Summer Blooms

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Arrowood ViburnumArrowood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
6-10 feet
Full/Partial Shade
Moisture: Medium
  • ​Native
  • Suggested use as a shrub
  • Showy flowers
  • Attracts birds and butterflies



Ashy SunflowerAshy Sunflower
Helianthus mollis
5 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium
  • ​Not Native
  • Blueish-green appearance
  • Can be aggressive


Bebb’s SedgeBebb’s Sedge
Carex bebbii
3 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium to Wet
  • Native
  • Common name from amateur botanist Robert Bebb
  • Grows maturely from seed in one season


Bee Balm Bee Balm
Monarda fistulosa
24" - 60"
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Drought tolerant
  • Foliage is susceptible to powdery mildew
  • Great for bumble bees
  • Minty aroma
  • Individual flowers are slender and pink to lavender tubes clustered together, each with lobes


Big BluestemBig Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
7 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Warm season grass
  • Used as accent in landscapes
  • Can be aggressive
  • Great fall color


Black-eyed SusanBlack-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
1-2 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Dry to Moist
  • ​Native 
  • Common on roadsides and in open woodlands
  • Abundant in disturbed places
  • Host plant for Silvery Checkerspot butterfly
  • Attracts all kinds of pollinators


Blue VervainBlue Vervain
Verbena hastata
5 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Wet-Medium
  • ​Native
  • Candelabra-like appearance
  • Many small mammals and birds eat the seeds​


Blue-joint GrassBlue-joint Grass
Calamagrostis canadensis
3-5 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Moist to Wet
  • Native 
  • Common on moist to wet prairies and marshes; often growing in dense patches


Brown Fox SedgeBrown Fox Sedge
Carex vulpinoidea
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Wet-Dry
  • ​Native
  • Very attractive mid-summer
  • Easy to grow
  • Seed head resembles a fox tail


Butterfly MilkweedButterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
12 - 36 inches
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Has large taproot and does not transplant well
  • Great for monarch butterflies and other pollinators
  • Fruit has an upright pod with many seeds 

​This is part of the DMACC Urban Prairie Native Landscaping. Learn more about ​​​Native Landscaping​.​​

Button Blazing StarButton Blazing Star
Liatris aspera
3 feet
Sun/Partial Shade
Moisture: Medium - Dry
  • ​Native
  • Grows best in full sun
  • Butterflies and bees are very attracted to this plant
  • Great in flower arrangements​


Canada AnemoneCanada Anemone
Anemone canadensis
1-2 feet
Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture: Medium to Wet
  • ​Native
  • Showy flowers
  • Low maintenance
  • Hardy ground cover
  • Spreads readily


Canada Milk VetchCanada Milk Vetch
Astragalus canadensis
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-Dry
  • ​Common throughout US and Canada
  • Uses a variety of environments
  • Great for cut arrangement
  • Can be toxic to animals​


Cardinal FlowerCardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
4 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium
  • ​Native
  • Beautiful scarlet flowers
  • Nectar source for hummingbirds
  • Fast grower


Common MilkweedCommon Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-Dry
  • ​Native
  • Host plant for monarch butterfly
  • Flower can vary from nearly white to deep purple
  • Delicate fragrance


Compass PlantCompass Plant
laciniatum
5-9 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium
  • ​Native
  • Icon of the prairie
  • Easily grown
  • Attracts goldfinches
  • Tolerates poor soils
  • Common in disturbed areas


Cream GentianCream Gentian
Gentiana flavida
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium wet to dry
  • ​Native
  • Slow growing but long lived
  • Little care once established
  • Bumblebees are pollinator because they can pry open the flowers


Creamy Wild IndigoCreamy Wild Indigo
Baptisia bracteate
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to Dry
  • Native
  • One of the earliest prairie species to bloom
  • Flowers will develop into distinctive seed pods
  • Essential early nectar source for queen bumblebees
  • Serves as host plant for several moths​
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Culvers RootCulvers Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
4-7 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium to Wet
  • ​Native
  • Great for rain gardens
  • Occurs in open woods and moist meadows and prairies


