Native Plants

The tall dense spikes of golden yellow flowers and seedheads are held well above the fountaining clump of wide olive green foliage on sturdy 6' high stems beginning in early August and are showy throughout winter. Golden Sunset® Yellow Indiangrass, a University of Minnesota selection of Sorghastrum nutans,  was selected for its early flowering, sturdy stems that do not fall over or lodge and last through winter, as well as for its reliable zone 3 cold hardiness. it has received high marks in trials and has been in development for about 15 years. This is a wonderful refinement for this showy native grass making it a useful addition to both formal and informal garden and landscape settings. The seed heads provide fodder for songbirds and other wildlife and the foliage is utilized by the Pepper-and-Salt Skipper butterfly as a caterpillar host plant. Provide a full to mostly sunny site optimally in a well-drained loamy soil with average moisture but the plants are fairly adaptable to soil types and are drought resistant once fully established. When not in 'flower' the grass itself is about 3' x 3'. Plants may top out at about 4-5' high the first two years of establishment. Images courtesy of the University of Minnesota. Item# 12850

A profusion of dark-eyed golden yellow, 3-5'', daisies are held above the tidy rosette of foliage throughout summer. A reliable, tough, and deservedly award winning clump forming perennial. Excellent for butterflies and the birds will enjoy the seedheads in winter. Item# 9155.

Large drooping panicles of fragrant fleecy-white flowers adorn this small, native tree in spring and are followed by clusters of tiny black olive-like fruit in summer and fall and are great for birds. The Grancy Graybeard is a tough and adaptable small deciduous tree with a medium rate of growth that is makes an excellent understory tree, specimen, or in mixed natural landscapes. It is also tolerant of urban settings. Item# 10958.

Hundreds of 1" wide dark purple daisies are produced in fall atop these dense mounding perennials that could easily be grown in the place of fall mums. Grape Crush New England Aster, a selection of Aster novae-angliae (a.k.a. Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), is a clump forming native perennial with a densely branching, naturally rounded habit requiring no pinching, and producing a superior fall show. It doesn't lodge or break over like the species can. The flowers attract bees and butterflies. Use these perennials where you would normally buy Chrysanthemums whether as part of the perennial border, landscape, or as container plants. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average to well-drained, fertile soil with average moisture for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12741

The tall flower dusky flower spikes are adorned with grape juice purple buds that open to display the deep magenta, pea-like flowers with a starkly contrasting creamy to yellow keel and are produced in summer held above the dense mounds of lush green foliage. The flowers attract a variety of bee species. Grape Escape Baptisia or False Indigo, a hybrid cultivar of our native species (a.k.a. nativar), replaces the older Grape Taffy and boasts deeper richer colors, heavier flowering and vigor. Grape Escape grows to about 4' high and nearly as wide with a neat vase shaped habit. Baptisia or False Indigo are easy and low-maintenance, deer resistant, long-lived, taprooted perennials that produce more and more flowering spikes with each passing year with some plants producing over a 100 spikes on mature plants. Considered a must for the cutflower garden as the spikes have an excellent vase life. Provide Baptisias with a full to mostly sunny site in a soil with average or better drainage and moderate fertility. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13145

Dense spikes of pea-like blossoms that are exceptionally dark purple with a hint of red are accented by contrasting primrose yellow keels and are held above the tidy mounds of gray-green foliage. Flowers are produced in late spring to early summer and attract mainly bees. Grape Taffy Baptisia or False Indigo, a hybrid cultivar of US native species (a.k.a. nativar), is one of the most compact in this category growing to just 24-30"H x 30-36"W. Its compact habit lends it to use in both smaller garden settings as well as in containers. Baptisias are easy and low-maintenance, deer resistant, long-lived, taprooted perennials that produce more and more flowering spikes with each passing year with some plants producing over a 100 spikes on mature plants. Considered a must for the cutflower garden as the spikes have an excellent vase life. Provide them with a full to mostly sunny site in a soil with average or better drainage and moderate fertility. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12894

The huge, to 6", golden, daisy-like blooms with tall dark brown cones or eyes are held on tall sturdy stems which can grow to 7' or more! A tough and hardy, native perennial. Great for pollinators. The large attractive soft, blue-green foliage makes a nice garden accent and is at its prime in winter and spring. Selected as 2019 Missouri Botanic Gardens Plant of Merit selection. Item# 1152

