Sun-Loving Native Plants
Loose Park Native Plant Pollinator Garden
Hover and click (on desktop) or tap (mobile) on plant groupings to learn more about them and the wildlife they support.
Little Bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full Sun
Bloom time: Purplish color comes late summer to winter
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil, Air pollution, Black Walnut, Shallow rocky soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects, birds, grazing animals. Nesting and roosting habitat for quail.
Golden Groundsel
(Packera “Senecio” obovata)
Size: 1’ to 1 1/2’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: April to June
Water needs: Medium to wet
Zone: 3 to 8
Wildlife benefits: The northern metalmark (Calephelis borealis), an imperiled butterfly in Missouri uses this species as larval food. Also attracts bees and other insects.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation/Linda Ellis
Little Bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full Sun
Bloom time: Purplish color comes late summer to winter
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil, Air pollution, Black Walnut, Shallow rocky soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects, birds, grazing animals. Nesting and roosting habitat for quail.
Little Bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full Sun
Bloom time: Purplish color comes late summer to winter
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil, Air pollution, Black Walnut, Shallow rocky soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects, birds, grazing animals. Nesting and roosting habitat for quail.
Golden Groundsel
(Packera “Senecio” obovata)
Size: 1’ to 1 1/2’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: April to June
Water needs: Medium to wet
Zone: 3 to 8
Wildlife benefits: The northern metalmark (Calephelis borealis), an imperiled butterfly in Missouri uses this species as larval food. Also attracts bees and other insects.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation/Linda Ellis
Prairie Dropseed
(Sprorobolus heterolepis)
Size: 1’ to 4’
Sun: Full Sun
Bloom time: summer to fall
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil, Air pollution, Black Walnut, Shallow rocky soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects, birds, and herbivores. Provides protection and cover for rodents, lizards and snakes.
Rose Verbena
(Glandularia canadensis)
Size: 1/2’ to 1 1/2’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: May to August
Water needs: Dry to Medium
Zone: 5 to 9
Wildlife benefits: Nectar attracts many bees, butterflies, and skippers. Seeds are food source for mice and birds.
Rose Verbena
(Glandularia canadensis)
Size: 1/2’ to 1 1/2’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: May to August
Water needs: Dry to Medium
Zone: 5 to 9
Wildlife benefits: Nectar attracts many bees, butterflies, and skippers. Seeds are food source for mice and birds.
Rose Verbena
(Glandularia canadensis)
Size: 1/2’ to 1 1/2’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: May to August
Water needs: Dry to Medium
Zone: 5 to 9
Wildlife benefits: Nectar attracts many bees, butterflies, and skippers. Seeds are food source for mice and birds.
Aromatic Aster
(Symphyotrihum oblongifolium)
Size: 1’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: August to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for moth caterpillars, other insects, deer and wild turkey. Bees, butterflies and skippers visit flowers.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Golden Alexander
(Zizia aptera)
(photo is similar species)
Size: 1’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: May
Water needs: Medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Wildlife benefits: Flowers attract many bees, butterflies, flies and other insects.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Green Milkweed
(Asclepias viridis)
Size: 1.5’ to 2.5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: May to July
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 5 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Drought
Wildlife benefits: Monarch butterflies use as larval food. Nectar attracts many bees, butterflies and skippers.
