Bergamot (commonly known as Bee Balm or Monarda) is known for its distinct, "shredded" crown-like blooms and aromatic foliage. This hardy perennial is a member of the mint family and does well in all but the wettest of soils. It’s fragrant flowers are a popular nectar source for butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Water Needs Moderate; prefers consistent moisture but is drought-tolerant once established.

• Soil Type Tolerates Muck, Clay, Loam and Sand, and poor soils.

• Mature Height 4 - 5 feet

• Deer Resistance High

• Bloom Time July – September

• Bloom Color Lavendar

• Plant Spacing 2 - 3 feet

Plant Characteristics

• The leaves release a minty or oregano-like scent when crushed.

• Its unique flower shape has tube-like blossom structures.

• Naturally resistant to many pests, making it an easy-care choice of plants.

Wildlife Benefits

• Bergamot is one of the few plants that consistently draws hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees simultaneously.

• Serves as a host plant for several species of the Hermit Sphinx and the Raspberry Pyrausta moths.

Fun Fact: For generations, Bergamot was valued by Indigenous communities and early settlers as a healing plant, commonly brewed as a tea or used in simple remedies.

A staple of the American landscape, these iconic wildflowers feature bright daisy-like petals surrounding a deep chocolate-brown central cone. Black-Eyed Susans are extraordinarily hardy, heat-tolerant, and capable of thriving in conditions where more delicate flowers might falter. They are the perfect choice for gardeners who want high-impact color with minimal effort.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun (Preferred) to Partial Shade

• Water Needs Low to Moderate; very drought-tolerant once established

• Soil Type Needed Adaptable; can thrive in Muck, Clay, Loam or Sandy soils.

• Mature Height 2 – 3 feet

• Deer Resistance Moderate

• Bloom Time June – October

• Bloom Color ‍ ‍ Yellow

• Plant Spacing 10 – 12 inches

Plant Characteristics

• One of the longest bloom periods of any summer perennial, often lasting from early summer right through the first frost.

• The plant is biennial that blooms and completes in life cycle in it’s seconds year. They are self-seeders, so they will appear in your garden for years to come but can succumb to longer-lived perennials in later years after planting.

• Highly resistant to heat, humidity, and drought, making them ideal for "problem spots" in the yard.

Wildlife Benefits

• Pollinator Favorite: The wide, flat blooms act as perfect landing pads for a variety of butterflies, including Monarchs, the Wavy-Lined Emerald and the Silvery Checkerspot.

• Bee Support: A primary nectar source for honeybees and several species of native solitary bees.

• Birds: If you delay your garden cleanup until spring, the sturdy seed heads provide essential winter forage for goldfinches and other small songbirds.

If you want to bring the vibrant colors of a summer sunset and a flurry of wings to your landscape, Butterfly Weed is the undisputed champion. This award-winning native perennial is famous for its flat-topped clusters of brilliant, neon-orange flowers that practically glow in the garden. Unlike other milkweeds, Butterfly Weed is compact and well-behaved, making it a perfect fit for both formal flower beds and wilder meadow designs.

One of its best features for the home gardener is its extreme durability. Because it develops a deep, sturdy taproot, it is incredibly drought-tolerant once established and thrives in the kind of poor, sandy soil where other plants might struggle. It is a true "plant it and forget it" beauty that rewards you with weeks of intense color from mid-to-late summer.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun

• Water Needs Low to Medium; very drought-tolerant

• Soil Type Well-drained Sand or Loam soil

• Mature Height 1.5 - 2 feet

• Deer Resistance High

• Bloom Time June – August

• Bloom Color ‍ ‍ Orange

• Plant Spacing 1 to 3 feet

Key Characteristics

• Vivid Blooms: The intense orange hue is rare in the native plant world and provides a high-contrast focal point.

• Low Maintenance: Highly resistant to pests and diseases; it actually prefers "neglect" over heavy fertilizing or overwatering.

• Late Emerger: Don't worry if you don't see it in early spring! It is one of the last perennials to wake up, usually waiting until the soil is truly warm.

Wildlife Benefits

• Monarch Host Plant: As a member of the milkweed family, it is an essential host plant where Monarch butterflies lay their eggs and their caterpillars feed.

• Pollinator Magnet: Its nectar is highly accessible, attracting a massive variety of butterflies, native bees, and even hummingbirds.

