hardy ageratum, blue mist flower
Conoclinium coelestinum
Intense blue flowers in summer are surrounded by glossy green foliage which turns vibrant scarlet … Continued
browsing: native perennials
Native plants have evolved over thousands of years alongside native wildlife and therefore offer the most useful habitat. Native plants feed bugs at every stage of life, and bugs are the very foundation for our entire food web.
Our prairie natives require less water, and are adapted to grow in our soil types and temperature extremes, so they do well without requiring extensive resources and chemicals. Native plants help in management of rainwater runoff and maintain healthy soil with their deep root systems.
Native vs Native Cultivar
tall tickseed, tall coreopsis
Coreopsis tripteris
This coreopsis stands tall at 7′ to 9′! Golden-yellow flowers are arranged in a flat-topped … Continued
lanceleaf tickseed
Coreopsis lanceolata
Lanceleaf tickseed sports bright yellow, daisy-like flowers in summer over glossy green foliage. Plants self-seed … Continued
purple prairie clover
Dalea purpurea
Cylindrical heads of unusual bright purple flowers. Plants require well-drained site. This prairie legume fixes … Continued
white prairie clover
Dalea candida
White flowering spikes bloom over airy, delicate foliage. Prefers well-drained soil and full sun. It … Continued
Illinois bundleflower
Desmanthus llinoense
White flowers in summer open over delicate fern-like foliage. Supports bees and various game birds … Continued
shooting star
Dodecatheon meadia
Nodding blooms point upward and away from the pointed red and yellow flower center, resembling … Continued
Downy Phlox
Phlox pilosa
These long-blooming perennials thrive in rocky or dry open woods, meadows, and prairies. An upright … Continued
marginal wood fern
Dryopteris marginalis
Leathery leaves are a beautiful addition to the woodland garden and can form a lovely … Continued
pale purple coneflower
Echinacea pallida
Echinacea pallida is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun … Continued
narrow-leaved purple coneflower
Echinacea angustifolia
This Great Plains native blooms in late spring to mid-summer. It is found growing in … Continued
purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
A prairie native featuring showy purple flowers in July and August on plants that grow … Continued