Native Plants

3-4" wide light pink to purplish pink coneflowers with drooping narrow petals are held high above the foliage on sturdy 18-24" high stems. Flowers begin in May and may continue through August and they attract bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. The Sanguin Purple Coneflower is a taprooted, clump-forming native with an easy to get-along-with and tough nature. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9304

Deep blue falls, standards, and style arms are accented with slightly darker veining and a contrasting orange signal. Sea Knight Louisiana Iris is a compact growing plant reaching about 20-26" high and flowers in early midseason. 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. Sea Knight was awarded the High Commmendation in 1985. Item# 13452

Dense spikes of golden yellow flowers cover the upper 2/3's of this plant for an extended period beginning in mid to late summer and continuing into fall. Seaside Goldenrod is a clump forming native perennial common in coastal areas whose nectar rich flowers provide a much needed food source to fall migrating Monarch butterflies along with other butterflies, bees, and many garden beneficials. Deep green smooth foliage adorns the stems. This is a salt tolerant species that is more compact in poor and salt laden soils but in rich garden soil it is known to reach 6-8' high. Pinching out the growing tips in late spring will help to create a fuller more compact plant. Provide a full to mostly sunny location but it is otherwise adaptable to a wide variety of soil types from wet clay to sand. Item# 11627

An easy groundcovering perennial, Selfheal produces dense spikes of contrasting coppery tinged green bracts from which row after row of white tubular flowers with a purple 'hood' emerge. It begins flowering in early to mid spring lasting for several weeks providing nectar to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This member of the mint family is easy to establish and requires little care once established in the garden. Use Selfheal as a groundcover, on roadsides, as a component of the meadow, prairie and other naturalistic settings. Selfheal can be used to good effect spilling over walls or even in containers if you feel you need to contain it. Deer, rabbit, and pest resistant. Mainly a winter and spring growing perennial that moves into dormancy after seeds set in summer. Item# 11176

Slender upright to arching stems are topped by spikes of purple frilly starry flowers are produced in summer attracting a variety of pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. Sharp Blazing Star, Liatris acidota, is an herbaceous, often multi-stemmed, cormous, native perennial cloaked in dark green narrow foliage and growing to about 18-30" high and is found in central and western Louisiana and southeastern Texas. The soft texture and and gently arching flower spikes make this beautiful Blazing Star a perfect candidate for the perennial garden where it is sure to attract attention as well as butterflies and pollinators. Plant a grouping for the best effect. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9865

Forget those brittle old fall mums that need pinching and special treatment! Deep indigo, dense, fully double flowers are produced over an extended period in late summer and fall atop neat compact naturally rounded plants with deep green foliage. Forget about the throw away garden mums for fall, find an aster instead! Showmakers® Blue Bayou Dwarf New York Aster or Michaelmas Daisy, a selection of Aster novi-belgii or now Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, is a dense dwarf, hardy, clump-forming, native herbaceous perennial that develops into a neat rounded mass of flowers and foliage to about 12" high and wide with no pinching required. These were developed with container culture in mind but are sure to make statement in the garden or landscape as well. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Midday shade may be desirable in hot summer climates. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, all rights reserved. Item# 13165

Medium to deep blue falls and standards with the falls being accented by contrasting gold crests at their base are produced in early to midseason, or March to April, atop 30-36" high stems. Sinfonietta Louisiana Iris has been highly popular since its introduction and was awarded an Honorable Mention in 1990 and the Award of Garden Merit in 1992 by the American Iris Society. 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# 13339

This low growing, mat forming perennial covers up in 1/2" wide white daisies with yellow eyes in late summer and fall attracting bees and smaller pollinators. Snow Flurry White Heath Aster, a selection ofSymphyotrichum ericoides , is a 4-8" high, sprawling, groundcovering selection of this normally 3' high native perennial with dark green narrow heath or juniper like foliage. This species is found most commonly throughout much of the central US as well as into the northeastern and northwestern regions. Provide this easy perennial with a full to mostly sunny site and well-drained, semi-dry soils. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12246

