As the name suggests, this native aster sports purple stems.  Also known as Swamp Aster, can be found in our swamp and wetter areas. It is easily grown in average, wet, well-drained soil in full sun, and easily self-seeds.  A favorite of many of our native bees.

Drought-tolerant, nitrogen-fixing, this plant is a high-value wildlife plant and is a host plant for butterflies, a forage plant, a nectar plant for pollinators and seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals. 

American boneset, also called common boneset or American thoroughwort, is an easy growing, tall pollinator plant that loves moist, sunny areas.  It is easily identified by its opposite, stalkless leaves that are fused together across the stem, making them look like a single leaf that has been pierced by the stem.

Yarrow is an easy to grow garden plant.  It can be used in fresh or dried arrangements and has a pleasing fragrance. Yarrow was formerly used for medicinal purposes: to break a fever by increasing perspiration, to treat hemorrhaging and as a poultice for rashes. A tea used by Native Americans to cure stomach disorders was made by steeping the leaves.

A favorite of pollinators with huge, domed flower heads, Hollow Joe-pye Weed is a dramatic back-of-the-border garden plant. Found near freshwater pond edges, it prefers partial shade, and moist soil.

Tall, upright stalks holding striking red blooms help Cardinal Flower stand out in a garden.  Its flower structure attracts hummingbirds.  Occurring naturally in wetlands, it prefers light shade to full sun and moist conditions. 

Adapted to coastal environments including dunes and edges of salt marshes, it can tolerate dry conditions and salt spray.  The flowers are an important energy source for monarch butterflies in their fall migration.

This goldenrod has fine hairs covering its very leafy stems. It is relatively shorter than its other goldenrod cousins.  It is drought-tolerant and common in well-drained, sunny locations. Downy goldenrod is an excellent late-season nectar and pollen source for a wide variety of pollinators.

A neat form that has leaves and flowers with a rich, anise scent, this species is a well-behaved goldenrod that does well in garden settings . A tea can be brewed from its leaves and dried flowers. It is easily grown and tolerates poor, dry soils and light shade, but performs best in full sun.

A beautiful plant in flower, it is an effective groundcover in dry, sunny conditions and is often used in native landscapes, rock gardens, butterfly gardens and meadow plantings. One of the smallest of the goldenrods, the central stem is reddish or grey-green and covered with short white hairs.  It can colonize by creeping rhizomes (underground rootstalk) and self-seeding. Easily grown.