Vivid amethyst colored flowers dot the lovely green foliage; tolerates hot dry sites; good for the near front of a border

Mesa Bright Bicolor Blanket Flower has masses of beautiful lemon yellow daisy flowers with coppery-bronze eyes and a red ring at the ends of the stems from early summer to mid fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its tomentose narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

No those aren't sunflowers, those are Compass Plants! A true icon of the prairies, these lovely plants are an incredible addition to your landscape. It is quite a sight to see pollinators flit from flower to flower while birds, like Goldfinches, will perch upon the strong stems pecking for insects or seeds.

This compact, mounding coreopsis delivers cheerful golden yellow blooms from midsummer onward in a tidy, under-twelve-inch form that fits neatly at the front of the sunny border or in container plantings. A Great Lakes native, it draws butterflies throughout its long bloom season while asking for almost nothing—full sun, lean well-drained soil, and minimal water once established. Unlike its larger cousins, it stays compact enough to tuck into rock gardens, container groupings, or along path edges without ever needing staking or cutting back. Deer and rabbits leave it alone, and it handles the challenging root zone near black walnut trees without complaint. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering, and expect this small but generous plant to earn attention well out of proportion to its size.

Graceful and delicate, this hay-scented fern features lacy, arching fronds that reach full maturity by June. Watch the foliage transform to soft yellow tones as fall arrives. Crush the fronds to release the distinctive hay-like fragrance that makes this fern truly special. Creates a welcoming habitat for birds and bees while adding texture and movement to shaded garden spaces.

UpTickâ„¢ Gold and Bronze Tickseed is smothered in stunning yellow daisy flowers with orange overtones, gold eyes and a antique red ring at the ends of the stems from late spring to early fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain emerald green in color throughout the season.

Coral Reef Bee Balm brings a burst of summer energy to the garden with its shaggy, crown-like blooms held atop sturdy, aromatic stems. Native across much of the eastern U.S., it’s a magnet for pollinators—hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees flock to the nectar-rich flowers all season, and songbirds enjoy the seed heads that follow. Standing two to three feet tall, it makes a lively accent in a sunny or partly shaded bed, and the long-lasting flowers are excellent for cutting. The fragrant, mint-family foliage is reliably deer-resistant and seldom bothered by rabbits. With deadheading it will rebloom, stretching the show well into late summer. Combine it with coneflowers and ornamental grasses for a relaxed, pollinator-friendly border.

Sneezeweed is an upright clumping perennial wildflower. Plants have unique winged stems clothed in elongated bright green leaves. In autumn foliage is crowned by an abundance of golden daisy-like flower heads. The blooms are visited by throngs of pollinators.

This relatively compact columbine fits in tight spots, perfect for rock gardens; lacy foliage and unique spurred red flowers brighten shady areas

Culver's Root has masses of beautiful spikes of white flowers rising above the foliage from late summer to mid fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Starstruck Blue Star features showy clusters of sky blue star-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive textured pointy leaves emerge olive green in spring, turning green in color with pointy buttery yellow spines. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous harvest gold in the fall. The olive green stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.

Smooth Ironweed commands attention in the late-summer garden, its clusters of vivid reddish-purple blooms blazing above stout, upright stems at exactly the moment when many other perennials are winding down. Native to the prairies and bottomlands of the central United States, it reaches three to five feet tall and serves as an impressive vertical accent in naturalized plantings, rain gardens, or the back of a sunny border. Monarchs, swallowtails, and native bees absolutely mob the flowers through August and September, making it one of the most wildlife-rich perennials you can plant. As summer turns to fall, the seed heads attract songbirds and the stems take on warm copper-bronze tones before winter. Seldom bothered by deer, and tolerant of the variable soil conditions common in Midwest gardens, it pairs naturally with goldenrod, ornamental grasses, and asters. Plant it in bold drifts where its rich color and height can anchor the late-season border.

Cherry Cola Coral Bells features dainty spikes of salmon bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage from late spring to early summer. Its attractive crinkled lobed leaves remain brick red in color throughout the year.

Short Toothed Mountain Mint has masses of beautiful clusters of white flowers with silver bracts at the ends of the stems from mid summer to mid fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its fragrant pointy leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Evolution™ Fiesta™ Coneflower has masses of beautiful lightly-scented coral-pink daisy flowers with orange overtones and black eyes at the ends of the stems from early summer to early fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its pointy leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Prairie Winds® Blue Paradise Little Bluestem features airy plumes of plum purple flowers rising above the foliage from late summer to late fall. Its attractive grassy leaves are bluish-green in color with hints of silvery blue. As an added bonus, the foliage turns gorgeous shades of burgundy and plum purple in the fall. The brown seed heads are carried on showy plumes displayed in abundance from late summer to mid fall. The silvery blue stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.

Sweet Kate Spiderwort has masses of beautiful clusters of royal blue flowers at the ends of the stems from early to late summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its attractive grassy leaves emerge gold in spring, turning chartreuse in color throughout the season.

New Jersey Tea features showy clusters of fragrant white flowers at the ends of the branches from mid spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has attractive green foliage with grayish green undersides. The glossy pointy leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall color. It produces red capsules in mid summer, which fade to dark brown over time. The buttery yellow stems are very effective and add winter interest.

Lovely rose flowers with good color retention, and no gap between flowers and foliage; an attractive container plant; excellent for xeriscaping and hot, sunny, dry locations in the garden; performs well on hot sites

The Swamp Rose Mallow is a native shrubby perennial with numerous sturdy stems arising from a single crown. The large, heart-shaped leaves are grayish-green above and hairy-white below. Its boasts showy, five-petaled, creamy-white flowers have a conspicuous band of red or burgundy at their bases. This striking species attracts hummingbirds, making it a gorgeous addition to a native garden.

Woods Pink Aster has masses of beautiful pink daisy flowers with yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from early to late fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Earlybird™ Purple and Yellow Columbine features bold nodding purple bell-shaped flowers with buttery yellow overtones and purple spurs at the ends of the stems from mid spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its ferny compound leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Silky Gold Tropical Milkweed features unusual orange flat-top recurved flowers with gold overtones at the ends of the stems from mid summer to late fall, which emerge from distinctive yellow flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves emerge chartreuse in spring, turning green in color with curious grayish green undersides and tinges of chartreuse the rest of the year.

Vivid amethyst colored flowers dot the lovely green foliage; tolerates hot dry sites; good for the near front of a border

Showy Goldenrod earns its name in late summer and fall when its upright, three-to-five-foot stems break into dense, arching plumes of brilliant golden yellow that electrify the back of the sunny border. A Great Lakes native, it provides one of the most reliable and generous bursts of late-season color available to the Midwest garden, supporting dozens of butterfly and bird species as they prepare for migration. Unlike some goldenrods that spread aggressively, this one stays in a well-mannered, upright clump that’s trustworthy enough for mass plantings or naturalistic border work. It thrives in average, well-drained soil in full sun and asks for almost nothing once established. The warm yellow fall foliage extends the seasonal show well after the flowers have finished, and the seed heads provide food for birds into winter. A bold, native choice for anyone who wants a late-season display that truly takes care of itself.