| Common Name |
Botanical Name |
Height |
Plant Characteristics and Notes |
USDA
Zones |
Environmental Requirements
Benefits for Nature |
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| Alfalfa |
Medicago sativa |
3 ft. |
Alfalfa is a nitrogen fixing, legumous member of the pea family which is used as feed for farm animals or as a cover crop. It produces clusters of small flowers
Attracts Butterflies: Eastern Black Swallowtail, Orange Sulphur, Dogface, Large Wood Nymph |
4-7 |
 
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| Alpine Aster |
Aster alpinus |
6-12" |
The Alpine Aster plant forms a nice compact mound and produces an abundance of 1 ½" white flowers in May and June |
3-9 |
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| Alpine Columbine |
Aquilegia flabellata |
6-12" |
Violet with white flowers are borne on stiff stalks above the lacy bluish green foliage of the durable, self seeding Alpine Columbine |
3-9 |
  
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| Annual Aster |
Callistephus chinensis |
8-24" |
This annual plant is a native to Asia. The 2-4" flowers range in color from blue, white, red, yellow, or pink on 1'-3' stems. Do not plant annual varieties of Asters in the same are for more than two consecutive years to prevent Aster wilt.
Attracts Butterflies: Checkered White, Orange Sulphur, Question Mark, Painted Ladies, Red Admiral, Buckeye |
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| Aster |
Aster novae-angliae |
12-24" |
Asters grow into a dense mound of light green foliage. In May and through June, the plant will become covered with soft, 1 1/2" white, purple, pink or red flowers
Attracts Butterflies: Checkered White, Orange Sulphur, Question Mark, Painted Ladies, Red Admiral, Buckeye |
4-9 |
|
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| Australian Saltbush |
Atriplex semibaccata |
1--2 ft. |
The Creeping Saltbush is a low growing shrub from Australia with light green curly leaves. It will survive in areas where there is high levels of salt in the soil. Flowers in the summer are insignificant |
9-11 |
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| Bat Face Plant |
Cuphea |
2-3 ft. |
A tender perennial grown as an annual, Cupheas grow best in full, bright sun but will tolerate periods of light shade. Bat Face Plants bloom from spring through fall |
10-12 |
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| Beard Tongue |
Penstemon Barbatus |
12-24" |
Tubular flowers in red, pink, purple, or white will be sure to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. |
4-9 |
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| Bee Balm |
Monarda didyma |
2-4 ft. |
Like other members of the Mint Family, Bee Balm can become invasive. The plant should be divided every 3 years to keep it tidy. Stimulate a second flowering in the same year by cutting the bright crimson flowers right after they bloom |
4-8 |
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| Black Eyed Susan |
Rudbeckia hirta |
24-36 |
The Black Eyed Susan is most commonly an annual wildflower, but some varieties are perennial or biennial. These native prairie flowers can be found growing wild in almost every state. These bright, daisy like flowers are excellent to use in cut flower arrangements. Deadheading spent flowers will prolong the blooming period considerably.
