Perennial plants grow, bloom, die, and then return the following season. Adding native perennial wildflowers to your garden can create a resilient landscape full of color and biodiversity. These enduring species can grow and spread to fill your yard, garden, or field. Visiting a native plant nursery will give you access to a range of native perennials that thrive in a variety of habitats. Some perennial wildflowers thrive especially in sunny, summer landscapes, including:
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
If you are a beginner, you may want to include the Butterfly Weed in your garden plan. It offers beautiful colors to your landscape and is home to Monarch Butterflies, caterpillars, and other butterfly species. Also known as milkweed, this native perennial grows clusters of orange and yellow flowers from light green stems from the late spring to early fall. Milkweed usually grows to heights between one foot and two-and-a-half feet tall.
If you plan on growing milkweed, you need to plant it in well-drained soil in an area that gets full sun. Once established, Butterfly Weed is drought-resistant and low-maintenance. These attributes make it a good option for novice gardeners. If you aim to help your local ecosystem, Butterfly Weed is a good option. They provide food for caterpillars and butterflies and nectar and pollen for pollinators like bees. Their taproots (the large, dominant root) can also help stabilize soil in areas that struggle with erosion.
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
Another native perennial that prefers full sun and is low-maintenance is the Blue Vervain. It grows from two to five feet tall with small purple-blue flowers blooming from slender, green stalks in late spring to early fall. You’ll need wet to moist soil to grow this perennial. It thrives especially well in rain gardens and near water features. The pollen of Blue Vervain draws in bees and butterflies, making it useful for restoring local ecosystems.
Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum)
If you’re looking for a tall plant that rises above the rest in your garden, choose the Compass Plant. It can grow up to nine feet tall and blooms yellow sunflower-like flowers. Its foliage spreads wide, adding color and grandiosity to your garden. This native perennial will bloom from late summer to early fall as long as it receives full sun and is planted in well-drained soil. It is drought-resistant and doesn’t require a lot of careful maintenance. Bees and butterflies love the Compass Plant and its robust taproots are useful in aiding soil stabilization.
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
If you’re looking to add a vibrant pop of purple-blue or pink to your garden, plant New England Asters. These native perennial flowers blossom from late summer to mid-fall, showcasing daisy-like flowers with yellow centers. They can grow three to six feet tall, providing a beautiful backdrop to your garden. Make sure they can receive full sun, but they can handle partial shade as long as it is planted in well-drained soil. New England Asters are good plants for novice gardeners as they are low maintenance and hardy even if ignored for a while. Monarch butterflies, bees, and other pollinators enjoy this native perennial wildflower’s nectar into the late season.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
The Black-Eyed Susan is a staple native wildflower that thrives in sunny, summer landscapes. You’ll easily find it at your local native plant nursery. Its iconic yellow-orange flowers with dark centers bloom in the early summer and into the fall. You can expect them to grow from one to three feet tall, especially if they receive full sun. This native perennial prefers moderately fertile and well-drained soil. Black-Eyed Susans are a favorite for beginner gardeners for its low maintenance requirements. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds also love this wildflower for its pollen and seeds.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Gardeners who want constant color in their yard should plant the Purple Coneflower. This native perennial will bless your garden with blooms all through summer and it may even re-bloom in the fall. Purple Coneflowers are loved by butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds for their nectar and pollen. Goldfinches and other birds enjoy eating the seeds in the late summer. Whether you plant the Purple Coneflower in a garden or meadow, you’ll see wildlife teeming among the purple petals.
Grow these wildflowers in fertile loam soil and make sure it has access to full sun. Make sure the soil doesn’t get too dry as this flower is only drought-tolerant and can wilt in strong sun. You may not find the Purple Coneflower in the wild, but your local native plant nursery may carry seeds for you to plant.
Visit a Native Plant Nursery Today
Native perennial plants thrive in different kinds of conditions. These are just six wildflowers that you can grow if you live in a sunny area. Visit your local native plant nursery today to see what other plants you can grow in your garden or meadow.