Photo Credit:  Missouri Botanical Garden

Common Name:  Bellwort

Scientific Name:   Uvularia grandiflora

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  1.5’ – 2’  ,  Width:  1’ – 1.5’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil type):  Full shade, to part shade. Average medium well-drained soils.

Bloom Time:  April - May

Flower Color:  Yellow

Pollinator Type (Bee, Butterfly/Moth, Beetle, Fly, Bird):  Ants and bees.

Common Name:  Eastern Bluestar

Scientific Name:   Amsonia tabernaemontana

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  2’ – 3’  ,  Width:  2’ – 3’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Very adaptable, thrives in all soils and is drought tolerant once established. Full sun to part shade.

Bloom Time:  May - June

Flower Color:  Blue to Purple

Pollinator Type (Bee, Butterfly/Moth, Beetle, Fly, Bird):  Ruby-throated hummingbirds, various bees, moths, and butterflies.

Photo Credit: Minnesota Wildflowers

Common Name:  Golden Alexanders

Scientific Name:   Zizia aurea

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  1.5’ – 3’  ,  Width:  1.5’ – 2’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Grows in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.

Bloom Time:  May - June

Flower Color:  Yellow

Pollinator Type (Bee, Butterfly/Moth, Beetle, Fly, Bird):  Host plant for black swallowtail butterfly; shallow nectaries attract small beneficial wasps, bees, and flies.

Common Name:  Spotted Crane’s-bill (aka Wild Geranium)

Scientific Name:   Geranium maculatum

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  1.5’ – 2’  ,  Width:  1’ – 1.5’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Part sun, to part shade; can tolerate full sun if given sufficient moisture. Prefers in rich loamy soils.

Bloom Time: May - July

Flower Color:  Pale Pink, Deep Pink, Lilac

Pollinator Type (Bee, Butterfly/Moth, Beetle, Fly, Bird):  Nectar from flowers attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Songbirds eat the seeds. Pest resistant and deer tolerant, often used as a ground cover.

Photo Credit:  Missouri Botanical Garden

Common Name:  White Beardtongue

Scientific Name:   Penstemon digitalis

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  3’ – 5’  ,  Width:  1.5’ – 2’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun, average dry to medium well-drained soils.

Bloom Time:  May - July

Flower Color:  White

Pollinator Type (Bee, Butterfly/Moth, Beetle, Fly, Bird):  Birds, bees, and butterflies.  Deer Tolerant.

Photo Credit:  Missouri Botanical Garden

Common Name:  Smooth Spiderwort (aka Ohio Spiderwort)

Scientific Name:   Tradescantia ohiensis

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  2’ – 3’  ,  Width:  1.5’ – 2.5’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun, to part shade. Average dry to medium well-drained soils.

Bloom Time:  May - July

Flower Color:  Deep Blue to Purple

Pollinator Type (Bee, Butterfly/Moth, Beetle, Fly, Bird):  Native bees, especially bumblebees, honey bees, butterflies.

Photo Credit:  Missouri Botanical Garden

Common Name:  Milkweed

Scientific Name:   Asclepias syriaca

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  2’ – 3’  ,  Width:  .75’ – 1’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun, drought tolerant, grows well in average, dry to medium well-drained soils.

Bloom Time: June - August

Flower Color:  Pink, Mauve, White

Pollinator Type (Bee, Butterfly/Moth, Beetle, Fly, Bird):  Flowers provide a nectar source for butterflies, bees and other pollinators and the plant is the larval host plant of the monarch butterfly and milkweed tussock moth.

Photo Credit: NCSU extension

Common Name:  Spotted Beebalm

Scientific Name:   Monarda punctata

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  1.5’ – 2’  ,  Width:  .75’ – 1’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun, to part shade.  Well-drained dry to sandy soils.  Deer and Rabbit resistant.

Bloom Time:  July - August

Flower Color:  Purple, Yellow, Purple Spotted

Pollinator Type (Bee, Butterfly/Moth, Beetle, Fly, Bird):  Attracts bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. Ruby-throated hummingbirds and butterflies nectar from the blooms.