Attracts Butterflies: Great Spangled Fritillary, Pearly Crescentspot |
3-8 |
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| Blanket flower |
Gaillardia grandiflora |
1-3 ft. |
Blanket flowers are clumping upright perennials with light green foliage. Their Daisy-like flowers appear in mid summer and are up to four inches in diameter. Blanket Flowers are easily grown from seeds |
4-10 |
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| Butterfly bush |
Buddleia davidii |
6-15 ft. |
The Butterfly Bush is a fast growing, profuse blooming, deciduous shrub that will grow in almost any type of soil. Prune hard in early spring and remove spent flowers promptly. |
5-10 |
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| Butterfly Lily |
Hedychium coccineum |
2-4ft. |
Butterfly lilies are only suited for growing in warmer climates. Fragrant pink or white flowers that resemble butterflies appear on 5-8 ft. stalks in late summer and into the fall |
9-11 |
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| Butterfly Pea |
Clitoria ternata |
 |
Butterfly Pea is a fast growing climber is a fairly common tender perennial species that produces two inch flowers in mid to late Summer. A quick cover for lattice, a trellis, arbors and chain-link fences |
10-11 |
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| Butterfly Weed |
Asclepias tuberosa |
2 ft. |
Butterfly Weed is a perennial wildflower, native to the United States. This upright growing plant has long fuzzy foliage and produces fragrant, bright orange flowers atop 3 ft. stems in July and August |
4-10 |
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| Cardinal Flowers |
Lobelia cardinalis |
2-3 ft. |
The intensely bright red flower spikes of the Cardinal Flower serve as a beacon to the hummingbirds and butterflies who dine on the flower's nectar. The plant itself also acts as a host for some species of butterfly larvae |
3-9 |
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| Catnip |
Nepeta cataria |
2-3 ft. |
Catnip is a very easy to grow and care for perennial herb that readily self seeds. It should be planted in a 'cat friendly' area of your garden. The tall, upright stems of greyish green foliage are topped with spires of tiny blue flowers from late spring until mid summer |
3-8 |
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| Cinquefoil |
Potentilla fruticosa |
2-3 ft. |
Potentillas prefer well-drained, reasonably rich soil, but will tolerate clay, rocky, or even slightly alkaline soils as well. Loads of pink or yellow 'buttercup' flowers in June. |
2-7 |
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| Columbine |
Aquilegia |
12-18" |
The Columbine is an easy plant to grow because it adapts itself to a wide variety of conditions. They are a favorite flower for hummingbirds, and are excellent additions to rock gardens or in a native woodland planting |
3-9 |
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| Creeping Baby's Breath |
Gypsophila repens |
4-6" |
Creeping Baby's Breath forms a low growing mat of tiny greyish green foliage and produces masses of small star shaped flowers in early summer. This plant is easily grown from seed or propagated by division. Trim back after blooming |
3-9 |
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| Daisy |
Chrysanthemum maximum |
18-36" |
Daisies are long blooming, short lived (2-3 years) members of the Chrysanthemum family. This clumping perennial produces an abundance of 2-3" flowers from early summer through summer
Attracts Butterflies: Pearly Crescentspot, Red Admiral, Queen |
5-10 |
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| Dandelion |
Taraxacum officinale |
1-2" |
Dandelions are a common lawn and garden weed, but can be cultivated and used. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, flowers are used to make wine, and the milky sap can be used as a mosquito repellent
Attracts Butterflies: Cabbage White, Common sulphur, Comma Angelwing, Red Admiral |
5-11 |
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| Dogbane |
Apocynum cannabinum |
3 ft. |
Dogbane is an upright, shrub-like deciduous perennial with yollowish green foliage. It produces small flowers at the branch tips from late spring until late summer, followed by slender 8 inch seed pods
Attracts Butterflies: Spicebush Swallowtail, checkered White, Common Orange Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Pearly Crescentspot, Mourning Cloak, American Painted Lady, Buckeye |
4-10 |
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| Dutchman's Pipe |
Aristolochia littoralis |
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Dutchman's Pipe is a tender evergreen with very unusual and unique 'calico' flowers. It prefers to grow in partial shade |
8-10 |
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| Dwarf Yarrow |
Achillea kellereri |
8" |
Dwarf Yarrow is a vigorous growing perennial with silvery strap-like leaves that add interest when the plant is out of bloom. It produces a profusion of large white or yellow flower clusters that continue throughout the summer. |
5-10 |
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| English Lavender |
Lavandula |
12-24 |
English Lavender is an evergreen, upright clumping perennial with bluish green, grass-like foliage. The small, fragrant flowers are held in long spikes at the top of the stems. For dried flowers, cut when the spikes first show color but the flowers are not fully open and hang inverted, in a cool dry place |
6-9 |
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| Fringed Yellow Loosetrife |
