coneflower (echinacea pallida)


Prairie Alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms May, June, July
  • Likes good drainage
  • Hummingbirds and butterflies like the tubular flowers
  • Our native “Coral bell”
  • Adapts well to rocky or poor soils
  • Won’t do well against tall competition

Prairie Alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)


Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Loved by butterflies, pollinators, and hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Up to 4′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Spectacular flower
  • Can be difficult to transplant and establish
  • Flowers from top down

Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)


Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 6 inches
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Great edge or rock garden planting
  • Won’t tolerate tall competition
  • Likes barren soil that is rocky, gravelly, or sandy
  • Can be divided

Prairie Smoke (geum triflorum)


Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • A favorite nectar source for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
  • Visited by hummingbirds
  • Looks great in any size garden
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium wet to medium dry soil
  • Grows to 4′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Beautiful flower
  • Easy to grow
  • Could be considered a short-lived perennial
  • Will self-seed and move around

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)


Purple Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • 2′ to 6′ tall
  • Blooms June, July
  • Unique delicate flowers
  • Non-aggressive
  • Upright stems

Purple Meadow Rue (thalictrum dasycarpum)


Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms July, August
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive flower
  • Well-behaved once established
  • Doesn’t like tall competition
  • Nitrogen-fixing plant
  • Great for soil development and water retention
  • Large tap root

Purple Prairie Clover (dalea purpurea)


Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 5 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Wet soil
  • Blooms June, July, August
  • Great unique flower
  • Excellent rain garden plant
  • Clump-forming

Queen of the Prairie (filipendula rubra)


Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Attractive to many pollinators
  • Can fall over if not supported by other plants
  • Very deer and rabbit resistant
  • Full sun
  • Medium soil
  • 3′ to 5′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Interesting Yucca-like looking plant
  • Will self-seed and move around

Rattlesnake Master (eryngium yuccifolium)


Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Loved by many pollinators
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 2′ to 3′ tall
  • Blooms August, September

Rough Blazing Star (liatris aspera)


Royal Catch Fly (Silene regia)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 to 4 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Midium soil
  • Blooms July, August
  • Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
  • Rare Midwest native plant
  • Wonderful red flower
  • Handles competition well

Royal Catchfly (silene regia)


Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Important for bumblebees
  • Ephemeral
  • Great edge or rock garden plant
  • Doesn’t handle tall competition
  • Will form colonies

Shooting Star (dodecatheon meadia)


Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Provides critical late season nectar for pollinators and migrating monarchs
  • Non-aggressive goldenrod
  • Does not spread by rhizomes
  • Larval host plant
  • Top-ranked plant for supporting biodiversity
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Up to 3′ tall
  • Blooms September through November
  • Does best with tall competition
  • Good companion for Sky Blue Aster or New England Aster

Showy Goldenrod (solidago speciosa)


Silky Aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Grows 12 inches tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Dry soil
  • Blooms September, October
  • Very soft, silvery foliage
  • Great edge or rock garden plant
  • Does not compete against tall competition

SilkyAster (Symphyotrichum sericeum)


Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Grows to 3 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms August, September, October
  • Attracts a multitude of pollinators and beneficial insects
  • Attractive flower and floiage
  • Relatively easy to grow
  • Can struggle against taller competition

Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)


Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms June through September
  • A favorite of bees and other pollinators
  • Clump forming plant
  • White flowers very attractive to fauna

Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)


Smooth Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Very attractive to fall butterflies
  • Not aggressive
  • Beautiful arching branches
  • Larval host plant
  • Visited by many pollinators
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 2′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms August through October
  • One of the better-behaved asters
  • Easy to cultivate

Smooth Aster (symphyotrichum laeve)


Smooth Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Very beneficial to native bees
  • Larval host plant
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • 4′ to 6′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Shorter Ironweed
  • Beautiful flower

Ironweed (vernonia fasciculata)


Sneeze Weed (Helenium autumnale)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 4 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Wet soil
  • Blooms August through October
  • Attractive to pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Despite the name, it is not a cause of allergies
  • Good rain garden plant
  • Great for areas with poor drainage or flooding

Sneeze Weed (helenium autumnale)


Solomon Seal (Polygonatum commutatum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Part shade to shade
  • Blooms May and June
  • Attractive to pollinators
  • Loves shade
  • Interesting foliage
  • Strong enough to withstand adverse conditions

Solomon Seal (polygonatum commutatum)


Starry Campion (Silene stellata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Blooms July, August

Starry Campion (Silene stellata)


Stiff Coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms June through August
  • Attractive to pollinators
  • Perfect for difficult dry soils
  • Good for edge planting
  • Spreads by rhizomes
  • Can be aggressive