Photo Credit: Connecticut Botanical Society

Common Name:  Boneset

Scientific Name:   Eupatorium perfoliatum

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  4’ – 6’  ,  Width:  3’ – 4’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun, to part shade. Does well in both sandy and clay soils, needs constant moisture.

Bloom Time:  July - September

Flower Color:  White

Pollinator Type (Bee, Butterfly/Moth, Beetle, Fly, Bird):  Bees including sweat bees, small carpenter bees, digger bees, and bumble bees.

Photo Credit:  Missouri Botanical Garden

Common Name:  Mountain Mint

Scientific Name:   Pycnanthemum muticum

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  3’ – 4’  ,  Width:  2’ – 3’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Grows in average, moist to medium well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.

Bloom Time:  Summer (July – September)

Flower Color:  White, Lavender, Pink

Pollinator Type:  Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Other:  Long blooming, attractive in winter as well; drought, deer, and rodent tolerant.

Photo Credit:  Missouri Botanical Garden

Common Name:  New England Aster

Scientific Name:   Symphyotrichum noave-angliae

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  3’ – 6’  ,  Width:  2’ – 3’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun, average medium well-drained soils.

Bloom Time:  August - October

Flower Color:  Deep Pink, Purple

Pollinator Type (Bee, Butterfly/Moth, Beetle, Fly, Bird):  Attracts bees and butterflies.

Common Name:  Fall Sneezeweed

Scientific Name:   Helenium autumnale

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  3’ – 5’  ,  Width:  2’ – 3’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun.  Prefers rich, moist soils, intolerant of dry soils. Deer tolerant.

Bloom Time:  August - October

Flower Color:  Yellow

Pollinator Type (Bee, Butterfly/Moth, Beetle, Fly, Bird):  Attracts bees and butterflies.

Photo Credit:  Homer Edward Price, NC State Extension

Common Name:  Joe Pye Weed

Scientific Name:   Eupatorium dubium

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  5’ - 7’  ,  Width:  2’ – 4’

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Sun to partial shade,  medium to wet soil.

Bloom Time:  Summer - Early Fall (July – September).

Flower Color:  Pink

Pollinator Type:  Bees and butterflies.

Other:  Dwarf cultivars, Little Joe and Baby Joe, could be used in border gardens if height is an issue.

Photo Credit:  Lisa McDaniel, UConn Extension

Common Name:  White Wood Aster

Scientific Name:   Eurybia divaricata 

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  1’ - 2.5'  ,  Width:  1.5' - 2.5'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Average dry or moist soil, partial shade to full shade.

Bloom Time:  August, September

Flower Color:  White   

Pollinator Type:  Bees and butterflies.

Other:  Good plant for dry shade conditions.

Photo Credit:  Will Stuart, NC Audobon

Common Name:  Cardinal Flower

Scientific Name:  Lobelia cardinalis 

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  2’ - 4'  ,  Width:  1' - 2'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Moist soil, Full sun to partial shade.

Bloom Time:  July - September

Flower Color:  Red

Pollinator Type:  Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.

Photo Credit:  Cathy Dewitt, NC State Extension

Common Name:  Purple Coneflower

Scientific Name:   Echinacea purpurea

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  1’ - 1.5'  ,  Width:  1'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun to part shade, dry to medium soils.

Bloom Time:  June - August

Flower Color:  Purple

Pollinator Type:  Bees and butterflies.

Photo Credit: Elmer Verhasselt, Bugwood.org 

Common Name:  Wild Bergamot

Scientific Name:   Monarda fistulosa

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  3’ - 4'  ,  Width:  2' - 3'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full to partial sun, moist to dry soils.

Bloom Time:  June - August

Flower Color:  Lavender

Pollinator Type:  Butterflies, moths, bumblebees, and hummingbirds.

Photo Credit:  Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve

Common Name:  New York Ironweed

Scientific Name:   Vernonia noveboracensis

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  4’ - 6'  ,  Width:  3' - 4'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun, medium to wet soils.

Bloom Time:  Full sun, medium to wet soils.

Flower Color:  Purple

Pollinator Type:  Bees and butterflies.

Photo Credit:  Will Stuart, NC Audobon

Common Name:  Woodland Phlox, Eastern Blue Phlox

Scientific Name:   Phlox divaricata

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  1’  ,  Width:  1'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Partial to full shade, medium moist soils.

