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Achillea ageratifolia
  • Common name: Greek Yarrow
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 4 in. x 18 in.
  • Native to: Eurasia

Greek Yarrow is a slow-growing, tidy, dense evergreen ground cover. This beauty is a reliable heavy-bloomer bearing bright white clusters of tiny flowers for many weeks in late spring. Attracts bees and butterflies.

Achillea millifolium
  • Common name: Western White Yarrow
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 24-30 in. x 24 in.
  • Native to: Idaho

Western White Yarrow is a tough native wildflower with fragrant, lacy foliage and dense umbels of tiny white flowers in summer. Can spread aggressively by seed. Great attractor of beneficial insects.  Tolerates variety of soil conditions. Pollinators: Butterflies and native bees.  Firewise. More information here.

Achillea tomentosa
  • Common name: Woolly Yarrow
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun / part shade
  • Height x Width: 6-12 in. x 28 in.
  • Native to: Eurasia

Woolly Yarrow is a low growing evergreen ground cover forming loose clumps of charming, fuzzy grey-green leaves.Clusters of cheerful yellow blossoms pop up in late spring. Attracts bees and butterflies.

Achillea x kellereri
  • Common name: Bulgarian Yarrow
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun or Part Shade
  • Height x Width: 8" x 8"
  • Native to: Bulgaria

A natural hybrid from Bulgaria, this unusual and charming miniature yarrow produces clumps of small white flowers over carpets of attractive silvery leaves. Expanding gradually by root, this plant can form loose colonies.

Aethionema schistosum
  • Common name: Persian Stonecress
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 10 in. x 15 in.
  • Native to: Mediterranean

Persian Stonecress forms handsome tight mounds of unusual deep blue-green foliage which is completely evergreen. The plant is covered with cheerful pink blossoms in late spring to early summer.Can seed out fairly aggressively.

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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 neomexicana
  • Common name: New Mexico Hummingbird Mint
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 18" x 18"
  • Native to: New Mexico

This compact Agastache, or ‘Hummingbird Mint’ bears dozens of upright stalks of purple tubular flowers which–of course!–attract hummingbirds. Because of its compact form, it can be used to create spectacular small ‘hedges’,  bringing color to the late summer garden.

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.

Allium tuberosum
  • Common name: Garlic Chives
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun/part shade
  • Height x Width: 12" x 12"
  • Native to: Asia

This edible onion is also a stunning landscape plant. Late flowers feed pollinators. Spreads gradually to make clumps. Firewise. .

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Alyssum montanum
  • Common name: Mountain Alyssum
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 4 in. x 15 in.
  • Native to: Mediterranean

Mountain Alyssum is one of the earliest of the spring bloomers. Bright right yellow flowers over attractive, low gray-green mats of small oval leaves. Nice for rock gardens, front of borders. Pollinators: bees and butterflies. Can seed out.

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.

Antennaria microphylla
  • Common name: Littleleaf Pussytoes
  • Zone: 2
  • Exposure: Sun / part shade
  • Height x Width: 2" and spreading
  • Native to: Idaho

Littleleaf or Rosy Pussytoes is a very low growing, tight groundcoverwith pinkish “pussytoe” blossoms in late spring. Spreads nicely around garden rocks and thrives in dry sunny areas with poor, well-drained soil. Retains grey-green leaves all winter.

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Aquilegia caerulea
  • Common name: Rocky Mountain Columbine
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun / Part shade
  • Height x Width: 15" x 10"
  • Native to: Idaho

Rocky Mountain Columbine: Glorious light to deep blue  and white flowers. An excellent border perennial, grand for cutting, in bloom for several weeks and will grow in sun or light shade. Pollinators: bumblebees, hawk moths. Tolerates clay.  Firewise. More info here.

Aquilegia canadensis
  • Common name: Red Columbine
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Shade/Part Shade
  • Height x Width: 2' x 2'
  • Native to: Central, Eastern U.S.

Lovely red and yellow bell-like flowers hang like tiny lanterns. Attracts hummingbirds and long-tongued insects. Best in part shade. Firewise. More information here.

Aquilegia chrysantha
  • Common name: Golden-spurred Columbine
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun / Part shade
  • Height x Width: 30 in. x 18 in.
  • Native to: Southwest US

Golden-spurred Columbine, a native of the canyons of the Southwest produces fragrant cheerful yellow flowers with long outward-curving spurs In late spring. The fragrant blooms rise on slender stems above beautiful blue-green, fernlike foliage. Tolerates clay. Firewise. More information here.

Arenaria alfacarensis
  • Common name: Spanish Sandwort
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 1/2" x 6"
  • Native to: Spain

Amazingly tight, hard mats of silver-green triangular foliage are sprinkled with tiny white flowers in late spring. A fine and rarely available alpine from Spain. Exquisite rock garden plant, evergreen.

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Arenaria hookeri ssp. desertorum
  • Common name: Hooker’s Desert Sandwort
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun/Part shade
  • Height x Width: 1/2" x 3"
  • Native to: WY, UT, CO

Exceptionally tight green cushions with micro-fine needle-like foliage. The buns are covered with dense, flat-topped sprays of white flowers in early summer. Terrific rock garden plant, evergreen.

Arenaria kingii
  • Common name: King's Sandwort
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 8 in. x 10 in.
  • Native to: Idaho

King’s Sandwort:  Long, evergreen, grass-like leaves support a delicate spray of tiny white flowers in spring. Ideal for a rock garden or edging a pathway.