Cup PlantCup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
4-8 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium to Wet
  • ​Native
  • Attracts birds and butterflies
  • Easily grown
  • Sunflower-like


Dense Blazing StarDense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
5 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Wet, Medium Wet
  • ​Native
  • Moisture-tolerant
  • Purple wands of crowded flowers
  • Attracts pollinators


Dotted Blazing StarDotted Blazing Star
Liatris punctata
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium Dry, Dry
  • ​Native
  • Typically found in Loess Hills
  • Has a long taproot that makes this plant extremely drought resistant
  • Attracts pollinators
  • Makes excellent cut flowers


False SunflowerFalse Sunflower
Heliopsis helianthoides
5 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Wet-Dry
  • ​Native
  • Member of the Aster family
  • Easily grown


Flax Leaved AsterFlax Leaved Aster
Lonactis linariifolius
1 foot
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-dry to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Grows in clumps
  • Showy blue-purple blossoms


FleabaneFleabane
Erigeron strigosus
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Wet-Dry
  • ​Native
  • Very common in disturbed areas


GermanderGermander
Teucrium canadense
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium
  • ​Native
  • Also called wood sage
  • Attracts hummingbirds
  • Can be aggressive​


Golden AlexanderGolden Alexander
Zizia aurea
1.5-3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium
  • Native
  • Occurs in moist woods and meadows and prairies
  • Attracts butterflies



Great Blue LobeliaGreat Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
2-3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to Wet
  • ​Native
  • Showy flowers
  • Needs constant moisture​


Greater Straw SedgeGreater Straw Sedge
Carex molesta
2-3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to Wet
  • ​Native
  • Easily grown
  • Prefer shade
  • Grows in a slowly creeping clump



Hoary VervainHoary Vervain
Verbena stricta
2-4 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Dry to Medium
  • Native
  • Easily grown
  • Vigorous​
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IronweedIronweed
Vernonia fasciculata
6 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium
  • ​Native
  • Stately plant
  • Brilliant purple flowers
  • Host plant to American Painted Lady​


Large Flowered PenstemonLarge Flowered Penstemon
Penstemon grandiflorus
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to Dry
  • ​​Native
  • Host plant for the Chalcedon Checkerspot and Edith’s Checkerspot butterflies
  • Endangered in some states and rare to see in the wild​
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Lead PlantLead Plant
Amorpha canescens
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to dry
  • ​Native
  • Several years to mature
  • Unique floral display
  • Tends to sprawl
  • Attracts pollinators

This is part of the DMACC Urban Food Forest Permaculture. Learn more about ​Permaculture.​​​​

Little BluestemLittle Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium
  • ​Native
  • Iconic warm season grass
  • Widely distributed
  • Excellent wildlife plant

This is part of the Stormwater Management project. Learn more about Stormwater Management​.

Longheaded ConeflowerLongheaded Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium- Dry
  • ​Very attractive mid-summer
  • Easy to grow
  • Seed head resembles a fox tail


Maryland SennaMaryland Senna
Cassia marilandica
4 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium
  • ​Native
  • Important plant for Sulphur butterflies


Milk VetchMilk Vetch
Astragalus canadensis
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium wet to dry
  • ​Native
  • Common nectar source for bumblebees and honeybees
  • Host plant for Clouded Sulphur butterfly
  • Can be toxic to livestock​


Mountain MintMountain Mint
Pycnanthemum cirginianum
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Wet-Dry
  • ​Very attractive mid-summer
  • Easy to grow
  • Attracts many pollinators​


New England AsterNew England Aster
Aster novae-angliae
5 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Wet to Medium-dry
  • ​Native
  • Late bloomer
  • Flowers can range from purple, violet to lavender
  • Drought tolerant
  • Great for butterflies


New Jersey TeaNew Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to dry
  • ​Native
  • Deciduous shrub
  • Compact and rounded
  • Dried leaves make tea

This is part of the Urban Food Forest Rain Garden. Learn more about ​Other Garden Elements - Rain Garden​​​

Nodding OnionNodding Onion
Allium cernuum
1.5 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to medium-dry
  • ​Native
  • Pom-pom blooms
  • Can be eaten like chives