Lysimachia ciliata |
1-2 ft. |
Fringed Loosetrife is an outstanding, fast growing North American wildflower that grows in upright mounds of deep purplish green foliage. Each stem becomes studded with small golden flowers in mid summer. Excellent contrast near lighter foliage plants |
5 |
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| Gayfeather |
Liatris spicata |
1-3 ft. |
The Gayfeather, Liatris spicata is an interesting perennial plant which produces a 1-3 foot tall spike of bright purplish-pink or white flowers in late June to early fall. Liatris are easily grown from seeds |
3-10 |
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| Goldenrod |
Solidago virgaurea |
12-36" |
Goldenrod is an aggressively spreading, upright clumping, deciduous perennial plant with light green foliage. It produces sprays of bright yellow flowers from mid summer until mid fall
Attracts Butterflies: Common Orange Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, American Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Viceroy |
3-9 |
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| Goldflame Honeysuckle |
Lonicera heckrottii |
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Honeysuckle vines are easy to grow, vigorous, heat-tolerant, and nearly indestructible. The flashy and fragrant flowers will attract hummingbirds and butterflies all summer long. |
5-9 |
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| Gold Plate Yarrow |
Achillea filipendulina |
4 ft. |
Gold Plate Yarrow is a long blooming perennial with fern like greyish green foliage and 4-6" bright yellow flower clusters |
3-10 |
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| Hollyhock |
Althaea rosea |
3-7 ft. |
Hollyhocks are easy to start from seed. The towering spikes host dozens of white, yellow, pink, red or crimson flowers from mid Summer until late Fall |
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| Honeysuckle |
Lonicera |
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Honeysuckle are easy to grow, vigorous, heat-tolerant, and nearly indestructible. The flashy, fragrant flowers will attract hummingbirds and butterflies all summer long. The resulting fruit will provide a fall treat for your local songbirds as well. |
4-10 |
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| Ivy Geranium |
Pelargonium peltatum |
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The Ivy Leaved Geranium is a frost tender, climbing and trailing, semi succulent perennial that produces clusters of orchid-like flowers at the vine tips all summer. Good in hanging baskets. They can be propagated by softwood cuttings or grown from seed |
9-11 |
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| Jupiter's Beard |
Centranthus ruber |
24-36" |
Jupiter's Beard is an upright perennial with light green lance shaped foliage. It produces clusters of small, fragrant flowers from June through August. Can be easily grown from seed or propagated by softwood cuttings |
5-8 |
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| Lantana |
Lantana |
4-6 ft. |
Lantana is a durable evergreen shrub that will occasionally grow in a vine like manner if a limb finds a support to its liking. Lantana produces 1-2" balls of small, brilliantly colored tubular flowers in the summer and fall
Attracts Butterflies: Swallowtails, cabbage White, Gulf Fritillary |
8-11 |
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| Lilacs |
Syringa vulgaris |
5-8 ft. |
Lilacs require full sun for maximum bloom. They prefer a slightly alkaline soil (pH 7.5). Most Lilacs require a pronounced winter chilling period or they may fail to bloom the following year |
3-7 |
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| Lupine |
Lupinus |
12-36" |
Lupines are upright, mound forming annual or perennial wildflowers with large green, lance shaped leaves and spikes of brightly colored sweet pea-like flowers from June to August. Can be easily grown from seed Beware of slugs!
Attracts Butterflies: Common Blue |
3-8 |
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| Marigold |
Tagetes patula |
8-12" |
Marigolds are among the easiest plants to grow and care for. These spunky little annuals are covered with blooms from mid spring until late fall. Can be easily grown from seeds
Attracts Butterflies: Milbert's tortoiseshell, American Painted Lady |
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| Meadow Rue |
Thalictrum aquilegifolium |
2-3 ft. |
The dainty looking flowers of the Meadow Rue are good for cutting. The airy foliage resembles that of the Columbine. This deer resistant plant would be a great addition to any Butterfly garden |
5-9 |
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| Milkweed |
Asclepias speciosa |
2-3 ft. |
Milkweed is a deciduous American wildflower with large, wooly, greyish green leaves. They produce clusters of brightly colored, uniquely shaped flowers from late spring until late summer which turn into large, pointed seed pods
Attracts Butterflies: Swallowtails, Checkered Cabbage White, Common Orange Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Pearly Crescentspot, Common Blue, Great Spangled Fritillary, Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, Painted Ladies, Red Admiral, Viceroy, Monarch, Queen |
3-9 |
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| Mint |
Mentha |
6-24" |
Mint plants are fragrant, easy to grow, sometimes invasive, drought tolerant perennials that range from low growing ground covers to two foot uprights. Flowers should be snipped away to strengthen the stems.
