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Cephalanthus occidentalis

Common Buttonbush’s fragrant, white, spherical-shaped flowers resemble pin cushions. The flowers bloom in June, followed by round, button-like fruits enclosing small nutlets, which persist into winter. The flowers provide a nectar source for native bees and butterflies. Buttonbush is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Titan sphinx (Aellopos titan) and Hydrangea sphinx (Darapsa versicolor). It prefers moist to wet conditions, and can tolerate flooding. The plants can be pruned or cut to the ground in early spring. Use Buttonbush in shrub borders, woodland gardens, rain gardens, and other moist areas of the yard, or plant along edges of ponds and other water features.

Celosia argentea

Celosia is a long-blooming annual with plume-like, vividly colored flowers on erect stems. The flowers bloom throughout summer and into fall, and are good fresh-cut or dried. This plant thrives in hot, humid weather. Use massed in beds and borders, as an edging plant, or in containers.

Ceanothus americanus

New Jersey Tea is a low-growing, wildlife-friendly deciduous shrub. Showy, fragrant, white flower clusters bloom May-July and are good fresh-cut. The flowers are a nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees. New Jersey Tea is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Spring Azure (Celastrina “ladon”), Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis), and Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta). Young, yellow twigs add color to the winter landscape. The common name originated when the dried leaves were used as a tea substitute during the Revolutionary War. Use New Jersey Tea in shrub borders, wildlife gardens, or as a groundcover on slopes.

Callirhoe involucrata

Purple Poppy Mallow is a lovely, drought-tolerant perennial with a long bloom period. The attractive, deeply lobed foliage forms a dense mat, which chokes out weeds. Its cup-shaped, magenta flowers start blooming in the spring and continue through the summer and well into the fall. This perennial is a nectar source for bees and a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus). It grows well in hot, sunny, dry locations. Purple Poppy Mallow is a versatile plant, which fits into both formal and wildflower gardens. Use it in sunny borders and beds, rock gardens, meadows, hanging baskets, or as a cascading plant over walls. Excellent groundcover for covering slopes and steep banks.

Callicarpa americana

American Beautyberry is a deciduous shrub with graceful, arching branches and spectacular fruits. Light lavender to pink flowers bloom June-August, followed by showy, bright purple, berry-like fruits, which encircle the stems. The fruits, which remain until early winter, are a source of food for many species of birds. American Beautyberry is a good shrub to plant under trees. Use massed in the back of a shrub border or in a woodland garden.

Bracteantha bracteata

Strawflower is an annual, which blooms June to frost in a variety of colors (yellow, orange, red, pink, and white). The daisy-like flowers have a straw-like texture. It is an “everlasting,” meaning it retains its color and shape when dried. Strawflower is excellent for both fresh-cut and dried flowers. Use taller varieties in beds or borders and shorter ones as edging plants or in containers.

Boltonia asteroides

White Doll’s Daisy has delicate, aster-like flowers with narrow, white (sometimes pink or purple) rays and yellow centers. The flowers bloom August-October, adding white to the fall garden. The flowers are good fresh-cut for bouquets. Taller plants need support; however, cutting back plants in late spring keeps them compact. Use White Doll’s Daisy for naturalizing or in meadows and wildflower gardens.

Baccharis halimifolia

Migrating butterflies and other pollinators nectar on the late summer blooming flowers, and birds eat the seeds.

Baptisia tinctoria

Horseflyweed is a bushy perennial with small, yellow, pea-like flowers blooming May-June. The flowers are borne in clusters on tall stems above a mound of gray-green foliage. The flower nectar has special value to native bees and bumblebees. This plant is a host to moth and butterfly larvae (caterpillars), including Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus), Dusky-winged Butterfly (Thanaos brizo), and Io Moth (Automeris io), and is the only known food source for Wild Indigo Dusky Winged (Erynnis baptisiae) butterfly larvae. Its reputation for protecting horses and mules from horseflies led to its common name, Horseflyweed. Use it in a meadow garden, sunny informal area, or in a butterfly or pollinator garden.

Aurinia saxatilis

Goldentuft is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial, which produces a bountiful bloom of bright yellow flowers in spring, April-May. It tolerates drought and dry soils. The mounds of gray-green leaves covered in golden flowers look great in rock gardens or growing over rock walls. It can also be used in beds, as an edging plant, or as a groundcover on slopes.