Native Plants

The large 5" wide bright sunny yellow flowers have a darker gold stripe on the outer petals or falls and with some green accents in the center of the flowers. Captain Jeff Bowen is a vigorous and hardy, midseason flowering Louisiana Iris that is part of the Fallen Heroes series hybridized by Lee-Ann Connelly, now Shearouse, and marketed by Ag3 Inc. A portion of the price of each plant is donated to the Fallen First Responders charity that aids the children of both Firefighters and Law Enforcement. Multiplies readily in average garden soils, moist to wet soils, or they can be set in water gardens where the container is just below the water's surface. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12833

2-3' high spikes of glowing scarlet tubular flowers are produced in late spring or summer on this US native wildflower. A rosette forming herbaceous perennial to biennial, the Red Cardinal Flower is commonly found along stream banks, marshes, and bogs and will perform well in average to wet garden soils. Attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. Item# 1217

Clusters of small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers are produced in spring and are followed by 1/4-3/8" diameter, red berries that ripen to glossy black in fall and are prized by songbirds. Carolina Buckthorn, Frangula caroliniana and previously Rhamnus caroliniana, is a small, native, deciduous tree to large shrub with large, glossy, ovate foliage and typically grows to about 10-15' high. It is native to much of the southeastern US from central Texas to central Florida and as far north as central Missouri. It is adaptable to most soil types provided they have good drainage and is moderately drought resistant once fully established. Provide the Carolina Buckthorn with a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, fertile soil for optimum growth and vigor. Caterpillar host: American Snout Butterfly. Item# 13555

Masses of bright yellow, 1" long trumpets herald the coming of spring and have a strong Jasmine-like fragrance that is produced in early evening and at night suggesting that they are pollinated by hummingbird or sphinx moths as well as by native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. *It is not a suitable nectar plant for honeybees. Carolina Yellow Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, is a native, twining, evergreen to semi-evergreen vine with glossy, dark green, narrow foliage that can climb up to 20' high but is just as happy on a 6' fence or other sturdy support. It is native to the southeastern US from eastern Texas, all along the Gulf Coast, north to Virginia, as well as in the southern half of Arkansas and about 3 counties in southcentral Tennessee. Provide Carolina Jasmine with a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum growth and to maximize flowering. Although, it is shade tolerant it doesn't flower as profusely. Tough and easy as well as drought, deer, and rabbit resistant. Its fragrance is enough to stop you in your tracks on an evening stroll! Item# 1208

3-4" wide, upward facing, flowers are produced in a range of colors ranging from red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and cream atop sturdy 18-30" stalks in summer attracting a wide range of pollinators, especially butterflies and larger bees. Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower is a seed grown, hybrid strain of Echinacea with a clump forming habit and deep green foliage that flowers in its first year under average growing conditions. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Cheyenne Spirit was selected as the 2013 AAS Perennial of the Year. Image courtesy of Kieft Seed. Item# 10525

Rounded clusters of medium purple tubular flowers are produced in late spring to early summer atop sturdy stems. The flowers attract hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Claire Grace Beebalm was selected not only for its long-lasting masses of darker purple flowers but also for its glossy green healthy foliage with good resistance to powdery mildew. This was one of the top 3 performing Monardas in trials that included over 40 cultivars at Mt. Cuba Center near Wilmington Delaware. Discovered in Mississippi by Barb and Michael Bridges of the now defunct Southern Perennials and Herbs and named for their daughter. Beebalm makes an easy and reliable addition to the garden and landscape as well as in naturalized areas. Provide a full to mostly sunny position in well-drained soils for optimum health and flowering. Item# 11946

Up to 6" wide, fragrant, slightly rounded, white flower clusters arch away from their structure on semi-lax stems showing off numerous small white flowers that attract bees and butterflies. The dark green glossy foliage creates a strong contrast to the brilliant white flowers. This native Climbing Hydrangea is typically found growing where soils are consistently moist in shaded to filtered shade conditions. It is a hardy deciduous woody vine that uses a multitude of rootlets along its stems to grab onto structures for support and may be used as a groundcover as well. Only mature vertical growing stems produce the new growth that creates the early to midsummer flowering stems. A west central Louisiana selection. Item# 12066

Dense clusters of upward facing, short, tubular whitish flowers are touched with purple or lavender and are accented by large silvery to whitish bracts and are produced over an extended period in summer. The flowers attract a variety of smaller pollinators especially small native bees and flower flies. Clustered Mountainmint, Pycnanthemum muticum, is a native, branching, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial growing to about 2-3' high and 1-2' wide. This may be the strongest scented of the Mountainmints and the foliage can be used in teas and cooking. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile soil. Easy and reliable and can be enjoyed as a container plant as well as in more naturalistic settings like prairies and meadows. Item# 10029

The 3" wide, cornflower-like daisies open white, slowly work their way through shades of lavender, and finally deepen to a violet blue creating a rainbow of cool-colored flowers even on the same flower stalk. Colorwheel Stokesia is just as tough and reliable as its brethren creating a mound of foliage on a durable and dense clump forming native perennial. Stokesia Daisy is one of those plant it and forget it perennials, once they become established in nearly any garden or landscape they require almost no additional care. Item# 10928.

