2025 PLANT LIST
All of my plants have been selected for both an important pollen and/or nectar source as well as larval host plants for native butterflies and moths, and all but a few are natives. The alien plants that I have added are non-invasive and they contribute favorably to the garden environment. The following is a list of seeds that have been planted for the 2025 season. The seedlings are planted in 2 ½” pots, and sold 3 for $10. Because these plants are seedlings, they are not identical to each other. I recommend planting 3 of the same kind of plant in a 18” triangle, to end up with a nice, slightly varied clump. This will also ensure cross pollination. Because most of these plants are also important seed sources for birds, I do not recommend dead-heading. I do recommend adding a pinch of bone meal at planting time. This will aid in rapid establishment. Once established, no further feeding is necessary, and most of the plants are very drought tolerant. An established meadow in my yard received no water during the drought of 2022, and still looked great.
Click for consolidated 2025 Plant List
Please click the plant pictures for larger view.
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Common Bluestar
Bluestar is a 3 foot clumping perennial with light blue flowers starting in June. They supply nectar to Morning Cloaks and other early butterflies. Beautiful fall color ends its season. This long lived plant does best with medium sun and moisture.
Asclepias incarnata
Swamp Milkweed
This is a 3 – 4 foot clumping perennial with white and pink flowers blooming in July. It supplies nectar and pollen and is an essentail food plant for Monarch caterpillars and beautiful leaf beetles. It does best with medium sun and moisture.
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly Weed
This is a 2 foot clumping perennial with bright orange flowers blooming in July. They are very attractive to pollinators. Watch for the Great Golden Digger Wasp, a solitary predator of crickets. It does best in sunnier and drier conditions.
Aster novi-belgii
New York Aster
This is a 3 foot perennial with a slow, thinly spreading habit. The large violet to purple flowers are one of the latest asters to open, blooming from mid-September until the first freeze. It supplies critical food for the Mex/gen Monarchs and other late season pollinators. It does best in part-full sun with good moisture.
Aster simplex
Pannicled Aster
This is a 4 to 6 foot, moderately spreading colonizer. Each individual stem of this perennial is quite bushy and can take up some space. Also a late bloomer, its medium sized white flowers open in late September onward. It is a great late season food source which does best in part to full sun with good moisture.
Aster puniceus
Purple-stemmed Aster
This is a 4 to 6 foot clumping perennial with large light violet flowers in September. This is a nice, manageable mid–season Aster that is more shade tolerant and prefers moist soil. It is not drought tolerant.
Aster divaricatus
White Wood Aster
This is a 1 to 2 foot perennial with medium-sized white flowers blooming in late August. It has a moderately aggressive spreading habit. Fortunately, it does best in dry shade and brightens up all but the darkest spots.
Aster linariifolius
Stiff Aster
This is a 1 to 2 foot clumping perennial with large, violet flowers that bloom beginning in late September. It is one of my favorite mid-season Asters. Picture a sparsely needled, tussock forming herbaceous spruce with beautiful flowers. It does best in hot and dry conditions, and it is very drought tolerant once it is established.
Aster novae-angliae
New England Aster
This is a 4 to 6 foot, clumping perennial with large violet-purple flowers blooming in September. A very showy Aster, it can become a bit floppy. This Aster does best in part to full sun with good moiture, but may be less floppy with tall neighbors and less water
Aster lateriflorus
Calico Aster
This is a scrappy 2 to 4 foot sparse clumper with small white flowers and a changeable disk. This variable species is very shade tolerant and when the flowers begin in mid-September, it is a bumble bee bonanza.
Aster cordifolius
Heart-leaved Aster
This is a 2 – 4 foot clumping perennial with small, blue-violet flowers beginning in late September. The flowers are produced in clouds on this great, dry and shade tolerant Aster. It is also one of the latest blooming Asters, going right up to the end of the growing season.
Aster spectabilis
Showy Aster
This is a 1 to 2 foot, slowly spreading Aster with large bright flowers. Starting in early August, this is one of the first local Asters to bloom. In a well drained, sunny spot it will form a nice, short colony.
Aster dumosus
Bushy Aster
This is a 1 to 3 foot clumping perennial with small, pale lavender flowers starting in late September. It does best in a sunny, well drained spot and the sparsely stemmed clumps yield an abundance of blooms.
Aster umbellatus
Flat-topped Aster
This is a 4 to 7 foot, slowly creeping perennial with medium sized white flowers. My plants are genotypes from Maine and begin to flower as early as mid-July. That is about 3 weeks earlier than Showy Aster, delighting local pollinators.
Aster lowrieanus
Lowrie’s Aster
This is a 2 to 3 foot moderately spreading perennial with medium sized, light bluish flowers. This is an Aster with a Maine genotype and can be expected to begin flowering in August. It does best with less than full sun and medium moisture.