Arenaria montana
  • Common name: Mountain Sandwort
  • Zone: 2
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 4 in. tall and spreading
  • Native to: Europe

Mountain Sandwort is a classy little alpine or rock garden plant. It forms a low evergreen cushion of dark green leaves, bearing loads of large white flowers during the spring and early summer.  Great for edging paths, between flagstones, in walls or rock gardens. Evergreen.

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Armeria maritima
  • Common name: Thrift
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 6 in. x 8 in.
  • Native to: Pacific Northwest US

Thrift has pink globe flowers over mounds of grassy leaves. Deadhead for prolonged bloom. Evergreen foliage. Firewise.

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Armeria pseudarmeria
  • Common name: False Sea Thrift
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 10" x 6"
  • Native to: Spain and Portugal

Taller and longer-blooming than its cousin, Thrift, this “False Thrift” is a colorful focal point in any garden. Evergreen foliage.

Artemisia frigida
  • Common name: Fringed Sage
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun / part shade
  • Height x Width: 6 in. x 24 in.
  • Native to: Idaho

Fringed Sage is a low growing sagebrush relative forming mats of frilly grey-green leaves, giving rise in summer to foot-high fringed seed-stalks. Trim off seed-stalks to maintain as an ornamental ground cover with good color year- round. Firewise. More information here.

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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 speciosa
  • Common name: Showy Milkweed
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 3 - 4'' x 1'
  • Native to: Idaho

Showy Milkweed was once common, but modern agricultural techniques have largely eradicated this crucial pollinator plant. Milkweed provides larval food for the dwindling Monarch butterfly. It is tall and beautiful, but spreads through the garden by root–so choose the planting site with care!

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.

 

Aster alpinus
  • Common name: Alpine Aster
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 10 in. x 10 in.
  • Native to: Europe

Alpine Aster is an early-blooming aster with unusually large and showy purple/blue flowers. Neat and tidy in the garden after its glorious springtime show.

Aster azureus
  • Common name: Sky Blue Aster
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun / Part shade
  • Height x Width: 2-3 ft. x 2-3 ft.
  • Native to: Central/Eastern US

Despite its common name, the flowers of Sky Blue Aster are more lavender than blue. But this Aster puts on a brilliant show in fall, each plant covered with hundreds of  beautiful blooms. Growing well in almost any soil, from dry sand to moist loam, it attracts butterflies and bees. Firewise.

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Aster ericoides
  • Common name: Snow Flurry Aster
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 6 in. and spreading
  • Native to: Central / Eastern US

Snow Flurry is a fall-blooming Aster that creates low-growing dense ground cover carpeted with tiny white flowers in September and October. A good strong grower and a totally new look and use for Asters! Makes an excellent container plant. Cut back in spring. Attracts native bees, honeybees and butterflies. Firewise.

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Aster oblongifolius
  • Common name: Aromatic Aster
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 6" and spreading
  • Native to: Great Plains

Aromatic Aster is an exceptionally vigorous spreading groundcover. In late fall it bursts into bloom with myriad pink flowers, which provide nectar and pollen for a variety of bees and butterflies. Firewise.

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Berlandiera lyrata
  • Common name: Chocolate Flower
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 12 in. x 24 in.
  • Native to: Southwest US

Chocolate Flower: Cheerful wispy yellow daisies keep coming all summer and actually smell like chocolate! Attracts butterflies, honey bees and beneficial insects.

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Boltonia asteroides
  • Common name: False Aster/Boltonia
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 4 ft. x 3 ft.
  • Native to: Idaho

False Aster is a vigorous perennial that comes back from its roots every year to produce a cloud of white blossoms in late fall. Hundreds of white, aster-like flowers provide late season food for bees. Does not spread readily by seed.

Callirhoe involucrata
  • Common name: Winecups, Purple Poppy Mallow
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 3 in. x 18 in.
  • Native to: Mountain West US

Winecups or Purple Poppy Mallow has striking wine colored blooms on prostrate stems which wind along the ground in and around other plants. Tough and long blooming, it prefers well-drained soil. Pollinators: native bees.

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Calylophus hartwegii
  • Common name: Hartweg's Sundrops
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 15 in. x 18 in.
  • Native to: Southwestern US

Hartweg’s Sundrops produces masses of cheerful, clear yellow blossoms throughout the heat of the summer and into fall. The yellow blooms age into burnt orange creating a two-tone effect. Easy-and reliable. Needs well-drained soil.  Attracts: butterflies and bees.

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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.

Caryopeteris x cladonensis
  • Common name: Blue Mist Shrub
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 3' x 3'
  • Native to: Asia

Fast growing upright deciduous shrubby perennial with silvery foliage and lush fall display of delicate blue flowers. Bees love it! Firewise.

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Centranthus ruber
  • Common name: Jupiter's Beard
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun/Part shade
  • Height x Width: 3' x 3'
  • Native to: Mediterranean

Jupiter’s Beard produces masses of crimson flowers fading to pink from late spring right through the summer. Periodic deadheading will enhance the bloom even more. Attracts Swallowtails and Monarchs. Can seed out somewhat aggressively. Firewise.

Easy, reliable.

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Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
  • Common name: Plumbago
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun or Shade
  • Height x Width: 3" and spreading
  • Native to: W. China

Valuable as a shade-tolerant groundcover, Plumbago will also grow in full sun. Glossy deep green leaves and lovely blue flowers with striking red calyces make this a most attractive spreading groundcover. The plant vanishes in winter, but comes back reliably each spring.

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.