Obedient PlantObedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
4 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Wet to Medium
  • ​Native
  • Thrives in wetter soils
  • Flower stems will remain in any direction you point them in



Ohio SpiderwortOhio Spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to dry
  • ​Native
  • Most widespread of spiderworts
  • Very drought tolerant
  • Very attractive
  • Can be aggressive


Pagoda DogwoodPagoda Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
up to 25 feet
Partial Shade
Moisture: Medium to Medium-dry
  • ​Native
  • Deciduous Shrub
  • Host pant of the Azure butterfly


Pale Purple ConeflowerPale Purple Coneflower
Echinacea pallida
2-3 feet
Full/Partial Shade
Moisture: Dry to Medium
  • ​Native
  • Attracts butterflies
  • Showy, fragrant
  • Great cut flowers
  • Easily grown
  • Host plant for Ottoe-skipper butterfly


Pale Spiked LobeliaPale Spiked Lobelia
Lobelia spicata
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to medium-dry
  • ​Native
  • Short lived
  • Dainty
  • Understory plant



Partridge PeaPartridge Pea
Chamaecrista fasciculata
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to dry
  • ​Native
  • Favorite of bees and other pollinators
  • Leaves retreat when touched
  • Nitrogen fixer​


Porcupine GrassPorcupine Grass
Stipa spartea
4 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-Dry
  • Native
  • Cool season grass
  • Leafhoppers and grasshoppers eat foliage


Prairie AlumrootPrairie Alumroot
Heuchera richardsonii
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-Dry
  • ​Native
  • Resident of prairies and open woodlands


Prairie Blazing StarPrairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Wet to Medium
  • ​Native
  • Excellent cut flower
  • Attracts butterflies and bees
  • Favorite of hummingbirds



Prairie CoreopsisPrairie Coreopsis
Coreopsis palmata
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-Dry
  • Native
  • Deadheading flowers prolongs blooms
  • Attracts many native pollinators


Prairie LarkspurPrairie Larkspur
Delphinium virescens
feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium wet to dry
  • ​Native
  • Will disappear in excessive heat and reappear when it’s cooled off
  • Toxic to mammals
  • Attracts bumblebees​


Prairie LillyPrairie Lilly
Lilium philadelphicum
1 foot
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to medium-dry
  • Native
  • Commonly called wood lily
  • Grows well in prairies and open woods
  • Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
  • Native Americans used bulbs for food and medicine


Prairie NinebarkPrairie Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
8 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium wet to dry
  • Native
  • Pink buds open white
  • Rose family
  • Excellent cover for birds


Prairie PhloxPrairie Phlox
Phlox pilosa
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to Dry
  • Native
  • Wide variety of colors from white to dark purple
  • Butterflies love this plant as the broad petals make great landing pads​
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Prairie RagwortPrairie Ragwort
Packera plattensis
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium
  • Native
  • Common
  • Not aggressive
  • Foliage toxic to mammals
  • Attracts bees and flies​
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Prairie SmokePrairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
8 inches
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium- Wet-Dry
  • ​​V​ery attractive flowing style​

Prairie SpiderwortPrairie Spiderwort
Tradescantia bracteata
1 foot
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium- Dry
  • Native
  • Very attractive 
  • Smaller than Ohio Spiderwort​
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Prairie VioletPrairie Violet
viola pedatifida
6 inches
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to Medium-Dry
  • ​Native
  • Not aggressive
  • Host plant for several butterflies​


Purple Poppy MallowPurple Poppy Mallow
Callirhoe involucrata
6 inches
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium-Dry
  • ​Native
  • Also known as winecup
  • Very drought resistant
  • Excellent ground cover
  • Host plant for Gray Hairstreak​


Purple Prairie CloverPurple Prairie Clover
dalea purpurea
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Deep taproot
  • Attracts pollinators


Rattlesnake MasterRattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
4 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to medium-dry
  • ​Native
  • White bristly flowers
  • Member of carrot family
  • Host plant for the Black Swallowtail
  • Native bees and moths love it


Rough GoldenrodRough Goldenrod
Solidago rugosa
3-5 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium wet to wet
  • ​Native
  • Attracts butterflies
  • Easily grown


