Zizia aurea, Golden Alexanders
Description: Zizia aurea is one of those natives that every garden should have. It is fairly easy to grow and, although short-lived, will self-seed and persist in many sun/soil situations. Golden Alexanders have a long bloom time, giving the garden/prairie some well-deserved early color for several weeks in late spring to early summer when many other plants have not yet flowered.
Available in 4" pots.
Veronicastrum virginicum, Culver's Root
Description: Culver's Root can offer a strong upright accent to any perennial garden or prairie/savanna. It's an elegant unbranched plant, reaching heights of 5' with candelabra-like spikes of white flowers that open from the bottom up mid-summer.
Available in 4" pots.
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry
Height: 5 feet; Bloom Time: June, July, August; Bloom Color: White
Pickup only.
Vernonia fasciculata, Common Ironweed
Description: Common Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) is usually referred to simply as "Ironweed". This stately plant offers a large cluster of unusually brilliant purple flowers on top of 6' tall, unbranched stems; a sight to see late summer and into fall.
Available in 4" pots
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium; Height: 6 feet
Bloom Time: July, August, September; Bloom Color: Purple
Pickup only.
Verbena hastata, Blue Vervain
Description: Blue Vervain can offer a strong upright accent to any perennial garden or prairie/savanna. The small, tubular, blue-violet flowers bloom from the bottom up in July's heat. The numerous crowning spikes of blossoms give a candelabra-like appearance to this graceful plant.
Available in 4" pots.
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Wet, Medium-Wet, Medium; Height: 5 feet
Bloom Time: July, August, September; Bloom Color: Blue
Pickup only.
Tradescantia ohiensis, Ohio Spiderwort
Description: The Spiderworts are native throughout the country with Ohio Spiderwort being the most widespread. This Tradescantia is very adaptable tolerating sand, clay, and other tough sites. Ohio Spiderwort can be found growing in road ditches and in medium to dry prairies and meadows. It is a very attractive addition to any garden and quite easy to grow from seed. Its unusual blue-green soft foliage and tendency to bloom in the morning sun and close from mid-day heat make this an attractive addition wherever it is found. A stand of Spiderworts can be in bloom from May through July due to this afternoon closing habit.
Available in 4" pots.
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Height: 3 feet; Bloom Time: May, June, July; Bloom Color: Blue
Pickup only.
Symphyotrichum sericeum Silky Aster
Description: Silky Aster leaves are velvety-soft. Both sides of the alternating leaves are covered with fine hairs that lie flat, creating a lovely silvery green appearance. It's worth growing for the attractive foliage alone! This Aster sets many pretty violet-purple flowers. attracts a multitude of pollinators. Thriving in drier soils, Symphyotrichum sericeum reaches 1-2' in height.
Available in 4" pot
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium-Dry, Dry: Height: 12 inches
Bloom Time: September, October; Bloom Color: Purple
Pickup only.
Coreopsis tripteris, Tall Coreopsis
Description: As its name implies, Coreopsis tripteris (Tall Coreopsis) stands quite tall reaching heights of 7' and in some cases up to 9'. Because of its height, it would be best to start with a few plants to form a loose colony. Arranged in a flat-topped cluster, the flowers comprise a disk of yellow, deepening to purple-red.
Available in 4" pots.
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry;
Height: 7 feet; Bloom Time: July, August, September, October; Bloom Color: Yellow
Pickup only.
Achillea Milefolium - Yarrow
Description: Widely found along roadsides and in open fields, this Aster-family plant is easily identified by its feathery, fine, almost fern-like leaves. Many butterflies are attracted to yarrow nectar, while numerous species of moths and beetles use the plant as a larval host. Maxing out at under 2’ tall, plants spread by rhizomes and prefer well-drained, medium-to-sandy soils. Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry; Height: 12-18"; Bloom Time: June, July, August, September; Bloom Color: White
Agastache Foenicuium - Anise Hyssop
Description: This plant is easy to grow and often blooms in its first year. It self-sows readily; the new seedlings are quite hardy and can be transplanted easily. Once established, anise hyssop is drought tolerant. It is also deer resistant; most mammals dislike the strong scent of the leaves. Available in 4 pots for $4.00 and 5" pots for $5.00. Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-Dry; Height: 3 feet; Bloom Time: June, July, August, September; Bloom Color: Purple. Available for pickup only.