The long, cascading spikes composed of hundreds of golden yellow flowers are produced in late summer and fall attracting a variety of pollinators and an especially important for native bee species. Solar Cascade Short's Goldenrod, a Cincinnati Zoo Botanical Garden selection of Solidago shortii as part of the Endangered Plant Program, is a well-behaved, clump forming, or short thizomatous, upright to arching perennial that is tolerant of calcareous soils, has good deer and drought resistance, and is self-sterile. By being self-sterile, if it is the only goldenrod species flowering at that time then any seed produced should not be viable. Use this easy to grow native perennial in naturalistic settings and in mixed perennial gardens and landscapes. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist to periodically dry soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Cincinnati Zoo Botanic Gardens, all rights reserved. Item# 12874

"One of the Best" in 2017 at Penn State Trial Gardens! The 3-4" wide, rich lemony yellow flowers are complemented by a orange cones and are held on sturdy 20" high stems above the deep green foliage in summer. SOMBRERO® Lemon Yellow Improved Coneflower or Echinacea is a reliably hardy clump forming perennial growing to about 18-22"H x 22-24"W making it compact enough for containers as well as being a colorful addition to the sunny garden and landscape. Like all of the Echinaceas, the fragrant nectar rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, especially butterflies and bees. Provide a fertile, average moist, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13600

The UGA Trial Gardens 2017 People's Choice Award Winner! The 3-4" wide, glowing orange-red flowers are complemented by a dark red-orange cone and are held on sturdy 18-22" high stems above the deep green foliage in summer. SOMBRERO® Sangarita Coneflower or Echinacea is a reliably hardy clump forming perennial growing to about 18-22"H x 22-24"W making it compact enough for containers as well as being a colorful addition to the sunny garden and landscape. Like all of the Echinaceas, the fragrant nectar rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, especially butterflies and bees. Provide a fertile, average moist, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13599

A 2018 UGA Trial Gardens Classic City Award and a People's Choice Award winner! The large, lightly fragrant flowers open a coral pink, deepen through rose, and finally maturing to burgundy held on sturdy 18" high stems above the deep green foliage in summer. SOMBRERO® Tres Amigos Coneflower or Echinacea is a hardy clump forming perennial growing to about 18-20"H x 22-24"W making it compact enough for containers as well as being a colorful addition to the garden and landscape. Like all of the Echinaceas, the fragrant nectar rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, especially butterflies and bees. Provide a fertile, average moist, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13156

The large pyramidal flower clusters are composed of showy, 1-2" wide, trumpet shaped, fragrant, white flowers that are accented by larger yellow-orange dots and numerous smaller purple dots and lines in the throat that act as bee guides. Flowering occurs over a few weeks in mid to late spring and attracts a number of different pollinators but especially native bees and honeybees. The Southern Catalpa, Catalpa bignonioides, is a naturally pyramidal shaped, fast growing tree when young quickly reaching flowering size at about 15-25' high under good conditions and with ample moisture and moderate fertility. With age, this deciduous tree develops a rounded crown. The large medium green leaves often produce good yellow fall color. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 3057

Dense spikes of rosy pink tubular flowers are produced in late summer and fall atop sturdy stems attracting butterflies, larger bees, and hummingbirds. The Southern Fall Obedient Plant, Physostegia virginiana ssp. praemorsa, is a clump forming species of Physostegia, whereas most species spread via long rhizomes, this one is a much more mannerly native perennial better suited to garden culture. It will slowly multiply developing into a dense clump of foliage and flowering stems. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a wet to moist to average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12752

A low growing, clump forming to slowly spreading perennial the Southern Prairie Aster produces 1" wide, medium purple to lighter pinkish purple daisies with a yellow eye atop sturdy upright to arching stems beginning in late summer and lasting into fall. This is another Aster that is native to sandy dryer upland soils and so is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Excellent for native pollinators.Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady.  Item# 10694.

