Common Name

Scientific Name

Color

Height

Bloom Time

Use

Light

Spacing

Description

Conditions

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

White

2′-3′

June – September

Butterflies / Pollinators

full sun

12"

Native variety was planted here.  Numerous cultivars exists that are soures from Europe and Asia.  Has feathery laves and white umbrella shapped flowers. Leaves are fragrant.

Best in dry to medium, well-drained soils. Drought tolerant and tolerates hot, humid summers. Spreads by rhizomes.

Purple Milkweed

Asclepias purpurascens

Rose Pink / Purple

2′-3′

May – July

Butterfly / Songbird

full sun

12-18"

Resembles Common Milkweed except flowers are purple and on a shorter plant. Fragrant flowers. Monarch host plant and butterfly and pollinator attractor. 

Can spread aggressively but not by underground rhizomes. Makes an excellent native habitat component where groomed gardens are not necessary. Drought tolerant

Common Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Lavender

2′-4′

June-August

Butterfly / Songbird

full sun to partial sun

12-18"

A profusion of sweetly scented lavender to pink flowers blooms mid-summer and attracts numerous pollinators.  Host plant for monarch butterflies.

Easily grown in average, dry to medium well-drained soil in full sun. Spreads by rhizomes and can create a patch if left to reseed and spread.

Butterfly Milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa

Orange

1′-3′

May-July

Butterfly / Bees / Pollinators

full sun to partial sun

12-18"

Showy, bright orange flowers, butterfly and pollinator magnet and host plant for monarch caterpillars.

A top butterfly plant for drier soil. Short stature sun loving plant for monarchs. 

Whorled Milkweed

Asclepias verticillata

White-green

1′-2′

June – September

Butterfly

full sun to partial sun

12"

Small milkweed that blooms later in the season than other milkweeds.  Low stature, forms drifts of white flowers on delicate foliage.  Monarch host plant. Tolerates dry conditions.

Tolerates dry conditions and nectar source later than most milkweeds. 

Blue Wild Indigo

Baptisia australis

Deep blue

3′-5′

June-July

Butterfly

full to partial sun

24"

Intense blue, pea-like flowers on attractive foliage with blue-black seed pods.  Forms 3′ w x 3′ h clumps. Host plant for  frosted elfin butterfly and important nectar plant.

Easily grown in average, dry to medium well-drained soil. Prefers full sun. Tolerates drought and poor soil.  Prefers not to be disturbed once established.

White Dolls Daisy

Boltonia asteroides

White, pink, lilac, purple with yellow center

5′-6′

August – September

Butterfly

full sun

12"

Also called false chamomile, has small daisy-like flowers.  Profuse bloomer in late summer and early fall. 

Grows well in average, medium moistrure well-drained soils. Tolerates dry soils.  Spreads by creeping rhizomes.

Lanceleaf Coreopsis

Coreopsis lancelota

Yellow

2′

June-July

Butterfly

full sun

12"

Large, golden-yellow flowers bloom for weeks creating amazing early summer displays that attract butterflies and songbirds to seedheads.

Grows well in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil. Thrives in poor and sandy soil. Heat, humdity, and drought tolerant.  Deadheading enhances blooming.

Tall Coreopsis

Coreopsis tripteris

Yellow

4′-8′

July – September

Butterfly

full sun

12"

Solitary, yellow, daisy-like flowers sit in cluster atop tall stems.  Commonly occurs in naturalized native wildflower gardens.

Easily grown in dry to medium soil with good drainage. Drought resistant.  Self-seeds and can grow into large colonies. 

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Pink

3′-4′

July – September

Butterfly / Songbird / Hummingbird

full sun to partial sun

12"

Large 2-4" deep pink to rose flower heads attract butterflies.  Seed heads attract goldfinches and other songbirds.

Grows well in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part-shade.  Best in full sun. Tolerant of drought, heat, humidity and poor soil.

Rattlesnake Master

Eryngium yuccifolium

White

3′-5′

June – August

Butterfly

full sun

12"

Distinctive wildflower with yuccalike eaves and white golf-ball like flowers.  Great texture and interst.  Native Americans brewed tea from the root as herbal medicine for rattlesnake venom.

Prefers dry to medium soil conditions and tolerates sandy soil well.

Maximilian Sunflower

Helianthus maximiliani

Yellow

4′-6′

August – October

Butterfly / Pollinator / Songbird

full sun

12-18"

The stately plant grows up to 10′ tall and has numeous yellow heads. Flowers on separate stalks with 5" flowers.  Produces abundant seeds and is a favorite of songbirds. 

Tolerates dry conditions and needs little water.

Roundhead Bushclover

Lespedeza capitata

White

2′-4′

August – September

Songbirds / Pollinators

full to partial sun

12"

Type of bush clover commonly found in prairies.  Has small cream colored, pea-like flowers with magenta spots on rounded heads. 

Easily grown in dry to medium, well-drained soil.  Tolerates drought and may self-seed.

Blazing Star

Liatris spicata

Mauve / Pink

3′-5′

July-August

Butterfly / Songbird

full – part sun,moist

6-12"

Bold purple flower spikes on clump forming plant.  Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and songbirds. 

Prefers moist, well-drained soil. 

Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Pale pink / purple

2′-5′

July – September

Butterfly / Songbird / Hummingbird

full to partial sun

24"

Intricate lavender flowers are a magnet for pollinators, butterflies, and humingbirds. Forms masses and is impressive planted in groups. Fresh leaves can be used to brew tea. 

Best grown in dry to medium moisture in well-drained soils. Plants need good air circulation. Deadhead to prolong blooms. 

