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Tephrosia virginiana

Goat’s Rue features attractive, yellow-pink bi-colored flowers, which bloom May-August. The nectar is a valued food source for native bees and butterflies. Goat’s Rue is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus). The seeds are eaten by ground birds. The roots fix nitrogen in the soil; they also contain rotenone, which is toxic to insects and fish. Goat’s Rue can be planted by seed; plant it in meadows, borders, and naturalized areas of your yard. It is difficult to transplant once established.

Tagetes spp.

Marigold species come in many sizes and flower colors, ranging from red, orange, yellow and white, to a blend of colors. The flowers bloom June through frost, offering a long-lasting season of enjoyment. The flowers can be used either fresh-cut or dried in floral arrangements. The finely cut, fern-like leaves are often aromatic. This easy-to-grow plant is both disease- and pest-resistant. Plant Marigolds along borders, as accents in corners of your yard, or alongside tomatoes and peppers in your vegetable garden.

Syringa reticulata

Japanese Tree Lilac is a small to medium, deciduous tree with large clusters of creamy-white, fragrant flowers. The flowers bloom in June, later than most other lilac shrubs. For best blooms, plant Japanese Tree Lilac in full sun. The flowers provide a rich nectar source for native bees and butterflies. Use Japanese Tree Lilac as an ornamental specimen tree in your yard, or a street tree in your neighborhood.

Symphyotrichum novi-belgii

New York Aster features violet-purple flowers, which bloom July-October. This prolific bloomer provides fall color to the yard. It offers a valuable nectar source for native bees and butterflies, and its dried seeds provide food for birds. Use New York Aster in the front of borders, as an edging plant, or in sunny meadows and naturalized areas of your yard.

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum

Calico Aster features white flowers, which bloom September-October. The nectar offers a food source for native bees. Calico Aster attracts beneficial insects, which prey upon garden pest insects in your yard. It is a host plant for butterfly larvae (caterpillars) of the Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) butterfly. Use Calico Aster in borders, planted in groups for hedges or screens, or along walkways in your yard.

Symphyotrichum laeve

Smooth Blue Aster features violet-purple flowers with yellow centers, which bloom August-October. The nectar provides a food source for native bees. It is very tolerant of drought and dry, rocky soils, making it a good choice for Jersey-Friendly Yards. Use Smooth Blue Aster in borders, butterfly gardens, and naturalized areas of your yard.

Spodiopogon sibiricus

Flower stalks of Frost Grass rise above the bamboo-like foliage, blooming July-February. The flowers give a shimmering appearance when backlit by sunlight. The leaves turn a purplish-red in the fall. This plant needs moist, well-drained soil and enough sunlight to encourage erect growth. Frost Grass does not tolerate hot, dry areas; plant it in a protected site in your yard. Use it as an accent plant or plant in groups in borders.

Sorghastrum nutans

Indiangrass is a beautiful native grass with blue-green blades and tall golden to purplish-brown flowering plumes.

Solidago sempervirens

Seaside Goldenrod features dense, deep-yellow flowers, which bloom on terminal stalks, August-October. The thick, waxy leaves deter salt and sand penetration, making this plant a good choice for coastal gardens. Seaside Goldenrod provides a nectar source for native bees, honeybees, and butterflies. The dried seeds provide a food source for birds. It attracts beneficial predatory insects, which prey on garden pest insects in your yard. Use Seaside Goldenrod in borders, butterfly gardens, seaside gardens, and coastal landscapes.

Solidago rugosa

Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod features yellow flowers, which bloom September-October. The nectar provides a food source for native bees and honeybees. The dried seeds provide a food source for birds in fall and winter. Use Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod in borders, butterfly gardens, and naturalized areas in your yard.