Wildflowers

Can tolerate some light shade. Attracts lots of wonderful insects. Unique flower and great leaf texture. Leaves have been used for medicinal teas.

A quick-growing ground cover that spreads indefinitely by runners. And yes, these are real, edible strawberries! Fruit is small, but very flavorful. May go dormant in summer heat. Supports lots of wildlife.

A shorter aster for your rain garden. Spreads through rhizomes, better suited for larger gardens. A study in KC showed that Symphyotrichum is one of the plant genera in our area that attracts the largest number of different bee species.

Seeds are great for birds. Divide every few years to reduce spread. A study in KC showed that Helianthus is one of the plant genera in our area that attracts the largest number of different bee species. Can get really tall and spread widely.

Excellent pollinator and bird plant. Plant with other aggressive plants or weed frequently. Hosts for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis) and Summer Azure butterfly (Celastrina neglecta). We love the elegant way the petals droop.

Deer and rabbits tend to leave this plant alone. A late bloomer for your shade garden. Can spread aggressively, but looks good in masses.

Beautiful spring shade plant that can be used as a shallow-rooted ground cover. Likes more organic/rich soil. Attractive to butterflies, as well as people. Deer tend to leave it alone, but rabbits like to nibble it.

Beautiful early blooming flower for your shade garden, but foliage may die back in the summer so plant with other shade tolerant plants that persist through summer heat.

A sunflower for your shady bird garden. Can spread quickly by rhizomes and seeds, like many sunflowers, forming large colonies.

This species attracts several pollinators. Both the flowers and foliage are fragrant. Easy to grow. Edible and medicinal. Not favored by deer. Spreads easily.

Rare in Missouri's natural areas. A beautiful plant with multiple seasons of interest with blue-green foliage that has wonderful texture from early spring to late fall, bright spring blooms, and cute round seed balls in the fall. Like other Baptisia, it t

An Ozark plant that likes a dry, hot spot. Fragrant. Not favored by deer.

Wildlife magnet - attracts lots of butterflies, bees, other pollinating insects, and birds. Short-lived perennial, but will reseed and move around the garden. May need to be staked in moist, high-nutrient soil.

Host plant of the black swallowtail. Works well in dry shade. Loose umbels of yellow flowers seem to float delicately in the air.

May spread aggressively. Best for a more wild garden. Birds love the seeds.