The ray petals emerge chartreuse with an abrupt change to contrasting carmine-red which increases as the flowers mature creating a wonderful twist on this old favorite. Green Twister Coneflower, a highly popular seed grown, hybrid Echinacea strain developed by Jelitto® Seed, is a clump forming perennial reaching about 2-3' high and flowering the first year from seed. Coneflowers are clump forming perennials whose often fragrant flowers are adored by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators that can be enjoyed as part of the sunny garden garden and landscape as well as container specimens. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Periodic deadheading will keep the plants looking clean and may help promote continuous flowering. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile, preferably mineral soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Photos courtesy of Jelitto® Seed, all rights reserved. Item# 12795

Flat topped clusters of bluish-purple Ageratum-like flowers are borne atop short sturdy stems that are adorned with finely cut and softly textured, medium green foliage. The flowers attract loads of butterflies as well as other pollinators and Gregg's Mist Flower flowers most heavily beginning in late summer and lasting through fall. Its rhizomatous though non-aggressive nature makes this durable and drought resistant perennial an excellent addition to the garden where it can be utilized as a groundcover as well as in naturalistic settings. It does seem to prefer a little midday and afternoon shade, especially in the hottest summer climates and in dryer settings. Item# 10811.

A multitude of tall spikes of small purple foxglove like blooms are born in spring on this evergreen native perennial. Great for butterflies, bees, & birds. Reseeds readily. Enjoys an average moist to moist soil with ample sunlight. Excellent as a cut flower. Item# 9158.

Steel blue spring and summer foliage is topped by nicely contrasting tan colored airy panicles in late summer and fall. In fall the foliage changes to yellow and finally beige creating winter interest and providing food, habitat, and nesting material for a variety of birds and other fauna. Gunsmoke is a selection of our native Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum, with an initially upright to vase shaped habit becoming rounded once flowering begins. This is a naturally clump-forming herbaceous perennial that is found throughout much of the US and into Canada, except for the westernmost states, and is a major component of the Tall Grass Prairies. Switchgrass was also used by native Americans to build long-lasting, rain resistant shelters. The foliage is a larval host to the Delaware Skipper and Dotted Skippers. Adaptable to a wide variety of soil types and moisture regimes. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12305

Dense clusters of dainty white to lavender tubular flowers top the hairy blue-green to green fragrant foliage in summer. The small nectar rich flowers of Hairy Mountain Mint attract a wide variety of pollinators, and are especially important to native bees. This is a rhizomatous native perennial that will readily spread especially in moist soils. Hairy Mountainmint, Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum, is native to the northcentral US, mainly Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, eastern Tennessee, eastern Kentucky and as far south as northern Mississippi. It is typically found in moist, calcareous soils but can tolerate drier sites where it is less likely to spread aggressively. Item# 11763

This native perennial Hibiscus produces 5-6" wide white flowers with a deep burgundy eye over a long period in summer held in clusters atop the white to silvery green foliage. The Hairy Swamp Rosemallow, Hibiscus lasiocarpus, is a perennial Hibiscus that is native to moist acidic soils but will perform nicely in average garden soils in full sun. The perennial native Hibiscus are hosts to a wide variety of butterfly species. Item# 9744

4-6" wide, white to pale pink flowers with a contrasting burgundy eye and showy staminal column are produced in summer along the 4-6' high stems attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Halberdleaved Rosemallow, Hibiscus laevis, is a root hardy herbaceous native perennial Hibiscus producing multiple stems at maturity. It is typically found growing along freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams where it has an ample moisture supply and will likely prefer a similar, consistently moist, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum growth and vigor. This will be a good choice for bogs and rain gardens. The Halberdleaved Rosemallow is native to much of the central and eastern US and gets its name from its halberd shaped foliage. Item# 12975

Spikes of 1" blue to purple tubular flowers that are tipped with white on the lower two petals are produced over an extended period beginning in mid to late spring into late summer if moisture is adequate. Heartleaf Skullcap, Scuttelaria ovata, is a shade-loving rhizomatous groundcovering evergreen native perennial with heart-shaped foliage that emerges a purplish red to burgundy and maintains a tinge of that coloration even at maturity. This species is widely distributed throughout much of central and eastern US and extends into both Canada and northern Mexico. Heartleaf Skullcap is tolerant of dry shade once well-established which is one of the more difficult combinations for plants to thrive in. It will be most apt to flower longest under average moisture conditions. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11979

