Native Plants

Masses of deep brick red trumpet shaped flowers nearly cover up this vine in spring or early summer just in time for arriving hummingbirds. It's almost like the two coordinate it or something! The red Dragon Lady Crossvine is a vigorous evergreen to semi-evergreen clinging vine(it does so via pads on the end of its tendrils and so is not destructive to brickwork and masonry) that can easily clamber up or along masonry, tree bark, fences, or other structural supports on its own. Crossvines are a low maintenance choice for fences, posts, arbors, and larger trellises. The deep red trumpet shaped flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators. The foliage takes on purple and burgundy coloration throughout the cooler months when grown in full to mostly sunny conditions. Dragon Lady Crossvine is reported to be a slightly more cold hardy selection and was chosen as the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society's Gold Medal Award winner in 2003. Item# 391

Purple falls with prominent darker red-purple veining and a contrasting gold signal topped by the light lavender standards that deepen to purple at their outer edges, and are topped by light blush pink style arms.purple standards. Earline Sudduth Louisiana Iris flowers in midseason, typically April, flowering and grows to about 30-36"H. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13340

The large rounded clusters of deep orange and gold buds open to sunny yellow, fragrant flowers that attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds in early spring atop the bare stems. Earl's Gold Deciduous Azalea, an Earl Sommerville hybrid, develops into an upright to rounded, medium to large deciduous shrub well suited to bright woodland settings but will also thrive in full sun under good conditions. Like the Aromi hybrids, the Earl Sommerville hybrids show excellent tolerance to the heat and humidity of the Southeastern US. Sometimes still fondly referred to as Wild Honeysuckle Bushes, these nativars will do best in an average moist, well-drained, fertile, acidic soil from partial shade to full sun conditions. Topdress with an organic mulch like pinestraw, a.k.a. pine needles, or pine bark. Item# 13290

Dense clusters of large pink tubular flowers with a white lower lip are born in late summer and early fall on this easy native perennial. Excellent for attracting bees. This is the latest flowering Physostegia that we grow. The Fall Obedient Plant will readily spread by rhizomes creating a mass of sturdy, 3-4' stems. An easy and reliable native perennial. Item# 10420.

Producing large, often branched, clusters of large pink tubular flowers in summer atop sturdy 4-7' high stems with narrow medium green foliage. Adored by Hummingbirds and other long-tonged pollinators. Finger False Dragonhead is a rare species that seems quite happy in average garden settings where it readily multiplies by rhizomes. This is evident by the host of new rosettes that emerge in winter for spring's flowers. Item# 10238.

Large rounded clusters composed of a multitude of intense deep red-orange, 1-2" long, tubular flowers and are produced throughout summer and into fall attracting hummingbirds for miles around. The Firecracker Bush, Bouvardia ternifolia, is a naturally small, upright to rounded, subtropical shrub native to the US desert southwest and Mexico growing to 1-2' high and wide but potentially to 4'. Its desert roots makes this an easy and forgiving container plant as well as an excellent addition to the garden and landscape. Provide the Firecracker Bush with a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil in part shade to bright shade for optimum vigor and flowering. Under warm frost free conditions it may flower nearly year-round. Item# 13182

2022 Missouri Botanic Garden Plants of Merit selection! 18" long arching spikes composed of numerous dark golden yellow flowers burst onto the scene in late summer and fall creating a much needed feast of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies including migratory Monarchs, and other garden beneficials. Fireworks is an award winning selection of the native Roughleaf Goldenrod, Solidago rugosa, and it won top marks in the Goldenrod trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. This is a hardy, clump-forming slowly spreading (a.k.a. short rhizomatous) herbaceous perennial that is both adaptable and manageable. Fireworks Goldenrod prefers a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist to moist fertile soil although it is tolerant of part shade, part sun conditions. Use this easy to grow native perennial in naturalistic settings and in mixed perennial gardens and landscapes. Item# 12313

Plants are covered by clusters of 2-3" wide, widely flaring, 4-petalled, glowing sunny yellow flowers in late spring and early summer and are held against red tinged foliage and even darker red new growth, flower buds, and winter rosettes. Fireworks Sundrops, a selection of our native Oenothera fruticosa subsp. glauca, but has a more compact, 12-18" high habit than the species. This is a tough and easy clump forming to short-rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial well suited to sunny, well-drained sites and plants typically need little additional attention once established in the landscape. Unlike many of the Evening Primroses, Sundrop flowers are open during the day providing nectar and pollen to a variety of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 10160

