Multiple spikes of purple flowers in summer provide an excellent resource for pollinators. Bushy, vigorous, great foundation plant.
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.
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.
Lilac balls of color over charming, swirling clumps of gray-green leaves. Deer resistant.
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.
Butterfly Milkweed has thick umbels of bright orange flowers over narrow leaves. Central U.S. native supporting Monarch Butterfly larvae. More info here.
Cheerful and long-blooming, this mounding perennial lightens up the summer garden.
Carpathian Harebells is a more compact version of our native harebells, with larger flowers and a later bloom time. Charming! Firewise.
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.
This beauty of the Idaho mountains can live in a garden, but may spread aggressively.
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.
This cheerful wildflower blooms throughout summer, even in drought. Good pollinator plant.
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.
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.
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!
This short, squat Sea Holly produces intense blue thistle-like flowers in mid-summer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Tall spikes of pink flowers late summer. Nice cut flower. Nectar for butterflies. Firewise.
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.
Dense spikes of lavender-pink flowers on tall, thick stems. Great pollinator plant. Prefers dry, sandy soil. Firewise.
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.
This dwarf, perennial statice produces a bouquet of airy, blue-lavender flowers in mid-summer. The flowers are lovely in dried arrangements.
A vigorous, long-blooming catmint. An excellent choice for pollinators. Can seed out aggressively. Firewise.
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.
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.
A stunningly beautiful Salvia from high in the mountains of N. Mexico. Attracts hummingbirds, bees. Firewise.
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.
Beautifully sculpted leaves, green with pink edges. Evergreen.
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.