Rough Blazingstar
(Liatris aspera)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: August to October
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 10
Tolerates: Drought, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for birds, rabbits, woodchuck and deer. Nectar attracts Monarch butterflies, other butterflies, skippers, bees and beetles.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Showy Goldenrod
(Solidago speciosa)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil
Wildlife benefits: Important nectar source for bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and other insects. Many insects lay eggs on this plant, and it is habitat to many species.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Showy Goldenrod
(Solidago speciosa)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil
Wildlife benefits: Important nectar source for bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and other insects. Many insects lay eggs on this plant, and it is habitat to many species.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Showy Goldenrod
(Solidago speciosa)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil
Wildlife benefits: Important nectar source for bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and other insects. Many insects lay eggs on this plant, and it is habitat to many species.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Showy Goldenrod
(Solidago speciosa)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil
Wildlife benefits: Important nectar source for bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and other insects. Many insects lay eggs on this plant, and it is habitat to many species.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Showy Goldenrod
(Solidago speciosa)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil
Wildlife benefits: Important nectar source for bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and other insects. Many insects lay eggs on this plant, and it is habitat to many species.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Showy Goldenrod
(Solidago speciosa)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil
Wildlife benefits: Important nectar source for bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and other insects. Many insects lay eggs on this plant, and it is habitat to many species.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Butterfly Milkweed
(Asclepias tuberosa)
Size: 1’ to 2.5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: June to July
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky soil
Wildlife benefits: Monarch butterflies use as larval food. Attracts many butterflies and other insects.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Pale Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea pallida)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: June to July
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 10
Tolerates: Deer, Erosion, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for goldfinches. Nectar attracts fritillary and native prairie butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Purple Milkweed
(Asclepias purpurascens)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: May to July
Water needs: Dry to Medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil, Shallow-Rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Monarch butterflies use as larval food. Attracts many bees, butterflies and skippers for nectar.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Blue Wild Indigo
(Baptisia australis var. minor)
Size: 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: May to June
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Rabbits, clay soil, drought, erosion, dry soil, shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects and caterpillars. Attract bumblebees and butterflies. Toxic to mammals.
Blue Wild Indigo
(Baptisia australis var. minor)
Size: 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: May to June
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Rabbits, clay soil, drought, erosion, dry soil, shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects and caterpillars. Attract bumblebees and butterflies. Toxic to mammals.
Blue Wild Indigo
(Baptisia australis var. minor)
Size: 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: May to June
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Rabbits, clay soil, drought, erosion, dry soil, shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects and caterpillars. Attract bumblebees and butterflies. Toxic to mammals.
Blue Wild Indigo
(Baptisia australis var. minor)
Size: 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: May to June
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Rabbits, clay soil, drought, erosion, dry soil, shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects and caterpillars. Attract bumblebees and butterflies. Toxic to mammals.
Blue Wild Indigo
(Baptisia australis var. minor)
Size: 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: May to June
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Rabbits, clay soil, drought, erosion, dry soil, shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects and caterpillars. Attract bumblebees and butterflies. Toxic to mammals.
Blue Wild Indigo
(Baptisia australis var. minor)
Size: 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: May to June
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Rabbits, clay soil, drought, erosion, dry soil, shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects and caterpillars. Attract bumblebees and butterflies. Toxic to mammals.
Blue Wild Indigo
(Baptisia australis var. minor)
Size: 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: May to June
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Rabbits, clay soil, drought, erosion, dry soil, shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects and caterpillars. Attract bumblebees and butterflies. Toxic to mammals.
Blue Wild Indigo
(Baptisia australis var. minor)
Size: 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: May to June
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Rabbits, clay soil, drought, erosion, dry soil, shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects and caterpillars. Attract bumblebees and butterflies. Toxic to mammals.
Rattlesnake Master
(Eryngium yuccifolium)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: June to September
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Clay soil, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil,
Shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Nectar source for bees, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Rattlesnake Master
(Eryngium yuccifolium)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: June to September
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Clay soil, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil,
Shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Nectar source for bees, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Rattlesnake Master
(Eryngium yuccifolium)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: June to September
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Clay soil, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil,
Shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Nectar source for bees, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Rattlesnake Master
(Eryngium yuccifolium)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: June to September
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Clay soil, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil,
Shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Nectar source for bees, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Rattlesnake Master
(Eryngium yuccifolium)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: June to September
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Clay soil, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil,
Shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Nectar source for bees, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Rattlesnake Master
(Eryngium yuccifolium)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: June to September
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Clay soil, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil,
Shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Nectar source for bees, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Rattlesnake Master
(Eryngium yuccifolium)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: June to September
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Clay soil, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil,
Shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Nectar source for bees, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Rattlesnake Master
(Eryngium yuccifolium)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: June to September
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Clay soil, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil,
Shallow rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Nectar source for bees, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Golden Alexander
(Zizia aptera)
(photo is similar species)
Size: 1’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: May
Water needs: Medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Wildlife benefits: Flowers attract many bees, butterflies, flies and other insects.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Golden Alexander
(Zizia aptera)
(photo is similar species)
Size: 1’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: May
Water needs: Medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Wildlife benefits: Flowers attract many bees, butterflies, flies and other insects.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Swamp Milkweed
(Asclepias incarnata)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to August
Water needs: Medium to wet conditions
Zone: 5 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, wet soil.