Pro Tip: Because of its long taproot, Butterfly Weed does not like to be moved once it is planted. Choose its "forever home" carefully! To get the best blooms, plant it in your sunniest, driest spot and avoid heavy mulching right against the crown, as it loves to stay dry and warm.

Just like the goldenrod, this plant is a "bridge" species—but while the goldenrod bridges the seasons, the Evening Primrose bridges day and night! While most flowers wake up with the sun, this native waits for the twilight. It features bowl-shaped yellow blossoms that unfurl in late afternoon and evening.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Water Needs Low to Medium; very drought-tolerant

• Soil Type Adaptable; prefers Sandy, Rocky, or Lean soil

• Mature Height 4 – 6 feet

• Deer Resistance Moderate

• Bloom Time July – October

• Bloom Color‍ ‍ Yellow

• Plant Spacing 1 – 2 feet

Plant Characteristics

• Long Bloom Time: It is one of the last natives blooming into late fall.

• Hardy & Resilient: It thrives in "neglected" areas where other plants struggle. It is highly resistant to pests and can handle poor, dry soils with ease.

Wildlife Benefits

• Polinators: Although labeled as a weed by some, it is a very important native plant with a long bloom time. It benefits many different kinds of bees, nectaring moths, butterfiles, and caterpillars.

• The "Night Shift": The flowers attract sphinx moths (hawk moths), which are nocturnal.

• Hummingbirds: Though they open late, the flowers stay open long enough for hummingbirds to visit them for a breakfast snack in the early morning.

Garden Note: Common Evening Primrose is a prolific self-seeder. Because it is a biennial, it relies on dropping seeds to ensure a new generation blooms every year. If you want to limit its spread, simply snip off the seed pods after the flowering season is finished!

This towering native perennial is famous for its deeply lobed, sandpaper-like leaves that traditionally orient themselves North and South to avoid the intense midday sun—giving the plant its iconic name.Rising on sturdy, sap-filled stalks, its cheerful, sunflower-like yellow blooms provide a vertical element that can be seen from across the yard.

It is a slow-growing "anchor" species that invests its early years into developing a massive taproot that can reach up to 15 feet deep. This incredible root system makes it virtually bulletproof against drought and extreme heat, allowing it to remain lush and vibrant even when the rest of the garden is parched.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Water Needs Low to Medium; exceptionally drought-tolerant

• Soil Type Loam, Sand

• Mature Height 5 – 8 feet

• Deer Resistance High

• Bloom Time June – September

• Bloom Color Yellow

• Plant Spacing 3 – 5 feet

Plant Characteristics

• Height: Given rich soil, compass plants can reach upwards of 8 feet in height making it a natural focal point or a stunning "back of the border" screen.

• Living Compass: The large basal leaves align with the Earth’s magnetic poles to maximize water use in the leaves and increase CO2 gain.

• Centuries-Long Life: This is a "legacy plant." Once established, a single Compass Plant can live for up to 100 years, becoming a permanent fixture of your home's ecosystem.

Wildlife Benefits

• Pollinators: The resin-rich flowers are a favorite of bees, and butterflies.

• Birds: Seeds are a high-energy food source for goldfinches and other songbirds throughout the fall and a favorite perching spot.

Pro Tip: Patience is a virtue with the Compass Plant! Because it spends its first few seasons focused on growing that legendary 15-foot taproot, it may only produce a small cluster of leaves at first. Don't be fooled—it is building the foundation for a lifetime of beauty. Due to this taproot, it is very difficult to move once planted, so choose its "forever home" in a sunny spot with plenty of vertical room to grow.

If you’re searching for a low-growing, rugged shrub that provides multi-season interest without the invasive headache of other honeysuckles, consider Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle. This is a mounding, woody perennial that is great for dry, difficult shady areas. In early summer, it produces delicate, lemon-yellow trumpet flowers that are a magnet for the tiniest of garden visitors. It starts with dark green foliage that turns yellow-orange, then into vibrant shades of red and purple in the fall.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Partial Shade to Shade

• Water Needs Low to Medium; highly drought-tolerant once established

• Soil Type Adaptable; thrives in Dry Sand, Rocky soil, or dry Clay

• Mature Height 2 – 3 feet

• Deer Resistance Moderate

• Bloom Time June – August

• Bloom Color Yellow

• Plant Spacing 2 – 3 feet

Plant Characteristics

• Three Seasons of Color: Bronze spring buds, yellow summer flowers ending with beautiful red autumn foliage.

