PERENNIALS
Liatris aspera (rough blazing star)

Broadly rounded, pink flower heads with curled margins open in late summer. Enjoys sandy soil and dry open spaces. Butterflies love it! Zone 3
Liatris ligulistylis (meadow blazingstar)

Large, purple florets on long spike with terminal flower being the largest. Blooms July to September. An eastern South Dakota ecotype. Zone 3
Liatris pycnostachya (button snakeroot)

This outstanding native of the great plains grows even in in wet prairies. Breath-taking in the garden and vibrantly vivacious as a florist's crop. Produces a 1' or larger dense spike crowded with reddish-purple, long-lasting flowers on 3-4' spikes. A must for butterfly gardens. Zone 3
Liatris scariosa 'Alba' (shaggy blazing star)

Large, shaggy blooms cover tall spikes in late summer. An excellent butterfly nectar source. This selection has white flowers. Zone 4
Liatris spicata (Kansas gayfeather)

Early summer blooming lavender spikes grow to 3' tall. Great flower arrangement subjects that also attract butterflies. Plant in full sun to part shade. Drought tolerant plants will grow in poor soil. Zone 3
Linum perenne (flax)

Stunning 1" blue flowers cover fine foliage in summer. Plants grow in a dense, round 16" ball shape in full sun in well-drained soil. Zone 5
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower)

Green foliage is topped with 3' scarlet flower spikes July through September. Prefers moist soils, in sun to shade. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Zone 3
Lysimachia nummularia (moneywort)

Round, green leaves create a low-growing mat with small yellow flowers. 'Aurea' is a bright chartreuse selection. Both spread rapidly in moist locations, and also make fantastic trailing foliage plants in hanging baskets and containers. Will grow in sun or shade, but requires more moisture in sunnier locations. Zone 4
Matteccua struthiopteris (ostrich fern)

Tall 3' arching fronds grow in part to full shade in woodland soil. Zone 2
Mertensia virginica (bluebells)

Nodding clusters of blue flowers in early spring age to pink giving the appearance of a bicolor blooming plant. 2' plants go dormant by late spring. Plant in partial to full shade in humus rich soil. Zone 4
Monarda fistulosa (bee balm, wild bergamot)

Large pale lavender whorled flowers June through August. Heat and drought tolerant native adored by nectar feeders of all sorts. 3-5' tall plants. Zone 3
Monarda 'Jacob Cline' (bee balm)

Large red flowers in June through August on mildew resistant foliage growing 4-5' tall. Heat and drought tolerant, flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and make great cuts. Zone 3
Monarda 'Petite Delight'

Dwarf plants are covered in lavender-rose blooms in summer. Excellent mildew resistance on compact plants that grow only 24" tall. Heat and drought tolerant, flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and make great cuts. Zone 3
Oenothera macrocarpa (Missouri primrose)

Large, deep yellow flowers cover this sprawling native over glossy green leaves from late spring through frost. Highly heat and drought tolerant, this must-have plant grows in the poorest of soils with little or no attention from anyone. Grows well in our green roof. Only 8-10" tall. Zone 4
Oenothera speciosa (pink evening primrose)

3" pink blooms cover this spreading native in spring and early summer. Plants grow 12-14" tall, and self seed throughout the garden. Foliage is small and finely textured. Zone 5
Oenothera speciosa 'Alba' (white evening primrose)

White flowering version of Oenothera s. often seen along roadsides on the way to Vinland Valley Nursery in the spring! Zone 5
Optunia humifusa (prickly pear)

This cactus is native to Missouri. Flat, oval-shaped green pads are water storing stems with spiney needle tufts. Showy, bright yellow blooms open in summer, followed by reddish-purple edible fruits. Low-maintenance, easy to grow and very nice planted against soft native grasses for contrast. Bundles of stems can grow 1-2' tall and spread out to 2-3'. Zone 4
Pachysandra procumbens (Allegheny spurge)

Native Pachysandra prefers evenly moist, good soil and spreads slowly to form 10" tall clumps. Leaves are deeply lobed and dull, greenish gray mottled with silver. Plants are evergreen in the south but deciduous in the north. In mid-spring, 2-6" long fragrant spikes of white-tinged-with-purple appear at the base of the leaf stems.
Penstemon barbatus 'Coccineus' (Jingle Bells)

Native to "four corners", this Penstemon grows to 3' tall and blooms large, bright scarlet flowers in late summer. Grows in full sun in well-drained soil. Zone 4
Penstemon barbatus 'Navigator' mix

Luminous, electric, carmine-pink or blue flowers on 12" compact plants with an 8" spread and blue-green foliage. Blooms from July through October. Zone 4
Penstemon cobaea (purple beardtongue)

Neon purple to white 2" tubular blooms in summer are showier than any other penstemon. Plants grow 1-2' tall. Zone 5
Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' (foxglove beardtongue)

Selection introduced by the University of Nebraska with deep reddish-purple foliage and white flowers on 3' stems in late spring. Grows in full sun to part shade with no particular aversion to any soil type. Zone 4
Phlox divaricata (wild sweet William)

Clusters of blue and violet five-petal stars in early spring are sweetly scented. This woodland edge native naturalizes easily, and provides an early nectar source for hungry hummingbirds and bees! Grows to 1' tall. Zone 3
Physostegia virginiana (obedient plant)

Spikes of pink flowers cover this 2-3' native in summer. Spreads moderately, filling in around other perennial or grasses. Requires no special care. Zone 3
Podophyllum reptans (mayapple)

One giant, lobed leaf grows 12-18" tall and produces creamy, nodding flowers below followed by red fruit. Goes dormant in summer. A wonderful spring native that can be planted throughout other groundcovers for spring display. Zone 4
Polygonatum biflorum (Solomon's seal)

2-3' arching stems carry rounded leaves with small white flowers alternating. Black berries follow. Spreads underground. A wonderful woodland wildflower. Zone 5
Polygonatum virginiana (Virginia knotweed)

Long stems emerge from dark foliage emblazened with a burgundy shield in late summer. Tiny white blossom buds open to pure white, and make fantastic cut flower arrangement fillers. One of the best plants for dry, clay shade. Plants spread by self-seeding and can form large colonies. 2-3' tall. Zone 5
Pontedaeria cordata (pickerel plant)

Blue-violet flower spikes bloom June through October. Glossy green lance-shaped leaves. Marginal or shalow aquatic native makes a wonderful native pond or bog planting. Seeds [rovide food for wildlife. 1-2' tall. Zone 3
Pulsatilla patens (pasque flower)

Delicate lavender-pink, cup-shaped blooms in early spring cover frilly foliage. South Dakota's state flower, foliage grows 6-8" with the flowers reaching up to 12-16" Full sun and well-drained soil. Zone 4
Pyncnanthemum muticum (mountain mint)

Very fragrant foliage is covered with flowers of white and pale lavender in July through September. An eastern U.S. native, plants appear to stay in flower even after flower petals fall, leaving metalic bracts. An excellent nectar feeder food source. 1-2' tall plants need full sun. Zone 3

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