Scientific Name |
Common Name |
Type |
Height |
Habitat |
Color |
Bloom Time |
Exposure |
Features |
Native Flowering Perennials |
Aesclepias tuberosa |
Butterfly Weed |
Peren- nial |
2' |
Dry, well drained areas; drought tolerant |
Orange or red |
May- Aug. |
Full sun - part shade |
Dies in winter, resprouts each spring. Flowers arranged in clusters. Toxic. |
Baptisia alba |
White Wild/ False Indigo |
Peren- nial |
4' |
Dry to average, sandy; drought tolerant |
White flower spikes; blue- green foliage |
April- Sept. |
Full sun - part shade |
Huge seed pods appear in late summer. Good landscape plant used as a shrub. Ling lived, little maintenance. |
Baptisia tinctoria |
(Yellow) Wild Indigo |
Peren- nial |
2-3' |
Dry to average; drought tolerant |
Yellow |
May- June |
Full sun - part shade |
Low maintenance. Best in full sun. Flowers in clusters. Green seed pods rattle. Use in borders and naturalized gardens, prairies and meadows. |
Bidens laevis |
Smooth Beggar- tick |
Peren- nial |
1-3' |
Moist |
Yellow |
June- Oct. |
Sun - part shade |
Rapid growth rate. Needs plenty of watering. Will bloom until frost. Plant seed or roots in a bog or on the edge of a pond. Will bloom best in full sun. |
Canna flaccida |
Golden Canna |
Peren- nial |
4' |
Brackish wet areas |
Yellow |
May- July |
Full sun - part shade |
Beautiful, showy flowers. Occur naturally in wet- lands. Need water during dry periods. Plant in masses in borders. Adds color and structure along ponds |
Coreopsis angustifolia |
Coastal Plain Tickseed |
Peren- nial |
1-2' |
Moist areas |
Yellow |
Aug.- Oct. |
Sun - part shade |
Great as border or mixed hedge |
Coreopsis falcata |
Sickle Tickseed |
Peren- nial |
1-2' |
Moist areas |
Yellow |
May- July |
Sun - part shade |
Great as border or mixed hedge |
Coreopsis helian- thoides |
Swamp Tickseed |
Peren- nial |
1-2' |
Moist areas |
Yellow |
Sept.- Oct. |
Sun - part shade |
Sun- flower-like flowers. Beautiful at the water’s edge, in rain gardens, or anywhere a tough and dependable plant is needed. |
Coreopsis lanceolata |
Lanceleaf Tickseed |
Peren- nial |
2' |
Dry to average areas; tolerates brief droughts |
Yellow |
April- June |
Full sun - part shade |
Beautiful long lasting flowers throughout much of summer. One of the finest flowers for cutting, lanceleaf tickseed has long, wiry stems and flowerheads that last for a week or more in the vase. |
Coreopsis major |
Greater Tickseed |
Peren- nial |
2-3' |
Dry to medium; drought tolerant |
Yellow |
June- August |
Full sun |
Features large, daisy-like flowers (2" diameter). Best naturalized in native wildflower gardens, meadows or prairies. Good plant for areas with poor, dry soils. Effective in borders. Common along roadsides in SE. |
Eupatorium coelestinum |
Wild Ageratum |
Peren- nial |
2-3' |
Dry or moist; low woods, stream banks, ditches |
Blue |
July- Oct. |
Full sun - part shade |
Easy to grow. Long bloom time. Attracts butter- flies. |
Eupatorium fistulosum |
Joe-Pye Weed |
Peren- nial |
3-10' |
Average; drought tolerant |
Purplish Pink |
Aug.- Sept. |
Ful - part sun |
Attracts butter- flies. Tolerates drought, but best with plenty of water. One of showiest perrenials in fall. |
Erythrina herbacea |
Chero- kee/
Coral Bean |
Peren- nial |
3' |
Moist; drought tolerant |
Red |
April- July |
Sun - part shade |
Adds bright highlights to woodlant plantings. Low mainten- ance. Attracts butter-
flies and humming-
birds. |
Helianthus angustifolius |
