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.

This bushy, annual wildflower is native to the Canary Islands, but has adapted to conditions found in northern North America. Wallflowers get their name from their habit of growing in cracks and crevasses along buildings. It produces a brilliant orange ball of flowers and blooms from April to May. Wallflowers thrive in full sun but can handle partial shade in well-drained soil. Wallflowers usually don’t get more than a foot and a half tall. It is a good wildflower for roadsides and along fences.

Moss verbena, also known as South American mock vervain, is an introduced perennial from South America. It requires little water and full sun. Moss verbena has purple flowers that bloom spring to summer on light soils along road shoulders or in waste areas. It is an excellent perennial for ground cover.

Helianthus mollis, commonly known as the ashy sunflower, is a striking wildflower native to the central and southeastern United States. Characterized by its vibrant yellow blossoms with dark centers and gray-green foliage, it adds a splash of color to prairies, roadsides, and open woodlands. Despite its name, the ashy sunflower exudes warmth and vitality, particularly in late summer and early fall when it blooms profusely. This species is admired for its resilience, often thriving in dry, sandy, or rocky soils, and tolerating a range of environmental conditions. The ashy sunflower attracts a plethora of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and birds, with its abundant nectar and seeds. Its robust nature and ecological importance make Helianthus mollis a beloved and valuable component of native landscapes, contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem health.

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.

This daisy will be consumed by livestock and will disappear from grazed areas due to its high palatability and protein content. It is a yellow flower with leaves that will fold under during hot times of the day. Engelmann’s daisy will flower from May through August. It is widely distributed across its native range in the southern Great Plains and can be found growing in grassland/uplands of many different soil types. Its deep taproot makes it a hardy, drought tolerant perennial that can grow to 2 feet in height. Fall or early spring, shallow, seeding provide good germination and caution should be taken to not plant deep.

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

False Sunflower is a perennial forb native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada. Also known as Oxeye Sunflower, this aggressive wildflower inhabits upland prairies and open grasslands.

Prefers full sun to part shade

Mature heights of 4-5 feet

Adapts well to mesic to dry soils

Commonly found growing with native warm season grass species

Bright yellow flowers atop this plant from July-August

Spreading via seed, it is not highly aggressive

Makes a great addition to butterfly or native gardens

Deer resistant species

Grayhead Prairie Coneflower is mainly found in the Midwest and Eastern United States. This beautiful wildflower is an important species in many diverse ecosystems.

Mature plant height of 3-4 feet

Late spring to early summer bloom period

Long yellow drooping petals

Medium seedling vigor and deep-rooted with a minimum of 15 inches

Moderate heat and drought tolerance

Great source of food for pollinators and other beneficial insects

Highly adaptable in varying soil types and climates

Deer resistant species

Baptisia australis, commonly known as blue false indigo, is a striking perennial wildflower native to the prairies and woodlands of North America. Its name derives from its blue, pea-like flowers and its historical use as a substitute for true indigo dye. The plant typically grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet and features attractive gray-green foliage. Blue false indigo blooms in late spring to early summer, producing tall spikes adorned with numerous indigo-blue flowers that are a magnet for pollinators like bees and butterflies. After flowering, the plant develops intriguing black seed pods that persist into the fall, adding visual interest to the landscape. Aside from its ornamental value, Baptisia australis is valued for its role in native plant landscaping and restoration projects due to its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it for other plant species. It’s a low-maintenance plant, tolerant of drought and poor soil conditions once established.