Bloom Time:  April - May

Flower Color:  Blue

Pollinator Type:  Butterflies, moths, bumblebees, and hummingbirds.

Other:  Good ground cover.

Photo Credit:  Derek Ramsey

Common Name:  Golden Groundsel

Scientific Name:   Packera obovata

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  1’ - 2'  ,  Width:  0.5' - 2'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Part to full shade, moist well-drained soils.

Bloom Time:  February - June

Flower Color:  Yellow

Pollinator Type:  Small Butterflies, skippers, flies, and bees.

Other:  Good ground cover.

Photo Credit:  Dan Mullen, NC State Extension

Common Name:  Showy Goldenrod

Scientific Name:   Solidago speciosa

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  3’ - 5'  ,  Width:  3' - 4'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Height:  3’ - 5'  ,  Width:  3' - 4'

Bloom Time:  August - September

Flower Color:  Yellow

Pollinator Type:  Bees and butterflies.

Photo Credit:  Ryan Hodnett, NC State Extension

Common Name:  Blue Vervain

Scientific Name:   Verbena hastata

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  2’ - 5'  ,  Width:  1' - 3'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full to partial sun, moist soil.

Bloom Time:  July - August

Flower Color:  Purplish-Blue

Pollinator Type:  Bees, flies, and beetles.

Photo Credit:  David D. Taylor, US Forest Service

Common Name:  Field Thistle

Scientific Name:   Cirsium discolor

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  3’ - 6'  ,  Width:  1' - 2'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun to partial shade, dry soils.

Bloom Time:  June - September

Flower Color:  Pink, Purple

Pollinator Type:  Butterflies, bees, and moths.

Photo Credit:  nativeplanttrust.org

Common Name:  Gray Goldenrod

Scientific Name:   Solidago nemoralis

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  0.6’ - 2'  ,  Width:  0.6' - 2'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full to partial sun, medium well drained soils.

Bloom Time:  August - September

Flower Color:  Yellow

Pollinator Type:  Flies, bees, beetles, and butterflies.

Photo Credit:  Dan Mullen, NC State Extension

Common Name:  Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod

Scientific Name:   Solidago rugosa

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  2' - 5'  ,  Width:  '1 - 3'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun to part shade, medium to dry well drained soil.

Bloom Time:  September

Flower Color:  Yellow

Pollinator Type:  Bees and butterflies.

Photo Credit:  Sue Dingwell, Virginia Native Plant Society

Common Name:  Virginia Bluebells

Scientific Name:   Mertensia virginica

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  2'  ,  Width:  1'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Partial to full shade, moist rich soil.

Bloom Time:  March - May

Flower Color:  Pink to blue as they bloom

Pollinator Type:  Bees and some butterflies.

Other:  Can be planted in mass to create a blue carpet of flowers in spring.

Photo Credit:  Patrick Standish, NC State Extension

Common Name:  Giant Hyssop

Scientific Name:   Agastache spp.

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  2 - 4'  ,  Width:  1.5 - 3'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full to partial sun, rich moist soil.

Bloom Time:  June - August

Flower Color:  Blue

Pollinator Type:  Bees and butterflies

Other:  Easy to grow (member of mint family).

Photo Credit:  Will Law, NC State Extension

Common Name:  Blue False Indigo

Scientific Name:   Baptisia australis

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  2 - 3'  ,  Width:  3 - 4'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full to partial sun, dry to moderate soil.

Bloom Time:  May - June

Flower Color:  Blue

Pollinator Type:  Bees and butterflies.

Other:  Native plant, member of pea family.

Photo Credit:  Kathy DeWitt, NC State Extension

Common Name:  Black-Eyed Susan

Scientific Name:   Rudbeckia hirta

Mature Height and Width:  Height:  2'  ,  Width:  1 - 1.5'

Cultural Requirements (Sun/Water/Soil Type):  Full sun, prefers average well drained soil but tolerant of most soils.

Bloom Time:  June - Late September

Flower Color:  Yellow and Dark Brown

Pollinator Type:  Bees and butterflies.