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Achnatherum calamagrostis
  • Common name: Silver Spike Grass
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 36" x 36"
  • Native to: Europe

This graceful clump grass produces multiple silvery spikes in late spring. The seed heads persist throughout the growing season and remain beautiful into winter.

Agastache foeniculum
  • Common name: Anise Hyssop
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2-3' x 2-3'
  • Native to: Great Plains

Multiple spikes of purple flowers in summer provide an excellent resource for pollinators. Bushy, vigorous, great foundation plant.

Agastache rupestris
  • Common name: Threadleaf Giant Hyssop
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 36 in. x 18 in.
  • Native to: Southwest US

Threadleaf Giant Hyssop has numerous spikes of uniquely-colored orange-purple tubular flowers over fragrant, finely divided leaves. It blooms in the heat of mid-summer and persists into fall. Outstanding hummingbird plant and nectar source for bees.  More info here.

Allium cernuum
  • Common name: Nodding Onion
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun or Part Shade
  • Height x Width: 12-18" x 12"
  • Native to: Idaho

True to its name, Nodding Onion produces lovely drooping clusters of pale white or purple flowers in mid-summer. Supports butterflies and native bees. Deer resistant. Foliage is evergreen. Firewise.

Anaphalis margaritacea
  • Common name: Pearly Everlasting
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun / Part shade
  • Height x Width: 1-3 ft. x 1-2 ft.
  • Native to: Idaho

Pearly Everlasting is a sturdy, undemanding native wildflower that produces hundreds of glowing, white flowers, accounting for its “pearly” appearance. Fine food source for butterflies and host plant for the American Painted Lady. Firewise. More info here and  here.

Asclepias fascicularis
  • Common name: Narrow Leaf Milkweed
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 1-3' x 1'
  • Native to: Idaho

Narrow Leaf Milkweed, native to Southern Idaho, is smaller and more drought-tolerant than the better-known Showy Milkweed. Mauve-pink flowers emerge in mid-summer. With extra water, bloom time is extended. Host plant for Monarch butterflies.

Asclepias tuberosa
  • Common name: Butterfly Milkweed
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun / Part shade
  • Height x Width: 12-18 in. x 12-24 in.
  • Native to: West Central US

Butterfly Milkweed has thick umbels of bright orange flowers over narrow leaves. Central U.S. native supporting Monarch Butterfly larvae. More info here.

 

Campanula carpatica
  • Common name: Carpathian Harebells
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun or Part Shade
  • Height x Width: 10" x 10"
  • Native to: Southeastern Europe

Carpathian Harebells is a more compact version of our native harebells, with larger flowers and a later bloom time. Charming! Firewise.

Campanula rotundifolia
  • Common name: Harebells
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun / Part shade
  • Height x Width: 12 in. x 15 in.
  • Native to: Idaho

Harebells is a lovely little wildflower is a native to most of the U.S., including Idaho. Its nodding blue flowers are held on wiry stems above attractive basal foliage. Great for borders, rock gardens. Pollinators: native bees. Firewise.

Chamerion angustifolium
  • Common name: Fireweed
  • Zone: 2
  • Exposure: Sun/part shade
  • Height x Width: 3'x2'
  • Native to: Idaho

This beauty of the Idaho mountains can live in a garden, but may spread aggressively.

Echinacea angustifolia
  • Common name: Black Samson Coneflower
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2-3 ft. x 2 ft.
  • Native to: Central / Eastern US

This tap-rooted perennial is found in open, dry prairies of the Midwest, and is prized for its medicinal value. It is also highly ornamental, with lovely purple coneflowers floating above narrow-leaved stalks. Good nectar plant for butterflies and bees.

Eriogonum jamesii
  • Common name: James’ Wild Buckwheat
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 5-6 in. x 20 in.
  • Native to: Mountain West US

This Buckwheat forms large, dense mats covered with cream-colored to yellow flowers. It blooms during the heat of mid-summer when many other Buckwheats are done. Supports native bees.

