Minnesota Natives

Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) is a moisture-loving native perennial with blue-violet flowers and upright, sword-shaped foliage. It grows well in bog gardens, rain gardens, and along pond margins in full sun. The flowers support pollinators, while the spreading rhizomes form attractive colonies in consistently moist soil. Mature plants generally reach about 30 to 36 inches tall.

This mixture contains annuals and perennials that are native to the Midwestern United States and south central Canada. This area includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, eastern Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, eastern Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, southern Manitoba and Ontario.

Dwarf Blazing Star (Liatris cylindracea) is a petite, drought-hardy species native to the dry prairies, glades, and rocky outcrops of the central and eastern United States, where its deep taproot allowed it to persist through challenging conditions. Unlike the taller prairie Liatris types, L. cylindracea stays low and compact, often producing short, sturdy flower spikes lined with cylindrical clusters of vivid purple blooms that open from the top down and draw in bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Goldilocks produces fluffy double golden blooms with warm, darker centers. This compact selection flowers quickly and supplies abundant summer color in sunny beds, containers, and cutting gardens. Regular harvesting encourages branching and keeps new buds developing.

White turtlehead produces creamy white blossoms, often brushed with pink, on sturdy upright stems. The hooded late-summer flowers add fresh color to moist woodland borders and streamside plantings. It performs best in rich soil that remains evenly moist through the growing season.

Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) is an aromatic North American native perennial with dense clusters of small white flowers. Its long summer bloom provides abundant forage for bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Upright, branching plants fit naturally into pollinator gardens, meadows and sunny native borders. Average, well-drained soil and consistent moisture during establishment support strong growth.

Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) is a native perennial ground cover with bright wine-purple, cup-shaped flowers. It thrives in full sun and dry, well-drained soil, making it a strong choice for rock gardens, borders, and water-wise plantings. The trailing stems form a low mat and bloom from summer into early fall. Its flowers provide forage for bees and other pollinators.

American Lotus is a vigorous native aquatic perennial prized for immense round leaves and fragrant cream-to-yellow summer flowers. Stems rise above calm water before producing distinctive showerhead-shaped seed pods that add lasting ornamental interest. It thrives in full sun with roots anchored in pond soil beneath shallow water and may spread widely where conditions suit it. The flowers support native pollinators, while seeds and foliage provide food and shelter for wetland wildlife. The dried flower pods making a striking beautiful bouquet!

Creeping Jacob’s ladder pairs fernlike leaflets with loose clusters of sky-blue spring flowers. The compact clumps settle naturally into shaded borders, woodland gardens, and the edges of paths. Even moisture helps extend flowering and keeps the foliage fresh into summer.

Thimbleweed is a native of open North American grasslands and dry clearings, where its pale flowers give way to long, thimble-shaped seed heads. The Anemone name reaches back to Greek mythology, and this species is also called Long-Fruited Thimbleweed. Its slowly spreading clumps add shelter for small insects, while the persistent seed heads extend garden interest. Grow it in sun or partial shade on sandy or gravelly, well-drained soil.

Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus) is a distinctive North American native plant. Lavender tubular flowers and softly hairy stems give this adaptable beardtongue a delicate look in dry borders and open woods. It matures at approximately 18 inches tall and flowers from mid to late spring through late spring to early summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in dry through medium-wet conditions, with loamy soil, sandy soil or dry soil. Space plants 12–18 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Sundial Lupine (Lupinus perennis subsp. perennis) is a distinctive North American native plant. Purple-blue flower spikes rise above palmate foliage, and its deep taproot suits sandy, nutrient-poor sites. It matures at approximately 24 inches tall and flowers from mid to late spring through late spring to early summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in dry to dry-medium conditions, with sandy soil, dry soil or poor soil. Space plants 10–18 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

The Obedient Plant Physostegia is a sun-loving flowering plant that produces pink flowers that blooms late summer and into fall! This variety spreads very fast with a large underground root system.

The Phlox Annual Mix is a combination of red, purple, pink and white hued blooms, making it one of the most beautiful wildflowers around! This variety only grows to 1' tall and can grow anywhere.

Hirtella Asclepias, more commonly known as Hirtella Milkweed or sometimes grouped under Asclepias hirtella and Tall Green Milkweed, is a native prairie species historically found across the central United States in moist to moderately dry meadows, savannas, and open grasslands. It is recognized for its tall, slender stems topped with rounded clusters of pale green to yellow-green flowers that attract a wide variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and monarch caterpillars.

The Sneezeweed Helenium produces a numerous amount of beautiful, large, daisy-like yellow flowers that bloom in the late summer and early autumn! Despite its common name, this variety presents no problems for most allergy sufferers.