• Somewhat Aggressive Spreader: Spready by rhizomes and can overwhelm small landscapes. Keep this in mind when choosing your planting location

  • Will spread to form thickets over time, making it a good choice for shrub borders or hedgerows.

Wildlife Benefits

• Bumblebees: The small yellow blossoms are perfectly designed for bumblebees and other long-tongued native bees to crawl inside.

• Hummingbirds: Though the flowers are small, their nectar is high-energy and often visited by hummingbirds patrolling the garden.

• Host Plant to the Laurel Sphinx moth and the Snowberry Clearwing.

Pro Tip: Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle is incredibly forgiving when it comes to pruning. If it ever begins to look a bit unruly or "leggy" after a few years, you can cut it back nearly to the ground in late winter or early spring. It will roar back with fresh, colorful new growth and a tighter, more compact shape. It’s one of the few shrubs that actually enjoys a "fresh start" every now and then!

While most goldenrods wait for the cool air of fall to arrive, this eager native begins lighting up the landscape in mid-to-late summer. It features elegant, arching wands of tiny, nectar-rich yellow flowers that look like a burst of sunshine caught on a stem.

Unlike some of its taller, more aggressive relatives that can take over a space, this species stays at a moderate, manageable height and forms tidy clumps. It is the perfect choice for adding a "layered" look to your garden beds, filling the gap between your mid-summer blooms and the late-season asters.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Water Needs Low to Medium; very drought-tolerant

• Soil Type Well-drained Sand, Loam, or Rocky soil

• Mature Height 2 – 4 feet

• Deer Resistance High

• Bloom Time July – September

• Bloom Color Yellow

• Plant Spacing 1 – 3 feet

Plant Characteristics

• First to Bloom: As the name suggests, it is one of the earliest goldenrods to flower, providing a critical "bridge" of color between summer and fall.

• Pollinator Powerhouse: The brilliant yellow plumes are a primary nectar source for a huge array of beneficial insects during the peak of summer heat.

• Aggressing Spreader: Spreads by rhizomes. Keep this in mind when selecting your planting site, may not be suitable for small landscapes.

  • Thinning every few years is recommended.

Wildlife Benefits

• Butterfly Fuel: It is a favorite stop for Monarchs, Viceroys, and hairstreaks as they begin their late-season activities.

• Native Bee Support: It provides high-quality pollen for specialized native bees that rely on goldenrods to feed their young.

• Songbird Food: In the winter, the dried seed heads offer a tiny but nutritious feast for chickadees and goldfinches.

*Don’t believe the myths—Goldenrod does not cause hay fever! Its pollen is heavy and sticky (designed to be carried by bees, not the wind). The real culprit for itchy eyes is usually Ragweed, which blooms at the same time but has inconspicuous green flowers. You can plant Early Goldenrod with confidence, knowing it brings beauty and health to your garden without the sneezing!

Also called Brickellbush, this tough-as-nails native is prized for its fine-textured foliage and creamy, vanilla-colored flowers. It provides a soft, neutral "break" for the eye in gardens filled with bright yellows and deep purples, making every other color look more vibrant. Though not very showy, it is an excellent nectar plant for butterflies and moths.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Water Needs Low; highly drought-tolerant (Xeric)

• Soil Type Well-drained Sand, Loam, or Rocky/Gravelly soil

• Mature Height 2 – 3 feet

• Deer Resistance High

• Bloom Time August – September

• Bloom Color‍ ‍ Cream

• Plant Spacing 1 – 2 feet

Plant Characteristics

• Deep-Rooted: Like the False Indigo, it possesses a deep taproot that allows it to stay lush and green even during the most punishing summer droughts. Roots can grow up to 17 feet deep!

• Tidy & Upright: It forms a clean, bushy mound of narrow, serrated leaves. It does not flop or lean, making it an excellent "structural" plant for the middle of your garden layer.

Wildlife Benefits

• Nectar Late-Seater: It blooms alongside late-season asters, providing a critical fuel source for the very last of the season's butterflies and migrating Monarchs.

• Moth Host: It is a high-value host plant for several species of flower moths, adding to the nighttime biodiversity of your garden.

• Pollinator Variety: Because the flowers are small and grouped in clusters, they are accessible to a wide range of beneficial insects.

Pro tip: Try planting it directly between Early Goldenrod and False Blue Indigo. The creamy white flowers of the Boneset act as a "color buffer," preventing the bright yellow and deep blue from clashing and creating a more harmonized garden look.