North American native
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
The workhorse of the pollinator garden: months of nectar for bees and butterflies, then seed heads that feed goldfinches all winter.
JanBlooms Jun–SepDec
North American native
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia spp.
Asteraceae (aster family)
Fiery red-and-yellow daisies that bloom for months and pull in butterflies.
Bloom calendar
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Bright red and yellow daisy-like blooms make this plant stand out. It brings warmth and vibrancy to the garden, appealing strongly to the sense of sight and attracting butterflies.
Blanket flower is native to North America, especially the prairies and the Southeast, and thrives in hot, dry, sandy spots where little else blooms so long.
Quick facts
- Named for 18th-century French botanist Gaillard de Charentonneau.
- One of the longest-blooming perennials for dry soil.
How to grow it
- Full sun, sharp drainage.
- Deadhead to extend bloom.
- Short-lived; let some seed.
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