 

Eriogonum racemosum
  • Common name: Redroot Buckwheat
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 16" x 10"
  • Native to: Southwest

This striking buckwheat bears long racemes of white or white/pink flowers atop tall, leafless stems. In its native habitat of low foothills and mountain dry meadows from New Mexico to Nevada, it can grow in colonies of hundreds or thousands. Supports native bees.

Eryngium amethystinum
  • Common name: Amethyst Sea Holly
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2 ft. x 18 in.
  • Native to: Mediterranean

Amethyst Sea Holly has leathery, blue-green leaves with medium-tall stems bearing striking thistle-like, steel-blue flowers and matching bracts. The flowers appear in mid summer and remain effective until fall. An eye-catching garden accent!

Eryngium bourgatii
  • Common name: Sea Holly
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 18" x 18"
  • Native to: Mediterranean

This short, squat Sea Holly produces intense blue thistle-like flowers in mid-summer.

Geum triflorum
  • Common name: Prairie Smoke
  • Zone: 2
  • Exposure: Sun / Part shade
  • Height x Width: 12 in. x 12 in.
  • Native to: Idaho

Prairie Smoke has early summer blooms, followed by distinctive feathery pink seed heads.  Appreciates moderate water and does best in part shade, except at higher elevations, where it thrives in full sun. Pollinators: native bees. Firewise. More info here.

Gutierrezia sarothrae
  • Common name: Broom Snakeweed
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 10 ft. x 12 in.
  • Native to: Idaho

Broom Snakeweed has attractive deep green, finely cut foliage on this tough Owyhee County native. Plants are completely covered with tiny yellow blossoms, mid to late summer and into early fall. Evergreen.

Heuchera cylindrica
  • Common name: Coralbells
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun / Part shade
  • Height x Width: 18 in. x 12 in.
  • Native to: Idaho

Coralbells has dramatic spikes of cream to white flowers rise from a base of scalloped deep green leaves. Favors rock outcroppings; great in full sun or dry shade. Very long blooming in our Boise garden. Firewise. Choice! More information here.

Holodiscus dumosus
  • Common name: Mountain Spray, Rock Spirea
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 6-8' x 6-8'
  • Native to: Idaho

Similar to the more common Ocean Spray, but growing in hotter, drier conditions.  It thrives in dry rocky desert valleys and hillsides from Idaho south to Arizona and New Mexico. Foamy waves of white flowers cover this native shrub in summer. Supports native pollinators. Firewise.

Ipomopsis rubra
  • Common name: Standing Cypress
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 3-4' x 2'
  • Native to: Texas and Eastern US

This fantastic biennial, native to Texas, produces a profusion of tubular red flowers in the second summer. Closely related to our native Scarlet Gilia, it is proving to be more reliable in cultivation. And, being from Texas, it is naturally bigger, bolder and showier. A real magnet for Hummingbirds

Koeleria macrantha
  • Common name: Prairie Junegrass
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2' x 1'
  • Native to: Idaho

Prairie Junegrass is a native, perennial, cool season tufted bunch grass , growing  actively when soil temps are cooler in spring and fall. It produces lustrous silver-green seedheads in early summer. The supporting foliage is an attractive green-gray color. June Grass prefers full sun and dry, sandy soil. More information here.

Lamium maculatum
  • Common name: Spotted Deadnettle
  • Zone: 2
  • Exposure: Shade/part shade
  • Height x Width: 3" & spreading
  • Native to: Eurasia

A groundcover that loves shade! Its variegated leaves light up a dark shady area, yet the plant will also grow in sun. Not picky about soil type or moisture.

Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’
  • Common name: Lavender “Grosso”
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 3 ft. x 3 ft.
  • Native to: Mediterranean

Lavender “Grosso” is a vigorous, large lavender with long, deep purple flower spikes in early to mid-summer. Extremely drought- tolerant, good foundation planting.Flower spikes may be cut back for repeat bloom. Evergreen foliage. Pollinators: bees.

 

Liatris aspera
  • Common name: Tall, Button or Rough Blazing Star
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun or Part Shade
  • Height x Width: 2-3’ x 1’
  • Native to: Central, Eastern U.S.

Tall spikes of pink flowers late summer. Nice cut flower. Nectar for butterflies. Firewise.

