Monarch Friendly

The Purple Echinacea is a coneflower that is a sturdy perennial that is native to the Midwest, Southeast and naturalized throughout the Northeast. One of the most popular wildflowers, the Purple Coneflower can withstand dry conditions, though it performs best in cooler seasons, without irrigation. This variety readily reseeds itself.

The Common Asclepias, also known as Butterfly Weed or Common Milkweed, is the only plant that Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on! This variety provides an abundant food source for Monarchs, but have been declining in the recent years due in part to suburban development and the increased efficiency of herbicides. The Common Asclepias spreads readily by seed and underground rhizomes and its taproot can withstand drought. This Butterfly Weed is one of the easiest and fastest to establish of the Milkweeds. Enjoy watching beautiful Monarchs visit on a daily basis!

The Stiff Goldenrod Solidago produces stunning, large and slightly flat golden flowers that are bee attracting powerhouses! These beautiful golden flowers bloom later in summer and into early fall. In fall, the leaves will turn a beautiful shade of red.

Cheyenne Spirit coneflower produces a vivid mix of red, orange, yellow, and purple daisy-like blooms with prominent centers. Compact, upright plants reach about 18–24 inches and flower from midsummer into early fall. The long-lasting blooms attract bees and butterflies and work beautifully in beds, borders, containers, and wildlife-friendly plantings. This resilient perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soil and tolerates drought once established.

The long-lasting blooms of the Cherry Brandy Rudbeckia brings beautiful, rich shades of crimson to any garden or bouquet! The giant red blooms attract butterflies and bees all summer long, and songbirds in the early fall. The Cherry Brandy thrives in the sun and is able to stand up to heat and humidity, making it easy to care for. It is a perennial, therefore it will reseed itself around the garden, perpetuating from year to year! Make sure to deadhead the faded flowers in order to prolong the flowering season.

Asclepias incarnata ‘Ice Ballet’, often called White Swamp Milkweed, is a selected form of the native Swamp Milkweed long found along wetlands, marsh edges, and moist prairies across North America, where it has served for generations as an essential host plant for monarch caterpillars. This cultivar stands out for its showy clusters of pure white, vanilla-scented flowers that bloom in midsummer, contrasting beautifully with its upright stems and narrow, deep-green leaves.

The Marmalade Rudbeckia is a dwarf variety that has large, golden-orange flowers that will bloom from summer to early fall! This flower grows to be two feet tall, and flowers are up to five inches across. It is a versatile plant that can be used in flower beds, borders, cutting gardens and large containers.

Prairie Blaze Vintage Lime adds lime green blooms to sunny beds and containers. Its compact, upright plants bring perennial color to small spaces and attract pollinators.

The Showy Asclepias is just like its name, a beautiful showy plant that is an excellent nectar sources for butterflies and hummingbirds! This Butterfly Weed variety is similar to Common Milkweed, but its pinkish-purple flowers have longer petals that taper more and are covered with fine hairs. The Showy Asclepias will attract butterflies and hummingbirds, especially Queen and Monarch butterflies. This plant is aggressive and should be thinned every year.

The Black Eyed Susan Rudbeckia is a wonderful, stiff upright flower that is stunning and will definitely grab your attention. This variety is an annual or short lived perennial native to the eastern United States. The Black Eyed Susan is probably the most common of all American wildflowers. The characteristic brown, domed center is surrounded by bright yellow ray florets that thrives in most soils in full sun. The Black Eyed Susan is a true sunshine worshiper that forgives neglect.

The Sahara Rudbeckia has a beautiful bloom of caramel, red and pink - perfect for a fall bouquet since it will flower into mid to late autumn! It tolerates heat well and thrives in full Sun. Grown as a half-hardy annual, the Sahara performs well in most soil types. This delightful flower not only is an attention grabber for people, but for butterflies as well. Make sure to deadhead faded flowers regularly to encourage more blooms.

The Arizona Sun Gaillardia, with its vibrant array of colors and resilient nature, stands as a radiant emblem of the desert landscape. It's striking blooms, a mosaic of crimson, orange, and yellow, evoke the fiery hues of a Southwestern sunset, each petal a testament to nature's artistry. Thriving under the intense Arizona sun, this hardy perennial flaunts its tolerance to drought and heat, making it a beloved choice for xeriscaping enthusiasts and gardeners alike.

The Arizona Red Shade Gaillardia is a striking perennial known for its bold and dramatic presence in the garden. Its distinctive red flowers, reminiscent of vibrant sunsets, are the centerpiece of its appeal. These daisy-like blooms feature deep red petals with touches of orange and yellow at their centers, creating a fiery and eye-catching display. The plant itself grows to a height of about 12-18 inches with a spread of 12-24 inches, making it versatile for use in borders, rock gardens, or containers.

These are by far our favorite Rudbeckia flower. These provide a prolific amount of flowers that excellent for cut flower use. Once cut, these flowers will stay fresh and look great for weeks! The long narrow petals of the Chim Chiminee Rudbeckia give off beautiful fall shades of bronze, gold, red and burnt orange. This variety is perfect for any garden or vase as it is an outstanding cut flower!