Aster tataricus
Tatarian Aster
This is a 4 to 7 foot spreading perennial with light lavender flowers. Native from East Asia to Siberia, I was gifted a clump from the head gardener at Smith College. A very aggressive Aster, it blooms until frozen and is very welcome to late pollinators.
Aster macrophyllus
Large-leaved Aster
This is a 1 to 2 foot spreading perennial with light violet flowers. A Maine genotype, expect blooming to begin by the end of July. The large leaves form a ground covering colony in a shadier spot with average moisture.
Daucus carota
Queen Anne’s Lace
This is a 3 to 5 foot non-native biennial with white flowers. This alien is included to add color to the late June meadow, as well as for food for the Black Swallowtail butterfly. This drought tolerant “”weed”” needs to seed in to remain in the garden.”
Dianthis Armeria
Deptford Pink
This is a 1 to 2 foot non-native biennial with small pink flowers beginning in mid-late June. This plant is very slender and fills in spaces without causing any shade. In sun to part shade, the tiny, twig topped carnation-like flowers, add a sparkle of pink. They must reseed to remain in the garden.
Digitalis purpurea
Foxglove
This is a 3 to 5 foot non-native biennial with pinkish flowers blooming in June. With a single stem and a small footprint, foxglove flowers at a slow time in the meadow, producing a spike of food filled, cave like bells, the bumble bees flock to for eager exploration. It must reseed to remain in the garden.
Erigeron pulchellus
Robin’s Plantain
This is a 1 foot spreading perennial with pale lilac flowers. This short perennial fleabane begins to bloom in mid-May, which is very early for a composite. Most of the leaves are basal and will form small colonies in part sun with medium to dry conditions.
Eupatorium dubium
Joe Pye Weed
This is a 4 to 6 foot slowly spreading perennial with pinkish flowers beginning in late to July. Very popular with many different pollinators, it blooms at the same time as Blue Vervain and Early goldenrod. It will do well in a sunny spot with medium to wet conditions.
Eupatorium hyssopifolium
Hyssop-leaved Boneset
This is a 1 foot clumping perennial with white flowers blooming in August. This pollinator favorite is in stark contrast to the moisture loving Eupatoriums. Commonly found under power lines, this Boneset can survive in some very harsh conditions.
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Boneset
This is a 3 to 5 foot, slowly spreading perennial with white flowers blooming in August. Another pollinator favorite, this Eupatorium is disliked by deer, leaving the very cool leaves untouched. Like Joe Pye, Boneset does best with moister conditions, especially when in a full sun area.
Eupatorium fistulosum
Hollow-stemmed Joe Pye Weed
This is a 6 to 9 foot, slowly spreading perennial with pinkish flowers beginning in July. If E. dubium is a buffet table, this Joe Pye is the whole restaraunt. To reach its full potential, jumping Joe Pye likes a sunny spot with moist to wet conditions.
Gentiana clausa
Closed Gentian
This is a 1 foot, clumping perennial with blue flowers starting in September. The beautiful flowers are clustered and remain closed at the stem ends. As each matures, bumble bees pry open the end and totally disappear to feast. Very entertaining.
Hieracium canadense
Canada Hawkweed
This is a 2 foot clumping perennial with large yellow flowers beginning in August. Larger flowers with a leafier clumping habit and its tolerance of dry shade, set this pollinator pleasing plant apart from other Hawkweeds. It is also a nice splash of color for shadier sites.
Hieracium scabrum
Rough Hawkweed
This is a 1 to 3 foot clumping perennial with small yellow flowers beginning in August. This is a power line plant and it is very tolerant of hot dry conditions. I think the plant gets showier after setting seed and so do the birds.
Hieracium aurantiacum
Orange Hawkweed
This is a 1 foot spreading perennial with orange flowers that bloom in August. This is a non-native Hawkweed, but the clor is hard to resist. Doing best in sunny spots, it can form a thick colony. Pleasing to pollinators, Orange Hawkweed also sets a fine crop of bird seed.
Liatris novae-angliae
New England Blazing Star
This is a 3 foot clumping perennial with purple flowers beginning in late August. This is the last Blazing Star to bloom and combines beautifully with late season Goldenrods. This species is of special concern for conservationists and Monarchs, and it prefers a sunny spot with minimal competition.
Lobelia siphilitica
Great Blue Lobelia
This is a 1 to 2 foot clumping perennial with blue flowers beginning in July. This is a beautiful blue statement that does well in moist shade, but will do well in sun if the moisture is increased. Deep flowers requiring long tongues to feed in, favors Hummingbirds and Swallowtails.
