Native pollinator border (eastern US)

A clump-forming native milkweed with bright orange summer flowers, strong pollinator value, and tolerance for dry sunny sites.

A native, colony-forming milkweed for sunny pollinator meadows, monarch habitat, and larger naturalized areas.

A drought-tolerant native perennial of the central and eastern United States with long summer bloom, strong pollinator value, and winter seedheads for birds.

A widespread native perennial in the mint family with showy lavender flower heads through summer, distinctly more drought-tolerant than its cousin scarlet bee balm (Monarda didyma). Supports ruby-throated hummingbirds, hummingbird clearwing moths, three documented specialist bees, and provides stem-nesting bee shelter through winter.

A fragrant native perennial with red summer flowers that draw hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.

A compact native warm-season grass - Perennial Plant Association 2022 Plant of the Year - with blue-green summer foliage that turns copper for fall and winter and serves as a larval host for many butterflies.

A tall native perennial wildflower of moist meadows and woodland edges across eastern North America, producing large domed clusters of vanilla-scented pink-purple flowers in late summer - among the most reliable late-season nectar sources for monarchs, swallowtails, skippers, and native bees. Formerly classified as Eupatorium purpureum.

A tall native eastern + southeastern US perennial sunflower producing dense crowns of golden-yellow ray flowers in early to mid fall - one of the latest-blooming + most spectacular natives for fall color. Tolerates wet feet; among the best perennials for rain gardens + sunny moist meadows. Critical late-season nectar for migrating monarchs + other Lep.

A native North American perennial with smooth blue-green foliage and clouds of small blue-violet starry flowers in fall. Tolerates drought + clay; among the most adaptable native fall asters for residential landscapes.