Aromatic Aster

Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium   Description: Short, mounds of blue flowers bloom in September and October. These plants are highly drought tolerant and grow to 18” tall. Propagation: Easy from seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): September W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Blue Height: 18″ Spread: 20″ Family: Asteraceae Soil…

Barrens Stonecrop

Barrens Stonecrop Hylotelephium telephioides   Scientific Name: Hylotelephium telephioides Common Name: Barrens Stonecrop Description of facts and concepts: Soft pink flowers in late summer Seed or division information: Seeds or divisions Date of flower’s bloom (Month and week): October W1 Garden Name: Sunny Garden Color of Flower: Pink Height: 36″ Spread: 24″ Family: Stonecrop Soil…

Bearberry

Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi   Description: This circumpolar evergreen groundcover produces tiny flowers and red berries. Grows in very poor soil. Propagation: Root cuttings in early spring or fall Initial bloom (month and week): April W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White Height: 6-12″ Spread: 3-5′ Family: Ericaceae Soil type: Acid gritty soils Soil…

Bearded Iris

Bearded Iris Iris x germanica Description: Of hybrid origin. Once dried, the root has a violet-like scent and has historically been used to scent perfumes and potpourris. Propagation: Lift rhizomes and cut apart in July Initial bloom (month and week): May W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White Height: 18″ Spread: 24″ Family:…

Blanketflower

 Blanketflower  Gaillardia aristata Description: Short lived low perennials bloom most of the summer with bright petals of red, yellow and orange. Propagation: Easy from seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Red, yellow Height: 8-16″ Spread: 12″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Sandy or gritty loam Soil moisture:…

Brown-Eyed Susan

Brown-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba Description: A densly branched, hairy, short-lived perennial or biennial, with coarse leaves. Propagation: Self-seeds readily Initial bloom (month and week): August W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 20″ Spread: 18″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Medium to dry Light: Sun Zone: 4 –…

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Description: The bright orange, clustered flowers attract bees and butterflies. Monarch butterfly caterpillars feed on the leaves and accumulate toxins from its latex sap as a defense strategy. Propagation: From seeds or division of the rhizomatous roots in fall. Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color…

Calico Aster

Calico Aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum   Description: This aster has deep plum foliage with hundreds of small pink and white flowers in September and October. Growing 3’ tall, calico aster is hardy in moist to dry soils. Propagation: Easy from seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): September W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of…

Canada Goldenrod

Canada Goldenrod Solidago canadensis Description: A spreading, aggressive native plant with showy spikes of yellow flowers. Not the plant which provokes hay fever; ragweed does that. Propagation: Seeds and spreads by stolons Initial bloom (month and week): August W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 4′ Spread: 6′ Family: Asteraceae Soil type:…

Catmint

Catmint Nepeta x faassenii   Description: A European hybrid, catmint provides early flowers for bees and wasps. Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): May W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Blue Height: 18″ Spread: 24″ Family: Lamiaceae Soil type: Neutral loam Soil moisture: Dry Light: Full sun Zone: 3 –…

Chives

Chives Allium schoenoprasum   Description: Leaves and flowers in salads, vegetables, poultry, fish, eggs, and butter. Lavender flowers in June. Propagation: Seeds or divisions of the small bulbs Initial bloom (month and week): June W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Purple Height: 16″ Spread: 12″ Family: Amaryllidaceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Dry Light:…

Clustered Mountain Mint

Clustered Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum   Description: This clump-forming  perennial flowers from July to September. When crushed, the leaves produce a spearmint aroma and can be used to make tea. Pollinators love it. Propagation: Division of surface stems Initial bloom (month and week): July W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White and pink Height:…

Common Milkweed

Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca Description: Larval host plant for Monarch butterflies Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Dusty rose Height: 5′ Spread: 6′ Family: Apocynaceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Dry Light: Sun Zone: 3 – 9

Coral Honeysuckle

Coral Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens   Description: Flowering from May to August, honeysuckle attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with its long, red, tubular flowers. Propagation: Stem cuttings Initial bloom (month and week): May W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Red Height: 3-9′ Spread: 36″ Family: Caprifoliaceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Medium moist Light: Full…

Dense Blazing Star

Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata   Description: Upright flower spikes of pale purple bloom in July and August and are highly attractive to butterflies. Can survive in dry sites. Propagation: Easy from seeds  or offsets Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Lavender Height: 2-3′ Spread: 12″ Family:…

Downy Phlox

Downy Phlox Phlox pilosa   Description: This native plant is endangered in Pennsylvania. It forms a 1-2’ tall mound with pale pink to lavender flowers. Soft hairs cover the stems and leaves. This plant prefers dry soils and full sun and blooms in May and June. Propagation: Divisions or cuttings Initial bloom (month and week):…

Flowering Tobacco

Flowering Tobacco Nicotiana alata Description: The white fragrant flowers open at night to attract moths. Larval host plant of the tobacco hornworm, which also uses tomato. Propagation: Scatter seeds in early spring. Initial bloom (month and week): August W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White Height: 12″ Spread: 16″ Family: Solanaceae Soil type:…

Hairy Beardtongue

Hairy Beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus Description: This short plant is great for rock gardens and borders. Propagation: Seeds and stem cuttings Initial bloom (month and week): June W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Lavender to white Height: 6-8″ Spread: 10″ Family: Plantaginaceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Dry Light: Sun Zone: 3 –…

