Columnar and upright but still compact, this selection boldly fills the middle of the garden with a powerful show of late spring into early summer purple bloom on spikes atop a plant loaded with densely packed, deep green foliage. This plants holds its bloom seemingly forever while complementing other garden bloomers effortlessly. Whether single or grouped in the garden or showing off in a mixed container, ‘Purple Leia’ is a garden force!

Bubblegum Candles has a compact form and flower spikes that are densely filled with vivid, deep pink blooms. The spikes truly look like clusters of candles above the clean, glossy green leaves. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Perfect for massing in the middle of any garden for a wave of color. Easily used in mixed perennial containers.

Compact and lower growing than its native relative, ‘Southern Cross’ brings great summer color to the garden on a plant that is incredibly tolerant and easy to grow. Tall, strongly upright stems are topped with small, purple rayed, yellow centered daisies that bloom in August and September while attracting masses of pollinators with their magnetic bloom! Perfect for grouping in the garden!

New York Iron Weed is tall and upright with strong stems that are covered with narrow dark green leaves. This aggressive grower bursts into bloom in August with deep purple, aster-like flowers. The fluffy haze of deep purple is often covered by a parade of butterflies in late summer. Other beneficial insects feed on the nectar and the pollen. It is deer resistant, easy to grow and and disease resistant. Plant in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soils and conditions, but prefers rich, slightly acidic soils that remain moist. Remove flower heads before seed develops to prevent unwanted self-seeding. If you want shorter plants, cut back stems nearly to the ground in late spring Leave the stems standing through winter to provide cover for beneficial insects

Iron Butterfly’ is a tough, tolerant, drought resistant native perennial that can produce the colorful beauty you crave for your native landscape while attracting butterflies and growing where most plants wouldn’t even think of trying to establis a root. This Ironweed thrives in dry rocky soil and still manages to produce beautiful, tiny purple, star-like, butterfly attracting flowers above long, narrow foliage from late summer and on into fall and, better yet, does it all on a far more compact plant than the actual species. Plant it in groups at the back of your garden in full sun and in well drained soil and ‘Iron Butterfly’ will quickly thrive to produce an abundance of blooms.

There are not many place you will find this p[lant at the garden center yet it is native in every lower 48 state except Maine and California. Nature can’t be too wrong about this plant that is one of the ideal summer blooming meadow plants that you can find. Tall growing with deep green, fuzzy feeling foliage, this selection becomes a rounded bush by mid-summer that tops itself with long, pipe cleaner-like spike with whorls of flower buds. These buds begin to bloom in early July revealing pinkish-lavender flowers that start at the bottom of the flower spike first and work their way up as the next 4 to 6 weeks progress. The butterflies love this constant summer color and will visit often for a nectar treat from a plant that is tolerant of poor soil, hot sun and drought. Naturalize it in groups in an open area for the best effect and watch the long bloom and butterfly show!

Tall, slender stems hold up 5 to 6 inch spikes of the most beautiful, lavender blue, flowers that bloom for several months! Some say the flower spikes are reminiscent of candelabras. The flowers attract butterflies and it is a host plant for the Common Buckeye butterfly.  Don’t cut them back before spring because Cardinals, Sparrows and Junco’s enjoy eating the seed. This is an easy perennial to grow in bright sun with moist soil. It looks especially nice in rain gardens or along a ponds edge. Amazingly, blue vervain is native to every state in the U.S.