Native Plants

Pink buds open to pure white butterfly-shaped flowers on tall wispy but sturdy stems on this fairly compact and floriferous native perennial.  Whirling Butterflies Gaura begins flowering in spring and may continue into fall under good conditions. Gauras are hardy and reliable, tap-rooted, and drought resistant native perennials. 

In late summer and fall, Frostweed produces large flattened clusters of flowers that are used by a variety of pollinators including bees, migrating Monarchs and other butterflies. This is a relatively tall growing rhizomatous native perennial that will develop into a mass of upright stems and flowers. Frostweed, Verbesinca virginica, is typically found growing in moist to periodically dry soils in partly shaded to lightly shaded sites from the Edward's Plateau of west central Texas to Florida and as far north as Missouri and Kentucky. Compared to the very similar species Texas Crownbeard, Verbesina microptera, the Virginia Frostweed has fewer ray flowers (or petals) per flower and is considered to be more reliably cold hardy. Item# 11767

Clusters of pure white flowers with a darker eye may be born throughout summer and can nearly cover the top of the plant under good conditions. White or Swamp Milkweed is one of the few shade tolerant Milkweeds but it seems to produce a fuller denser plant where it receives at least 4-6 hours or more of direct sunlight. This is an excellent choice for use as a Monarch host as it will remain evergreen in mild winters in zone 8B and warmer and is a good substitute for the Mexican Milkweed for those looking for a reliable locally native perennial Milkweed with a smaller compact habit. Asclepias perennis is native to much of the eastern central US. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist to semi-moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Plant the Aquatic or White Milkweed in spring until about midsummer in zones 6-8 to help ensure plants are well-established before winter. It can also be enjoyed as a container plant but it should be protected if there is a chance that the soil can freeze. Item# 10451

Pure-white 1/2" blooms are born in grape-like drooping clusters from spring/summer to frost on this large tropical shrub sometimes grown as a tender perennial or annual. In freeze-free climates the Duranta can be used as a hedge or screen or train them into beautiful small trees. In the mildest portions of zone 8B-9 it will often act as a die-back perennial. The blooms are followed by 1/2" golden berries giving it the name of 'Golden Dewdrop'. Item# 737.

Large dense spikes of pure white foxglove-like flowers are born over a long period through spring and often well into summer on this beautiful clump forming native perennial. This wildflower's popularity for bouquets has made it nearly endangered in some areas. Great for butterflies, bees, and birds. Item# 9542.

12-18" long sturdy spikes of white pea-like blossoms contrast with the purplish black stems and are born in spring above the newly unfurling bluish green foliage on tall 3-4' stems. Baptisia's are durable pest and disease resistant native taprooted perennials and could be considered the Lupine for the south. An excellent addition to the perennial border or cut-flower garden that is drought tolerant, deer resistant, durable, and easy. Item# 10230.

In fall loads of dainty 1/2" wide white daisies with a pinkish-purplish 'eye' literally cover the plant for weeks and offer nectar and pollen to smaller pollinators. The White Woodland Aster or Calico Aster, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, is a small bushy clump forming native perennial common throughout the Eastern and Central US and spilling over into Canada. It is a common component of our local Pineywoods region that adds a bolt of color beneath that of the changing foliage as well as providing a pollinator food source at a time when many plants have gone to seed for the year but native bees are still stockpiling. The White Woodland Aster is fairly tolerant of full sun to partly shaded sites and is a good choice for meadows, prairies, and roadside plantings. It may reseed on exposed soils, although it does not appear to be aggressive. Caterpillar host plant for the Pearl Crescent butterfly. Item# 12039

Clusters of tiny, light pink, tubular flowers are encircled by a mass of velvety white, bract-like leaves in mid to late summer. Whiteleaf Mountainmint has a strong minty sage-like fragrance and can be used in place of sage in cooking. It is a clump forming perennial  with an upright growth habit. The dainty flowers are pollinated by a variety of smaller pollinators but are relished by bees. Easy to grow and deer and pest resistant. Somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Item# 10669.

Clusters of small white to greenish-white flowers are borne mainly in summer among the finely textured, narrow, dark-green foliage of Whorled Milkweed. This is a tough, native, taprooted perennial found throughout all but the most western portions of the US as well as into Canada. Whorled Milkweed is a host to the Monarch and Queen butterflies. Item# 10221.

According to Dr. Allen's Edible Plants of the Gulf South, Wild Chervil or Honewort is an easy to grow, native, tuberous rooted perennial whose leaves, stems, and flowers are useful fresh in salads or can be cooked as a green, the tuberous roots can be used as a starch, and the seeds can be used as a spice. Grow it as a loose groundcover in shade to partial shade in a moist, but not soggy soil,  preferably rich in organic matter. A host for the Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly. Item# 10219.

