bush clover
Lespedeza capitata
Commonly found in upland woods, thickets, and prairies, along streams, railroads, and roadsides. Tiny creamy … 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
rough blazing star
Liatris aspera
Pinkish to lavender (sometimes white) flower heads along stems lined with short, narrow, bright-green leaves. … Continued
dotted blazing star
Liatris punctata
Liatris punctata is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the … Continued
dwarf gayfeather, tiny-headed liatris
Liatris microcephala
A dense, compact native liatris growing up to 18″ tall and carrying lavender flowers. Very … Continued
meadow blazingstar
Liatris ligulistylis
A fantastic nectar plant for Monarch butterflies and many other pollinators including hummingbirds. The fall … Continued
prairie blazing star
Liatris pycnostachya
An outstanding native of the great plains grows even in wet prairies. Breathtaking in gardens … Continued
cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal flowers bloom with tall spikes of lipstick red flowers in August in moist soil. … Continued
blue cardinal flower, great lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Lobelia siphilitica is a showy native with light to dark blue flowers in late summer. … Continued
ostrich fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
A clump-forming, upright, arching deciduous fern that can grow up to 6′ tall in moist, … Continued
Wild Mint
Mentha arvensis
Tiered clusters of small white flowers open along stems in summer and continue through fall, … Continued
Virginia bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Clusters of trumpet-shaped blue flowers open in early spring. Flower buds are pink and emerge … Continued
spotted bee balm
Monarda punctata
Prefers sandy soils and full to part sun. It has an exotic flower form and … Continued