Swamp Milkweed is crucial to the survival of Monarch butterflies. Adult Monarchs only lay their eggs on Milkweed as this is the only food source for the caterpillars. Swamp Milkweed stand 2-4’ tall and has fragrant pink/purple flower clusters that last from June to August. These native likes moist to wet soils and full sun and can be found in the wild throughout much of the state in floodplains, stream sides and other wet areas. Large bumpy seed pods are produced and open to

The Lead Plant is great for dry, sunny areas in naturalized or native gardens and is adaptable to a wide range of soil structures. This plant grows 1-3’ tall and produces bluish purple flower clusters from June through September. It has foliage that stands out among other plants with fine silver hairs that resemble it being dusted in lead, hence the name. Amorpha Canescens is a nitrogen fixer and has a central root that can reach depths of up to 15’ in the soil. Butterflies a

Anise Hyssop (Blue Giant Hyssop) is a great addition to any garden and is an effective attractant for bumblebees. Every time we are installing these in the landscape, before the day is over there are bees out there pollinating the plants! In the wild, these plants can be found in the dry uplands throughout most of the state and prefer full sun to part shade. Large magenta flower stalks appear on 2-4’ plants in June and last until October, making this a great addition to the l

White Wild Indigo is a taller native, reaching 3 to 5’ high and produces long white flowers above bluish green foliage in late spring. Seed pods follow the flowers and will dry out and rattle in the wind, producing an auditory attraction in the landscape. These pods add interest in the fall and winter as well. The plant prefers moist or dry soils and full sun. These plants can be found in open woodlands, prairies and savannas in the southeastern part of the state, however the

Have you ever considered what happens with the storm-water from the impervious sufaces of the urban landscape?? We have. We place a strong emphasis on sustainability within our company and runoff is a major concern not only within our organization but within organizations like the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Watersheds, and Green Step Cities throughout Minnesota. Runoff carries with it solids and residuals from fertilizers, salts, oil and other contaminants whi

Everyone knows about the annual Geraniums that are so wildly popular, however here is a native Geranium that adds delicate purple color to the garden in late spring and early summer! Geranium Maculatum is native to the southeastern quarter of the state and grows in prairies, open woodlands and savannas, preferring full sun but will tolerate part shade as well. This plant grows 1-2’ high and likes moist, rich soils, however it will tolerate drier sites. Goes great with Golden

Wild Lupine has a very unique leaf structure, being palmately compounded and sends attractive bluish-purple flower blooms above the foliage in late spring to early summer. These plants prefer full sun and dry, slightly acidic soils. One memory I have of these plants are extremely large drifts on the north side of Hwy 61 near Two Harbors, putting on a spectacular display in early June! Lupinus Perennis plays a couple of important roles in the environment, one being the only fo

This Minnesota native is one of our favorite summer blooming plants that we use in the landscape. The flowers are very large (2-4”) and really pop out with their reddish orange interior surrounded by a yellow outer ring. They have a compact growth habit and make an awesome border plant or using them in the front of a bed area. This plant is on Minnesota’s concern list, making it a rare beauty to see in the wild in the dry prairies of northwest portion of the state. This plant

This Minnesota native begins blooming in late May and produces purple flowers throughout most of June and July. Spiderwort can be found in savannas and dry prairies in east central Minnesota and has great heat and drought tolerance. This plant sits 12-18” tall, with Daylily-like foliage, especially when first emerging. One unique thing about this plant is it produces flowers that only last one day and are closed by mid-day. Also, this plant was named after John Tradescant, wh

Columbine is a very versatile plant because it can tolerate all types of soils if they are well drained and can be grown in full sun to full shade! This native grows 1 to 3’ tall and can be found throughout the entire state of Minnesota. The orange/yellow drooping flowers attract all sorts of pollinators including hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, and last from April throughout May. These plants are great for the cottage garden, woodland gardens or naturalized areas in the