hairy beardtongue
Penstemon hirsutus
Open clusters of trumpet-shaped, lavender flowers. Early bloom time and hairy stems distinguish it from … Continued
browsing: Lightning Bug // Firefly
Lightning bugs (as we call them in the Midwest) are an amazing sight lighting up summer nights. In addition to the wonder the adults bring, the larvae are beneficial predators, consuming snails, slugs, and other soft-bodied insects. You can support them in the following ways:
Leave the leaves! Allow leaf litter to accumulate, providing shelter and food for lightning bug larvae and pupae. In addition to shrubs and perennial beds, allowing areas of lawn to grow longer also increases cover for lightning bugs.
Turn off outdoor lights! Excessive light pollution can interfere with fireflies’ ability to communicate and find mates.
Avoid pesticides!
Lightning bug larvae feed on snails, slugs, and other insects, so a healthy soil environment with diverse insects is important. Some adults feed on nectar and pollen, while others don’t eat at all. Lightning bugs prefer the plants on the following list:.
Visit our Wildlife Gardening page to find
host plant lists for additional butterfly and moth species!
Chrysanthemum ‘Clara Curtis’
Chrysanthemum rubellum 'Clara Curtis'
This garden mum produces profusions of large 2-3″ wide, antique pink blooms. The hardiest of … Continued
cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal flowers bloom with tall spikes of lipstick red flowers in August in moist soil. … Continued
‘Little Lemon’ dwarf goldenrod
Solidago canadensis ‘Little Lemon’
This native selection is a compact, upright plant growing only 18″ tall and produce dense, … Continued
American wisteria
Wisteria frutescens
Blooms in early summer and can rebloom later in the season. Give it the sturdy … Continued
‘Shenandoah’ red switchgrass
Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’
Best burgundy-red coloring of all the switch grasses. Deep-green foliage takes on red hues by … Continued
rose verbena
Glandularia {Verbena} canadensis
Brilliant pink flower clusters cover this low-growing wildflower all summer. Plants spread out to 15-18″ … Continued
downy sunflower, ashy sunflower
Helianthus mollis
Fine hairs cover the stems and leaves, giving this native perennial a gray-green color. A … Continued
Maximilian sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
State flower of Kansas Clusters of bright yellow flowers in September atop 6-8′ stalks. An … Continued
Furman’s Red Texas sage
Salvia greggii
Blooms in late spring and again in fall with bright red flowers that attract the … Continued
buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
This deciduous shrub has an open, rounded habit. Common throughout the midwest, it can most … Continued
pitcher sage
Salvia azurea
Showy large flower spikes of sky blue in late summer and fall. The perfect color … Continued