Palmer’s Penstemon is a drought tolerant perennial that prefers full sunlight. It produces soft pink flower that bloom May through July on tall, stout stems. Palmer’s Penstemon prefers open, exposed areas such as rocky hillsides, road banks, gravel pits, or gravelly washes. Its basal leaves are semi-evergreen and are palatable to livestock and wildlife during spring and winter. It is recommended for revegetating disturbed sites, especially on limestone soils.

Sweet William is an introduced perennial that often acts as an annual. Native to southern Europe, it grows in dense clusters of beautiful and colorful blooms on stiff, extended stems. It thrives in full sun and is an excellent plant for flower beds, gardens, and fields. Sweet William is loved for its sweet fragrance and its ability to attract pollinators.

Verbena hastata, commonly known as blue vervain, is a graceful perennial wildflower native to North America, found in wet meadows, stream banks, and marshy areas. It is characterized by its slender, erect stems that can reach heights of up to 4 feet, adorned with clusters of small, vibrant purple-blue flowers. Blue vervain blooms from mid-summer to early fall, attracting a variety of pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with its nectar-rich blossoms. Its lance-shaped leaves are arranged along the stem in opposite pairs, adding to its aesthetic appeal. Blue vervain also plays a role in ecological restoration efforts, as it is valued for its ability to stabilize wetland soils and provide habitat for native wildlife.

Veronicastrum virginicum, commonly known as Culver’s root, is an elegant and stately wildflower native to the eastern United States. This perennial herb typically reaches heights of 3 to 6 feet and features whorls of lance-shaped leaves along its upright stems. The flower spikes, which bloom from mid to late summer, rise above the foliage, creating a striking vertical accent in the landscape. Its blooms attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Culver’s root thrives in moist, well-drained soils and prefers full sun to partial shade, making it well-suited for rain gardens, meadows, and woodland edges. It’s a low-maintenance plant once established, and its deep root system helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion.

Cup Plant is a tall perennial native forb found in much of the Central Plains and Eastern states of the United States. This plant is often found on low ground, moist areas and along woodland edges within wetlands.

Mature heights of 6 t 8 feet

Bright yellow flowers that bloom in summer

Prefers wet to mesic soils and adapts well to varying soils types

Leaves are egg-shaped, toothed and create cups at the base

If establishing from seed, dormant seeding works best to stratify the seed

Deer resistant species

A biennial member of the mint family, dotted mint is found in central and eastern United States. Its multiple whorls of dotted flowers makes this plant hard to mistake. Tolerant of many soil types, it prefers dry to mesic-dry sandy soils in full sun to partial shade. Growing up to 2 feet in height, its pink flowers can be seen in bloom from June-August attracting insects and hummingbirds of many types.

False Boneset is a perennial wildflower found throughout the eastern ¾ of the United States where it inhabits dry soils of upland prairies. This deep-rooted wildflower is often found in over-grazed pastures because of the bitter taste.

Mature height of 1-3 feet

Deep rooted up to 17 feet

Drought tolerant and grow in a wide variety of soil types

White flower can be seen blooming from August-October

Very similar in structure to Joe Pye Weed except with white, cream colored flowers

Often found in sandy or rocky soils along roadsides

Astragalus canadensis, commonly known as Canada milkvetch, stands as a robust and smooth-stemmed plant, celebrated for its ornamental value and ecological significance. Inhabiting a diverse range of habitats, Canada milkvetch can be found in dry prairies, moist shores, riverbanks, marshy grounds, and open or partly shaded areas. It thrives in well-drained soils under sunny conditions, showcasing its adaptability to various environments. However, it exhibits low tolerance to root disturbance and cannot withstand extremely cold weather conditions. While germination may be slow, typically occurring within four to nine weeks for fresh seeds, patience is rewarded with the emergence of vigorous seedlings. Astragalus canadensis remains valued for its ecological role and aesthetic qualities, contributing to the biodiversity and visual allure of natural landscapes.

Scientific Name: Artemisia californica

California sagebrush, also known as coastal sagebrush, is a highly aromatic native shrub that grows in coastal, chaparral, and dry foothill communities in California and Baja California. It is extremely drought tolerant and is often found as the only plant growing in the driest, south-facing slopes up to 3,300 feet. California sagebrush requires minimal summer water and care. It can handle dry slopes, sandy soil, and clay soil.

California sagebrush has adapted to California’s summer drought by having two growth forms. In the winter and spring, when seasonal water is available, the gray-green leaves are long, tender, and feathery. They grow rapidly and are lush. During the hot dry summer months, spring leaves wilt and are replaced by small, hardy leaves. Growth halts or slows down; transpiration is reduced and the plant may look as though it has gone dormant.

Want a drought tolerant lawn without sacrificing the luscious green look and legendary traffic tolerance of Kentucky bluegrass? Look no further than our TWCA Water-Wise Bluegrass Blend! Most Kentucky bluegrass varieties out there require significant amounts of water, but this is not always attainable or preferable. This blend contains several varieties of Kentucky bluegrass approved by TWCA (Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance), and requires up to 40% less water than other bluegrass varieties. Because this blend contains 100% Kentucky bluegrass, it also has great uniformity in growth rate, texture, and color.

Use our TWCA Water-Wise Bluegrass Blend for starting a new lawn from scratch, for overseeding a preexisting lawn, or for patching a damaged lawn. Partners well with existing bluegrass and/or perennial ryegrass lawns.