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Stachys byzantina

Lamb’s Ear is grown for its fuzzy, soft, ornamental leaves. The non-descript flower is often removed by gardeners to enhance the appeal of the foliage. It prefers sandy, dry soil and full sun. Lamb’s Ear is susceptible to midsummer foliage decline in humid climates; pick off the browned leaves to stimulate new leaf growth. This hardy plant tolerates rabbit, deer, drought, Black Walnut, air pollution, and a range of undesirable conditions that deter many other plants from optimum growth. Use Lamb’s Ear along edges of walkways, in mixed borders to offer texture, or as a groundcover in a small area of your yard.

Sporobolus heterolepis

Prairie Dropseed is an ornamental grass with pink- and brown-tinted flowers blooming August-October. Prairie Dropseed provides nesting material and structure for native bees. It tolerates air pollution and Black Walnut, as well as a wide range of soils, including clay. Prairie Dropseed creates good groundcover for hot, dry areas, or use it as an accent plant around 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 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.

Solidago nemoralis

Gray Goldenrod features showy, yellow flower clusters, which bloom on one side of hairy, leaved stalks, July-October. The nectar provides a food source for native bees, honeybees, and butterflies. Gray Goldenrod is a host plant for beneficial predatory insects, which prey on garden pest insects in your yard. The dried seeds provide a food source for birds in fall and winter. Use Gray Goldenrod in butterfly gardens and naturalized areas of your yard.

Solidago canadensis

Canada Goldenrod features yellow flowers, which bloom July-October, providing nectar to native bees, honeybees, and butterflies.

Solidago caesia

Wreath Goldenrod features small yellow flowers, which bloom August-September.

Maianthemum racemosum

False Solomon’s-seal has feathery, creamy-white flowers, which rise above the foliage. The flowers bloom March-June, followed by attractive red berries, which are eaten by birds. Use False Solomon’s-seal in shade gardens, woodland gardens, or naturalized areas.

Skimmia japonica

Japanese Skimmia is an evergreen shrub with mildly fragrant, white, showy flowers, which bloom in April. It is dioecious; male and female flowers appear on separate plants. Both male and female plants are needed to produce fruit. Berries ripen in October and persist through winter. Japanese Skimmia tolerates heavy shade and needs moist, organically-rich soil. Use Japanese Skimmia in shade gardens, along foundations, as an understory shrub, or massed in shrub borders or hedges.