Native to North America, Amorpha canescens (Lead Plant) is a lovely rounded deciduous shrub with small, grayish green, aromatic, feathery leaves and spikes of tiny, bluish-purple flowers with gold anthers. Blooming for 3 weeks in late spring to early summer, the flower spikes to 4 in. long (10 cm) are rich in nectar and attract bees, butterflies, moths and other beneficial insects. The pinnately compound foliage is covered with short, dense hairs, giving the plant a silver-gray appearance. Lead Plant frequently dies down to ground level in the winter, resprouting from the base in the following spring. Its roots are very deep and can grow more than 15 ft (450 cm) into the ground, making it very well adapted to surviving fires and drought. Tough and undemanding, Lead Plant withstands heat, drought and wind. It is a good plant for borders, meadows, and wildflower gardens. It can also be used as a windbreak and to prevent soil erosion.

Native to Arkansas, Amsonia hubrichtii (Narrowleaf Bluestar) is an erect, clump-forming perennial which provides 3 seasons of interest with its starry blue flowers in spring, its bright green summer foliage, and its charming fall color. This Blue Star features loose terminal clusters, up to 5 in. long (12 cm), of delicate, pale blue, star-shaped flowers borne on upright stems in late spring - early summer. They rise above the graceful foliage of soft-textured, needle-like, bright green leaves that pleasantly colors up to bright golden-yellow in fall. It makes an excellent backdrop for fall-blooming perennials such as sedums and garden mums.

Easy care, drought tolerant, and deer resistant, Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) is a bushy perennial prized for its brilliant clusters of bright orange to yellow-orange flowers which bloom continuously throughout summer. Sitting atop upright flowering stems, clad with stiff, lance-shaped leaves, the colorful umbels, 2-5 inches across (5-12 cm), are followed by attractive seed pods in fall. The abundant foliage provides a dark-green backdrop that nicely compliments the cheerful flat umbel flowers. Native to most of the United States and southern Canada, this perennial wildflower has no milky sap, unlike many other milkweeds.

Tough and durable, Baptisia australis var. minor (False Indigo) is a compact, upright perennial with a long season of interest. In spring, this native to the North American prairies bears spikes of pea-shaped indigo blue flowers, resembling Lupines. They last for about three weeks and attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. When the flowers fade away, the lovely blue-green, trifoliate leaves which form a beautiful vase-shaped shrub, remain neat and form a lovely backdrop for the other perennials in the garden. If left untrimmed, the plant forms very decorative seedpods that turn deep black in the fall and persist into winter, adding incredible winter interest to the landscape. They are also valued in dried flower arrangements. Baptisia australis var. minor differs from the species, Baptisia Australis, by being more compact but with larger flowers. 

A wonderful perennial for fall color, Chelone lyonii (Pink Turtlehead) is an upright, clump-forming perennial with abundant terminal spikes of fascinating, two-lipped, pink to rose-purple flowers from late summer into fall. The hooded flowers are shaped like turtle heads just emerging from the shell, hence the common name of 'Turtlehead'. They rise above a lustrous foliage of broadly, lance-shaped, dark green leaves that are arranged in pairs along the stiff, square stems and remains attractive during the growing season. This beauty is also low maintenance, disease and insect resistant, making this U.S. native a first-rate garden plant.

Highly popular, Eupatorium maculatum (Atropurpureum Group) 'Gateway' (Joe-Pye Weed) is loved by gardeners for its large, densely packed clusters of mauve-pink flowers, up to 8 in. wide (20 cm), atop sturdy reddish-purple stems. Fragrant, the blossoms are attractive to bees and butterflies in search of nectar. The foliage is also very handsome with its lance-shaped, dark green leaves radiating from the stem to form a whorl of 3-4 leaves.'Gateway' is noted for being more compact than the species, growing shorter and bushier with tighter and thicker flower heads. This is a strong growing perennial which provides a wonderful garden presence and makes a great background plant

Tall and spectacular, award-winning Queen of the Prairie 'Venusta' (Filipendula Rubra) is a splendid herbaceous perennial with large, elegant sprays of small deep pink flowers borne on leafy stems well above the foliage from early to late summer. Pleasantly fragrant, the graceful blossoms mature to pale pink over time and are nicely complemented by deeply cut, bright green leaves that are equally fragrant. Tough, long-lasting, this U.S. native perennial is valued for both its leaves and its flowers. Growing up to 4-8 ft. high (120-240 cm), Queen of the Prairie is easy to grow, requires very low care and is pest and disease-free! Deer and clay tolerant too!