Antennaria Plantaginifolia Pussytoes
Description: Pussytoes are usually grown for their velvety leaves rather than the white to pale pink flower. The late spring flowers look like tiny cat's feet, thus the name. These flowers will reach up to about a foot in height, but the leaves grow at ground level. Spreading by stolons, pussytoes provide a good ground cover for dry areas such as rock gardens. Available in 4" pots for $4.00. Sun exposure: full, partial; soil moisture: medium, medium-dry, dry; height: 12 inches; bloom time: April, May, June; bloom color: white. Pickup only.
Allium Cernuum Nodding Onion
Description: Nodding Onion is renowned for the unique orientation of its flowers: the umbels face downward, "nodding" towards the ground. Allium cernuum grows best in full or partial sun and a variety of moist soil conditions; if those needs are met, this plant is very hardy, even doing well in damp clay. This plant is easy to grow and will gradually spread by seed and bulb offshoots in suitable sites. Plant in mass for a stunning display. Like all the Allium species, Nodding Onion has a pungent smell when crushed or bruised, making it deer-resistant. Available in 4" pots for $4.00. Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry; Height: 18 inches; Bloom Time: July, August; Bloom Color: Purple. Available for pickup only.
Anaphalis Margaritacea - Pearly Everlasting
Description: The stems and elongated leaves of Pearly Everlasting are covered with white hairs. Clustered at the top of erect stems, the tiny yellow flowers are enclosed by white papery bracts, often mistaken for petals. The overall appearance is a pearly mound; a nice shape and color for a garden edge. Pearly everlasting is drought tolerant as it prefers full sun and dry, even rocky or poor soil conditions. Moderate shade and medium soils are also tolerated. Available in 4" pots. Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium-Dry, Dry; Height: 2 feet; Bloom Time: June, July, August, September; Bloom Color: White Pickup only.
Aquilegia Canadensis - Columbine
Description: Aquilegia canadensis, columbine, also called red or American columbine, is one of the first plants to provide nectar in the spring for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Columbine is the larval host plant of the Columbine Duskywing. The colorful flowers are red flowing into yellow. Besides being an early bloomer, columbine will tolerate a large range of soil and sun types, so you'll have success with it in full sun as well as shade. It can grow in pine tree areas and is deer-resistant. Available in 4" pots. Sun Exposure: Full, Partial, Shade; Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry; Height: 2 feet; Bloom Time: April, May, June; Bloom Color: Red. Pickup only.
Asclepias Incarnata, Rose Milkweed
Description: Rose Milkweed is also commonly called Red Milkweed, Marsh Milkweed, or Swamp Milkweed. That lovely vanilla fragrance you detect coming from large, rosy pink flowers possibly hosting several Monarch or Swallowtail butterflies is Rose Milkweed. Like all members of the Asclepias genus, this milkweed is often used by monarch butterflies as a host plant. This deer-resistant plant grows best in moist soil but will tolerate average soils and blooms for about a month in midsummer. Available in 4 " pots Sun exposure: full, partial; soil moisture: wet, medium-wet, medium; height: 4 feet; bloom time: June, July, August; bloom color: pink. Pickup only.
