🌿🦋 Celebrating Our Prairie Companions! 🦋🌿

As spring bursts into life, our nursery is thriving, with native species emerging to support an increasingly diverse range of pollinators and wildlife. We’re excited to share some of the best native plants for supporting ecosystem health and biodiversity, while also highlighting the role they play in restoring and maintaining natural landscapes. This month, we’re focusing on our upcoming Native Plant Sales and the ecological importance of the species featured.

Our friends at Greater Kane County Wild Ones have curated a Sunny Pollinator Garden Mix, packed with native perennials and grasses that not only provide food and shelter for pollinators but also improve landscape resilience. Here are some of the key species that will be available:

🌿 Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed):
Known for its bright orange blooms, Butterfly Weed is a critical component of monarch conservation, as it serves as both a food source for monarch caterpillars and a nectar source for adults. Unlike many other milkweeds, it does not produce milky sap, making it a safer choice for gardeners. This prairie-native plays an essential role in pollinator support and biodiversity enhancement, making it a cornerstone species for habitat restoration.

🌿 Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf Coreopsis):
This hardy perennial is an early-season nectar source for native bees, providing crucial resources when pollinators first emerge in the spring. Its prolonged blooming period ensures ongoing pollinator support throughout the growing season. Coreopsis is well-suited to a wide variety of soils and environmental conditions, making it an ideal plant for ecological restoration projects.

🌿 Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower):
A staple of prairie landscapes, Purple Coneflower is not only a visually striking species but also a vital pollinator plant. Its spiny central cone provides a perch for butterflies, while its seeds feed goldfinches in the fall. Historically, Native American tribes used it medicinally, and today it remains a symbol of prairie conservation efforts. This plant supports a range of pollinators, making it indispensable for pollinator gardens and restoration projects.

🌿 Euphorbia corollata (Flowering Spurge):
With its delicate white blooms, Flowering Spurge is an excellent choice for attracting tiny wasps, butterflies, and other pollinators. It’s often compared to a “prairie baby’s breath,” offering both aesthetic value and functional benefits to pollinator habitat restoration. Despite its delicate appearance, it’s highly resilient, making it an ideal species for low-maintenance, ecological plantings.

🌿 Heuchera richardsonii (Prairie Alumroot):
A low-growing perennial, Prairie Alumroot provides an early nectar source for small native bees and serves as a groundcover in shaded areas. Its historical medicinal use further connects it to traditional ecological knowledge, while its role in stabilizing soils and providing habitat for pollinators highlights its importance in both small and large-scale ecological restoration.

🌿 Liatris aspera (Rough Blazing Star):
This striking species is known for its electric purple spikes, which attract monarchs, swallowtails, and other late-season pollinators. Liatris aspera plays a key role in supporting pollinators through late summer and into fall, when nectar resources are often scarce. It is a great addition to prairie restorations and pollinator habitats.

🌿 Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot):
With its lavender blooms and minty fragrance, Wild Bergamot supports a wide range of pollinators, including bumblebees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Its high nectar yield makes it a valuable resource for promoting ecosystem health. As a highly adaptable species, Monarda fistulosa thrives in a variety of conditions, making it ideal for both large-scale and small-scale ecological projects.

🌿 Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy Beardtongue):
This native perennial offers soft purple flowers and silvery leaves, providing early-season nectar to pollinators when few other plants are in bloom. Its role in filling seasonal gaps in nectar availability makes it an important species for ensuring consistent pollinator support throughout the year.

🌿 Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa (Showy Black-eyed Susan):
An iconic wildflower that thrives in a variety of soil types, Rudbeckia fulgida is an excellent choice for ecological restoration and pollinator-friendly landscaping. Its reliability and bold appearance make it a favorite among bees, butterflies, and beetles, and it’s particularly valuable for projects aiming to restore or create native habitats.

🌿 Symphyotrichum laeve var. laeve (Smooth Blue Aster):
With its sky-blue petals, this late-blooming aster is a critical nectar source for migrating monarchs and other pollinators preparing for the cooler months. Smooth Blue Aster contributes to fall biodiversity, offering essential resources when other flowers are starting to fade.

🌿 Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed):
A fine-textured grass with a warm popcorn-like scent, Prairie Dropseed offers both aesthetic and functional benefits. It provides cover for ground-nesting birds and a food source for granivorous insects, making it a valuable species for wildlife habitat creation and ecological landscaping.

🌿 Tradescantia ohiensis (Common Spiderwort):
Known for its bright blue blooms, Common Spiderwort opens fresh each morning, providing a dynamic visual display and a vital nectar source for early-season pollinators. Its adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions makes it a great choice for both restoration projects and sustainable landscaping.

By incorporating these species into your projects, you’re not just enhancing the beauty of your landscape—you’re contributing to the restoration and maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem health. These plants support a wide array of pollinators, from early-season bees to migrating monarchs, and are essential for any successful ecological planting.