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal Flower
This is a 1 to 2 foot clumping perennial with red flowers beginning in July. It does best in moist shade with debris free ground so that the overwintering rosettes don’t smother. This glowing plant is a real hummingbird battleground. If clumps are dispersed they are harder to defend.
Lychnis alba
White Campion
This is a 1 to 2 foot non-native clumping perennial with white flowers in July. I like the cottage garden look of the flowers and they bloom at night which is a treat for moths. If you fancy a nice seed pod, this is a real beauty. It is tolerant of dry open places.
Lychnis flos-cuculi
Cuckoo Flower
This is a 1 to 2 foot non-native, clumping perennial with pink or white flowers beginning in late May. AKA Ragged Robin produces thin clouds of blooms and combines nicely in a “weed” trio of Dame’s Rocket and Leopard’s Bane. It is good color for the early meadow and will disappear as the real fun begins.
Pernanthes sp.
Rattlesnake Root
This is a 2 to 5 foot single stemmed perennial with creamy white flowers in September.These are very variable plants with similar flowers, all relished by bumble bees. My seed is selected for dark stems and crazy leaves. It may be short lived, so encourage reseeding if you want to keep it in the garden.
Rudbeckia serotina
Black-eyed Susan
This is a 1 to 3 foot clumping biennial or short lived perennial with yellow flowers in July. This is a well recognized plant of open places to people and pollinators. It will need to reseed to remain in the garden. The goldfinches will tell you when to harvest.
Solidago rugosa
Rough-stemmed Goldenrod
This is a 4 to 5 foot spreading perennial with yellow flowers beginning in July. The flower cluster is very variable and can be widespread. This plant can be quite aggressive in a sunny spot, but move it to a shadier location and it slows down nicely.
Solidago juncea
Early Goldenrod
This is a 4 to 6 foot spreading perennial with yellow flowers beginning in July. A nice patch of basal leaves accompany the slow to moderate spreading stems which can tend to flop if grown in the shade. It is another great goldenrod to start the season.
Solidago graminifolia
Lance-leaved Goldenrod
This is a 1 to 2 foot spreading perennial with yellow flowers beginning in September. It is a nice late season addition, but can be quite aggressive. This plant is not fond of shade, but it will happily spread in a sunny spot.
Solidago nemoralis
Gray Goldenrod
This is a 1 to 2 foot clumping perennial with yellow flowers beginning in August. Its’ clumping habit and slender stems with arching, mostly one-sided flower clusters, make it a great plant to fill small holes in the garden. It can be short lived if not grown in sunny, lean conditions.
Solidago canadensis
Canada Goldenrod
This is a 3 to 5 foot spreading perennial with yellow flowers beginning in July. This aggressive plant keeps its stems close together as it expands to evict its neighbors. This genotype is from Northern Maine and can bloom two weeks earlier than local plants. It is well worth the extra work to contain growth.
Solidago sempervirens
Seaside Goldenrod
This is a 3 to 5 foot clumping perennial with yellow flowers beginning in September. If you have to wait that long for flowers, it’s nice that the plant looks good. One of my favorites, this beautiful, monarch magnet can truly stand alone. So variable, this goldenrod can thrive at a highway guard rail strip, a sunny salt marsh to cracks in concrete.
Solidago caesia
Blue-stemmed Goldenrod
This is a 1 – 3 foot clumping perennial with yellow flowers beginning in September. This late season favorite is quite variable, with stems branched or not. What sets it apart from other goldenrods is that it flowers in the leaf axils nearly to the ground. This arching beauty can also tolerate more shade than most Goldenrods.
Solidago hispida
Hairy Goldenrod
This is a 1 to 3 foot perennial with yellow flowers beginning in July. This plant prefers sweeter soil and has failed to thrive in my yard. However, the genotype is from Northern Maine and blooms here on the 4th of July, beginning the goldenrod season. Try growing this with lime in a dry place.
Solidago erecta
Erect Goldenrod
This is a 1 to 3 foot clumping perennial with yellow flowers beginning in late September. This “power line plant”, tolerant of very harsh conditions, has tight yellow flower spikes, delighting late season pollinators. Very variable, some forms sport nice red fall leaves though not guaranteed.
Verbena hastata
Blue Vervain
This is a 3 to 6 foot spreading perennial that blooms in July. Bringing an upright look to the meadow, the blue spikes of this Vervain combine beautifully with the Joe Pyes and early season Goldenrods. The flowers are tiny but numerous and do best in a sunny spot with added moisture.
Vernonia noveboracensis
New York Ironweed
This is a 4 to 7 foot clumping perennial with reddish purple flowers beginning in August. Resembling a Joe Pye weed with darker, more spread out flower clusters, it is a big draw for Swallowtail butterflies and Hummingbirds. Iron Weed resents being moved, so put it in a sunny, moist spot where you can leave it alone.