giant cabbage leaf coneflower
Rudbeckia maxima
This incredible wildflower grows 5-7′ tall with glaucous leaves to 10″. Flowers have 4-6″ cones … Continued
browsing: Keystone Plant
Keystone plants are native plants critical to the food web and necessary for many wildlife species to complete their life cycle. Without keystone plants in the landscape, butterflies, native bees, and birds will not thrive. 96% of our terrestrial birds rely on insects supported by keystone plants.
There are two types of keystone plants: Host plants that feed the young caterpillars of approximately 90% of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera).
Plants that feed specialist bees who only eat pollen from specific plants. Keystone plants for native bees feed both specialist and generalist bees.
orange coneflower
Rudbeckia fulgida
This adaptable native occurs in both dry and moist soils in open woods, glades and … Continued
sweet coneflower
Rudbeckia subtomentosa
Gray-green foliage is covered by masses of yellow daisy-like flowers about 3” across with dark … Continued
brown-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia triloba
Native to the United States, this yellow flowering perennial is often seen in old fields … Continued
‘Prairie Glow’ Brown-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia triloba 'Prairie Glow'
A butterfly magnet, this compact, well-branched, and floriferous Rudbeckia produces gold-tipped blooms with bronzy orange … Continued
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Showy goldenrod is a rhizomatous native perennial which typically occurs in dry soils in open … Continued
‘Golden Fleece’ goldenrod
Solidago sphacelata
Sprays of golden yellow flowers open from mid-August through September over semievergreen heart-shaped leaves. This … Continued
White Heath Aster
Symphyotrichum ericoides
Wiry, branching stems are covered in small glossy green, needle-like leaves and a snowstorm of … Continued
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
New England aster brings ahowy display of violet-pink flowers late August til frost. A staple … Continued