South Dakota Natives

The Wild Bergamot Monarda is the best bee balm for dry locations and produces beautiful violet blooms that have a wonderful scent! This variety has great mid-summer blooms, later than any other Monardas. The Wild Bergamot will attract a large amount of butterflies, bees and hummingbirds!

Aromatic Aster, also known as Aster oblongifolius or Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, is a hardy native perennial with a dense, bushy habit. Abundant lavender-purple flowers with yellow centers bloom in autumn, providing valuable late-season nectar for pollinators. The foliage releases a pleasant fragrance when brushed. Well suited to borders and native plantings, this compact aster thrives in full sun and well-drained soil and becomes drought tolerant once established.

Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya) is a classic North American prairie perennial long valued by Indigenous peoples and early settlers, and today it remains a signature species of tallgrass prairies and restoration plantings. It produces tall, upright spikes crowded with vivid purple, nectar-rich flowers that bloom from the top down, drawing in butterflies, bees, and especially monarchs in late summer.

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!

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 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.

Spotted Joe Pye Weed, is a distinctive perennial native to North America's moist meadows and woodlands. Named after Joe Pye, a Native American herbalist, this plant has a rich history in traditional medicine. It is recognized for its tall, elegant growth, typically reaching heights of 4 to 6 feet, and its unique spotted stems that give it its common name.

Nodding Onion brings the history of wild edible onions to North American meadows and open woods; its bulbs and leaves have been used like chives. Hooked stems carry pink to lavender flower clusters that hang downward, allowing bees to reach nectar while hovering below. The onion scent helps deter deer, and bulbs slowly form new offsets. Grow this perennial in sun or light shade and medium to moist, well-drained soil.

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) is a native perennial with upright spikes of brilliant blue flowers from late summer into fall. It thrives in moist soil in full sun to partial light and is well suited to rain gardens, pond edges, and wet meadows. The long-blooming flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Mature plants commonly reach 2 to 3 feet tall.

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.

Mexican Hat Ratibida, also known as Ratibida columnifera, is a striking perennial flower native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. This plant, often referred to as the "Mexican Hat" due to its distinctive flower shape, has a rich history in native gardens and landscapes. The plant is characterized by its unique, cone-shaped flowers with reddish-brown, drooping petals that resemble a sombrero hat, which contrast beautifully with its bright yellow center.

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.

Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is an eastern North American perennial with nodding red-and-yellow flowers in spring. It grows well in part shade to full sun on moist, well-drained slopes, woodland edges, and rock gardens. The early flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Mature plants generally reach 1 to 3 feet tall and readily reseed in favorable sites.

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) is a native perennial with slender spikes of blue-violet flowers from summer into early fall. It performs best in moist soil in full sun to partial light and fits naturally into rain gardens, wet meadows, and pond edges. The flowers support butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects, and the tall stems are suitable for cutting. Established plants commonly reach about 4 feet tall.

Button Blazing Star (Liatris aspera) is a native wildflower of the central and eastern United States, historically found in dry prairies, savannas, and open woodlands where its tough, deep-rooted nature helped it thrive in harsh conditions. It is known for its thick, sturdy stems topped with rounded, button-like clusters of rosy-purple flowers that open irregularly along the spike, creating a charming, textural look that pollinators—especially bees and butterflies—love.

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 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.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is a tall native perennial covered with purple to pink flowers and golden centers in late summer and fall. It grows best in full sun to partial light with moist, well-drained soil and works well in meadows, rain gardens, and pollinator borders. The late flowers supply nectar for bees, butterflies, and migrating monarchs. Mature plants commonly reach 3 to 6 feet tall.

Indian Steel is a clump-forming perennial grass with an upright, open habit typically growing upwards of 5' tall. Under the right circumstances it can be 7-8' tall. Features slender (1/2" wide), blue-green leaf blades (8-12" long) which turn yellow in fall and retain some gold color throughout the winter.

, historically thriving in dry prairies, foothills, and rangelands where its exceptionally deep root system—often reaching several feet down—helped it endure drought and grazing. This species is known for its compact stature and dense spikes of bright purple, “dotted” flower clusters spaced neatly along the stem, each rich in nectar and highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and especially migrating monarchs.

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.

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a distinctive North American native plant. Anise-scented foliage and purple flower spikes draw bees, butterflies, and seed-eating birds through summer. It matures at approximately 36 inches tall and flowers from early to mid summer through mid to late summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in dry-medium to medium conditions, with loamy soil or sandy soil.

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.

Gloriosa daisies, also known as Rudbeckia hirta 'Gloriosa,' are a vibrant and dynamic variety of the traditional Black-eyed Susan, renowned for their striking appearance and robust growth. Originating from North America, these daisies have been cultivated since the 18th century and have become a staple in gardens for their cheerful and resilient nature. Gloriosa daisies are characterized by their large, radiant blooms with a distinctive color gradient, featuring fiery, orange to red petals with a dark, central cone.

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.

Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) is a distinctive North American native plant. Purple flower heads bloom from the bottom upward above fine foliage, supplying nectar and pollen to a wide range of native bees. It matures at approximately 24 inches tall and flowers from early to mid summer through mid to late summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in dry to medium conditions, with loamy soil, clay soil or sandy soil. Space plants 18–24 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.

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.

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 South Dakota Blend combines annual and perennial wildflowers selected for ornamental planting across western plains, valleys and mountain regions. Its current component profile features Blue Columbine, Rocky Mountain Penstemon, Showy Goldeneye, and Blanketflower. South Dakota’s plains, cold winters and wind exposure favor widely adapted Western flowers for open sunny sites. The mixture contains both native species and non-native flowers adapted to the region, creating varied colors, heights and bloom periods. Sow in a sunny, prepared, weed-free seedbed and keep the surface consistently moist while seedlings establish.