Great food source for pollinators; not preferred by mammals. Native to moist, open-wooded areas. Large plant, with flowers lasting only a few weeks, but great foliage texture.
Plant with grasses or other tall perennials to help support the long, slender stalk. Fragrant seedheads. Seeds enjoyed by birds, especially Goldfinches. Visited by many small sweat bees.
An annual. A thin, upright plant with subtle beauty that may be best clustered together. It may reseed and return the following year in the right conditions. Flowers are open in the morning.
Unsure which species, but we think P. angulata, which is an annual ground cherry with a large taproot. Otherwise may be a rhizomatous perennial. Fruits are edible.
Wind pollinated. Hosts several moth and butterfly caterpillars such as Hackberry Emperor, Tawny Emperor, Snout Butterfly, Mourning Cloak, and Question Mark. Fruit eaten by several species of birds and mammels.
Pollinators love this plant! Strong mint fragrance. Blooms later than P. tenuifolium. A study in KC showed that Pycnanthemum is one of the plant genera in our area that attracts the largest number of different bee species.
Produces a delicious nut in late summer that is enjoyed by wildlife and humans alike. Thicket-forming shrub that will grow in several sun/moisture conditions. Can self-pollinate but will get better production with multiple trees.
Host to the Black Swallowtail Butterfly. Does well in dry, rocky conditions; tolerates dryer conditions than Z. aurea. Provides nectar to small bees and flies and pollen to bees, flies, and beetles.
Blooms are cute as a button. Use in a consistently moist rain garden (doesn’t like to dry out). Can be cut back in June to produce a shorter, fuller plant. Deadhead for longer blooms.
Host to the hummingbird clearwing Hemaris diffinis. Often confused with common milkweed when it's younger. Popular with many small pollinators. Can be aggressive from horizontal roots.
