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Acer glabrum
  • Common name: Rocky Mountain Maple
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun / part shade
  • Height x Width: 6 to 20 feet in height
  • Native to: Idaho

The Rocky Mountain Maple is a deciduous shrub, small dwarf tree or clump. Very ornamental; dark red twigs, fruit tinged red, yellow fall color. Drought and partial shade tolerance. Firewise.

More information here.

Acer grandidentatum
  • Common name: Big Tooth Maple
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun/part shade
  • Height x Width: 20-30' tall
  • Native to: SE Idaho

A lovely slow-growing, multi-stemmed maple native to the Intermountain West, including SE Idaho.  Related to the Eastern Sugar Maple, Big Tooth has beautiful fall color. Tolerant of shade and many different soil types. More information 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 senescens
  • Common name: Blue Eddy Onion
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun/Part shade
  • Height x Width: 6-12" x 6-12"
  • Native to: Eurasia

Lilac balls of color over charming, swirling clumps of gray-green  leaves. Deer resistant.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Chasmanthium latifolium
  • Common name: Northern Sea Oats
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2 ft. x 3 ft.
  • Native to: Central US

Northern Sea Oats’ upright bamboo-like foliage produces unique drooping, flat panicles or seed-heads. The foliage turns a beautiful bronze in the fall and remains highly ornamental throughout winter. Seed heads are great for dried bouquets.

Cornus sericea
  • Common name: Red Twig Dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood
  • Zone: 2
  • Exposure: Sun / part shade
  • Height x Width: 7-10 ft. x 7-10 ft.
  • Native to: Idaho

The stems of Red Twig Dogwood (Red Osier Dogwood) turn brilliant red in the fall and are gorgeous all winter. Turning back to green in the spring, the shrub leafs out and then produces clumps of small white blossoms that are popular with pollinators. Tolerates a range of conditions. Can be pruned for shape. Nectar and pollen source for native bees and butterflies. More information here.

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.

Echinacea Pallida
  • Common name: Pale Purple Coneflower
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 24 in. x 18 in.
  • Native to: Great Plains US

Thin purple petals of this Conflower drape delicately from a bold brown center. It is lovely in a bouquet and also great for naturalizing en masse in the garden. Its deep taproot allows it to thrive in dry soils. Nectar plant for Monarch and other butterflies. Tolerates clay. Pollinators: bees, butterflies.

Echinacea paradoxa
  • Common name: Yellow Coneflower
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 30" x 15"
  • Native to: Ozarks

This is the only Coneflower with yellow rather than purple flowers. Its drooping yellow petals surround large, coppery-brown cones. Nectar plant for Monarch and other butterflies. Tolerates clay.

Edraianthus serbicus
  • Common name: Rock Bells, Grassy Bells
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 3” and spreading
  • Native to: Balkans

Grassy Bells, an ideal rock garden plant with small tufts of grassy leaves covered in bell-like flowers. The blossoms are violet-blue, on short, outspreading stems. Perfect for edging or containers.

Epilobium fleischeri
  • Common name: Alpine Willowherb
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun/Part shade
  • Height x Width: 18” x 12”
  • Native to: Europe

This is a miniature European version of our beautiful native Fireweed. We have been reluctant to offer Fireweed itself as it can be very invasive. Alpine Willowherb is much smaller and promises to be better behaved in the garden. Supports honeybees.

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.

Geranium viscosissimum
  • Common name: Sticky Purple Geranium
  • Zone: 2
  • Exposure: Sun / Part shade
  • Height x Width: 12-30 in. x 10-18 in.
  • Native to: Idaho

Sticky Purple Geranium makes a lovely addition to informal meadow-like landscapes. Native to higher elevations in Idaho and across the mountain west, it thrives in moist to dry settings. Blooming in mid-spring, it attracts a variety of native pollinators and honeybees. Firewise.

 

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.

Hedysarum borealis
  • Common name: Northern Sweetvetch
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun/part shade
  • Height x Width: 8" x 24"
  • Native to: Idaho, Utah

Utah Sweetvetch is a low, sprawling plant with beautiful pea-like blossoms. Winds in and around larger plants. Supports native pollinators and fixes Nitrogen in the soil.

Hymenoxys hoopesii
  • Common name: Orange Mountain Daisy
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun/Part shade
  • Height x Width: 2’ x 2’
  • Native to: Idaho

Large yellow daisies pop out on this mountain meadow plant in early summer.

Iliamna rivularis
  • Common name: Mountain Hollyhock
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun / Part shade
  • Height x Width: 40 in. x 32 in.
  • Native to: Idaho

This vigorous native perennial grows as large as a shrub then dies back to the ground each winter. Its atrractive maple-like leaves are accented with many beautiful hollyhock-like pink flowers. More information here.

