pincushion cactus, spinystar
[Coryphantha] Escobaria vivipara
2″ bright magenta open in May-June, followed by fleshy, greenish-purple fruits. As the evergreen, ball-shaped … Continued
browsing: native plants
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 the management of rainwater runoff and maintain healthy soil with their deep root systems.
Native vs Native Cultivar
spotted joe-pye weed
Eupatorium maculatum
An excellent back of the border native plant growing 6′ tall or more with deep … Continued
blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Blanketflowers are one of the longest-blooming native perennials, well suited to hot sunny sites. Soft-yellow … Continued
wild geranium
Geranium maculatum
Native to much of eastern North America, this perennial has attractive dissected foliage, beautiful pink … Continued
prairie smoke geum
Geum triflorum
An excellent rock garden perennial, this native produces smoky pink blooms can last for a … Continued
giant ironweed
Vernonia gigantea
One of the tallest of the ironweeds, growing to as much as 10’ tall in … Continued
Bowman’s root, Indian physic, fawn’s breath
Gillenia trifoliata
18-24″ tall globe-shaped mounds are covered in small white flowers with pretty contrasting reddish buds. … Continued
rose verbena
Glandularia {Verbena} canadensis
Brilliant pink flower clusters cover this low-growing wildflower all summer. Plants spread out to 15-18″ … Continued
‘Ground Hug’ black chokeberry
Aronia melancarpa Ground Hug™
Ground Hug™ Aronia is a tough native selection chosen for it’s low-branching form that grows … Continued
Kentucky coffeetree
Gymnocladus dioicus
60-90’ tall native tree. Habitats include rich woodlands, and riverbanks. Kentucky coffee tree is cultivated … Continued
two-winged silverbell
Halesia diptera
Clusters of white bell-shaped blooms cover this small native tree in late April and early … Continued
witch hazel
Hamamelis virginiana/x intermedia
Fall-blooming, deciduous shrub or small tree native to woodlands, forest margins and stream banks in … Continued