The Indiangrass is a warm-season bunchgrass that is native to central and eastern North America and provides cover and food for wildlife. This grass can reach up to seven feet tall and is a common species of the Tallgrass Prairie. The beautiful, plume-like seed heads are very ornamental making them excellent for prairie and conservation mixtures.

The Butterfly Asclepias is sun-loving, easy to grow and blooms brilliant, vibrant orange colored blooms that will attract may pollinators to the garden. This stunning variety and can reach 2' feet tall. Sow in early January for first year blooms.

Sweet black-eyed Susan bears golden daisies with dark brown centers on tall, well-branched stems. Its long display runs from summer into early fall and adds height without looking heavy. Gently aromatic foliage and sturdy growth make it a memorable choice for meadows and back borders.

Closed Bottle gentian opens the late-summer season with clusters of deep blue, bottle-shaped flowers that remain mostly closed. Strong bumblebees push into the blossoms to reach their nectar, making the plant fascinating to watch. It prefers cool, humus-rich ground with dependable moisture and light afternoon shade.

Marsh marigold brightens the early garden with glossy foliage and cheerful golden flowers. It thrives in consistently moist soil beside ponds, streams, rain gardens, and other low areas. The clumping plants bring welcome color before many other perennials begin blooming.

June Grass, also called Prairie Junegrass and formerly Koeleria cristata, flowers early in North American upland prairies. Silvery-green seed plumes turn tan by midsummer, giving dry plantings fine texture. Birds can feed on the small seeds and use the tufted grass for cover. Choose full sun and lean, sandy or gravelly soil.

Flat-topped Aster was formerly known as Aster umbellatus, a reminder of its changing botanical classification. Native to North American wet meadows and moist prairies, it flowers earlier than many asters with broad clusters of pale rays. Bees, wasps, flies, beetles, and butterflies visit the blooms; turkey and swamp sparrows also use the plant. Give it sun to partial shade and moist soil, with room for rhizomes.

Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) is a distinctive North American native plant. Fine, heath-like foliage is covered with many small white flowers late in the season, supporting pollinators when fewer plants remain in bloom. It matures at approximately 24 inches tall and flowers from mid to late summer through early to mid fall. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in dry to medium conditions, with loamy soil, sandy soil or dry soil. Space plants 18–24 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) is a distinctive North American native plant. Heart-shaped leaves form a low woodland groundcover, concealing unusual red flowers beneath the foliage in spring. It matures at approximately 6 inches tall and flowers from early to mid spring through mid to late spring. Plant it in partial to full shade, in dry-medium through medium-wet conditions, with acidic soil, loamy soil or sandy soil. Space plants 6–12 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) is a native perennial with flat-topped clusters of bright yellow flowers in spring to early summer. It grows well in moist to mesic meadows, open woods, and woodland edges in full sun to partial light. The flowers provide early forage for bees and butterflies, while the upright foliage adds structure to native plantings. Plants typically reach about 18 to 24 inches tall once established.

The Upright Prairie Coneflower is a beautiful meadow wildflower that produces an abundance of beautiful, vibrant yellow petals. This breathtaking variety is known for growing wild in the plains states. The Prairie Coneflower gets its name for its yellow petals surrounding tall cones. This flowering plant produces light-green foliage that creates a beautiful backdrop for the textured blooms.

The Plains Coreopsis is an annual native that forms clusters of stunning bi-colored blooms of deep red that turn into a bright yellow. This variety makes for a great cut flower and can be grown anywhere in the United States. Plains is deer resistant and easy to grow.

S. and Canadian prairies, historically thriving in moist meadows and open grasslands and long recognized for its exceptional value to monarch butterflies, which flock to its nectar-rich blooms during migration. It produces tall, airy stems topped with loose spikes of vibrant, feathery purple flowers, each with elongated styles that give the blossoms a delicate, wispy appearance. The plant’s narrow leaves form an attractive upright clump, and its blooms appear later in the season, providing important late-summer nectar.

The Big Bluestem is a warm season ornamental grass that actively grows during the summer when soil temperatures are warm but is beautiful all year round. This variety is a big plant, getting over six feet tall in most situations! In a landscape, the Big Bluestem can be used as an accent. This ornamental grass has a great fall color in the range of gold and pink.

Wild Geranium is native to eastern North American woods and has a long history in woodland gardens. Pink-purple spring flowers feed bees and butterflies, while the crane's-bill seed mechanism flings ripe seeds away from the parent plant. Divided leaves form low, spreading patches that shelter small woodland life. Give it sun to shade and medium to moderately dry soil.