Asclepias Speciosa, Showy Milkweed
Description: Asclepias speciosa has a similar appearance to common milkweed, but its pinkish-purple flowers have longer, tapered petals that are covered with fine hairs. These persistent, fragrant blooms are often described as looking like small crowns. Showy milkweed may be better suited in garden settings because it spreads less aggressively than common milkweed. Asclepias species are excellent nectar sources and are food for the larval stages of monarch and queen butterflies. The flowers attract many butterflies and hummingbirds. Available in 4" pots. Sun Exposure: Full; Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry; Height: 3 feet; Bloom Time: June, July, August; Bloom Color: Purple. Pickup only.
Asclepias Syriaca, Common Milkweed
Description: Common milkweed is one of the easiest and fastest to establish of the milkweeds, and planting more, even in small urban pockets, can provide personal satisfaction while helping to counter increasing threats to our monarch butterfly population. The large flower can vary in color from nearly white to deep pink-purple. The fragrance is very delicate and pleasing, and numerous native pollinators will benefit during its long bloom time. Available in 4" pots. Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry; Height: 3 feet; Bloom Time: June, July, August; Bloom Color: Pink. Pickup only.
Asclepias Tuberosa, Butterfly Weed
Description: Asclepias tuberosa, butterfly weed, is most often a distinctive bright orange, but there is some variation in flower color, from deep red-orange to yellow. This distinctive color and the absence of the typical milky white sap that other milkweed species have make identification easy. The leaves are somewhat narrow, up to 1”, and tapered, with no stem and dark green in color. This is a great milkweed for a sunny location in a dry area. Mature plants in ideal locations can make as many as 20 stems at an average height of 2’. The vivid orange color, low mounded profile, and ability to attract and sustain butterflies make this plant a well-known landscape favorite for all types of gardens. Butterfly weed needs a drier, well-drained location to successfully seed into and grow well. In older plants the long taproot can extend down many feet. Due to this deep, drought-tolerant taproot, it can be late to emerge in the spring, especially in northern climates, so be patient. Available in 4" pots. Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry; Height: 2 feet; Bloom Time: June, July, August; Bloom Color: Orange Pickup only.
Asclepias Verticillata, Whorled Milkweed
Description: Asclepias verticillata (Whorled Milkweed) has very skinny, "whorled" leaves. When whorled milkweed is mature, it reaches a height around 2'. Whorled milkweed is deer- and rabbit-resistant. Please note, this species is rhizomatous and will spread. Whorled Milkweed can bloom anytime between July and September, which is later in the year than many other milkweeds. There are clusters of approximately 20 flowers near the top of each plant. The white flowers can be a greenish-white on some plants. The nectar of the flowers attracts many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, and beetles. Available in 4" pots. Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry; Height: 2 Feet; Bloom Time: July, August, September; Bloom Color: White. Pickup only.
Campanula Rotundifolia, Harebell
Description: Campanula rotundifolia, Harebell, is a delicate beauty with small blue-violet bell-shaped flowers that nod from the tips of slender stems, blooming in spurts from summer to fall. Rosettes of rounded basal leaves wither early after sending up clusters of wiry stems with long, narrow foliage. The slender flowering stems can rise up to 12 inches. Campanula rotundifolia does well in rocky soils and crevices, often self-seeding in retaining walls. Available in 4" pots. Sun Exposure: Full, Partial; Soil Moisture: Medium-Dry, Dry; Height: 12 inches; Bloom Time: June, July, August, September; Bloom Color: Purple Pickup only.
Chelone Glabra, Turtlehead
Description: Turtlehead is named for its pretty white blossoms, which resemble a turtle's head poking out from its shell. It is an important host plant, providing larval food for the lovely orange and brown Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly. Its nectar also attracts other butterflies, bumblebees, and ruby-throated hummingbirds. Turtlehead likes wet to moist soils and full to part sun. The plants have deep green foliage of lance-shaped leaves on upright stems and grow to 5 feet tall. They make a good choice for border and wet meadow plantings and will provide for a late summer bloom. Available in 1-quart pots. Sun exposure: full; soil moisture: wet, medium-wet; height: 5 feet; bloom time: July, August, September; bloom color: cream, white. Pickup only.