Carol’s Top Twelve (and two from Susan) 1. Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed

Blooms: June to October Rose to purple Size: 2-4 ft tall, 2-4 ft wide Light: Full sun, partial shade Soil: Low to wet Wildlife: Host for monarch

Sources: DCR caterpillar, butterflies, songbirds, bees, many Native Plant Center VNPS, John Clayton Chapter Missouri Botanical Garden insects LBJ Wildflower Center Photos: Wikipedia

1. Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed Blooms: May to August Pale rose-purple Sweetly aromatic! Size: 4-6 ft tall, 2-3 ft wide Light: Full sun Soil: Dry to medium, loamy, sandy Spreads by runners and seeds. Wildlife will decimate the by fall. Sources: DCR Native Plant Center Intersperse with other tall natives. VNPS, John Clayton Chapter Missouri Botanical Garden LBJ Wildflower Center Wildlife: Butterflies, bees, other insects Photos: Wikipedia, UVA College at Wise 2. coelestinum ( coelestinum) Blue Mistflower, Wild Ageratum Blooms: July to October Bluish violet, purple Size: 1-3 ft tall, 2-3 ft wide Will spread readily if happy Light: Partial sun to shade Soil: Dry, moist, or wet

Sources: DCR Wildlife: Butterflies, songbirds, bees, Native Plant Center VNPS, John Clayton Chapter Missouri Botanical Garden and other insects LBJ Wildflower Center Photos: Wikipedia 3. Monarda bradburiana, (Monarda fistulosa) Wild Bergamot, Horsemint Virginia Native Plant Society's "Wildflower of the Year" for 1993 Blooms: June to September Pink to purple, aromatic! Size: 1 1/2 to 4 ft tall, 1-2 ft wide Light: Full sun, partial sun Soil: Dry, moist Sources: DCR Native Plant Center Tolerates: Dry soil, drought VNPS, John Clayton Chapter Missouri Botanical Garden LBJ Wildflower Center Wildlife: Butterflies, hummingbirds, bees Photos: Wikipedia 3. Monarda punctata Dotted Horsemint, Spotted Bee Balm

Blooms: April through August Yellow with Purple spots Size: 1-3 ft tall Light: Sun, dry Soil: Moist Sources: DCR Wildlife: Butterflies, bees, and other insects Native Plant Center VNPS, John Clayton Chapter LBJ Wildflower Center Photos: Wikimedia Commons 4. Symphyotrichum novae-angliae New England Aster

Blooms: late fall Lavender to blue rays with yellow or reddish disk Size: 3-6 ft tall Light: Full sun, partial sun Sources: DCR Soil: Moist Native Plant Center VNPS, John Clayton Chapter LBJ Wildflower Center Wildlife: Butterflies, bees, and other insects Photos: Wikimedia Commons 5. Rudeckia fulgida Black Eyed Susan

Blooms: July to October Yellow, variable species Size: 1- 3 ft Light: Sun Soil: Moist Sources: DCR Native Plant Center Wildlife: Birds, butterflies VNPS, John Clayton Chapter LBJ Wildflower Center Photos: LBJ Wildflower Center

6. Coreopsis lanceolata Lanceleaf Coreopsis VNPS, John Clayton Chapter's "Wildflower of the Month" for Blooms: May to July May 2010 Yellow Size: 1-2 ft tall, 1-2 ft wide Has tendency to sprawl Light: Full sun Soil: Dry to medium Self-seeds, will naturalize

Sources: DCR VNPS, John Clayton Chapter Tolerates: Dry soil, drought, shallow rocky soil Missouri Botanical Garden LBJ Wildflower Center Photos: Cornell University, Wildlife: Butterflies Missouri Botanical Garden

7. Eutrochium fistulosum, Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus Joe Pye Weed, Trumpetweed VNPS, John Clayton Chapter's "Wildflower of the Month" for September 2007 Blooms: July to October Dusty rose Size: 3-9 ft tall, 2-4 ft wide Light: Full sun, partial shade Soil: Medium to wet Sources: DCR Native Plant Center * Will naturalize VNPS, John Clayton Chapter Missouri Botanical Garden LBJ Wildflower Center Wildlife: Butterflies, songbirds, bees, many insects Photos: Wikipedia

8. Penstemon laevigatus Eastern Beardtongue

Blooms: June, July White - purplish Size: 1-3 ft tall Light: Part shade Soil: Dry

May self-seed profusely if happy Sources: DCR Native Plant Center VNPS, John Clayton Chapter Wildlife: Butterflies, bees, and other insects Missouri Botanical Garden LBJ Wildflower Center Photos CenteNative Plant Center r

9. Phlox paniculata Summer Phlox

Blooms: July to October Pink-purple to white Fragrant! Size: 2-4 ft tall, 2-3 ft wide Light: Full sun, partial sun Soil: Medium, well-drained, rich in organic material Sources: DCR Native Plant Center VNPS, John Clayton Chapter Wildlife: Birds, hummingbirds, and butterflies LBJ Wildflower Center Photos: LBJ Wildflower Center 10. Eupatorium perfoliatum Common Boneset

Blooms: July to October White Size: 3-6 ft tall, 3-4 ft wide Light: Full sun, partial shade

Sources: DCR Native Plant Center Soil: Moist to wet VNPS, John Clayton Chapter Missouri Botanical Garden LBJ Wildflower Center Wildlife: Butterflies, songbirds, and other insects Photos: Wikipedia

11. Helianthus angustifolius Swamp Sunflower, Narrow- Sunflower

Blooms: August to October Yellow Size: 1 1/2 to 6 ft tall, 3-4 ft wide Light: Full sun, partial shade Soil: Moist to wet Sources: DCR Native Plant Center VNPS, John Clayton Chapter Wildlife: Butterflies, songbirds, and bees Photos: LBJ Wildflower Center

12. Solidago nemoralis Gray Goldenrod, Old Field Goldenrod Blooms: June to October Purple, violet Size: compact: 6 – 24 inches Light: Sun, partial shade, shade Soil: Dry Sources: DCR Native Plant Center Wildlife: Butterflies, bees, birds VNPS, John Clayton Chapter LBJ Wildflower Center Photos: Wikimedia Commons 12. Solidago odora Sweet Goldenrod

Blooms: July through October anise scented, yellow flowers Size: 3-6 ft tall Light: Sun Soil: Moist Sources: DCR Wildlife: Butterflies, bees, and other insects Native Plant Center VNPS, John Clayton Chapter LBJ Wildflower Center Photos: Wikimedia Commons 13. Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower

Blooms: April to September pink, purple Size: 2-5 ft tall

Light: Full sun, part

Soil: Dry

Wildlife: Attracts native bees and other pollinators Sources: LBJ Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Photos: Wikimedia Commons 14. Zizia aurea Golden Alexanders

Blooms: April to June Yellow Dry seedheads turn purple Member of carrot family, use instead of fennel! Size: 1-3 ft tall, 1 1/2 to 2 ft wide Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: Moist, dry Sources: DCR Native Plant Center May self-seed profusely if happy VNPS, John Clayton Chapter Missouri Botanical Garden LBJ Wildflower Center Wildlife: Butterflies, bees, and other insects Photos: Wikimedia Commons