Allium cernuum

Eye-catching and under-used in the home garden, white-pink globose umbels nod gracefully from arch at the top of the stem. Nectar and pollen primarily attract bees. Grown from KY source seed.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Moist to Dry
Height: 1.5 feet
Blooms: June-August
Flower Color: White to Pink

Attracts: Butterflies
Deer Resistant

Allium stellatum

A gem for the home garden. An umbel of star-shaped flowers form a charming pink sphere. Nectar and pollen primarily attract bees and flower flies.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: to 1.5 feet
Blooms: July-August
Flower Color: Pink

Deer resistant.

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

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

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

Passiflora incarnata

Flowers are unique & showy, complete with "frills." Larval host to the Variegated Fritillary (caterpillar pictured in slide show), Zebra Longwing, Red-banded Hairstreak, and Gulf Fritillary butterflies. Maypop spreads readily from underground roots. Consider a contained situation in the home garden for long term ease of care. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Height/Length: to over 10 feet
Soil: Average
Blooms: July-September
Flowers: Purple

Sambucus canadensis

Elderberry is a good choice for use in a hedge row, border or when planted for wildlife. It has fragrant clusters of white flowers and later, loads of purple berries that draw birds in late summer & fall. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

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

Rosa carolina

Fragrant pink 2" wide flowers are followed by red hips in late summer. Best used in full sun & massed in a border. May sucker to form colonies. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Blooms: May
Flowers: Pink

Rosa palustris

Fragrant, showy flowers become bright red rose hips. Spreads by suckers. Good for a wet area susceptible to erosion. Kentucky source.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Wet to Med
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Blooms: June to July

Collinsonia canadensis

Intriguing lemony-fragrant light yellow flowers up to 1/2 inch long in loose-terminal arrangements are an excellent source of late-season nectar for pollinators. Leaves emit a citronella-like odor when crushed. Herbal uses are reported. Spreads easily by rhizomes. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Intermediate
Soil: Average
Height: usually 2-3', up to 4'
Blooms: August to September
Flowers: Light Yellow

Rhamnus caroliniana

Also known as Indian Cherry, this small tree abounds with ornamental features & despite the common name, bears no thorns. The air is a-buzz with the sound of pollinators when flowering. Glossy green leaves are ornamental as is the fall fruit which turn from red to black. Fruit provides food for birds at a critical time of year. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Height: 10 to 15 feet
Soil: Average

Rosa setigera

Deciduous shrub that works well in hedges as a shrub or trained as a climber. Nice fall color and fruits.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Medium to Wet
Height: 6 to 12 feet
Blooms: June

Corylus americana

Tall, multi-stemmed shrub producing edible nuts. Both male and female flowers occur on the same plant. Fall color varies from bright combinations to a dull yellow. Spreads by root suckers.

Light: Full sun to Part shade
Soil: Medium
Height: 10 to 16 feet
Blooms: March to April

Aronia arbutifolia

Large multi-stem shrub with bountiful spring flowering followed by crimson berries that hang on into winter and brilliant red fall foliage. Best flowering in full sun. Excellent for hedges, borders, water's edge, or as a specimen. Suckers. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Medium
Height: 6 to 8 feet
Blooms: April

Humulus lupulus

This native plant is host to butterflies: Commas, Question Marks & Red Admirals. It is an herbaceous, perennial vine with interesting & attractive fruit. Male & female on separate plants. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full sun to Part Shade
Soil: Medium to Moist
Height: 10 to 20 feet
Blooms: September to October

Helianthus tuberosus

Often found along streams in nature, this is a tall and attractive plant that produces edible tubers. Can spread by rhizomes & seed. Cut back to control height. Kentucky source seed.

Light: Full sun to Part Shade
Soil: Medium
Height: 6 to 10 feet
Blooms: August to September

Vitis rotundifolia

A deciduous grape vine that produces thick-skinned grapes up to 1" across that have been used for making juice, wine and jelly. This plant is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. Plants are grown from seed and gender is undetermined.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Medium
Height: to 90 feet
Blooms: early Summer

Opuntia humifusa

A native cactus found in glades and open woods. Semi-prostrate succulent pads form colonies when grown in well drained soil. Take care to avoid spines and tufts of bristles which easily attach to skin and cause discomfort. Flowers are yellow with a reddish inner ring. Kentucky source.

Light: Full Sun
Height: 6 to 12 inches
Soil: Dry, well-drained
Blooms: June to July

Quercus shumardii

To 60 feet with good fall color in shades of red, this tree is a great candidate for a shade tree, street tree, etc. Drought tolerant and tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. Oaks host hundreds of moths & butterflies in their vulnerable immature life stages. KY source.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Dry to Medium
Height: to 60'

Actaea racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa

Interesting and elegant structural plant with striking habit, especially in a grouping. Foliage with good texture and lofty cream colored flowers on tall slender fragrant spires. Prefers rich, moist soil. Grown from KY source seed.

Light: Full to Part Shade
Soil: Medium
Height: flower to 4-6 feet
Blooms: June to July