The White Swan Echinacea is a beautiful slightly curved flower that produces beautiful, creamy extra wide petals that look lovely in a bouquet. This variety produces pure white petals with an orange-brown disk that is absolutely beautiful.

The Pale Purple Echinacea is a coneflower that blooms its pale purple to pink blooms in the early summer before most other flowers! This beautiful coneflower is loved for its nectar by hummingbirds and butterflies and will grow up to 3 feet tall. Try planting this variety with the Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), which has a deeper purple flower and will bloom just when Pale Purple Coneflower bloom cycle is ending. Planting these two together will give you many, many weeks of beautiful, bright Echinacea blooms.

The Whorled Asclepias is a beautiful brilliant white flower that will grow anywhere and bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love it! This Butterfly Weed variety is native to the Midwest but can grow almost anywhere is the USA and provides nectar to many pollinators. This easy to grow, attractive perennial blooms mid to late summer and will spread easily without thinning.

The Bravado Echinacea (coneflower) produces beautiful rosy pink petals with a golden-brown center that adds a bright pop of color to any garden. This variety is a sturdy perennial that reseeds well. The Bravado is by far one of the most popular wildflowers!

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a native North American prairie grass with a rich history as a foundational species in tallgrass ecosystems, valued for its resilience and ecological benefits. It features fine-textured, upright blue-green blades that turn striking shades of red, orange, and bronze in the fall, reaching about 2–4 feet tall. Adapted to a wide range of soils, it thrives in full sun with minimal water or fertilizer once established, making it ideal for xeriscaping and low-maintenance landscapes.

Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) is a distinctive North American native plant. Dense upright plumes of golden flowers provide conspicuous late-season color without the strongly spreading habit of many goldenrods. It matures at approximately 60 inches tall and flowers from early to mid fall through mid to late 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.

PowWow Wild Berry brings rose flowers to sunny perennial beds and containers. This compact, branching coneflower can bloom in its first year and tolerates drought once established.

Swan Plant Milkweed (Gomphocarpus fruticosus) produces creamy white flowers followed by large, inflated ornamental seed pods. Upright plants bring distinctive texture to sunny beds and cutting gardens while also serving as a host plant for monarch caterpillars where the species is grown. This tender perennial performs best in full sun with evenly moist, well-drained soil. In colder regions, grow it as an annual or overwinter protected plants indoors.

Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) produces scarlet-red and orange flower clusters that attract butterflies and other pollinators. The upright plants grow vigorously in warm conditions and often bloom in their first year from seed. It performs best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil and can be grown as a warm-season annual where winters freeze. Its colorful blooms make it a strong choice for containers and pollinator gardens.

Narrowleaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) is a western North American perennial with narrow leaves and rounded clusters of pale pink flowers. It thrives in full sun and dry, well-drained soil and is well suited to native meadows and pollinator plantings. The foliage serves as a monarch caterpillar host, while the flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies. Mature plants typically reach about 3 to 4 feet tall.

Prairie Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii), also known as Sullivant’s Milkweed, is a native Midwestern perennial with broad blue-green foliage, rosy pink flower clusters, and exceptional value for monarch habitat. Upright plants bring a polished look to prairie gardens, pollinator borders, and naturalized plantings while supplying nectar to bees and butterflies.

The pretty blossoms of Yellow (Coneflower) consists of bright skirts of hard to find yellow daisy-like petals surrounding a brown bristly center. This variety's deep taproot allows the coneflower to survive in very dry conditions, but it is also happy in humus-rich garden soil and full sun. The Yellow Coneflower is visited by nectar seeking butterflies in June and small seed eating birds in the fall.

The Mesa Bicolor Bright Gaillardia captivates with its distinctive charm and vivid colors, making it a standout in any garden setting. Its large, daisy-like flowers boast a unique bicolor pattern, with deep red centers surrounded by bright yellow to orange petals, creating a striking contrast that catches the eye from afar. This Gaillardia variety thrives in sunny, well-drained soils, embodying resilience against drought and heat typical of its native southwestern habitats.

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.

Indian Summer Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta), an award-winning variety of Black-Eyed Susan, is cherished for its brilliant, long-lasting blooms and adaptability in the garden. First popularized in the late 20th century, this hardy annual or short-lived perennial produces extra-large daisy-like flowers—often 6–9 inches across—with golden-yellow petals surrounding dark chocolate-brown centers. Plants grow 3–4 feet tall with sturdy, branching stems, making them excellent for borders, pollinator gardens, and cut flower arrangements.

The Arizona Apricot Gaillardia is a captivating perennial that brings a burst of vibrant color to any garden landscape. With its large, daisy-like flowers showcasing shades of apricot, peach, and sometimes hints of yellow or orange, it immediately draws the eye. These striking blooms, typically 2-3 inches in diameter, stand out against a backdrop of green lance-shaped foliage.

Cup plant is a towering prairie perennial whose joined leaves form small basins around the stems. Those natural cups collect rainwater that birds and insects may use, while yellow flowers provide a generous summer nectar source. Give it a spacious site with sun and dependable moisture where its colony-forming habit can shine.