Helenium autumnale

Also known as Sneezeweed (a misnomer as it is insect pollinated. Pollen is not dispersed via wind), this plant is under-utilized in the home garden and for cut flowers. The flowers have rounded, nearly spherical yellow centers ringed with notched yellow petals. Trim in late June to desired height. A larval host plant for the Dainty Sulfur butterfly. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Blooms: August-October
Flowers: Yellow

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

Hydrangea arborescens

Medium sized shrub with clusters of lacy white flowers. Excellent choice for planting in groups along edge habitat in a woodland garden. Also good for rain gardens and along streams. Host to the nifty Hydrangea Sphinx moth with 2" to 3" wingspan. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Part Sun
Soil: Average to Moist
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Blooms: June-August
Flowers: White

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

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

Schizachyrium scoparium

Used as an ornamental grass with silvery & bluish green leaves in rain gardens & pollinator gardens. Attractive bronze fall foliage & purplish flowers. Provides food & cover for wildlife.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Blooms: August to February

Sedum ternatum

Hardy & unique, this trailing succulent is ideal for use as a ground cover, in a window box or rock garden. Good source for early-season nectar. Drought-tolerant once established.

Light: Part Sun
Height: 3 to 6 inches
Soil: Average
Blooms: April to May
Flowers: White

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

Penstemon hirsutus

Front yard worthy. At 18 inches tall, this plant will grow in full sun to shade, moist soil to dry. Lovely purple tubular flowers support the hummingbird & many pollinators. Under-used as a yard plant. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Shade
Height: to 18"
Soil: Moist to Dry
Blooms: May to June
Flowers: Pink-Purple

Ceanothus americanus

Shrub with a rounded form, fragrant flowers that attract hummingbirds and yellow-green stems in winter. Deep roots makes this plant drought-tolerant but difficult to transplant.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Blooms: May to July
Flowers: Creamy white

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, Aster oblongifolius

Perfect height for the home garden, profuse blue-lavender blooms provide the solution to both late-season color and nectar. Trim to desired shape through June. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: to 2 feet
Blooms: September-November
Flowers: Blue-Violet

Phlox divaricata

Lovely low mat-forming native perennial with abundant, fragrant blue-violet flowers in spring. Useful along a path or rock garden. Prefers rich, moist well-drained humus soil.

Light: Part to Full Shade
Soil: Average
Height: to 1 foot
Blooms: April to May
Flowers: Blue-Violet

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

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

Geranium maculatum

Pretty little plant with mounding habit. Can be massed as a ground cover. Resistant to rabbits, deer.

Light: Prefers intermediate
Soil: Medium
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Blooms: April to May

Blephilia hirsuta

Charming pale lavender flowers in tiered spheres bring nectar to a shady garden. Nice in borders, paths.

Light: best in intermediate, shade
Soil: Medium
Height 1 to 2.5 feet
Blooms: May to September

Phlox pilosa

Also known as Prairie Phlox, this is a low, mounding & prolific blooming plant that tolerates drought. Excellent for front borders. Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies.

Light: best in Full Sun
Height: to 18 inches
Blooms: May to July
Soil: Medium