Dainty, nectar-rich, late winter to midspring, greenish white flowers are followed by sweet, clear orange, 3/8" diameter berries with a flavor reminiscent of cantaloupe ripen in fall. Like all of our native Hackberry species, the Spiny Hackberry, Celtis pallida or C. ehrenbergiana, is an important host plant for the Hackberry butterflies (American Snout, Cuban Snout, Empress Leilia, Dusky Emperor, Tawny Emperor, Hackberry Emperor, etc...) as well as the Red-Bordered Metalmark. The ripe fruit are devoured by a variety of birds and other wildlife. Human nibblers should be aware that the fruit does contain a large pit. The Spiny or Desert Hackberry develops into a large shrub or small tree that seems to prefer average moist soils but as the name implies it is quite drought tolerant once well-established. Item# 10682

Whorls of curving, tubular, yellow to cream flowers, commonly with purple dots, are held above the whorls of colorful bracts ranging from cream, to pink, to purple tones are produced in late spring and summer with the colorful bracts providing interest often into fall. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and occasional hummingbirds. Spotted Horsemint, Monarda punctata, is a clump forming, native perennial with lemony to oregano scented, narrow foliage. It is found throughout much of the central and eastern US and as far west as New Mexico and is commonly found on dryish, well-drained, and often poor, sandy soils. Spotted Horsemint makes an easy and reliable addition to naturalistic settings like roadsides, prairies, and meadows. Readily reseeds on exposed soils. Deer and rabbit resistant. Prefers a full sun site in well-drained soils.

The lightly fragrant flowers are composed of white falls and standards with a nicely contrasting greenish to gold signal and are topped by a trio of cream to pale green style arms. Starlite Starbrite Louisiana Iris grows to about 22-26" high and flowers in midseason or April. 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. Starlite Starbrite was the Marie Caillet Cup from the Society for Louisiana Irises in 2012. Item# 13454

The 2-3" wide yellow sunflower-like blossoms are held on 2-3'H branching sturdy stems with flowering beginning as early as late winter or early spring and often continuing into fall. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and flower flies. Starry Rosinweed, Silphium asteriscus, is a tough and easy, rosette forming, native perennial that is fairly adaptable to growing conditions from full sun to part shade. It is a common component of Longleaf Pine ecosystems as well as the Cajun Prairie. Makes an easy addition to roadside plantings, prairies and meadows but is well behaved enough and floriferous enough to enjoy a spot at the back of the flower garden or for low maintenance naturalistic landscapes. Moderately drought resistant once fully established and seems to prefer soils with average or better drainage. Item# 9585

An eye-catching yet elegant combination of large lemony-yellow falls are accented by lime-green veining and signals and are topped by contrasting bright white standards that are tipped in yellow and are accented by complimentary green and yellow veining which are then topped by lime-green style arms that are broadly tipped and edged in yellow. Start of Something Big Louisiana Iris is a small to medium-sized plant growing to about 30" high and it flowers very late in the season, typically May. It received an Honorable Mention from the American Iris Society in 2015. 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# 13346

New for 2023! In mid to late summer the plants cover up in up to 6" wide, rounded to flattened clusters of lime-green buds that open to display hundreds of up to 1/2" wide white daisies with a contrasting yellow eye held on sturdy 18-24"H stems. The flowers attract a variety of smaller pollinators. Sugar Kisses is a hybrid goldenrod, or Solidago, developed by Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennials and selected for its unusual bicolor flowers and its more mannerly clump-forming habit. This herbaceous sunloving perennial is adaptable to soil types and is not likely to be bothered by deer and rabbits. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average to well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Brent Horvath, Intrinsic Perennials, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13163

Clusters of sunny yellow, 2" long, tubular flowers are produced in late winter or early spring and continue through summer and into fall attracting mainly hummingbirds but potentially other pollinators. Sulphurea Coral Honeysuckle, an older yellow selection of Lonicera sempervirens, is a native, semi-evergreen to deciduous, twining woody vine growing to about 8-12' high and is cloaked in bluish-green foliage. Flowers are followed by 1/4"' diameter bright red berries that are a treat for songbirds. The more restrained habit of these Honeysuckles make them low maintenance selections well suited to arbors, posts, trellises, and fences. Caterpillar host: Chalcedon Checkerspot. Item # 1075