Native Plants Help the Pollinators in Your Backyard

For a limited time, we're offering native perennials that can be added to your garden, deck or patio. Specifically designed to only require a small amount of space and to bloom in spring, summer and fall, our native plants are second-year perennials that started at the Spence Restoration Nursery in Muncie, Indiana.

Plants arrive the week of May 1st in limited quantity. Secure your plants by preordering in-store or over the phone at (614) 766-2103 before April 15th.

3" Pot Native Perennials: $5 each

Preorder your plants now to guarantee the best selection!

 

Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)

Blooms in June. 2-3 ft. high with white bell-shaped flowers.
Light Requirement: Sun, Partial Shade; Soil Moisture: Mesic/Wet
Soil Description: Fertile, well-drained loams, clay loams, and sand. Acid preferably but tolerates lime.
Notes: Great for hummingbirds and insect pollinators. Will tolerate dry shade.

Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)

Blooms August - September. 2 - 4 ft. tall with a spike of pink bell-shaped flowers. 
Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade, Shade; Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Moist, humus-rich soils.
Notes: Obedient plant receives its name from the characteristic fact that if you manipulate an individual flower back and forth on its axis, it will stay in position you place it. Good nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds.

 

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

Blooms September - October. 3 - 5 ft. tall with many small, purple flowers.
Light Requirement: Part Shade; Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Acidic, Moist soils.
Notes: Host plant to Pearl Crescent and checkerspot butterflies. Will bloom until first frost. 

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)

Blooms April - August. 2 - 3 ft. tall with clusters of small, yellow flowers. 
Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade; Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, sandy or sandy-clay soils.
Notes: Host plant for Black Swallowtail Butterfly.

 

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

Blooms August - September with cluster of small, white flowers .
Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade, Shade; Soil Moisture: Moist, Wet
Soil Description: Moist to wet soils
Notes: Attracts birds and butterflies. The dried leaves have been used in a tonic called boneset tea for treatment of colds and coughs.

Swamp (Marsh) Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Blooms June - July. 3-5 ft. tall. Bright pink clusters of flowers.
Light Requirement: Full Sun, Part Shade; Soil Moisture: Moist
Notes: Host plant for Monarch & Queen butterflies. Attracts variety of pollinators.

 

 

Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera)

Blooms August - October. 1 - 3 ft. high with spikes of purple flowers.
Light Requirement: Sun Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Sandy or rocky soils.
Notes: Drought tolerant. Host plant for various moth species.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)

Blooms June-August. Up to 4 feet tall. Pinkish-lavender flowers
Native Habitat: Well-drained limestone, sand, clay, loam. Rocky, open woods; thickets; prairies
Water Use: Medium; Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade; Soil Moisture: Dry; Soil Description: Well-drained, sandy or richer soils.
Notes: Flowers attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds. Birds eat seeds. Deer resistant

 

Showy Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia Fulgida var speciosa)

Blooms July-September. 2-3 feet tall. Orange-yellow petals, dark brown center
Native Habitat: Open woods; meadows; pastures
Light Requirement: Sun; Soil Moisture: Moist; Soil Description: Various soils
Notes: Flowers attract bees, butterflies. Birds eat seeds. Unattractive to rabbits and deer. Also called Orange Coneflower

Gray Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis)

Blooms June - October. 1 - 3 ft. tall with sprays of small yellow flowers.
Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade, Shade; Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Sandy, rocky soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Caliche type
Notes: Attractive to birds and butterflies. Moderate deer resistance.

 

Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)

Blooms July - September. 3 - 4 ft. tall with balls of small white flowers.
Light Requirement: Sun; Soil Moisture: Moist, Dry
Soil Description: Various well-drained soils
Notes: This unusual plant is attractive to bees and butterflies and thrives in various conditions. It is also deer resistant.

Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Blooms June - August. 1.5-2 ft. tall. Clusters of bright orange flowers.
Light Requirement: Sun; Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Prefers well-drained sandy soils. Tolerates drought.
Notes: Can be crowded out by larger plants, make sure it has its own space to thrive. Host plant for Monarch & Queen butterflies. Attracts a variety of pollinators.

 


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