Spotted Joe Pye Weed is an herbaceous perennial growing up to 7 feet tall. It boasted the northernmost native range of the genus, reaching New Quebec and the Mid-Boreal Uplands. It is loved by all kinds of pollinators, such as Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and Carpenter Bees. The pale pink to purple flowers open late summer to early fall. It is tolerant of deer, rabbits, and high moisture, being found in the wild in sunny wetlands. The leaves will crisp if allowed to dry out. The plants would appreciate afternoon shade during the summer months. 

Coastal Plains Joe Pye Weed is an herbaceous perennial that can grow up to 5 feet tall. This is one of the smaller plants in the genus. It is loved by all kinds of pollinators, such as Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and Carpenter Bees. The pale pink to purple flowers open late summer to early fall, and the fruit that follows is nutritious for songbirds before winter. It is tolerant of deer, salt, and high moisture, being found in the wild in coastal swamps. The leaves will crisp if allowed to dry out. 

The Sensitive Partridge Pea, Chamaecrista nictitans, is an annual wildflower in the Legume family, Fabaceae. In the wild, this legume grows with native grasses such as Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Indiangrass, Sorghastrum nutans. The yellow flowers are loved by pollinators, and the nutritious seeds are eaten by birds such as the Eastern Mourning Dove and the Eastern Meadowlark. It is the host plant for the Little Sulphur and Cloudless Sulphur. It readily reseeds, providing food and habitat to native fauna for many years. 

Purple Joe-Pye Weed, also called Sweet Joe-Pye Weed, is named after its purple stems and/or vanilla-scented, pink flowers. The fragrant blooms help deter deer. This plant likes moist soil and can tolerate clay soil. Part shade is where this Joe-Pye Weed prefers, but can also handle full sun. 

Purple Milkweed is a threatened species in New York State (S2/S3 status).  Its beautiful purple flowers make it distinctive from other milkweed species.  As with other milkweeds, it hosts Monarch butterflies, is deer resistant, and thrives in full sun.

These seeds were collected from the NYC Highline and donated to LINPI for propagation.

Also known as Hardhack, Steeplebush is an upright bush found in wet prairies and meadows, and around marshes.  Our native alternative to the Japanese spiraea, Steeplebush develops multiple spires of pinkish-purple flowers from July through September. Its foliage turns bright reddish-gold in Fall. A good addition to raingardens, Steeplebush is the host plant for the Columbia silkmoth.

One of the quintessential goldenrods in our wild areas.  Tall Goldenrod is also called Late Goldenrod, and blooms later than most other of its cousins.  It grows quickly and spreads both by seed and rhizomes to form colonies.  Its large clusters of yellow blooms are a great source of pollen for bees and butterflies.

Also known as the hairy white old-field aster, a common aster that grows more compact than others in the species.  Its name comes from its very hairy stems.  Many clustered small white flowers adorn its stems during late summer through fall, attracting pollinators.  Many birds such as turkey, grouse, and sparrows enjoy its seeds during the winter.

An upright, weedy wildflower, found in sandy, dry, and disturbed areas.  Its stems are quite hairy, and produces small red flowers.  This easy-going species blooms from Summer to Fall.

Also known as Summersweet, Clethra is a common flowering bush found along the shores of our freshwater features (ponds, lakes, rivers) and wetter woodland edges.  Aptly named, its narrow clusters of blooms are quite fragrant during mid to late Summer, attracting copious bees and other pollinators.  These flowers grow into peppercorn-shaped seeds in late Summer.  A great addition to any rain garden and hedgerows.