Swamp Sun- flower |
Peren- nial |
4-6' |
Moist |
Yellow petals, reddish brown discs |
July- frost |
Full sun |
Great addition to any garden. Attracts butter- flies. Salt tolerant and a useful Peren-
nial for coastal gardens. |
Helianthus strumosus |
Paleleaf Sun- flower |
Peren- nial |
3-6' |
Dry, open, upland woods; wood- land edges |
Yellow |
July- Sept. |
Sun - part shade |
Great addition to any garden. Attracts butter- flies. Lovely flower heads occur in clusters at branch tips. |
Hibiscus moscheutos |
Swamp Rose (mallow) |
Peren- nial |
4-6' |
Moist soils |
White or pink petals, crimson centers |
May- Sept. |
Full sun |
Use near patios and entryways or in shrub borders to add color. Plant in low damp places and near streams and other water features. Huge blossoms are gorgeous ane provide color throughout the heat of the summer. |
Iris virginica |
Blue Flag Iris |
Peren- nial |
3-6' |
Moist, rich soils; wet- lands, marshes, swamps, wet meadows |
Blue, pink, white |
April- May |
Sun - part shade |
Ideal plant for edges of ponds, lily pools or drainage ditches. Attracts birds; deer resistant. Interesting flower shape. |
Kosteletzkya virginica |
Seashore Marsh Mallow |
Peren- nial |
3-5' |
Moist, sandy soils; marshes, wet- lands, etc. |
Pink, white flowers, yellow stamens |
June- Oct. |
Sun - part shade |
Flowers close at night. Great color late summer through fall. Attracts humming- birds and butter-
flies. |
Liatris spicata |
Blazing Star |
Peren- nial |
3-6' |
Moist habitats |
Laven- der, white |
Aug.- Oct. |
Full sun |
Tall purple spikes bloom after 2-3 years. Easy to grow. Use in meadows, wildflower gardens, and mixed borders. Most attractive in masses. Essential for butterfly gardens. Flowers last a long time. |
Mitchella repens |
Partridge Berry |
Peren- nial |
3" |
Moist to dry; drought tolerant |
Pinkish white flowers; red fruit |
May- June |
Part sun |
Red edible, fragrant fruit in winter. Dense, creeping groundcover. Great under trees or in rock gardens or in a hanging pot. |
Monarda punctata |
Horse Mint |
Peren- nial |
3-4' |
Dry |
Pink to laven- der |
July- Sept. |
Full sun - part shade |
Use in meadow or wild garden; not formal. Attracts butter- flies. Plant in masses. |
Nuphar luteum |
Yellow Pond Lily |
Peren- nial |
1-3' |
Wet; fresh wet- lands, ponds, lakes |
Yellow |
April- Oct. |
Part shade |
Can grow in water up to 16 in. deep; submersed or floating. |
Oenothera biennis |
Evening Primrose |
Peren- nial |
2-6' |
Dry; rocky or sandy soils |
Yellow |
June- Oct. |
Full sun - shade |
The flowers of this night- flowering biennial open in the evening and close by noon. The plant takes 2 years to complete its life cycle. Medicinal uses; attracts wildlife |
Oenothera drummondii |
Beach Evening Primrose |
Peren- nial |
1-3' |
Moist to dry |
Yellow |
March- Nov. |
Full sun |
Used for sore throat and eye diseases. Attracts butter- flies. Maintain mulch layer. |
Oenothera speciosa |
Pink Evening Primrose, Pink Ladies |
Peren- nial |
1-2' |
Moist, dry; variety of well- drained soils |
White, pink |
Feb.- July |
Full sun |
Flowers release a scent at dusk. Plants often go dormant in summer, resprouting with fall rains. Can work as a dense foliage groundcover in shade, but wont bloom without adequate sunlight. |
Opuntia compressa |
Prickly Pear Cactus |
Peren- nial |
6-14" |
Dry; sandy, rocky, well- drained soils |
Yellow flowers; red fruit |
April- June |
Full sun |
