Butterfly Host Plants
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Corylus americana – American Hazelnut
Edible native shrub with showy spring flowers. Grows in sun or shade.
Dalea purpurea – Purple Prairie Clover
Native perennial with fascinating foliage and flowers.
Echinacea – Cara Mia Yellow Coneflower
Gorgeous flowers all summer until frost.
Echinacea – Dark Shadows Wicked Coneflower
Bright petals contrast against dark cones and stems.
Echinacea – Fresco Apricot Coneflower
A refreshing change in Coneflowers!
Echinacea – Kismet Intense Orange Coneflower
Intense orange Coneflowers appear for months.
Echinacea – Pow Wow Wildberry Coneflower
Major award winner.
Echinacea – Prima Ruby Coneflower
Large red petals surround dark, almost black, cones.
Echinacea – Prima Tiger Coneflower
Roars into bloom all summer.
Echinacea – Sombrero Lemon Yellow Coneflower
Produces tons of clear lemon yellow flowers.
Echinacea – SunSeekers Golden Sun Coneflower
Brilliant yellow blossoms all season.
Echinacea angustifolia – Narrow-Leaf Coneflower
A charming Missouri native perennial.
Echinacea pallida – Pale Purple Coneflower
Missouri Botanical Gardens Plant of Merit Winner.
Echinacea simulata – Glade Coneflower
Tough Missouri native perennial.
Gymnocladus dioicus – Kentucky Coffee Tree
Award-winning tree to create shade.
Helianthus pauciflorus – Prairie Sunflower
Large vigorous Illinois and Missouri native for the sun garden.
Hibiscus – Edge of Night Rose Mallow
Striking jet black foliage and bubblegum pink blossoms on this hardy perennial.
Hibiscus – Holy Grail Rose Mallow
Only a gift from heaven could be named Holy Grail.
Hibiscus – Summer Carnival Rose Mallow
Bold, beautiful flowers, gorgeous variegated foliage.
Hibiscus – Summerific Cherry Choco Latte Rose Mallow
Over 9" flowers!
Hibiscus laevis – Halberd Leaved Rose Mallow
Its interesting leaves resemble the 15th-16th century weapon the halberd spear.
Hibiscus lasiocarpus – Rose Mallow
Big showy plant with giant flowers, native perennial.
Hibiscus moscheutos – Swamp Rose Mallow
Among the largest flowers produced by a native perennial.
Lindera benzoin – Spicebush
Illinois and Missouri native host plant to Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly.
Liriodendron tulipifera – Tulip Tree
Stately native tree.
Magnolia virginiana – Glauca Sweet Bay Magnolia
Grows a little smaller than the species Magnolia virginiana.
Melanthium virginicum – Bunchflower
One of the showiest Missouri and Illinois native plants.
Nyssa sylvatica – Black Gum
Missouri native tree with brilliant fall color.
Oligoneuron ridellii – Riddell’s Goldenrod
An important pollinator food source.
Panicum – Blood Brothers Red Switch Grass
Dramatic grass with wine red blades, easy to grow.
Panicum – Hot Rod Red Switch Grass
Early season color-changing grass!
Panicum Cheyenne Sky – Switch Grass
Wine red blades on tough plants.
Penstemon hirsutus – Hairy Beardtongue
Hoards of purple and white dangling bells, U.S. native perennial.
Phlox pilosa – Prairie Phlox
Native perennial, makes a fantastic ground cover in sunny areas.
Ptelea trifoliata – Hop Tree
Host plant for Giant Swallowtail Butterfly.
Quercus bicolor – Swamp White Oak Tree
Bring the gift of nature home with this beauty, MO and IL native.
Quercus coccinea – Scarlet Oak
Vibrant red leaves in fall.
Quercus lyrata – Overcup Oak
Award-winning Missouri native tree.
Quercus macrocarpa – Bur Oak
Showy acorns and leaves on a statuesque tree.
Quercus rubra – Red Oak Tree
Statuesque MO and IL native tree.
Rhus aromatica – Fragrant Sumac
Rugged native Missouri and Illinois ground cover shrub for tough spots.
Rhus Gro Low Fragrant Sumac
Rugged ground cover shrub with beautiful leaves. Perfect for fixing erosion issues.
Ruellia hymilis – Wild Petunia
Pretty lilac-blue flowers attract beautiful flying guests, native perennial.
Schizachyrium scoparium – Little Bluestem Grass
2022 Perennial Plant Association Perennial Plant Of the Year
Mo native with slender green leaves highlighted with blue.
Schizachyrium Standing Ovation – Little Bluestem Grass
2022 Perennial Plant Association Perennial Plant Of the Year. A superior selection of our native grass.
Tradescantia ohiensis – Ohio Spiderwort
Easy to grow Missouri native perennial.
Vernonia fasciculata – Prairie Ironweed
Feeds countless butterflies and other important pollinators.
Viburnum lentago – Nanberry Viburnum
Fluffy white flowers. Hostplant for the Spring Azure butterfly.
Viburnum nudum – Possumhaw Viburnum – Smooth Witherod
Birds love this Missouri and Illinois native shrub for its multi-colored berries.
Zizia aptera – Heart Shaped Golden Alexander
A top choice for pollinators.
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