Native Butterfly Weed attracts flocks of Monarchs and other beneficial pollinators like a magnet. It's very dark green, linear leaves and a low, mounded form make this plant ideal in front of taller plants. July brings masses of fragrant, bright orange bloom clusters that last for weeks. Not fussy as long you give it plenty of sun and soil that doesn't stay wet after a soaking rain. Deer resistant, and drought tolerant once established.

Grown at our Chalet Farm in WI, Francee Hosta features dainty spikes of lilac purple bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive textured heart-shaped leaves remain forest green in color with distinctive white edges throughout the season. A dense herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage, the medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

A rock star among perennials, blooming with abandon from June until frost with very little attention. Prolific, lavender blue saucer-shaped flowers with a lighter center top attractive, deeply lobed foliage. The plant is compact and doesn't get leggy or rangy, but still manages to meander through and around other plants in a most beautiful way. Lovely planted with yellow and orange flowers like Yarrow (Achillea) and Daylily (Hemerocallis).

Cheerful, long-blooming daisies brighten sunny beds and borders and also make excellent fresh cut flowers. Becky is a sturdy variety with strong stems that support masses of bright white, 3-4" flowers with yellow centers in June and July. Removing the faded flowers really helps to extend the bloom. Looks great with Tickseed (Coreopsis), Dianthus, Salvia and ornamental grasses. Avoid heavy, wet clay soil.

Cold-hardy, versatile geranium variety makes an excellent flowering groundcover, rock garden plant and container plant. Magenta pink flowers bloom heavily in May, then sporadically for the rest of the summer on dense mounds of foliage. The small, dark green, deeply lobed leaves turn amazing shades of red in the fall.

Beauty, functionality and ease of growth combine to make this ornamental grass a best-seller! Tall stems of wheat-like flowers rise in June above the clump of leaves and remain attractive well into the winter. Upright form makes it ideal for narrow spaces, but it also looks terrific when planted in mass. Mingles well with just about anything including Butterfly Bush (Buddleia), Blue Mist Spirea (Caryopteris), Coneflower (Echinacea), Cranesbill (Geranium), Daylily (Hemerocallis), and Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum). Cut back old foliage to a few inches in early spring.

The narrow, upright stems of this Liatris, also know as Blazing Star and Spike Gayfeather, are great for adding a vertical element to garden beds and sunny native meadows. Stunning when planted in groups. Kobold is a short variety that does not need staking. Dense spikes of small lilac-mauve flowers in July and August open from the tip of the stem downward. Excellent, very long-lasting fresh cut flower.

Trouble-free, long-blooming Russian Sage is a great plant for beginners. From July to October, spires of light blue flowers decorate the top of stiff, upright stems. The aromatic, lacy gray-green foliage is a perfect foil for coarser leaved plants and looks especially good with pink and yellow flowers like Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Coneflower (Echinacea), Phlox and Roses. Russian Sage is a woody shrub in warmer climates, but in the North the stems need to be cut back in early spring.

This fragrant, trouble-free blooming machine is a fantastic plant for beginners! Upright mounds of peppermint-scented foliage sport tiny blue flowers for most of the summer, attracting flocks of butterflies and beneficial pollinators. Plant near a walkway or in the herb garden so its delightful scent can be enjoyed. Deer and rabbit resistant.

Blooming for a good part of the summer the prolific, the deep yellow flowers of Zagreb are a cheerful addition to sunny gardens or walkways. Fine-textured, thread-like leaves form a compact, bushy mound that complements other coarser leaved plants. Plant 2 or 3 together for best effect and shear after flowering to get an autumn flush of bloom.

Blue Hill is noted for its softly colored flowers and long season of bloom. Spikes of lilac blue flowers rise above clumps of dense, gray-green foliage in June, lasting for several weeks and attracting many butterflies and pollinators. Plant in groups to maximize the fantastic floral display. Good companions include Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) and Pink Tickseed (Coreopsis). Removing faded flowers really helps to extend the blooming period.