Attracts Butterflies: Swallowtails, Cabbage White, Gray Hairstreak, Painted Ladies, Red Admiral, Monarch, Large Wood Nymph |
3-10 |
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| Montbretia |
Crocosmia |
2-4 Ft. |
Crocosmia are easy to grow, corm type plants that are related to the Iris. They produce a stalk of brilliantly colored, tube shaped flowers that open sequentially up the stem from July until the first hard frost. They can be grown, but not over-wintered in containers |
5-8 |
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| Pansy |
Viola |
3-8" |
Pansies may be cool season annuals, biennials, or hardy perennials. They may bloom in early spring or fall depending on the species. Planting time is critical |
6-9 |
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| Passion Flower |
Passiflora incarnata |
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Passion flowers are generally considered to be hardy in USDA zones 5-9 but they should be planted in a protected location and mulched heavily if severe cold threatens. This vine produces dramatic 3 inch diameter flowers in late summer |
5-9 |
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| Pincushion Flower |
Scabiosa caucasica |
18-24" |
This bushy, medium leaved plant produces stalks of 3 inch pink flower clusters from June until the first frost. Low maintenance, good container plant.
Attracts Butterflies: Painted Ladies |
5-10 |
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| Plantain lily |
Hosta |
9-24" |
Decorative, large clumps of lush foliage and spikes of lily shaped flowers later in summer. A hummingbird favorite flower |
3-9 |
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| Plecostachys |
Plecostachys serpyllifolia |
1-2 ft. |
Plecostachys is a sturdy and drought tolerant, low growing shrub from South Africa. It has dense, very fine textured, light green or light grey foliage and produces Yarrow like flowers from mid summer to early fall |
9-11 |
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| Poor Man's Orchid |
Schizanthus wisetonensis |
1-2 ft. |
The colorful orchid like flowers of the Butterfly Flower contrast beautifully against the soft, feathery foliage of this annual. Schizanthus dislike extremes of heat or cold, preferring cool and moist conditions. |
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| Privet |
Ligustrum vulgare |
4-15 ft. |
Privet is a densely growing deciduous shrub with small light green, mottled or golden foliage. It produces clusters of fragrant white flowers all summer. Can be pruned into elaborate shapes
Attracts Butterflies: Spring Azure, Painted Ladies, Red-spotted Purple |
1-10 |
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| Purple Coneflower |
Echinacea purpurea |
2-4 ft. |
Purple Coneflowers produce large, fragrant pink flowers beginning in April and May. The three to five foot flower stalks make them an excellent background planting for your landscape, or in a butterfly garden.
Attracts Butterflies: Silvery blue, Great Spangled Fritillary |
3-9 |
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| Queen Anne's Lace |
Daucus carota |
6-12" |
Queen Anne's Lace is the wild form of the common carrot. It has light green, lacy foliage and blooms atop an inflorescence in late summer. Requires deep, loose soil to accomodate the plant's deep tap root.
Attracts Butterflies: Eastern Black Swallowtail, Gray Hairstreak |
2-10 |
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| Rabbitbrush |
Chrysothamnus nauseosus |
4-5 ft. |
Rabbitbrush is best known for it's intensely yellow colored flowers which bloom from August through October. |
4-6 |
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| Red Clover |
Trifolium pratense |
10-20" |
Red Clover is a legumous, nitrogen fixing, frost tender perennial with light green, trifoliate leaves immediately below a globe type flower head. It blooms from late spring until mid fall. An excellent cover crop.
Attracts Butterflies: Cabbage White, Great Spangled Fritillary, Painted Ladies, Red Admiral |
6-8 |
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| Red Hot Poker |
Kniphofia uvaria |
2-5 ft |
>The stately flowers of the Torch Lily, Kniphofia uvaria provide a dramatic display, when grown in a space where the entire plant is visible.