Small clusters of large 4-petaled sunny yellow flowers are lightly fragrant and open in the evening to attract pollinating moths and may last until about noon the following day when they attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Ripe seeds are utilized by songbirds. Common Evening Primrose is a tall growing tap-rooted native biennial species found throughout most of the lower 48 states and into Canada. It is common in disturbed areas, meadows and prairies. The first year it produces a rosette of foliage and the second year it shoots up to 3-6' high and begins flowering in summer and may continue into fall under good conditions. The Common Evening Primrose will readily reseed on exposed soils. It is a good addition to naturilized areas or add it to the Moon Moth Garden. Item# 11761

Clusters of red to coral, 2" long, tubular flowers are produced beginning in late winter and early spring and continue cyclically through summer and into fall attracting mainly hummingbirds but potentially other pollinators. The Coral or Trumpet Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, is a native, deciduous to semi-evergreen, twining, woody vine growing to about 10' high and is cloaked in bluish-green to medium green, rounded foliage. Flowers are followed by 1/4" red berries that are a treat for songbirds. This is a mannerly and manageable Honeysuckle, unlike its white and yellow flowered Japanese cousin, and will happily twine through a 6' high chain link fence or up an 8-10' arbor, trellis, or post. Few other native woody vines can boast such a long flowering season as the Coral Honeysuckles making them our #1 pick for attracting hummingbirds. Provide a sunny, average moist, well-drained site for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Chalcedon Checkerspot. Item# 1171

Correll's False Dragonhead is a rare but wonderful, seemingly more refined garden species that is as vigorous as it is beautiful. The dense spikes of purplish-pink, tubular, often speckled, flowers are held atop sturdy, 3' high stems in summer. Like most other Physostegias, Correll's False Dragonhead does spread by large rhizomes even in average soils. The leaves of this species are toothed, widest in the middle, sessile, and are almost always a rich dark green. Item# 10236.

This native perennial Hibiscus boasts large 6-8" wide typically white but occassionally pink flowers with a dark burgundy eye. The Crimson-Eyed Rosemallow, Hibiscus moscheutos, is common in moist and wet areas as the name implies but is tolerant of average moist garden soils but may require extra moisture during dry spells. This is a vigorous and hardy native perennial that can reach 5-7' high but is more commonly found at 4'. The foliage may be used as a butterfly caterpillar host by Hairstreaks, Blues, Coppers, and others. Hibiscus moscheutos is one of the main species used in breeding of the large dinner plate-sized Hardy or Perennial Hibiscus cultivars. Item# 9399

In late summer, fall, and winter - in tropical climates, Crucita covers up in nectar rich, flat-topped clusters composed of numerous, fuzzy, light blue to light purple flowers that make the perfect landing platforms for pollinators of all shapes and sizes. Crucita or Jack in the Bush, Chromalaena odorata, is a naturally evergreen to semi-evergreen, shrub-like to vine-like perennial, typically growing to about 4-6' high and wide in areas where freezes regularly occur. In tropical winter climates where the woody stems do not freeze back, it can become scandent, or vine-like, with plants potentially scrambling up to about 10-20'H. In late fall in South Texas, where this is one of the most common species planted for butterflies, the plants seemingly cover up with pollinators. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in, fertile, average moist, and average to well drained soils. A breathable winter mulch is recommended anywhere hard freezes occur and in drier locations. Caterpillar host: Rounded Metalmark. Item# 10670

Crushed Coral Mamou Bean produces tall spikes of dark coral pink, 2-3" tubular flowers in late spring and early summer atop sturdy stems that are held well above the foliage of this tough native perennial. The Mamou Bean is a drought tolerant and hardy shrublet that freezes back to the ground to return in spring. The flowers are followed by dark colored bean pods that split open to display their brilliant red-orange beans that can remain on the plant all winter. Excellent for Hummingbirds. Crushed Coral Mamou Bean is an Almost Eden exclusive introduction. Caterpillar host: Holly Blue. Item# 10751

Clusters of red, 2" long, tubular flowers may be produced nearly year-round on mature plants, if they are left unpruned, and attract mainly hummingbirds but potentially other pollinators as well. Dan's Everblooming Coral Honeysuckle, an SFA selection of Lonicera sempervirens, is a deciduous to semi-evergreen, twining, native, woody vine cloaked in bluish-green to deep green rounded foliage and grows to about 10' high. Flowers are typically followed by 1/4" bright red berries that are a treat for songbirds. In 2025 we had snow in January and a few flower clusters were open even then and by mid-February it was on its way to nearly full flower. This is a mannerly and manageable Honeysuckle that will happily twine through a 6' high chain link fence or up an 8-10' arbor, trellis, or post. Few other native woody vines can boast such a long flowering season as the Coral Honeysuckles making them our #1 pick for attracting hummingbirds. Provide a sunny, average moist, well-drained site for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Chalcedon Checkerspot. Item# 9729

Large, rounded clusters composed of nearly 1" wide, fragrant, pure white flowers sit atop sturdy stems in summer and are sure to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. David's Garden Phlox has exceptional disease resistance and was selected as the 2002 Perennial Plant of the Year. Garden Phlox is also known as Summer Border Phlox or Fall Phlox, it is a hardy clump forming, upright growing herbaceous perennial found throughout much of the eastern and central US. Item# 10830.

A profusion of golden orange-yellow dark eyed daisies are produced in mid to late summer and into fall atop tall sturdy stems and attract a myriad of smaller pollinators and garden beneficials. Deam's Black-Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii, is different from Goldstrum by having a clump forming habit, slightly larger flowers, and overall taller plants with better resistance to powdery mildew. Its reliability has garnered this US native perennial the coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit. Provide Deam's Black-Eyed Susan with a full to mostly sunny site in average to well-drained soils. Songbirds enjoy the ripe seed heads and it may reseed under good conditions on exposed soils making it a good addition to cottage gardens, meadows, prairies, and other naturalistic and informal settings. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12115