Use near stone walls, in rock gardens, sandy slopes, dry prairie areas, or as small area ground cover. Though evergreen, appear scraggly in winter. |
Phlox carolina |
Carolina Phlox |
Peren- nial |
3-4' |
Average |
Laven- der, pink, or white flowers |
May- July |
Full - part sun |
Thick leaves; showy flower clusters. Very popular Peren- nial for borders and beds with robust, upright habit, long blooming period, and colorful flowers. |
Pontederia cordata |
Pickere- lweed |
Peren- nial |
2-3' |
Wet; wet- lands, edge of ponds and lakes |
Violet- blue |
March- Oct. |
Full - part sun |
Plant in the margins of a garden pond or water garden. Provides important cover for wildlife, and helps wet- lands filter polluted water. |
Rudbeckia fulgida |
Black eyed Susan, Orange Cone- flower |
Peren- nial |
2-3' |
Moist soils |
Orange-yellow flowers with purple- brown centers |
Aug.- Oct. |
Full sun - part shade |
Showy, daisy-like flower. The cultivar, 'Goldsturm' is not as tall and is one of the most popular perrenials in the world. Use in borders and in natural butterfly or meadow gardens. Easy to grow. |
Rudbeckia hirta |
Black eyed Susan |
Peren- nial, Annual, Bien-
nial |
2-3' |
Average to dry; drought tolerant |
Golden yellow |
May- July |
Full sun - part shade |
Reliable summertime bloomer, providing bright splashes of color in a mixed Peren- nial border or porch planter. Attracts butter-
flies. |
Salvia coccinea |
Scarlet Sage |
Peren- nial |
2-3' |
Dry; drought tolerant |
Bright red |
Feb.- Nov. |
Full sun |
Interesting flower whorls along upright stems. Most are tough and durable and most are attractive to butter- flies and many to humming-
birds as well. |
Salvia lyrata |
Lyre- leaved Sage |
Peren- nial |
1-2' |
Moist soil; tolerates flooding and drought |
Blue to laven- der |
April- June |
Full sun - part shade |
Excellent for planting along roads, swales, trails, and driveways. Low maintenance. Not good for formal lawns. Can be invasive if not cut back or mowed. Can be used in salads or for tea. |
Saururus cernuus |
Lizard’s Tail |
Peren- nial |
1-2' |
Wet; fresh- water wet-
lands, marshes, and swamps |
White |
April- July |
Full sun - part shade |
Arching floral spikes resemble a lizard's tail. Medicianl uses. Low maintenance. Use for ornamental pools, bog gardens, and pond edges. |
Solidago rugosa |
Rough- leaf/
Wrinkle-
leaf Golden-
rod |
Peren- nial |
2-5' |
Average to dry; fields, meadows and prairies |
Yellow |
Aug.- Nov. |
Full sun |
Clump forming, so will not spread. Attracts birds, bees, and butter- flies. Deer resistant. Divide every 2-3 years to keep plantings vigorous. |
Solidago semper- virens |
Seaside Golden- rod |
Peren- nial |
3-6' |
Moist or dry areas; sandy soils |
Yellow |
Aug.- Nov. |
Full sun |
Produces a tight clump of narrow, evergreen basal leaves. Low water use. Pinch the growing tips in June for a more compact plant. |
Tradescantia virginiana |
Spider- wort |
Peren- nial |
1-3' |
Moist or dry areas |
Blue, white, purple |
March- June |
Full sun - shade |
Very adaptable to wide range of soils. Minor skin irritation if leaves are touched. Attractive seasonal color in sunny or shady areas. May become invasive if not contained. |
Verbena canadensis |
Pink/ Clump Verbena |
Peren- nial |
6-18" |
Low, dry areas; well- drained soils |
Pink, red, white, laven- der |
March- Nov. |
Full sun |
Very vigorous, both in growth and flower production. Interesting foliage. Spreading plant. Attracts butter- flies |