Putting on a great show, Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Cranesbill) is an eye-catching spreading rhizomatous perennial with large, bright, magenta-pink cup-shaped flowers with dark veining, up to 1.5 in. wide (4 cm). Blooming sporadically from late spring to late summer, the elegant blooms rise atop a decorative mound of palmately lobed leaves divided into narrow lobes, that turn blood-red in fall and add attractive fall color to the landscape. This hardy Geranium is reliable, easy to grow and provides long-lasting color for any garden. One of the best choices for massed plantings.

A very distinctive prairie plant, Geum triflorum (Prairie Smoke) features purple to reddish-pink, nodding, bowl-shaped flowers in late spring which are followed by interesting seed heads with elongated styles, 2 in. long (5 cm), forming upright, silvery pink tails. Resembling plumes of smoke, hovering close to the ground, they are ready to be caught by the wind or a passing animal to be dispersed across the landscape. The flowers rise enthusiastically above a foliage of fern-like, deeply-divided, blue-green leaves, that remains attractive during the entire season. Sometimes evergreen, the foliage features a lovely fall coloration as its turns deep red in fall. This rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial forms slowly-spreading clumps and can be naturalized to form a lovely ground cover. 

Native to eastern North America, Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox) is a semi-evergreen, spreading wildflower which creates mats of abundant, open clusters of slightly fragrant flowers in mid to late spring. Each scented, saucer-shaped flower features five, flat, notched, petal-like lobes in shades of lilac, rose or blue. Borne at the tip of hairy and sticky stems, they rise enthusiastically above the lance-shaped foliage. A creeping perennial, Phlox divaricata grows only 9-12 in. tall and wide (22-30 cm) and can form large colonies over time, creating a beautiful flower carpet.

Handsome and fragrant, Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' (Fragrant Solomon's Seal) is a rhizomatous, shade-loving perennial with slightly arching stems covered with sweetly scented, vase-shaped, creamy-white flowers tipped with green in late spring to early summer. Gracefully hanging from the leaf axils, they are followed in fall by attractive blue-black berries. Highly ornamental, the elegant foliage of bright green, elliptic leaves is splashed and streaked with creamy white and turns attractive shades of yellow in fall. Native to shaded slopes and woodland areas in temperate regions of Europe and Asia, Variegated Solomon’s Seal is a classic beauty for the shady woodland garden or the part-shade to full-shade border

Award-winning Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque Flower) is a lovely early-blooming perennials, which bears a profusion of large, showy blossoms (2-3 in. wide or 5-7 cm) on short stems in spring. A single plant may thrust over 30 blossoms over a couple of months! The attractive bell-shaped blossoms, in shades of blues and purples, contrast beautifully with the luminous boss of golden yellow stamens. They are followed by equally ornamental, plume-like seedheads (resembling those of clematis) in fluffy spherical clusters. Its ferny, silky foliage remains attractive throughout the growing season. Pasque Flowers will seed themselves all over, if you are lucky, then go summer dormant. Enjoying a long season of interest, these low growing plants are suitable for rock gardens or the front of the perennial border. They combine well with spring-flowering bulbs and ground covers.

Marking the end of summer with its sprays of bright yellow flowers, Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' (Rough Goldenrod) is a clump-forming perennial that provides a bold splash of color in the late season garden. Blooming for weeks from late summer to late fall, this eye-catching beauty features arching flower panicles that resemble fireworks cascading off the plant. They are a great source of nectar and pollen, attracting various species of insects, including small bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, skippers, and beetles. The fine-textured leaves emerge burgundy in spring and change to dark green in summer. Ornamental throughout the season, Fireworks is subject to less spreading than the species, and can be mixed with other perennials without fear of it becoming invasive.

Tough as nails, Coneflowers (Echinacea) are wonderful additions to the landscape with their brightly colored blossoms to be enjoyed over a long flowering season. Simple to grow, mostly trouble-free, thriving on neglect, these members of the Asteraceae family (along with daisies, sunflowers and asters), are reliable performers that are tolerant to almost everything! Loved by butterflies, birds and bees, Coneflowers have won the hearts and minds of many gardeners and are increasingly in vogue as garden perennials, as cut flowers or landscape plants. They enjoy such a long list of virtues that should not be overlooked!

Providing fantastic warm colors in the late summer garden, Rudbeckia fulgida are herbaceous perennial boasting golden yellow flowers with prominent, brown or black central cones. Blooming profusely from mid-summer through early fall, they are borne atop sturdy stems and literally cover the foliage of lance-shaped, deep green leaves. Their joyous color range is fairly limited - from yellow to orange-yellow - but they differ in height and habit. Extremely easy to grow, they look stunning next to the cool blue colors of Geranium, purplish Asters, or the soft tan ornamental grasses.