Sweet Sixteen
Most Likely to Succeed Plants
These native plants:
• Are generally easy to find at native plant nurseries and sales,
• Tolerate a wider range of soil types, sun, and moisture,
• Have broad wildlife and pollinator appeal, and
• Boast lengthy bloom time and seasonal interest.
Purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
A “perennial” favorite among gardeners
Bloom: June – August
Height: 24-36 inches
Spread: 18-24 inches
Sun: full sun to medium shade
Moisture: average to moist
Wildlife: butterflies, pollinators, birds flock to seedheads
Lanceleaf coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Short and sunny keystone species
Bloom: May – June
Height: 16-24 inches
Spread: 12-24 inches
Sun: full sun to light shade
Moisture: dry to average
Wildlife: butterflies, pollinators
Aromatic aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Keystone species with purple fall flowers
Bloom: October – November
Height: 12-36 inches
Spread: 18-30 inches
Sun: full sun to light shade
Moisture: dry to average
Wildlife: butterflies, pollinators, bees
Sideoats grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Compact plant with prairie personality
Bloom: July – September
Height: 12-24 inches
Spread: 12-18 inches
Sun: full sun to light shade
Moisture: dry to average
Wildlife: birds, butterflies
Pussytoes
Antennaria parlinii
Tough groundcover with sweet fuzzy flowers
Bloom: April – May
Height: 6-10 inches
Spread: 8-10 inches
Sun: full sun to light shade
Moisture: average to dry
Wildlife: birds, butterflies
Bee balm
Monarda bradburiana
Always popular with pollinators and people!
Bloom: May – June
Height: 18-24 inches
Spread: 12-18 inches
Sun: light sun to shade
Moisture: average
Wildlife: hummingbirds, pollinators, bees
Whorled milkweed
Asclepias verticillata
Underappreciated monarch host plant
Bloom: May – August
Height: 12-36 inches
Spread: 10-20 inches
Sun: full sun to light shade
Moisture: average to dry
Wildlife: monarchs, pollinators, beneficial insects
Eastern blazing star
Liatris scariosa
Comes with butterflies!
Bloom: September – October
Height: 36-50 inches
Spread: 12-16 inches
Sun: full sun to light shade
Moisture: average to dry
Wildlife: bees, hummingbirds, monarch magnets, birds eat seeds
Shady Soft Landings
Creating a safe haven for caterpillars and beneficial insects under your trees
Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Long-blooming hummingbird fave
Bloom: April – June
Height: 24-36 inches
Spread: 16-20 inches
Sun: sun to full shade
Moisture: average
Wildlife: hummingbirds, pollinators
Alumroot
Heuchera americana
Our native coral bells
Bloom: April – June
Height: 12-24 inches
Spread: 10-18 inches
Sun: half sun to full shade
Moisture: dry to average
Wildlife: tiny pollinators
Golden groundsel
Packera obovata
Evergreen groundcover and great spring color
Bloom: April – May
Height: 10-14 inches
Spread: 12-18 inches
Sun: half sun to full shade
Moisture: dry to average
Wildlife: pollinators, beneficial insects
Dittany (aka wild oregano)
Cunila origanoides
Fall blooms followed by frost flowers!
Bloom: September – October
Height: 12-16 inches
Spread: 12-16 inches
Sun: sun to medium shade
Moisture: dry to average
Wildlife: pollinators
Foxglove beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Watch for bumblebee butts!
Bloom: May – June
Height: 30-48 inches
Spread: 16-20 inches
Sun: full sun to light shade
Moisture: average to moist
Wildlife: hummingbirds, pollinators
Black eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Fan favorite keystone species
Bloom: June
Height: 24-36 inches
Spread: 16-24 inches
Sun: full sun to light shade
Moisture: average
Wildlife: butterflies, pollinators
Purple poppy mallow
Callirhoe involucrata
Knockout color for a sunny spot
Bloom: June – July
Height: 6-9 inches
Spread: 24-36 inches
Sun: full sun
Moisture: dry to average
Wildlife: pollinators
Prairie dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Fine foliage and a formal fountain shape
Bloom: August – October
Height: 18-24 inches
Spread: 24-36 inches
Sun: full sun
Moisture: dry to average
Wildlife: birds
