Spotted Cranesbill has masses of beautiful pink flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to mid summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its deeply cut lobed palmate leaves remain emerald green in color throughout the season

Prairie Coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata) is a beautiful, long-blooming wildflower that is especially useful for establishing in difficult areas with poor soils and dry conditions. Native to the Midwest, the plant begins blooming in late spring with showy pale-yellow flowers that attract a variety of native bees and sulphur butterflies.

Also called Prairie Alumroot. Airy spikes of green to cream bells rise from a compact, dense mound of cupped, ruffled green foliage, great versatility; give some afternoon shade in hot southern areas; drought tolerant

Rebecca Violet is a sweet, spring-blooming native that brings soft color to shaded spots and woodland edges right when the garden is most ready for it. Native to the woodlands of eastern North America, it settles easily into partial shade with regular moisture and spreads gradually to form a tidy groundcover of heart-shaped leaves. Soft purple flowers open in spring and are beloved by early-season butterflies, including the larvae of several fritillary species that depend on violets as a host plant. Compact and clump-forming, it tucks neatly into borders, along shaded paths, or among taller woodland companions like hostas and ferns. Deer and rabbits generally leave violets alone, and it asks for very little maintenance once it’s settled in. It’s a quietly lovely plant that earns a cherished place in any naturalistic or shade garden.

Blazing Star has masses of beautiful spikes of purple flowers with pink overtones rising above the foliage from early to mid summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its grassy leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Fast-growing and hardy, Dark Green Arborvitae is a large pyramidal tree excellent for hedging, screening and accent use. The medium green foliage retains its good color over the winter. Allow this plant plenty of room to spread because it gets wide, even if trimmed! While tolerant of partial shade, it will look and perform its best with at least 6 hours of sun daily. May need protection from deer.

Prairie Blazing Star has masses of beautiful spikes of violet flowers rising above the foliage from mid summer to early fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its grassy leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Pica Bella Coneflower has masses of beautiful lightly-scented rose daisy flowers with coppery-bronze eyes 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 pointy leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Woodland Phlox is smothered in stunning lightly-scented lavender star-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems from mid to late spring. Its narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Chicago Lustre Viburnum is covered in stunning creamy white flat-top flowers at the ends of the branches in late spring. The royal blue fruits are held in abundance in spectacular clusters from early to late fall. It has forest green deciduous foliage. The serrated oval leaves turn an outstanding deep purple in the fall. Native to Southern Illinois.

Mature Height: 8’ to 12’

Mature Width: 6’ to 10’

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Well-drained soil

Hardiness zone: 3 - 8

Golden Alexanders is one of spring’s most welcome native perennials—a cheerful burst of flat-topped, bright yellow flower clusters that lights up partial shade at a time when the garden is still waking up. Native to the woodland edges and moist meadows of the eastern United States, it grows reliably in part sun with average moisture, forming neat, upright clumps reaching about two feet tall. It serves as a host plant for the Black Swallowtail butterfly and draws a parade of early-emerging pollinators just when they need the foraging most. In fall, the foliage turns warm golden-yellow before winter, extending its season of interest well past the initial spring display. Deer and rabbits tend to pass it by, and it handles the challenging soil conditions near black walnut trees without complaint. Tuck it into a woodland edge, naturalized border, or rain garden where its early, bright color can be fully appreciated.

‘Perpetua’ will give you two crops of sweet and delicious blueberries! The first fruit will appear in mid-summer, and then the plant will flower and set fruit a second time in the fall. The leaves are dark green and will turn to deep reds and greens in the winter, making it a beautiful addition to any landscape.

Height: 5 feet

Spread: 5 feet

Sunlight:

Scattered along the stiff, upright stem of this unusual perennial are tough, blue-green, yucca-like, parallel-veined leaves. Smooth, rigid stem bearing thistle-like flower heads made up of small greenish-white florets mingled with pointed bracts. The individual, greenish-white flowers cluster into unique, globular heads. These occur on branch ends atop the 6 ft. plant.

Rattlesnake master can be an aggressive self-seeder. Remove seed heads to keep the plant in check. Scattered along the stiff, upright stem of this unusual perennial are tough, blue-green, yucca-like, parallel-veined leaves. Smooth, rigid stem bearing thistle-like flower heads made up of small greenish-white florets. The individual, greenish-white flowers cluster into unique, globular heads. Their spiny leaves make walking through clumps of these plants difficult.

Orange Coneflower has masses of beautiful gold daisy flowers with dark brown eyes 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 serrated pointy leaves remain dark green 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.

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.

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.

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.

Sneezeweed has masses of beautiful yellow daisy flowers with gold eyes at the ends of the stems from late summer to mid 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.

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.

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.