The tall stems of this native perennial cover up in 1" light purple daisies in late summer and fall. Willowleaf Aster, Symphyotrichum praealtum, produces a multitude of upright to arching stems once well-established and makes a grand statement in the fall garden, prairie, meadow, or roadsides. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators but are an especially important late summer and fall nectar source for native bees. Willowleaf Aster or Willow Aster is long rhizomatous, versus clumpforming, and will slowly colonize an area once established creating a dense stand at maturity. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in moist to average moist soils. Cutback to ground level after flowering to prevent unwanted seedlings if desired. Item# 10693.

Only one of two Amsonia species to receive a 5-star rating in the Chicago Botanic Gardens trials! Showy clusters of light blue star-shaped 1" wide flowers are produced in spring atop sturdy stems cloaked in dark green willow-like foliage. The Willowleaf Eastern Bluestar has the same basic habit and growth requirements of the more common Eastern Bluestar, Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana, but with larger showier flower clusters that seem to cover the plant, a neat dense vase-shaped habit, and clean disease resistant foliage. An easy to grow, clump-forming native perennial that is tolerant of wet to average moist soils preferring a full to mostly sunny site in the garden and landscape. The flowers of Bluestars attract butterflies and hummingbird moths. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11945

Deep wine-red cupped flowers with contrasting creamy white stamens cover this durable native groundcover in spring with flowering often continuing well into mid-summer and flowering again in fall. Winecups make excellent choice where it can be allowed to naturalize or where it can be enjoyed spilling from large containers or over a wall. This tough native tap-rooted perennial reliably returns year after year and has been selected as a Plant Select® Award winner. Provide a full sun to partly shade site and Winecups are adaptable to soil types but prefer average moisture. Item# 9232.

Grown mainly for it's beautiful silvery blue-green foliage, Woodlander's Blue Zenobia also produces large spikes of fragrant anise-scented, 3/8" wide, bell-shaped white flowers in spring and often golden, and sometimes even red and purple, fall color that may last well into winter. Excellent for mass plantings in moist acid soils that are well-drained. Item# 10154.

Clusters of medium to large cupped white flowers that are centered by a deep burgundy eye are produced in summer and sit atop a sturdy stems cloaked in grayish to nearly white foliage. The Woolly Rose-Mallow or Swamp Mallow, a form of Hibiscus moscheutos var. lasiocarpos, is sure to be a standout hardy clump-forming perennial that will produce more and more flowering stems each year eventually developing into a rounded mass of nearly white foliage topped by clusters of flowers. The flowers normally remain open until about midday but may stay open nearly all day on overcast or cloudy days. The Woolly Rose-Mallow is adaptable to moist to wet to average moist, fertile soils and is an easy choice for pondside and bog plantings. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12197

Clusters of sunny yellow 1" orchid-like flowers are borne in spring and summer and into fall and are followed by chartreuse butterfly-like seed pods that fade to brown. A vigorous and hardy yet well-mannered twining climber the Yellow Butterfly Vine can grow to 15-20' high if given support or it can easily be maintained on a fence, trellis, or arbor. This woody naturally evergreen vine can also be grown as a mounding shrub to 4-6' high. Where not hardy the Yellow Butterfly Vine is easily maintained as a container plant. The beautiful flowers provide nectar and pollen to a variety of garden beneficials including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Item# 745.

Round clusters of 1" light yellow to white tubular flowers are produced from about mid to late spring atop sturdy square stems adorned with lightly fragrant foliage. Newly described to science in 2011 by Jason Singhurst and Walter Holmes, the Yellow Flowered Beebalm has as yet only been found in northeastern Texas and Miller county in Arkansas. This is a slowly spreading native perennial well suited to naturalistic settings such as meadows, prairies, or roadside planting as well as in mixed perennial borders and pollinator habitats. The flowers attract hummingbirds and larger butterflies. We have to say thank you to SFA Gardens for making this species more widely available. Item# 11988

Round clusters of 1" light yellow to white tubular flowers are produced from about mid to late spring atop sturdy square stems adorned with lightly fragrant foliage. Newly described to science in 2011 by Jason Singhurst and Walter Holmes, the Yellow Flowered Beebalm has as yet only been found in northeastern Texas and Miller county in Arkansas. This is a slowly spreading native perennial well suited to naturalistic settings such as meadows, prairies, or roadside planting as well as in mixed perennial borders and pollinator habitats. The flowers attract hummingbirds and larger butterflies. We have to say thank you to SFA Gardens for making this species more widely available. Item# 11988

Beautiful yellow tubular blooms are born from spring to fall. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies make this a lovely vine for fence, arbor or trellis. It is evergreen and vigorous, but easy to control. Item # 1075.

Tall spikes of bright yellow pea-like blossoms are held above the gray-green foliage. Baptisia's are durable pest and disease resistant native taprooted perennials and could be considered the Lupine for the south. An excellent addition to the perennial border or cut-flower garden that is drought tolerant, deer resistant, durable, and easy. Item# 9813.