Liatris ligulistylis
  • Common name: Rocky Mountain Blazing Star
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2-3’ x 1’
  • Native to: Montana to New Mexico

Rocky Mountain Blazing Star produces tall  stalks of lavender/purple flowers. This prairie native is a robust grower and does best in fertile soils with infrequent but deep soakings. Nectar plant for Monarch and other butterflies. Excellent cut flower. Firewise.

Liatris mucronata
  • Common name: Bottle Brush Blazing Star
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 24” x 18”
  • Native to: South Central US

Dense spikes of lavender-pink flowers on tall, thick stems. Great pollinator plant. Prefers dry, sandy soil. Firewise.

liatris scariosa
  • Common name: Northern Blazing Star
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2' x 1'
  • Native to: Midwest

Spikes of lavender-pink flowers on tall, thick stems. Attracts bees and butterflies. Native to sandy, rocky soils in the East or Midwest.

Liatris spicata
  • Common name: Dense Blazing Star
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 16 in. x 12-24 in.
  • Native to: Great Plains (US)

Dense Blazing Star: With showy spikes of pink flowers over grass-like foliage, Dense Blazing Star will add stunning variety, texture & beauty to your border or meadow. Excellent cut flower. Nectar plant for butterflies. Firewise.

 

Limonium latifolium
  • Common name: Sea Lavender
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 10" x 10"
  • Native to: Europe

This dwarf, perennial statice produces a bouquet of airy, blue-lavender flowers in mid-summer. The flowers are lovely in dried arrangements.

Muhlenbergia lindheimeri
  • Common name: Lindheimer's Muhly
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2-5’x 2-5’
  • Native to: TX

Silvery seedheads on SW native grass. Fine foliage, fountain-like form. Needs good drainage.

Nepeta mussinii
  • Common name: Catmint
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun/part shade
  • Height x Width: 15" x 15"
  • Native to: Mediterranean

A vigorous, long-blooming catmint. An excellent choice for pollinators. Can seed out aggressively. Firewise.

Oenothera macrocarpa ssp. fremontii
  • Common name: Fremont's Evening Primrose
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 12 in. x 24 in.
  • Native to: Central US

Fremont’s Evening Primrose produces a dazzling display of lemon-yellow flowers in mid-summer. Blooms are tucked in and around the narrow gray- green foliage. Deeply tap-rooted and long-lived. Needs good drainage. Firewise.

 

Oenothera pallida
  • Common name: Pale Evening Primrose
  • Zone: 3-4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 12" x 12"
  • Native to: Idaho

This Boise Foothills native produces scads of lovely white flowers and, given a little extra water, can bloom all summer. The plants spread by root and could be invasive in the wrong situation. Needs no water once established. Firewise.

Petrophytum caespitosum
  • Common name: Mat Rockspirea
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun or Part Shade
  • Height x Width: 2" and spreading
  • Native to: Idaho

Charming slow-growing rock garden plant, it is capable of forming large mats in the wild. Outstanding! Rare!

Salvia darcyi
  • Common name: Darcy Sage
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun/part shade
  • Height x Width: 3' x 3'
  • Native to: Mexico

A stunningly beautiful Salvia from high in the mountains of N. Mexico. Attracts hummingbirds, bees. Firewise.

Sedum grisebachii
  • Common name: Grisebach's Sedum
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2" and spreading
  • Native to: Mediterranean

This unusual sedum, with tiny leaves packed on short stems, has a bristly appearance and contrasts nicely with other sedums. Great for rock gardens, edging, pathways. Evergreen. Firewise.

Sedum sp.
  • Common name: Pink Edge Sedum
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun/part shade
  • Height x Width: 2" and spreading
  • Native to: Mediterranean

Beautifully sculpted leaves, green with pink edges. Evergreen.

Solidago canadensis
  • Common name: Canada Goldenrod
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun/part shade
  • Height x Width: 2' x 2'
  • Native to: Idaho

This widespread native is an excellent pollinator plant, as well as being extremely drought tolerant once established. Its only drawback is that it spreads by root and can be quite aggressive in a well-watered garden.