Aquilegia canadensis

Columbine is easy to grow and tolerates a wide range of conditions. Red and yellow 1"-2" lantern-shaped flowers are hummingbird magnets. Under favorable conditions Columbine spreads readily. Larval host plant for a cute little butterfly, the Columbine Duskywing. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: prefers Part Sun
Soil: Moist to Average
Height: 1-2 feet
Blooms: April-June
Flowers: Red with Yellow center

Asclepias incarnata

When looking for a milkweed plant for the home garden, Swamp Milkweed is usually the best fit. It is not stocky nor does it spread vigorously by rhizomes. The milkweeds are one of the best nectar plants to attract pollinators, especially the monarchs which rely on milkweed foliage in the caterpillar stage.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Moist to Average
Height: to 4 feet
Blooms: June-August
Flowers: Pink

Asclepias syriaca

This robust plant attracts and supports many pollinators. It spreads easily by rhizomes. Common habitats include dry fields and along roads, provided they are not sprayed with herbicide. Larval host for the Monarch butterfly. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 3 feet
Blooms: June-August
Flowers: Cream/Pink

Asclepias tuberosa

Flame orange flowers are stunning in masses or drifts and attract pollinators galore. Interestingly, this plant does not exude the milky sap. Monarch butterfly host plant.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Dry to Average
Height: 2 feet
Blooms: June-August
Flowers: Orange

Asclepias verticillata

Dainty in appearance with "whorls" of thin leaves and elegant clusters of white flowers. This plant is ideal for that tough spot in dry soil and full sun. Spreads by rhizomes. Larval host to the Monarch butterfly. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Dry
Height: 2 feet
Blooms: July-September
Flowers: White

Chelone glabra

Well sought-after host plant for the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly. Blooms are white, sometimes tinged with pink. Perfect plant for a damp spot with intermittent light. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Part Sun
Soil: Moist
Height: 2'-4 feet
Blooms: August-October
Flower: White, White & Pink

Echinacea pallida simulata

Also known as Glade Coneflower, this plant is elegant with thin reclining petals. It is under-utilized in the home garden and as a cut flower. Attracts bee and butterflies & provides seed for birds if flowering heads remain through winter. Larval host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly and Wavy-lined Emerald moth. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: to 3 feet
Blooms: June-July
Flowers: Pale Purple to Purple

Echinacea purpurea

A popular plant for good reason. Blooms attract pollinators in summer and their seed feeds birds in the cold months. Beautiful in a home or business planting and in a vase. One larval host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly and Wavy-lined Emerald moth. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average
Height: 1 to 3 feet
Blooms: June-August
Flowers: Purple-Magenta

Iris virginica

Plant with sword-like leaves and large blue-violet flowers (1-3 cm across) is also well-rooted to help prevent erosion in low areas. Best grown in consistently moist organic soils. Good candidate for a rain garden.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Moist-Wet
Height: 1 to 3 feet
Blooms: June
Flowers: Blue-Violet with Yellow

Lobelia cardinalis

Truly stunning carmine flowers borne on tall slender spikes which rise from a basal rosette of leaves. Ideal for use in hummingbird and rain gardens. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Moist-Wet
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Blooms: July-September
Flowers: Red

Lobelia siphilitica

Spikes of tubular blue-violet flowers attract and support bumblebees. This plant works well in a rain garden, along a waterway or at the edge of a pond. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Moist to Wet
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Blooms: July-September
Flowers: Blue-violet

Monarda punctata

Showy pagoda-like white to deep pink bracts form a ring below less conspicuous spotted yellow flowers. Low maintenance, long-lasting bloom period, though a 'weak perennial' but may self-seed. A pollinator favorite.

