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Big Bluestem,

Turkyfoot

Andropogon gerardii

Big Bluestem is a warm season perennial bunchgrass. Its

Full sun, partial shade

Dry, moist

Loam, Organic, Clay/

Slightly Acidic, Neutral

4–8 ft tall

2 - 3 ft wide

Purple

Late Summer to Fall

Grass

Seeds provide food for birds including Grasshopper

Some

Not needed

>2 years

Yes

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN

Black Cohosh,

Black Snakeroot, Bugbane

Actaea racemosa,

Cimicifuga racemosa

The showy, fragrant, bottlebrush-shaped, white

Partial Shade, Shade

Moist

Loam, Organic/

Acidic, Slightly Acidic

4 - 6 ft tall

2 - 4 ft wide

White

Late Spring to Early Summer, Summer

Flower, Perennial

herbaceous

Host plant for the Spring Azure, Holly Blue, and Appalachian

Some

2 months

>10 years

AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI

Black Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Blackeyed Susan features daisy-like flowers with bright yellow-

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Dry

Loam, Organic, Clay

Slightly Acidic, Neutral

2 - 3 ft tall

1 - 2 ft wide

Yellow

Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Flower, Perennial

herbaceous

Host plant for Gorgone Checkerspot, Bordered Patch

High

1 month

<2 years

Yes

AL , AR , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS

Blue Flag Iris, Harlequin Blueflag, Northern Blueflag

Iris versicolor

Blue Flag is a native iris with attractive sword-shaped, blue-

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Moist, Wet

Loam, Organic, Clay

Acidic, Slightly Acidic

2 - 2.5 ft tall

2 - 2.5 ft wide

Blue, Purple

Late Spring to Early Summer

Flower, Perennial

herbaceous

Foliage provides habitat for aquatic and semi-aquatic

High

4 months

>2 years

Moderately

CT , DC , DE , ID , IL , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , NH , NJ , NY ,

Blue Lobelia

Lobelia siphilitica

Features purple-blue, tubular flowers, in whorled clusters

Full Sun, Partial Shade, Shade

Moist, Wet

Loam, Organic, Clay

Slightly Acidic, Neutral

2 - 3 ft tall

1 - 1.5 ft wide

Blue, Purple

Summer, Late Summer to Fall

Flower, Perennial

herbaceous

Special Value to Native Bees (Recognized by pollination

Some

1 to 2 months

3 to 4 years

AL , AR , CO , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA

Blue Vervain, Swamp Verbena

Verbena hastata

Features purplish-blue flowers, which bloom on tall

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Moist, Wet

Loam, Organic, Clay

Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral

2 - 6 ft tall

1 - 2.5 ft wide

Blue, Purple

Late Spring to Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer to Fall

Flower, Perennial

herbaceous

Larval host plant for verbena moth (Crambodes taliformis)

Some

1 to 2 months

2 to 3 years

AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY

Blue Wild Indigo, Blue False Indigo, Indigo weed, Rattle

Baptisia australis

A tall, bushy perennial in the bean family with lupine-like purple

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Dry

Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay

3 - 5 ft tall

3 - 4 ft wide

Purple

Late Spring to Early Summer

Flower, Perennial

herbaceous

Attracts butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and beetles.

High

1 to 3 months

Many decades

Moderately

AL , AR , CT , DC , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , MI , MO

The deep tap root makes it drought tolerant but difficult

Bottlebrush Grass, astern Bottlebrush Grass

Elymus hystrix

Greenish-brown, bristly spikelets that grow in loose upright

Full Sun, Partial Shade, Shade Dry, Moist

Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay

Slightly Acidic, Neutral, Slightly

2.5 - 3 ft tall

1 - 1.5 ft wide

Green

Late Summer to Fall

Grass

A native wild rye that provides food and shelter for many types

Hign

2 to 3 weeks

> 10 years

Moderately

AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME

A grass that does well in a woodland garden with other

Buttonbush, Button Willow

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Common buttonbush is a multi-stemmed shrub. Fragrant,

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Moist, Wet

Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay

Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral,

6 - 15 ft high

5 - 8 ft wide

White

Late Spring to Early Summer

Shrub

Woody

Host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars),

High

Not needed

> 50 years

Moderately

(in wetland areas)

AL , AR , AZ , CA , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA

Helps to develop and restore wetlands, control erosion in

Butterfly Weed, Butterfly Milkweed, Orange

Asclepias tuberosa

Butterfly Weed is a long-blooming, drought-tolerant, wildlife-friendly

Full Sun

Dry

Loam, Organic, Sandy

Acidic, Slightly Acidic

1.5 - 3 ft high

1 - 2 ft wide

Orange

Late Spring to Early Summer, Summer

Flower, Perennial

Host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars),

Some

1 to 2 months

> 20 years

AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY

Prized for its large, flat-topped clusters of bright-orange flowers.

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia Cardinalis

Cardinal Flower is one of the most attractive native

Full Sun, Partial Shade, Shade

Moist, Wet

Loam, Organic

Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline

2 - 4 ft high

1 - 2 ft wide

Red

Summer, Late Summer to Fall

Flower, Perennial

Nectar of the flowers attract Ruby-throated Hummingbirds,

Some

2 months

2 to 3 years

AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY

Works well at the edges of ponds and water features.