Cacalia atriplicifolia, Arnoglossum atriplicifolium

Interesting large, fan-shaped leaves are white or "pale" on lower surface. Clusters of cream colored blooms are highly attractive to pollinators. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average Moisture
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Blooms: July-August
Flower: White-Cream

Cassia marilandica, Senna marilandica

Topped with dense clusters of yellow pea-like flowers in mid-summer, Wild Senna is low maintenance & deer and rabbit resistance. Although shrubby in habit and therefore also included under "woody" here, it is an herbaceous perennial, sprouting at ground level each spring. Pollinator host plant to Sleepy Orange, Orange-barred Sulfur, Cloudless Sulfur, Silver-spotted Skipper butterflies & the Black Witch moth with wingspan to 7". Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average Moisture
Height: 3-6 feet
Blooms: July-August
Flowers: Yellow

Coreopsis tripteris

Tallest Coreopsis topped with delicate flowers that provide food for Goldfinches if allowed to dry and remain into the fall. One larval host plant for the Common Tan Wave Moth and the interesting Wavy-lined Emerald Moth. Plant spreads readily under favorable conditions. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Wet to Dry
Height: 3 to 8 feet
Blooms: July-October
Flowers: Yellow

Conoclinium coelestinum

Lovely accent plant for late-season color and nectar. Excellent for container gardening. For home use, containers or planting in a contained area is recommended as Mist Flower spreads easily. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Shade to Full Sun
Soil: Average to Moist
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Blooms: July-November
Flowers: Periwinkle

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

Fragaria virginiana

Wild or Virginia Strawberry has white flowers which provide early-season nectar. Decorative in a hanging pot and effective as a ground cover as it spreads readily by stolons. Having high ecological value, it provides early season nectar, pollen & serves as a larval host plant. Provenance: Kentucky.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average
Height: 4 to 7 inches
Blooms: April-June
Flowers: White

Helianthus angustifolius

The leaves are sparse and small, making the entire plant appear to be a bountiful bouquet. It has a long blooming period. If left standing, the dried seeds support many birds in winter. Under favorable conditions, this plant grows large and spreads readily. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average to Moist
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Blooms: July-August
Flowers: Yellow

Blephilia ciliata

Under-used in home gardens, Downy Wood Mint tolerates a wide range of conditions, is of short stature, provides early season color and fall foliage can present various shades of pink. Also known as Pagoda Plant, this is a wonderful nectar plant for bees. Deer resistant. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Light Shade
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 1-2 feet
Blooms: May-July
Flowers: Light Purple

Heliopsis helianthoides

Beautiful orange-yellow flowers practically glow and will continue to bloom when spent flowers are removed. Variously called Oxeye Sunflower, Early Sunflower, Everlasting Sunflower, & False Sunflower.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Blooms: June-August
Flowers: Orange-Yellow

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

Eryngium yuccifolium

Rattlesnake Master is surprisingly a member of the Carrot Family. Spherical flower clusters add much interest to a garden or a bouquet. Larval host to an attractive moth, the Rattlesnake Master Borer. Drought-tolerant. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Dry to Average
Height: 4 to 5 feet
Blooms: June-September
Flowers: Green

Pycnanthemum pilosum

Light and billowy in flower, providing a visually soft effect when planted in groups. This is a highly effective plant for attracting 'clouds' of pollinators. Brush past the plant to release a pleasing aroma. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: to 3 feet
Blooms: July-September
Flowers: White

Rudbeckia triloba

Although somewhat coarse, from a short distance, each plant looks like a bouquet of flowers, each about 1.5" across. Recommended for use along an edge, especially where soil remains moist and well drained. Remove old flowers to prolong blooming. A short-lived perennial. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Blooms: July-October
Flowers: Yellow

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

Stylophorum diphyllum

Darling little plant useful as an early season ground cover. Self-sows in favorable conditions. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Part Shade to Full Shade
Soil: Moist
Height: to 1.5 feet
Blooms: April-June
Flowers: Yellow

Manfreda virginica

Also called American Agave, this plant has a basal rosette of fleshy leaves. The flowers, both interesting and fragrant, are borne on tall slender stems. An excellent drought-tolerant plant for a dry sunny spot or rock garden. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Dry to Average
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Blooms: July-October
Flowers: Yellowish-Green

Zizia aurea

Yellow blooms, though moderately showy are cheerful, providing early season color and nectar for pollinators. Host plant for the Black Swallowtail Butterfly.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average
Height: 1.5 to 3 feet
Blooms: May-June
Flowers: Yellow

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

Orbexilum onobrychis

Indigenous to prairies. Spreads by rhizomes that participate in nitrogen fixation. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height to 3.5 feet
Blooms: July-August
Flowers: Blue-Purple

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

Pycnanthemum virginianum

Like many mints, its nectar draws & supports many native pollinators. White flowers are borne in clusters at the top of plant. In nature this plant is found adjacent to streams, waterways and in moist meadows.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average
Height: to 3 feet
Blooms: July to September
Flowers: White

Senecio aureus, Packera aurea

Golden Ragwort provides early-season nectar and can be used as a ground cover in part sun with moist, well-drained soil. When removing Garlic Mustard, replace cleared area with Golden Ragwort to aid in competitive exclusion of this invasive exotic. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Part Sun
Soil: Average to Moist
Height: to 2.5'
Blooms: April
Flowers: Bright Yellow

Aruncus dioicus

Herbaceous plant of stature and foliage with excellent feathery visual texture. Looks elegant along a woodland border or walk. Flowering plumes in spring resemble Astilbe. Separate male and female plants.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average to Moist
Height: 4 to 6 feet
Blooms April to May
Flowers: Creamy White

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