GRINS Recommends:
Beginner-Friendly Native Plants

Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium

Textural, beautiful, and beneficial to many pollinators. A resilient plant for sunny spots, where they may form colonies by rhizomes. 

Eastern Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis

Lovely flowers attract bees and hummingbirds. Foliage nourishes native caterpillars, while adding wonderful texture to many garden situations.

White Wood Aster
Eurybia divaricata

A stellar plant for dry shady spots. Clusters of small white flowers are irresistible to pollinators late in the season. Foliage hosts native moths and butterflies.

Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa

Nectar-rich flowers in mid to late summer attract many pollinators. Hollow stems are used by native bees. Mildew is common, but doesn’t affect the health of the plant.

Clustered Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum

Glaucous foliage brightens the garden. Nectar-rich flowers in mid to late summer draws hordes of pollinators. Tough, beautiful, and easy to grow.

Black Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta

Beloved by pollinators, this adaptable biennial self-seeds to create colorful drifts. An important host plant for native caterpillars, great for many sites.

Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium

Lovely bunch grass providing food & habitat for pollinators. Bluish green foliage turns russet colors with bright seed heads in the fall. Wonderful winter interest.

Zig-Zag Goldenrod
Solidago flexicaulis

A tough woodland goldenrod that thrives in shade and clay soil. Forms a spreading clump blooming late summer into fall, attracting many, many pollinators.

Sweet Goldenrod
Solidago odora

Tall, beautiful and delicate – and a hit with pollinators, of course! Scented leaves are a bonus, as well as a tame disposition compared to some other goldenrods.

Smooth Blue Aster
Symphyotrichum laeve

Lovely native aster with lavender-blue flowers, attractive foliage, and strong stems. Important host plant and late season resource for pollinators.