Spikes of deep red upward facing funnel-shaped flowers are produced non-stop from mid to late spring to fall atop the rich glossy deep green foliage attracting hummingbirds, occasional butterflies, and long-tongued bees. Flame Red Hummingbird Bush, a selection of Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii, is a small decidous native shrub from South Texas with excellent flower power. This easy and reliable heirloom has an upright to spreading busny habit rarely exceeding 3-4' in height (3'x3' is fairly typical in our zone 8B gardens) and it revels in the heat and sun of summer and is undaunted by the high humidity and high rainfall of the southeastern US. In the northernmost portion of its hardiness range, zones 7A-8A, the Hummingbird Bush may freeze back to near groundlevel in the hardest winters but readily returns to flowering by mid to late spring. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Small and tough enough for container culture but it also makes a low-maintenance addition the garden and landscape. Item# 13176

Large, flat displays of rich yellow flowers are born over an exteded period in summer that lasts until early fall. Flat-Top or Shiny Goldenrod provides a perfect landing platform for pollinators while they enjoy its rich nectar and pollen. Unlike many of the Goldenrods this is a true clump forming perennial that stays where you put it. It gets the name Shiny Goldenrod from its shiny foliage. Item# 10683.

Up to 1" wide, light purple to blue, yellow-eyed daisies are borne in small clusters and singly atop a dense mound of bristly arching stems over an extended period in late summer and fall attracting a variety of smaller pollinators, especially bees. The Flax-Leaf Ankle-Aster, Ionactis lineariifolia but potentially I. repens (see additional notes on this plant's full product page), is a clump forming, herbaceous, native perennial that grows from a woody base producing a multitude of small wiry stems that are adorned with very narrow, stiff, fine, gray-green foliage. The plants naturally form a fairly dense rounded and spreading mound of stems to about 12-18" high and 16-24" wide. Locally, we normally find this plant on deep, dryish, poor sandy or loamy soils. This unusual Aster is native to much of the central and eastern US. It is a tough, deer and drought resistant, native perennial that is suitable for the perennial garden, rock gardens, and xeriscaping as well as for naturalistic areas like meadows and roadsides. The plants are moderately shade tolerant, but may flower best where they receive 4-6 hours or more of direct sunlight. Provide the Flax-Leaf Ankle-Aster with a sharply draining sandy, loamy, or rocky soil and average moisture during initial establishment. Item# 10692

The sunny yellow new growth and bright yellow foliage of this evergreen native shrub is sure to brighten any lightly shaded garden. Florida Sunshine Anise develops into a naturally rounded form and has a medium to slow rate of growth. Happiest in moist well-drained soils in a lightly shaded or morning sun site. Use Florida Sunshine Anise with other shrubs and perennials where its bright foliage can contrast nicely setting off everything around it. Item# 10951.

Fragrant, flattened clusters of fuzzy white, nectar rich flowers are produced in late summer and fall just as the Monarch butterflies are migrating southward and attracting a variety of late season pollinators like bees, butterflies, flower flies, and hummingbirds. The Fragrant White Mistflower, Ageratina havanensis, is a small to medium-sized, native, rounded shrub to shrub-like perennial cloaked in very dark green, semi-glossy, evergreen to semi-deciduous foliage and growing to 3-6' high and wide. This tough hombre is a native of the Edwards Plateau and is moderately drought resistant once well-estalblished. It is reported to flower best after a hard late winter or early spring pruning that promotes new growth and will also help to keep the plants more compact. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist to dryish, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 11358

The upright, drum-shaped flower heads are composed of tiny, nectar rich, white to light purple flowers that are produced from spring until frost attracting a variety of smaller pollinators. Frog Fruit-LA, a Louisiana selection of Phyla nodiflora, is a stoloniferous, mat-forming, evergreen to deciduous, native perennial groundcover adorned in deep green, narrow foliage. It seems to thrive in moist sites but is moderately tolerant to short-term drought once well-established. Frog Fruit has become one of the top recommendations for a lawn replacement due to its naturally low, dense growing habit reaching about 2-4" high and up to 6" high at flowering. A food source for the Common Buckeye, Phaon Crescent, and White Peacock butterfly caterpillars as well as a nectar source for a host of pollinators. Provide a moist to average moist site in sunny sites and plants are adaptable to soil types. Item# 12521