Dotted Mint

Monarda punctata

Lavender

1′-2′

July-September

Butterfly

full sun

12"

The bright lavender "flowers" are actually leafy brachts that surround the true flower.  Legions of butterflies, native bees, and other pollinators flock to this plant. Long lasting flowers make this plant a star of the garden especially when planted in a group. Tolerates dry, sandy soil. 

Prefers dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates dry, sandy soil. Deadhead to prolong blooms.

Coastal Panic Grass

Panicum amarum

White / Tan

6′-8′

August – October

Songbirds / Wind Break / Wildlife Cover

full sun

24"

Native to coastal regions of the East and Gulf Coast, this perennial grass grows to 8′ tall and has long, thick leaves. Leaves are bluish in color.  

Commonly used for dune stabilization, it has been included in the meadow to help as a wind barrier.

Foxglove Beardtongue

Penstemon digitalis

White

2′-3′

June – July

Butterfly / Songbird / Hummingbird

full to partial sun

12"

Trumpet-shaped white flowers are arranged in terminal clusters on multiple stems. Attractive dark green foliage. Hummingbird and butterfly magnet.

Grows in dry to medium mositure in well-drained soils in full sun.  Avoid poorly drained soils.

Short Toothed Mountain Mint

Pycanthemum muticum

Pink

1′-3′

July – September

Butterflies / Pollinators

full sun to part shade

12"

This densely leaved mountain mint has dark green leaves which have a strong spearmint aroma when crushed. Forms clumps and when flowering silvery bracts give the entire planting the appearance of being dusted by a white powdery snow. Flowers are attractive to butterflies and bees.  

Typically grows in grassy, open places and meadows. Prefers moist to medium soils. Vigorous grower that can spread by rhizomes but is not invasive.

Yellow Coneflower

Ratibida pinnata

Yellow

3′-6′

July – September

Butterfly / Songbird

full sun

12"

Produces an abundance of bright yellow flowers in the middle of summer. Very hardy plant that is drought and flood resistant.  Songbirds enjoy the seeds after butterflies enjoy the blooms.

Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils.  Likes clay or sandy soil. Tolerates poor, dry soils.

Brown-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia triloba

Yellow / Black

2′-3′

July – October

Butterfly / Pollinator / Songbird

full to partial sun

12"

Brilliant yellow flowers with black centers blooms from late summer through hard frost. Provides great fall color.

Grows well in most soils in full sun to partial shade. It’s a short-lived perennial but self sows in open soil.

Wild Petunia

Ruellia humilis

Violet

1′-2′

June – August

Butterfly / Hummingbird

full sun

12"

Lovely violet flower trumpets are a hummingbird favorite.  A rare plant that rarely grows more than a foot tall and is perfect for dry, hot locations. Deer resistant.

Grows well in average, medium – dry, well-drained soil. Drought and dry soil tolerant.

Little Blue Stem

Schizacyrium scoparium

Crimson-Red

2′-3′

August – October

Wildlife Cover

full sun

12"

Blue-green foliage of this clump-forming grass is a striking addition. In the fall, stems turn crimson red for added interest.  Provides cover for wildlife and a winter seed source for birds.

Prefers dry, sandy soils and provides a great backdrop for wildflowers. Doesn’t grow well in clay or damp soils.

Cup Plant

Silphium perfoliatum

Yellow

3′-10′

July – September

Butterfly / Songbird / Hummingbird

full to partial sun

24"

Very tall, striking sunflower-like plant.  It has leaves that clasp the stem creating a cup to catch rainwater. Attracts songbirds, butterflies and hummingbirds for water as well as nectar.  In fall, attracts Goldfinches for the seeds.

Does well in medium soils but tolerates wet areas as well.  Cnan grow very large and spreads by seeds.

Seaside Goldenrod

Solidago sempervirens

Yellow

2′-4′

September-October

Butterfly / Pollinator

full sun to partial sun

12-18"

Bright yellow flower heads are clustered on beautiful spikes.  Important food source for migrating monarchs. 

Does best in dry sites with sandy soil and is salt tolerant.  Makes great addition to naturalized gardens, backyard habitats and wildflower gardens. Will produce foliage and few flowers if overfertilized.

Smooth Aster

Symphotrochum laeve

Deep blue

2′-4′

August – Oct

Butterfly / songbird

full sun

12"

Late season bloomer loved by songbirds and butterflies.A profusion of deep blue star-like flowers cover the plan in late autumn when other plants have faded. Very hardy and often blooms into November.  

Grows well in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils. Self seeds.

New England Aster

Symphotrichum novae-angliae

Blue-purple

3′-6′

August-October

Butterfly / Songbird

full to partial sun

12"

Showy and abundant violet-purple flower heads that are 1-2" wide. Forms large clumps and is an important late summer nectar and pollen source.

Prefers average, medium, well-drained soil but tolerates drier conditions. Can pinch back before mid-July to control plant height. May self sow under uptimal conditions.

Hoary Vervain

Verbena stricta

Blue – violet

2′-4′

July – September

Butterfly

full sun

12"

Deep purple, tubular flowers in spikes on 2-3′ tall plants, easy and hardy, summer bloomer attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Easily grown in average, medium to dry soils in full sun. May thrive in dry, sandy soils. Good drought tolerance. 

Golden Alexander

Zizia aurea

Yellow

1′-2′

May-July

Butterfly

full sun to shade

12"

Brilliant golden yellow flowers form broad umbrella-shaped clusters atop dark green foliage. An important food source for Black Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. 

Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. May be evergreen in mild winters. Deer resistant.