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

Chrysopsis mariana

Daisy-like yellow flowers provide much-needed late-season nectar. This plant is a good option for use as a matrix species in a flower garden, reducing the need to mulch between plants. Grown from KY-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 1 to 2.5 feet
Blooms: August-October
Flowers: Yellow

Liatris spicata

Also known as Gayfeather, this plant produces striking dense purplish wands of flowers from a clump of narrow, shiny, strap-like basal leaves. Beautiful in a front yard, butterfly garden, rain garden, cut flower or large pot. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Soil: Average
Blooms: July to August
Flowers Reddish-Purple

Penstemon calycosus

Under-used & well-suited for home garden use, Calico Beardtongue has 1" long pink tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds. Foliage is semi-glossy and may turn purple in fall. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Filtered Shade
Soil: Moist to Dry
Height: 1 to 3 feet
Blooms: June to July
Flowers: Violet to Pink

Rudbeckia fulgida

A pleasing clump forming plant bearing bright & bold yellow-orange blooms that last for weeks. Great as a cut flower, for use in rain gardens & massing to create a border. Remove spent flowers to prolong bloom time. Spreads by rhizomes. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full sun
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Soil: Average to Dry
Blooms: June to October
Flowers: yellow-orange

Talinum calcaricum

A lovely little succulent perfect for a rock garden or other dry, sandy spot. It's magenta blooms open in the late afternoon and blooming lasts for weeks. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Dry
Height: leaves to 2 inches, flowers to 6 inches
Blooms: throughout summer

Asarum canadense

Heart shaped leaves spread via rhizomes to form an attractive ground cover for shade.

Light: Part to Full Shade
Soil: Average to Wet, Well-drained
Height: to 1 foot
Blooms: April to May (but are low to ground, making them difficult to notice)

Coreopsis auriculata

Short stature and charming, airy and long-blooming yellow-orange flowers make this an ideal choice for a front border in intermediate light. Foliage is compact, low & mounding. Remove spent flowers to extend blooming. Self-seeding & slowly spreading by stolons.

Light: Intermediate
Soil: Medium
Height: Flowers to 18 inches
Blooms: April to June
Flowers: yellow-orange

Solidago drummondii

Arcs or cascades over retaining walls or slopes in full sun, dry to average soil. Not aggressive like other goldenrod species. Goldenrods are excellent pollinator plants.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Dry to Medium
Height: 1.5 to 3 feet
Blooms: August to September

Oenothera fruticosa tetragona

Large bright yellow day-flowering plant with nice dark green foliage. Can be used as a ground cover but is not aggressive. Stems and foliage often turn reddish in fall.

Light: Full sun
Soil: Dry to Moist
Height: to 2 feet
Blooms: April to June

Hypericum prolificum

Upright shrub tolerant of a wide variety of soil types and good for stabilizing embankments or creating a boundary or hedge. Flowers to 1" in diameter. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average (but drought-tolerant)
Height: usually 1 to 4 feet
Blooms: June to August
Flowers: Yellow