A low growing member of the Verbena family, Frogfruit makes a beautiful, easy groundcover that is covered by tiny heads of dainty, nectar filled white flowers from late spring to fall. They enjoy moist soils but are moderately drought resistant once well established. A food source for the Common Buckeye, Phaon Crescent, and White Peacock butterfly caterpillars as well as a nectar source for a host of pollinators. This species, Phyla nodiflora var. nodiflora, is native to every continent except Antarctica. It is important not to mow/prune until flowering is complete. Frogfruit is being more widely used as a lawn grass replacement option. Note: This selection is from central Florida and has more rounded foliage than what we have normally offered and is shown in the main image. Item# 10524

Glowing intense red, 1" long two-lipped tubular flowers are borne along short spikes from summer to frost on this vigorous selection of the drought tolerant Autumn Sage. A 'must have' for the Hummingbird lover! Furman's Red Autumn Sage is an older selection that has proven to be one of the hardiest and most freely flowering of the compact red flowered Autumn Sages and has been deemed a reliable perennial well into zone 5B and 6. A 2005 Plant Select® Award winner. Provide a full to mostly sunny site with very good to excellent drainage for optimum health and flowering. Drought resistant once fully established, deer resistant and this tough little Salvia makes an easy and rewarding low water container specimen as well as a colorful addition to the garden and landscape. Item# 10518

1 of only 5 Monardas to be selected as an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner, 1 of the top 10 in Mt. Cuba Center's 2014-2016 Monarda trials, and in the top 10 in trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in 1998! The extra large, 3-4" wide, clusters of 2" long, deep red tubular flowers are produced over an extended period beginning in late spring to midsummer, depending on your zone. Earlier in warmer climates and later in colder climates. Gardenview Scarlet Monarda or Beebalm, a hybrid selection of native US species, it is similar in many regards to Jacob Cline, still one of the most popular red cultivars, but has improved resistance to powdery mildew and a slightly more compact habit topping out at 3' high. This is a clump-forming, slowly spreading perennial  that enjoys ample sunlight in a moist but well-drained, fertile soil. Sure to be a hummingbird magnet! Item# 12818

Large clusters of frilly, deep purple flowers are produced atop tall sturdy stems beginning in about midsummer and potentially continuing into fall attracting a wide variety of pollinators and garden beneficials, especially bees. Giant Ironweed, Vernonia gigantea, is a vigorous single to multi-stemmed, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with deep green foliage adorning the tall stems that can reach 10' high by flowering time. This species is found throughout much of the eastern and central US. Giant Ironweed is typically found in areas where it has consistent moisture like along stream banks and flood plains but it does just fine in average garden soils once well-established. It is known to readily reseed on exposed soils and deadheading once flowering is complete can help to minimize that and may also promote repeat flowering. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in wet, moist, to average moist soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9257

A nearly continuous display of dark-eyed 3-4" wide dark golden yellow daisies are held above the rosettes of deep green foliage throughout summer attracting bees and a variety of other garden beneficials. Glitters Like Gold Black-Eyed Susan is a hybrid Rudbeckia boasting improved vigor, longer flowering, and resistance to leaf spot as compared to the longtime favorite Goldstrum. This easy sunloving clump-forming perennial grows to 30-36"H x 18"W and the ripened seedheads provide fodder for songbirds in fall and winter. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in average to well-drained soils with average moisture and fertility. Item# 12284

The most floriferous Esperanza that we grow! Gold Star Esperanza produces an endless display of large clusters of large golden yellow, lightly fragrant trumpets from late spring to frost. This Greg Grant selection is the standard by which all other Esperanza's are judged. Hardy, heat and sun loving, and with a nicely branched habit Gold Star Esperanza is great for tropical settings in containers and in the garden. Attracts pollinators including butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Item # 9902

Flat topped clusters composed of numerous tiny, golden yellow flowers atop sturdy stems in mid to late spring to summer attracting a host of smaller pollinators. Golden Alexanders, Zizea aurea, is a native, clump forming, herbaceous perennial with deep green foliage growing to about 2-3' high. The deep green, glossy, lobed foliage is utilized by the Eastern Black and Ozark Swallowtail caterpillars and the ripened seed heads are utilized by songbirds. It is native throughout much of the central and eastern US in moist woodlands, roadsides, meadows, and prairies. Provide a full sun to partially shaded site in a moist to average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 11774