7 Species That Survive and

Naturalistic landscapes done well require deep plant knowledge and a willingness to experiment. Here are seven of Vogt’s favorite species that are tough and resilient as well as offering four-season beauty.

Baptisia minor or B. australis var. minor, Blue False Indigo

Size: 1 to 2 feet high and wide

Sun: full sun to part shade

Soil: average to drought tolerant; especially clay tolerant

Flower: Large purple flower spikes in May through June followed black showy seed pods that are beautiful in arrangement and make a fun rattle toy for kids

Notes: With its extensive root system, this baptisia may take time to establish, but will then live for decades. Its shrubby habit makes a nice, rounded statement in the landscape as the lovely flowers attract butterflies and bees. In Illinois, it is a larval host to two moths and five butterflies.

Callirhoe involucrata or Purple Poppy Mallow

Size: 6 to 12 inches high and 1 to 2 feet wide

Sun: full sun

Soil: average to dry; tolerant of rocky soils

Flower: Large magenta cup-like flowers in May to June

Notes: This softly mounded plant dazzles when covered in its beautiful magenta flowers. It can be particularly graceful on walls or slopes and thrives in hot, dry situations. Bees seek it out, but it can also be a favorite snack for rabbits.

Carex albicans or White-Tinged Sedge

Size: 1 to 1 ½ feet high and wide

Sun: part shade to full shade

Soil: average to dry soils

Flower: Delicate fluffy creamy white to cream flowers in May followed by brown seedheads

Notes: This is thin-bladed clumping sedge that makes an attractive grassy groundcover in dry shade. As with most native sedges, it is a larval host for some moths and birds feast on the seeds. Try blending it with larger-leaved forbs such as wild geranium or wood aster for a multi-textured look.

Conoclinium coelestinum or Blue

Mistflower

Size: 1 to 3 feet high and wide

Sun: full sun to part shade

Soil: average to wet soils; can be aggressive in moist soils

Flower: Clusters of soft lavender blue flowers bloom July into October

Notes: Reminiscent of the annual ageratum, blue mistflower offers long lasting flowers for bees and butterflies as well as bouquets. It can be aggressive in its preferred habitat and thrives with competition. In Illinois, it’s a larval host for a few moth species.

Oligoneuron rigidum (Solidago rigida subsp. rigida) or Stiff Goldenrod

Size: 3 to 4 feet high and 1 to 2 feet wide

Sun: full sun

Soil: average to well-drained

Flower: Showy clusters of bright golden flowers in August through September followed by fluffy seedheads that can be frost or snow catchers

Notes: This upright goldenrod features broad, thick leaves on stiff stems terminating in large flower clusters beloved by pollinators. It provides late season punctuation in the landscape and is an important nectar source for migrating butterflies as well as hibernating pollinators. Several species of moths use it as a larval host.

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium and/or ginianum or Mountain Mint

Size: 2 to 3 feet high and 1 to 2 feet wide

Sun: full sun to part shade

Soil: average to drought tolerant

Flower: Clusters of bright white flowers in July through September

Notes: These two species of mountain mint feature slender, needle-like fragrant foliage that is edible and historically used for tea. The flowers are beloved by pollinators, especially small benefi cial flies and wasps. It easily weaves amongst larger, coarser foliage in the landscape. Try it with prairie dock, echi nacea, goldenrod, and black-eyed Susans for a rich textural effect.

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium or Aromatic Aster

Size: 1 to 3 feet high and wide

Sun: full sun

Soil: average to drought tolerant; espe cially tolerant of clay and sandy soils

Flower: Lavender blue daisy flowers cover the plants from late September into November

Notes: Delicate needle-like leaves are spicily fragrant when bruised or crushed. Asters are a lovely long-blooming addition to the fall landscape and are beloved by pollinators. They are important last stop nectar sources for migrating butterflies and hibernating pollinators. Larval host to silvery checkerspot butterflies and a huge array of moth species.