Light: Part to Full Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 1 to 3 feet
Blooms: July-September
Flowers: Yellow, White-Pink Bracts

Monarda didyma

Brilliant red flowers are a hit with hummingbirds. Foliage emits spicy odor when crushed. Striking as a cut flower. **To the best of our knowledge, this plant is not naturally native to Kentucky.** It appears to be native to the northeast and Appalachia, both to Ohio & Tennessee, neighboring states.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Blooms: July-August
Flowers: Red

Phlox paniculata

True to it's name, Garden Phlox does well in the home garden and in rain gardens. Best planted in full sun. It is an excellent source of nectar for hummingbirds.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Blooms: July-September
Flowers: Pink-Purple

Physostegia virginiana

White to pink tubular flowers fill the flowering stalk attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Makes a lasting cut flower. Spreads readily. Consider using in contained situation for home garden use.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Blooms: August-October
Flowers: White to Pink

Salvia azurea

Pairs of true blue flowers arranged on thin flowering stalks catch the eye even from a distance. Foliage is nicely aromatic when crushed. May be trimmed back in late spring to desired height and shape. Attracts bees and butterflies & is deer resistant.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Blooms: July-October
Flowers: Blue

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Shrub. Showy white flowers borne in spherical clusters draw numerous pollinators. Bees use nectar for making honey, seeds feed wildlife. Great for borders, rain gardens or as a specimen plant, even erosion control. Larval host plant for a number of species of Lepidoptera. Prune to desired shape. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 5 to 12 feet
Blooms: June-September
Flowers: White

Cercis canadensis

In spring Redbud is often loaded with purplish-pink blooms that support pollinators at a critical time of year. Leaves are heart-shaped and tree has graceful spreading form. Larval host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly and several species of moth. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: prefers Part Sun
Soil: Average
Height: to about 30 feet
Blooms: April
Flowers: Pink

Scutellaria incana

Blue flowers are conspicuous and attractive, gorgeous in masses. Primarily pollinated by bumblebees. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Blooms: July-September
Flowers: Blue

Agastache nepetoides

A 'one-stop-shop' for bees and butterflies with many flowers in dense terminal spikes. Deer resistant. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average
Height: to 6 feet
Blooms: July-September
Flowers: Yellow-Green

Veronicastrum virginicum

Tall wispy, white candelabra-like flowers attract a multitude of pollinators and produce an especially strong effect when a number are planted together in a group. Candidate for rain gardens.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 4 to 7 feet
Blooms: May-August
Flowers: White

Chelone obliqua

Attractive especially when planted in groups. Best planted in intermediate light with moist well-drained soil such as in a rain garden.

Light: Intermediate
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Blooms: July-August
Flowers: Pink

Vernonia gigantea

Try Ironweed in a bouquet with Mist Flower, just beautiful. Highly attractive to butterflies. Deer resistant. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 5 to 8 feet
Blooms: August-September
Flowers: Purple-Magenta

Agastache scrophulariifolia

With spikes from 1" to 6" long, this plant makes an excellent source of late-season nectar indeed. Crushed foliage emits a pleasant licorice fragrance.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average
Height: 2 to 5 feet
Blooms: July-October
Flowers: Pale Purple-Lavender

Penstemon digitalis

Perfect for a sunny border, the tubular flowers are white or tinged with pink and attract a variety of native bees & hummingbirds. Foliage is a smooth, glossy dark green.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 3-5 feet
Blooms: April-June
Flowers: white to pink

Eupatorium fistulosum, Eutrochium fistulosum

Billowy clusters of pinkish-purple flowers are lovely en mass, especially in a damp area. Height can be controlled by trimming by up to 1/2 in June. Excellent for attracting butterflies, as a cut flower and dried. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Wet
Height to 7 feet
Blooms July to September
Flowers: Pinkish-Purple

Monarda fistulosa

Also known as Bee Balm, this is a wonderful plant for a pollinator garden. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and has a long bloom period.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Blooms July-September
Flowers: Pink-Lavender

Campsis radicans

Strong, fast-growing woody vine bearing trumpet shaped orange to red 3" long flowers. Attracts and supports hummingbirds and ideal for creating a tall, densely covered privacy trellis. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: to 40 feet
Blooms: July
Flowers Red & Orange

Silene regia

Excellent hummingbird plant with red flowers to 2" across. Makes a lovely addition to a pollinator garden.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average, well-drained to Dry
Height: to 4 feet
Blooms: July to August
Flowers: Red

Monarda bradburiana

Excellent choice for a yard, this Bee Balm is clump-forming & short (1' to 2'). It is also less aggressive & more mildew-resistant than other Bee Balms. It has a long bloom period and is a great pollinator plant.

Light: Best in Intermediate Light
Soil: Average
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Blooms: May to June
Flowers: Light Pink