Wildlife benefits: Monarch butterflies use as larval food. Attracts many insects for nectar.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Swamp Milkweed
(Asclepias incarnata)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to August
Water needs: Medium to wet conditions
Zone: 5 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, wet soil.
Wildlife benefits: Monarch butterflies use as larval food. Attracts many insects for nectar.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Swamp Milkweed
(Asclepias incarnata)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to August
Water needs: Medium to wet conditions
Zone: 5 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, wet soil.
Wildlife benefits: Monarch butterflies use as larval food. Attracts many insects for nectar.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Swamp Milkweed
(Asclepias incarnata)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to August
Water needs: Medium to wet conditions
Zone: 5 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, wet soil.
Wildlife benefits: Monarch butterflies use as larval food. Attracts many insects for nectar.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Swamp Milkweed
(Asclepias incarnata)
Size: 4’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to August
Water needs: Medium to wet conditions
Zone: 5 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, wet soil.
Wildlife benefits: Monarch butterflies use as larval food. Attracts many insects for nectar.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Curlytop Ironweed
(Vernonia arkansana)
Size: 4’ to 6’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: August to September
Water needs: medium to wet conditions
Zone: 5 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, wet soil.
Wildlife benefits: Attracts a wide array of bees, beetles, flies, butterflies, skippers and other insects that feed on its pollen or nectar. Also attracts predatory arthropods hunting insects who visit the flowers.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Curlytop Ironweed
(Vernonia arkansana)
Size: 4’ to 6’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: August to September
Water needs: medium to wet conditions
Zone: 5 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, wet soil.
Wildlife benefits: Attracts a wide array of bees, beetles, flies, butterflies, skippers and other insects that feed on its pollen or nectar. Also attracts predatory arthropods hunting insects who visit the flowers.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Prairie Dropseed
(Sprorobolus heterolepis)
Size: 1’ to 4’
Sun: Full Sun
Bloom time: summer to fall
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil, Air pollution, Black Walnut, Shallow rocky soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects, birds, and herbivores. Provides protection and cover for rodents, lizards and snakes.
Prairie Dropseed
(Sprorobolus heterolepis)
Size: 1’ to 4’
Sun: Full Sun
Bloom time: summer to fall
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil, Air pollution, Black Walnut, Shallow rocky soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects, birds, and herbivores. Provides protection and cover for rodents, lizards and snakes.