Stiff Coreopsis (coreopsis palmata)


Stiff Goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone species
  • Grows 3 to 5 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms August, September
  • Larval host plant
  • Loved by many pollinators and other beneficial insects
  • Seeds are enjoyed by birds
  • Easy to grow
  • Can flop
  • Can be aggressive

Stiff Goldenrod (solidago rigida)


Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Important larval host plant for the monarch butterfly
  • A favorite of many pollinators
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to wet soil
  • 3′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms June through August
  • Attractive and elegant plant
  • The only milkweed that tolerates wet conditions
  • Can suffer in hot dry conditions

Swamp Milkweed (asclepias incarnata)


Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 2 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Wet soil
  • Blooms May through July
  • Great choice for pond edges and shoreline restorations
  • Good rain garden plant
  • Thrives in areas with poor drainage or flooding

Sweet Flag (acorus calamus)


Sweet Joe Pye (Eutrochium purpureum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Grows 4 to 6 feet tall
  • Part to full shade
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms August, September
  • A favorite source of nectar for butterflies
  • Attracts many pollinators
  • Well behaved garden plant
  • Good tall woodland plant
  • Will self-seed and spread

Sweet Joe Pye (eutrochium purpureum)


Virginia Blue Bells (Mertensia virginica)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to moist soil
  • 1′ to 2′ tall
  • Blooms April, May
  • Ephemeral
  • Wonderful spring flower
  • Can form colonies
  • Very shade and woodland friendly

Virginia Bluebells (mertensia virginica)


Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to wet soil
  • Blooms July through September
  • Loved by many pollinators
  • Clump forming plant
  • White flowers very attractive to fauna

Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum


Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms July, August
  • Larval host plant for the monarch butterfly
  • Prefers poor well-drained soil or gravel
  • Attractive to many pollinators
  • Delicate interesting milkweed
  • Loves open areas
  • Doesn’t tolerate tall competition

Whorled Milkweed (asclepias verticillata)


Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Liked by pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Part sun to shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 12″ to 18″ tall
  • Blooms May and June
  • Easy to grow
  • Will spread by self-seeding

Wild Geranium (geranium maculatum)


Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • A favorite nectar source for many native pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Full to part sun
  • Dry to moist soil
  • 2′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Easy to grow
  • Can become aggressive

Wild Bergamot (monarda fistulosa)


Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds
  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to moist soil
  • 12″ tall
  • Blooms April through June
  • Great edge planting for shady areas
  • Rabbits love this plant

Wild Blue Phlox (phlox divaricata)


Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • An established groundcover can fend off invasive species
  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 12″ tall
  • Blooms May and June
  • Colony forming
  • Good ground cover for shade

Wild Ginger (asarum canadense)


Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows to 2 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Attractive to spring pollinators
  • Ephemeral
  • Colony-forming plant
  • Can be slow to establish by seed
  • Can be divided by clumps

Wild hyacinth (camassia scilloides)


Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Attractive to native pollinators
  • A favorite of hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 1′ to 2′ tall
  • Blooms June through August
  • Great edge or rock garden plant
  • Doesn’t tolerate tall competition
  • Spreads easily

Wild Petunia (ruellia Humilis)


Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 3 to 5 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms June through September
  • Flowers loved by pollinators
  • Beautiful garden plant
  • Long bloom time
  • Showy white flower
  • Clump forming

Wild Quinine (parthenium integrifolium)


Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 4 to 6 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium, moist, and wet soil
  • Blooms July and August
  • Great pollinator plant
  • Larval host plant
  • Favorite of bumblebees
  • Great wind-tolerant hedge plant
  • Butterfly host plant
  • Attractive winter seed heads

Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa)


Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

Category: Flowering Perennials, Vines

  • Keystone Plant
  • Larval host plant
  • Sun to Shade
  • Moist to dry soil
  • 6″ tall
  • Blooms April through June
  • Great weed-preventing groundcover for a variety of locations
  • Attractive fall color
  • Important for spring pollinators

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)


Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 3 to 6 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms July through September
  • Attracts birds and pollinators
  • Easy to grow
  • Will move around by self-seeds
  • Can become aggressive

Yellow Coneflower (ratibida pinnata)


Zig Zag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Keystone Plant
  • Very attractive to pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Goldenrods are not the cause of hay fever
  • Part shade to shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • 1′ to 3′ tall
  • Bloom August through October
  • Shade-loving Goldenrod
  • Will move around
  • Great color companion for Asters in the fall

Zig Zag Goldenrod (solidago flexicaulis)

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