

Blooms: Round flowers in warm, tropical colors late spring through late fallįragrance: Zinnias are gorgeous but unscented.Mature size: 1-3 feet tall for smaller varieties 3-8 feet tall for larger varieties about 1-1 ½ feet wide.Examples of zinnia varieties: Cactus Zinnias (zones 3-8), Mexican Zinnias (zones 11-12), Oklahoma Zinnias (annuals).USDA Hardiness Zones: annuals in 2-8, perennials in 9-11.In 2016, astronaut Scott Kelly even grew zinnias in zero gravity on the International Space Station! Zinnias are so easy to grow that they’re a popular choice for gardening with children and for scientific experiments. Zinnias also attract natural garden predators like wasps and ladybugs, which keep pesky aphids out of your garden without the need for harmful pesticides. Like their black-eyed Susan and coneflower relatives, they’re known to attract monarch and swallowtail butterflies. Native to the Southwest, these members of the aster family are drought-resistant and come in a gorgeous array of colors. Jim, the Photographer / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Blue vervain pairs well with Joe Pye weed.Ĭost: Seed packets start at $3 at Prairie Moon Nursery. Watering: True to its swampy nickname, blue vervain prefers moist to wet soil conditions.Īdditional notes: Seeds should be planted directly outdoors in late fall, as cold weather will break dormancy in time to germinate in the spring.Blooms: Pencil-like spike clusters of small blue-violet flowers June-Septemberįragrance: Not to be confused with lemon verbena – blue vervain emits no scent.Examples of blue vervain varieties: Very similar to hoary vervain (zones 3-8) and narrowleaf vervain (zones 5b-10a), which will also attract pollinators and require less moisture.Also known as “simpler’s-joy,” “blue verbena,” and “swamp verbena,” this tall wildflower is known for its attractiveness to buckeye and monarch butterflies.īlue vervain also has a wide range of medicinal uses, which range from improving sleep to curing acne, headaches, and depression. Blue Vervainīlue vervain is native or naturalized from Maine to California and nearly everywhere in between. When the center flowers in a cluster die out, the halves can be divided and replanted in different areas.Ĭost: Buy Joe Pye weed from a nursery due to the difficulty in cultivating it from seed Eutrochium purpureum is available from $15.95 at Bluestone Perennials.
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Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shadeĪdditional notes: Joe Pye weed needs extra room to grow, as it will eventually form large plant clusters.Watering: Does best with deep, regular watering.Blooms: Large groupings of tiny flowers, typically pink, white, or purple July-Septemberįragrance: Vanilla scent, more intense when crushed.Mature size: 3 – 12 feet tall and about 2 feet wide.Examples of Joe Pye weed varieties: Eutrochium purpureum (eastern and central US), Eutrochium dubium (East Coast), Eutrochium steelei (Appalachia).It’s particularly attractive to monarch, tiger swallowtail, and viceroy butterflies. The flowers have a vanilla scent that’s lent itself to nicknames like “sweet Joe Pye weed” and “sweet-scented Joe Pye weed.”ĭespite its “weedy” name, this flower is great for your garden. Native to the eastern and central U.S., Joe Pye weed produces distinctive tall purple blooms.