Heath Aster

Heath Aster Symphyotrichum ericoides   Description: This plant provides a dense groundcover with half inch white daises with golden centers. Its grows well in poor, dry soils in full sun and flowers in September. Propagation: Easy from seeds, or divisions in early spring Initial bloom (month and week): September W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of…

Hens and Chicks

Hens and Chicks Sempervivum calcareum   Description: Long-lived succulents will multiply and live for years if dry enough. Individual crowns die after flowering. Propagation: Offsets may be pulled off and planted at any time Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Pink Height: 12″ Spread: 10″ Family: Crassulaceae…

Hollow Joe-Pye Weed

Hollow Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium fistulosum Description: This perennial grows from 5-12’ and features tiny, dusty pink flowers in huge scapes from July to September. Propagation: Divisions in early spring Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Dusty pink Height: 5-12′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral loam Soil…

Ironweed

Ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis Description: The tall purple flowers of this plant bloom on upright stems in August and September. Thriving in full sun and dry to average soils, ironweed is commonly found in pastures since it is unpalatable to cows. Propagation: Seeds are easy, also divisions Initial bloom (month and week): August W2 Garden name: Sunny…

Lady’s Mantle

Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla mollis Description: Leaves pleated in a fan shape hold dew drops Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 16″ Spread: 16″ Family: Roseaceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Dry Light: Full sun Zone: 3-8

Lanceleaf Tickseed

Lanceleaf Tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata   Description: Bright yellow flowers in May and June attract butterflies and bees to this hardy perennial. Propagation: Seeds, divisions in spring or fall Initial bloom (month and week): May W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Golden yellow Height: 18″ Spread: 18″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Sandy Soil moisture:…

Lavender

Lavender Lavandula angustifolia Description: Add to your bath or use in cakes, cookies, or jellies. Grows to be 18” tall. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Blue Height: 18″ Spread: 12″ Family: Lamiaceae Soil type: Neutral sandy gravel Soil moisture: Dry and hot Light: Full sun…

Lavender Cotton

Lavender Cotton Santolina chamaecypayrssus Description: A natural air freshener and insect repellent, used in short hedges Propagation: Seeds. Difficult to transplant when large. Initial bloom (month and week): August W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 16″ Spread: 12″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Medium dry Light: Full…

Moss Phlox

Moss Phlox Phlox subulata   Description: Evergreen groundcover with narrow leaves Propagation: Root cuttings in fall Initial bloom (month and week): April W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Pink or white Height: 3″ Spread: 12″ Family: Polemoniaceae Soil type: Rocky gravel Soil moisture: Dry Light: Full sun Zone: 3 – 8

Nasturtium

Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus   Description: Use the leaves and flowers in salads, or pickle the seed pods and used as you would capers Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Orange Height: 12″ Spread: 36″ Family: Tropaeolaceae Soil type: Neutral loam Soil moisture: Medium to dry…

Ninebark

Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius   Description: This deciduous shrub is a magnet for small pollinators like native bees, which swarm over the flowers all summer. The exfoliating bark is attractive in winter. Will grow under all kinds of conditions. Propagation: Seeds, cuttings Initial bloom (month and week): May W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower:…

Orange Coneflower

Orange Coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida   Description: Many yellow ray flowers, attracts bees and butterflies. Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): August W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow with black center Height: 2-3′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Tolerant of clay soil Soil moisture: Dry or moist Light: Full…

Oregano

Oregano Origanum vulgare Description: Indispensable for pizza and all tomato sauces, leaf tea for indigestion. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White Height: 12″ Spread: 24″ Family: Lamiaceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Dry Light: Full sun Zone: 3 – 9

Ozark Sundrops

Ozark Sundrops Oenothera macrocarpa   Description: Large flowers bloom a long time followed by curious seeds pods shaped like paddle wheels. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 12″ Spread: 24″ Family: Onagraceae Soil type: Neutral sand or loam Soil moisture: Dry Light: Full sun…

Parsley

Parsley Petroselinum crispum   Description: Use as a nutritious garnish or add to tabouleh, stuffing, or salad. Food plant of the black swallowtail butterfly. Propagation: Biennial; allow seeds to form and scatter them in July Initial bloom (month and week): August W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Green Height: 18″ Spread: 18″ Family:…

Pearly Everlasting

Pearly Everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea   Description: This everlasting flower is good for drying. It is also the larval host plant of the American Lady butterfly. Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): July W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White Height: 16″ Spread: 12″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture:…

Pink Evening Primrose

Pink Evening Primrose  Oenothera speciosa Description: A vigorous, stoloniferous grower, especially in sandy soils. Long blooming. Changes color when pollinated. Propagation: Seeds or stolons Initial bloom (month and week): May W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Pink Height: 12″ Spread: 24″ Family: Onagraceae Soil type: Sandy loam Soil moisture: Dry Light: Full sun…

Prairie Blazing Star

Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya  Description: Fluffy rose pink flowers on a tall plant Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Pink Height: 2-5′ Spread: 20″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Dry prairie Soil moisture: Dry, tolerant of clay soil Light: Full sun Zone: 3 – 9