Baptisia australis (Blue False Indigo)

Bright orange/yellow flowers bloom on top of tall hairy stems, and give way to seed pods. Leaves are speared and narrow. Despite it’s common name, this particular species of milkweed has no milky sap. Moderate growth rate.

Blooms mid summer to early fall
1-3 ft tall x 1-3 ft wide
HARDY to -40°F (-40°C)
Deer resistant
Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies
Drought resistant
Moderate salt tolerance

Vivid daisy-like flowers sporting rosy purple petals that surround a red-orange cone bloom on top of strong stems. Rapid growth rate.

Use as cut or dried flowers. Be sure to keep some flowers in the garden over winter, as the blackened heads provide cold-season garden interest, as well as food for finches and other winter birds.

Blooms mid-spring to summer
2-4 ft tall x 1-2 ft spread
Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Deer and rabbit resistant
Drought tolerant

A myriad of glistening blue flowers are tightly packed on spiny, pincushion-like blooms and silver blue stems that rise above smooth blue green, deeply toothed, textured leaves. Moderate growth rate.

Blooms mid-summer
2-3 ft tall x 1-2 ft spread
Attracts bees and butterflies
Drought tolerant
Deer and rabbit resistant
Salt tolerant

Masses of bright yellow ray flowers with dark brown centres bloom on bright green, hairy foliage in a compact habit. Moderate growth rate.

Blooms early to late summer
2-3 ft tall x 2-3 ft spread
HARDY to -30°F (-34.4°C)
Drought tolerant
Deer and rabbit resistant
Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

This herbaceous perennial features tall sturdy stems bearing grass-like narrowly lanceolate leaves and are capped with a yellow, one-sided inflorescence. Moderate growth rate.

Blooms early to midsummer
2-4 ft tall x 1-2 ft spread
HARDY to -30°F (-34.4°C)
Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Drought tolerant
Tolerant to juglone

This perennial grass features an upright mound of slender, blue-green blades topped with feathery, light brown flower panicles. Moderate growth rate.

Blooms late summer
HARDY to -40°F (-40°C)
3-5 ft tall x 1-2 ft wide
Attracts birds and butterflies
Deer and rabbit resistant
Drought tolerant
Tolerant to juglone