Steely blue-gray spring and summer foliage is topped by nicely contrasting tan colored airy panicles in late summer and fall. In fall the foliage changes to yellow and finally beige creating winter interest and providing food, habitat, and nesting material for a variety of birds and other fauna. Heavy Metal Switchgrass, a selection of the native Panicum virgatum, with an with a strongly upright, columnar, dense habit that remains upright even through heavy rains. This is a naturally clump-forming herbaceous perennial that is found throughout much of the US and into Canada, except for the westernmost states, and is a major component of the Tall Grass Prairies. Switchgrass was also used by native Americans to build long-lasting, rain resistant shelters. The foliage is a larval host to the Delaware Skipper and Dotted Skippers. Adaptable to a wide variety of soil types and moisture regimes. Item# 12854

Texas big blooms are a hallmark of this rich orange flowered crossvine. This is an absolute show stopper when in full bloom! Produces a huge mass of 2-1/2" orange trumpets with yellow throats in late spring with some flowers throughout summer. A vigorous and disease free southern native. 'Helen Fredel' is another excellent introduction from noted Texas horticulturist and author Greg Grant. Attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. Item# 9576.

Spikes up to 16-20" high are topped by clusters of tubular blue to blue-violet flowers with a contrasting white bee-guide are produced beginning as early as late spring but mainly in summer, occasionally into fall, and attract a variety of native bees along with larger butterflies. Helmet Skullcap, Scutellaria integrifolia, is a small, 12-20" high, clump forming to short rhizomatous perennial native from East Texas, all along the Gulf Coast and up the Eastern Seaboard into southern Massachussets and New York. This is a common component of the brightly lit understory in the Pineywoods and locally we typically see it in dryer or mesic uplands including hardwood and pineforests in well-drained loamy and sandy soils as well as in more moist sunnier sites. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. May reseed on exposed soils. Item# 12769

Henry Eiler's is unique in that is has petals that are quilled or rolled into tubes as well as having flowers that are more yellow than gold all with the same easy to grow habit of the Sweet Coneflower. A beautiful and eye-catching addition to any garden setting as well as a long lasting cutflower for arrangements. A vigorous clump forming perennial common to stream banks and moist areas but will do fine in average garden soils. The sweetly scented foliage gives it its common name. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10164.

Huge 4-6" bright yellow, green-eyed daisies are held on4-6'+ sturdy stems and produce an extended summer display. A reliable and vigorous clump forming perennial that is adored by butterflies and pollinators of all shapes and sizes. The rich green deeply cut foliage is disease and pest resistant. Deadhead spent flowers to extend the flowering season well into fall. Appreciates ample moisture when in growth. One of our favorites! Item# 9366.

Large rounded clusters of composed of hundreds of dainty pinkish-purple flowers are borne in mid to late summer atop tall, sturdy, upright to arching, hollow, purple spotted stems with whorled, medium green, rugose foliage. Joe Pye Weed is a long-lived clump forming native perennial that is typically found growing on stream banks and other moist areas but it does just fine under average garden conditions as well. Joe Pye Weed's nectar rich flowers attracts butterflies and a variety of smaller pollinators. Item# 475.

Clusters of red to red-orange, yellow to orange throated, tubular flowers are borne from spring to fall on established plants with the peak flowering season in early to mid spring and again in mid to late summer to fall. Honey Coral™Honeysuckle is a tame and manageable vine perfectly suited to fences and medium sized trellises and arbors. The flowers attract hummingbirds and occasional butterflies. Pollinated flowers develop into clusters of clear red berries that make summer and fall fruit for songbirds. Their tame habit and long blooming season make the native Coral Honeysuckles an easy choice for covering a fence, arbor or trellis. Item# 11491

The dense spikes of bicolor mahogany and yellow pea-like flowers lighten into yellow as they age creating an orangish overall effect from a distance and are produced in mid to late spring to early summer depending on your zone. The flowers attract mainly bees. Honey Roasted Baptisia or False Indigo, a hybrid cultivar of US native species (a.k.a. nativar), is a vigorous, heavy and early flowering selection of this clump forming perennial growing to about 36-42"H x 42-48"W. Baptisias are easy and low-maintenance, deer resistant, long-lived, taprooted perennials that produce more and more flowering spikes with each passing year with some plants producing over a 100 spikes on mature plants. Considered a must for the cutflower garden as the spikes have an excellent vase life. Provide them with a full to mostly sunny site in a soil with average or better drainage and moderate fertility. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12898