Butterfly Milkweed
(Asclepias tuberosa)
Size: 1’ to 2.5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: June to July
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky soil
Wildlife benefits: Monarch butterflies use as larval food. Attracts many butterflies and other insects.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Pale Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea pallida)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: June to July
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 10
Tolerates: Deer, Erosion, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for goldfinches. Nectar attracts fritillary and native prairie butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Compass Plant
(Silphium laciniatum)
Size: 5’ to 8’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: Medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Poor soil
Wildlife benefits: Seeds are food source for goldfinches, small birds and other wildlife. Habitat to eggs and larvae of small wasps and beetles.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Narrow-Leaf Mountain Mint
(Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 4 to 8
Tolerates: Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil
Wildlife benefits: Attracts bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and other insects.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Narrow-leaf Mountain Mint
(Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 4 to 8
Tolerates: Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil
Wildlife benefits: Attracts bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and other insects.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Wild Bergamot
(Monarda fistulosa)
Size: 2’ to 4’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Clay soil, Drought, Dry soil,
Shallow rocky soil, Black Walnut
Wildlife benefits: Attracts hummingbirds, bees, moths,
wasps, and butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Wild Bergamot
(Monarda fistulosa)
Size: 2’ to 4’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Clay soil, Drought, Dry soil,
Shallow rocky soil, Black Walnut
Wildlife benefits: Attracts hummingbirds, bees, moths,
wasps, and butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Butterfly Milkweed
(Asclepias tuberosa)
Size: 1’ to 2.5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: June to July
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky soil
Wildlife benefits: Monarch butterflies use as larval food. Attracts many butterflies and other insects.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Aromatic Aster
(Symphyotrihum oblongifolium)
Size: 1’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: August to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for moth caterpillars, other insects, deer and wild turkey. Bees, butterflies and skippers visit flowers.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Aromatic Aster
(Symphyotrihum oblongifolium)
Size: 1’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: August to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for moth caterpillars, other insects, deer and wild turkey. Bees, butterflies and skippers visit flowers.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Aromatic Aster
(Symphyotrihum oblongifolium)
Size: 1’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: August to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for moth caterpillars, other insects, deer and wild turkey. Bees, butterflies and skippers visit flowers.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Aromatic Aster
(Symphyotrihum oblongifolium)
Size: 1’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: August to September
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for moth caterpillars, other insects, deer and wild turkey. Bees, butterflies and skippers visit flowers.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Prairie Blazing Star
(Liatris pycnostachya)
Size: 2’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to August
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for Monarch butterflies, other butterflies, hummingbirds, skippers, bees and beetles. Other insects and birds hunt and eat the insects feeding on the plant.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Prairie Blazing Star
(Liatris pycnostachya)
Size: 2’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: July to August
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for Monarch butterflies, other butterflies, hummingbirds, skippers, bees and beetles. Other insects and birds hunt and eat the insects feeding on the plant.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Foxglove Beardtongue
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Size: 3’ to 5’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: April to June
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil
Wildlife benefits: Attracts bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Bottlebrush Grass
(Elymus hystrix)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Partial sun to shade
Bloom time: mid to late summer
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 5 to 9
Tolerates: heavy clay, drought, heavy shade, erosion, black walnut, air pollution
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects, rodents, birds, grazing animals. Host plant for caterpillars.
Purple Milkweed
(Asclepias purpurascens)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun
Bloom time: May to July
Water needs: Dry to Medium
Zone: 3 to 8
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil, Shallow-Rocky soil.
Wildlife benefits: Monarch butterflies use as larval food. Attracts many bees, butterflies and skippers for nectar.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Pale Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea pallida)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: June to July
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 10
Tolerates: Deer, Erosion, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for goldfinches. Nectar attracts fritillary and native prairie butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Pale Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea pallida)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: June to July
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 10
Tolerates: Deer, Erosion, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for goldfinches. Nectar attracts fritillary and native prairie butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Pale Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea pallida)
Size: 2’ to 3’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: June to July
Water needs: Dry to medium
Zone: 3 to 10
Tolerates: Deer, Erosion, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for goldfinches. Nectar attracts fritillary and native prairie butterflies.
Photo credit: Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Prairie Dropseed
(Sprorobolus heterolepis)
Size: 1’ to 4’
Sun: Full Sun
Bloom time: summer to fall
Water needs: Dry to medium conditions
Zone: 3 to 9
Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry soil, Air pollution, Black Walnut, Shallow rocky soil
Wildlife benefits: Food source for insects, birds, and herbivores. Provides protection and cover for rodents, lizards and snakes.
Pussy Toes
(Antennaria parlinii)
Size: 1/2’ to 1 1/2’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: April to June
Water needs: Dry to Medium
Zone: 5 to 9
Wildlife Benefits: Nectar attracts butterflies. The American Lady butterfly uses Antennaria species and other closely related members of the sunflower family as larval food plants.
Pussy Toes
(Antennaria parlinii)
Size: 1/2’ to 1 1/2’
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: April to June
Water needs: Dry to Medium
Zone: 5 to 9
Wildlife Benefits: Nectar attracts butterflies. The American Lady butterfly uses Antennaria species and other closely related members of the sunflower family as larval food plants.
