Description
Tall, erect, purplish- pink spike in August-September
Liatris pycnostachya Prairie blazing star Z 3-9
$10.95/barerootTall, erect, purplish- pink spike in August-September
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Hystrix patula syn. Elymus hystris var. hystris Bottle brush grass Z 5-9
June thru fall bears 6” long spikes looking like bottle brushes
June thru fall bears 6” long spikes looking like bottle brushes.
Size: 2-3’ x 12-18”
Care: sun to part shade in dry to moist well-drained soil - tolerates dry shade
Native: Nova Scotia S to Virginia, W to ND and OK.
Wildlife Value: Birds eat seedsHystrix from the Greek (‘hedgehog’) meaning “with spikes” or “bristly” describing the flowers and patula means “spreading.” Collected before 1794. In 1913 L H Bailey wrote, “sometimes used for lawn decoration and for borders.”
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Baptisia australis False Indigo Z 3-9
Indigo blue racemes in June followed by ornamental pods
In early summer loose spikes bear big blue blossoms which turn to large black seed pods. Four foot tall foliage resembles a shrub.
Size: 3-5' x 24"
Care: Full sun sandy soil. Drought tolerant
Native: Eastern United States, Wisconsin native.
Wildlife Value: Attracts butterflies
Awards: Perennial Plant Association Plant of Year 2010As its common name describes, this plant was used as a substitute for indigo dye. Horticultural greats Bailey, Breck and Robinson considered Baptisia handsome. Introduced in 1758.
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Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly weed, Pleurisy-root Z 4-9
striking orange cymes in July-August
Striking orange cymes in July-August on this American native.
Size: 2-3' x 12"
Care: Sun in moist well-drained to dry soil, Drought tolerant & deer resistant
Native: East and south North America, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: host for Monarch & Gray hairstreak butterfly caterpillars.Omaha Indian’s Shell Society took 4 days to dig, prepare and distribute the root to cure bronchial and pulmonary ailments. Most important medicine for the Menomonie. Iroquois smashed the root on runner’s legs to give them strength. Butterfly weed cured flu and remedied coyote bites for the Iroquios. 1st collected for gardens by Rev. John Banister in colonial Virginia in 1678 He died when he bent over to collect a plant and a gunman mistakenly shot him. Jefferson grew this at Monticello.
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Allium cernuum Nodding onion Z 4-8
Umbels of arching stems with nodding bells of lilac shading to pink
Allium cernuum Nodding onion Z 4-8
Umbels of arching stems with nodding bells of lilac shading to pink, June – July.Size: 12”-18”x 3-6”
Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil, Deer resistant
Native: Canada to Mexico, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: attracts butterfliesCernuum is Latin meaning “nodding.” Many groups of 1st Americans ate the bulbs raw, roasted or dried for winter storage or as flavoring for soups and gravies. Cherokee used this plant medicinally to cure colds, hives, colic, “gravel & dropsy,” liver ailments, sore throats, “phthisic,” and feet in “nervous fever.” Those in the Isleta Pueblo were not quite as creative as the Cherokee and used this only for sore throats and infections. Collected for garden cultivation by 1834.