Sawtooth SunflowerSawtooth Sunflower
Helianthus grosseserratus
8 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to Medium-Dry
  • ​Native
  • Grows in dense colonies
  • Reddish-purple stem
  • Favorite of bees
  • Host plant for many butterflies


Showy PenstemonShowy Penstemon
Penstemon cobaea
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium- Dry
  • ​Native
  • Very attractive 
  • Host plant for Chalcedon Checkerspot and Edith’s Checkerspot​


Smooth Blue AsterSmooth Blue Aster
Symphyotrichum laeve
4 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to Medium-Dry
  • ​Native
  • Smooth leaves
  • Slow spreader
  • Host plant for Silvery Checkerspot and Pearl Crescent butterflies


SneezeweedSneezeweed
Helenium autumnale
4 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet
  • ​Native
  • Daisy-like flowers
  • Host plant for Dainty Sulphur butterfly


Starry CampionStarry Campion
Silene stellata
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Related to carnations
  • Pollinated by moths


Stiff GoldenrodStiff Goldenrod
Oligoneuron rigidum
4 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Great late bloomer for pollinators to use​


Sullivant’s MilkweedSullivant’s Milkweed
Asclepias sullivantii
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to Medium
  • ​Native
  • Host plant to the monarch butterfly
  • Very similar to common milkweed
  • Very fragrant​


ThimbleweedThimbleweed
Anemone cylindrica
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Also called Long-Fruited Thimbleweed


Toothed PrimroseToothed Primrose
Calylophus serrulatus
1 foot
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Dry
  • ​Native
  • Very showy flower
  • Drought tolerant​


Tuberous Indian PlantainTuberous Indian Plantain
Arnoglossum plantagineum
4 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to Medium
  • ​Native
  • Rubbery and glossy leaves


TurtleheadTurtlehead
Chelone glabra
5 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Wet to Medium-wet
  • ​Native
  • Pretty white blossoms
  • Host plant for Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly
  • Attracts hummingbirds



White Prairie CloverWhite Prairie Clover
Dalea candida
2 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Grows in patches
  • Member of the pea family
  • Puts nitrogen into soil


White SageWhite Sage
Artemisia ludoviciana
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Forms dense colonies
  • Host plant for American Lady and Painted Lady butterflies​


Wild ColumbineWild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
8 inches
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to Dry
  • Native
  • One of the first plants to provide nectar for butterflies and bees in the spring
  • Host plant for the Columbine Duskywing butterfly
  • Deer resistant


Wild GarlicWild Garlic
Allium canadense
18 inches
Full/Partial Shade
Moisture: Medium-wet to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Hardy plant
  • Edible
  • Attracts hummingbirds​


Wild LicoriceWild Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
2 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Root has distinct licorice flavor
  • Host plant for Silver-Spotted Skipper


Wild MintWild Mint
Mentha arvensis
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Wet to Medium
  • ​Native
  • All parts of the plant are aromatic
  • Special value to native bees
  • Aggressive spreader


Wild PetuniasWild Petunias
Ruellia humilis
12 inches
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Blooms throughout the hottest and driest times of summer
  • Great as ground cover
  • Attracts pollinators
  • Host plant for Common Buckeye butterfly


Wild RoseWild Rose
Rosa arkansana
2 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Hardy low shrub
  • Food for birds and wildlife into winter


Wild StrawberryWild Strawberry
Fragaria virginiana
6 inches
Full/Partial Shade
Moisture: Medium-wet to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Edible fruit
  • Great fall color
  • Spreads by runners easily​


Wild Sweet Potato Wild Sweet Potato
Lpomoea pandurata
3 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium
  • ​Native
  • Often grows on rocky slopes
  • Attracts bees


Winged LoosestrifeWinged Loosestrife
Lythrum alatum
3 feet
Full Sun
Moisture: Medium-wet to Dry
  • ​Native
  • Beneficial to pollinators and birds
  • Similar to invasive plant, Purple Loosestrife


Yellow ConeflowerYellow Coneflower
Ratibida pinnata
5 feet
Full/Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium to Medium-Dry
  • ​Native
  • Attracts butterflies and bees
  • Drought tolerant


 
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