If you have sufficient space, you can select varieties to provide bloom during every month from May through October! |
5-10 |
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| Sea Holly |
Eryngium bourgatii |
1 ft. |
Sea Holly is a uniquely ornamental perennial plant that is among the favorites of many varieties of butterfly. The prickly foliage of this plant is variegated green and white. The steel blue, thistle like flowers form atop a two foot spike. |
4-8 |
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| Sea Pink |
Armeria maritima |
4-8" |
Sea Pink is a low maintenance, short lived perennial that forms a compact mound of narrow, dark green, grass-like leaves. It produces a steady supply of white to pink flowers
from late spring until late summer |
4-9 |
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| Sedum 'Autumn Joy' |
Sedum telephium |
18-24" |
Sedum Autumn Joy is a low maintenance, clump forming, succulent perennial plant with waxy, grey green foliage. Four inch clusters of tiny, star shaped flowers appear from mid summer until mid autumn |
3-8 |
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| Sweet Pea |
Lathyrus odoratus |
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Sweet Peas have long been a favorite of gardeners because of the wonderful fragrance of the large clusters of colorful flowers that grace these annual vines all summer.
Attracts Butterflies: Gray Hairstreak |
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| Sweet Pepperbush |
Clethra alnifolia |
6-10 ft. |
Sweet Pepperbush is an upright growing, deciduous shrub with light to dark green, deeply veined foliage. It produces spires of tiny, fragrant flowers from mid to late summer
Attracts Butterflies: Spicebush Swallowtail, Question Mark, American Painted Lady, Red Admiral |
5-9 |
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| Texas Bluebonnet |
Lupinus texensis |
12-24" |
The Texas Bluebonnet is an upright, mound forming perennial wildflower with large green, lance shaped leaves and spikes of blue, sweet pea-like flowers in late spring. Can be easily grown from seed
Attracts Butterflies: Common Blue |
3-8 |
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| Thistle |
Cirsium vulgare |
2-6 ft. |
There are many different species of Thistle, and nearly all of them are considered weeds. They are worst known for their prickly stems, prickly leaves and prickly flowers, but the butterflies like them
Attracts Butterflies: Swallowtails, Dogface, Gulf Fritillary, Pearly Crescentspot, Milbert's Tortoiseshell, American Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Viceroy, Monarch |
4-10 |
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Verbena |
Verbena bonariensis |
3-6 ft. |
There are over 200 annual and perennial species of Verbena but only about a half dozen are in cultivation. Purpletop verbena is an erect, clump-forming perennial with 2-3" rounded clusters of ¼" purple flowers
Attracts Butterflies: Great Spangled Fritillary |
7-11 |
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| Violets |
Viola pedata |
2-6" |
Violets are dainty little self seeding versions of the Pansy. Their seeds can be directly sown into the garden at anytime from spring through fall, but the seeds need darkness and 70° to germinate |
4-8 |
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| Winter Cress |
Barbarea orthoceras |
1-2 ft. |
Winter Cress is one of the earliest blooming wildflowers. It is a moisture loving member of the mustard family that produces clusters of <½ flowers from early spring until early fall.
Attracts Butterflies: Checkered White, Gray Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Pearly Crecentspot |
4-7 |
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| Woolly Yarrow |
Achillea tomentosa |
9-12" |
Woolly Yarrow is a very durable and low maintenance perennial with aromatic, greyish green, strap-like leaves. It produces small clusters that continue throughout the summer. Very drought tolerant |
5-10 |
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| Yarrow |
Achillea millefolium |
2-4 ft. |
Yarrow belongs to a group of plants that includes annual and perennial, drought resistant plants that will grow in almost any garden soil. It is a long blooming perennial wildflower with fern like greyish green foliage and 4-6" flower clusters |
3-10 |
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| Zinnia |
Zinnia |
12-18" |
Zinnias are easy to grow annual plants that produce an abundance of brightly colored 2-3" flowers through the summer months. They grow well in containers and make excellent cut flower arrangements. They dislike wet foliage. Can be easily grown from seed |
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