Dalea purpurea

Purple Prairie Clover

Family: Fabaceae (Bean & Pea Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  3-8

·        Height: 1-3 feet

·        Spread: 1-1.5 feet

·        Bloom Time: June to August

·        Bloom: purple 2" long, dense spike blooming from the bottom upward

·        Light: full sun

·        Soil: sandy, loamy

·        Moisture: dry to medium; tolerates drought

·        Use: prairie, naturalized area, meadow, native plant garden, wild garden; attracts butterflies, birds and many types of bees

·        Care: easy to grow, low maintenance

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problems; rabbits like this plant

·        Native to: Dane County, southern and central Wisconsin; North America

·        Notes: self-seeds;  thick and deep taproot; a nitrogen-fixing plant

·        Supplier:  Agrecol Native Nursery

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Demonstration Prairie I027

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Rudbeckia triloba

Brown-eyed Susan

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  4-8

·        Height: 1-5 feet

·        Spread: 1-1.5 feet

·        Bloom Time: July to October

·        Bloom: yellow rays with a brown-purple disk

·        Light: full sun

·        Soil: loamy

·        Moisture: medium to moist

·        Use: prairie, naturalize area, wildflower meadow, cottage garden, native plant garden and border; attracts birds, bees, beetles, flies and  butterflies; great source of pollen and nectar; erosion control; cut flower

·        Care: low maintenance, deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional bloom and/or to prevent any unwanted self-seeding

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problem; short-lived perennial; susceptible to powdery mildew; watch for slugs and snails

·        Native to: Dane County, southern and central Wiscosin; from New England to Minnesota, south to Georgia and Oklahoma

·        Notes: deer, drought tolerant; naturalize through self-seeding

·        Supplier:  Agrecol Native Nursery

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Demonstration Prairie I024, Naturalistic Garden H217

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Euthamia graminifolia

Grass-leaved Goldenrod

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  3-9

·        Height: 1-3 feet

·        Spread: 1-2 feet

·        Bloom Time: July to October

·        Bloom: head with 15-25 tiny, yellow rays; arranged with many, 1 1/4" rounded clusters

·        Light: full sun

·        Soil: sandy, loamy

·        Moisture: dry to moist

·        Use: prairie, meadow, natural area, border; attracts pollinators; erosion control

·        Care: easy to grow and low maintenance

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problem; creeping rhizomes can form patches or extensive colonies

·        Native to: Dane County and most of Wisconsin; Canada & most of United States

·        Notes: slender stems usually have lines of fine white hairs; alternate leaves are up to 4 inches long, narrow and have smooth margins

·        Supplier:  Agrecol Native Nursery

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Demonstration Prairie I019

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Monarda didyma 'Coral Reef'

Bee Balm 'Coral Reef'

Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  3-9

·        Height: 36-42 inches

·        Spread: 24-30 inches

·        Bloom Time: July to September

·        Bloom: shaggy deep pink flowers

·        Light: full sun to part shade

·        Soil: best in rich, moisture-retentive or humusy soils

·        Moisture: average, consistent; soil should not be allowed to dry out

·        Use: middle of perennial border, cottage garden, wild garden, native plant garden, meadow, naturalized planting or along ponds or streams; attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees; aromatic foliage smells like mint and can be used to flavor teas; cut flowers

·        Care: divide clumps every 3-4 years to prevent overcrowding and provide plants with good air circulation to help combat powdery mildew; deadhead flowers immediately after bloom to prevent self-seeding and encourage new bloom

·        Concerns: no serious insect problems; disease resistant variety

·        Native to: genus is native to eastern North America

·        Notes: spreads by rhizomes and self-seeding; deer and rabbit resistant; tolerates black walnut

·        Supplier: The Flower Factory

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Wet Garden D093

       Content produced through:

       Dane County UWEX Master Gardener Volunteer Program 

       Questions?  

       Dane County UWEX Horticulture Program