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 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.

 

Monarda bradburiana
  • Common name: Bradbury's Beebalm
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun/part shade
  • Height x Width: 12-18" x 12-18"
  • Native to: Central US

Bradbury’s Beebalm is shorter and earlier blooming than the more common Monarda fistulosa. This more compact beebalm will work well as an edging plant or at the front of a bed. Tolerates poor soil and dry conditions. Can spread gradually by root.

Monarda fistulosa
  • Common name: Beebalm, Wild Bergamot
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun / Part shade
  • Height x Width: 36-60 in. x 24-36 in.
  • Native to: Idaho

Beebalm or Wild Bergamot is a widespread native wildflower with clusters of tufted lavender flower, an important food source for native bees and butterflies. A long-lived, clump-forming perennial, it is attractive at the back of a border or in a meadow-like setting. Firewise. More information here.

Muhlenbergia capillaris
  • Common name: Pink Muhly
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 3' x 3'
  • Native to: SE US

Stunning pink Seedheads on SE native grass. Needs good drainage.

Muhlenbergia reverchonii
  • Common name: Ruby Muhly
  • Zone: 5
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2' x 2'
  • Native to: Texas

Ruby Muhly erupts in a cloud of reddish seedheads in the fall. Stunning!

Penstemon digitalis
  • Common name: Foxglove Penstemon
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun/Part shade
  • Height x Width: 3’ x 2
  • Native to: Central/Eastern US

A substantial penstemon with spikes of white to pale pink flowers in June. Unlike most penstemons, it prefers slightly moist, well-drained soil in full sun or part shade. Firewise.

Penstemon grandiflorus
  • Common name: Large Flower Penstemon
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2-3' x 1'
  • Native to: Midwest

One of the showiest of all North American native Penstemons, Penstemon grandiflorus can reach heights of three feet with stunning pink to purple flowers. The plant’s beautiful vertical structure and succulent gray-green foliage, make it a very unique Penstemon. Firewise.  More information here.

Penstemon hallii
  • Common name: Hall's Penstemon
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun/Part shade
  • Height x Width: 10" x 10"
  • Native to: CO

Clumps of bright purple flowers arise from dense tufts of linear leaves. Occurs in the wild at higher elevations in Colorado, but given some irrigation it tolerates cultivation in lower, warmer climates

Philadelphus lewisii
  • Common name: Syringa, Mock Orange
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun / part shade
  • Height x Width: 4-10 ft. x 6-8 ft.
  • Native to: Idaho

Syringa or Mock Orange is a deciduous shrub with lovely four petaled flowers, incredible fragrance. In the wild, Syringa grows in variety of habitats, from streambanks to lava flows. Can adjust to very low water sites. Idaho state flower. Firewise. More information here.

Ribes aureum
  • Common name: Golden Currant
  • Zone: 2
  • Exposure: Sun / part shade
  • Height x Width: 5' x 5' or taller
  • Native to: Idaho

Golden Currant is a deciduous shrub with fragrant, golden yellow flowers in early spring. Small, bright green maple-like leaves with lovely fall color. Widespread in Boise foothills. Tolerates a wide variety of conditions. Firewise. More information here.

Ribes ceruum
  • Common name: Wax Currant
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Part Shade
  • Height x Width: 5' x 5'
  • Native to: Idaho and Intermountain West

Wax Currant is a dense native shrub well adapted to shade or part shade locations. Small pinkish white blossoms in spring. Good bird habitat. Firewise.

Rosa woodsii
  • Common name: Woods Rose
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun / part shade
  • Height x Width: 4 ft. x 4 ft.
  • Native to: Idaho

Woods Rose has fragrant, pink rose flowers which profusely bloom. A freely suckering native. Can bloom in full shade as well as full sun.

Shepherdia argentea
  • Common name: Silver Buffaloberry
  • Zone: 2
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 6 ft. x 6 ft.
  • Native to: Idaho

Silver Buffaloberry is an attractive mid-size shrub with grey-green foliage, similar to Russian Olive.  It tolerates a wide range of conditions from wet and heavy to dry soils, but to keep growth under control, give very little water. Pollinators: butterflies, bees. Firewise.

Sidalcea neomexicana
  • Common name: New Mexico Checkermallow
  • Zone: 4
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Height x Width: 2’ x 1’
  • Native to: Western US, including Idaho

This native Checkermallow is a charming wildflower sporting dozens of small hollyhock-like blooms. Found in the wild in moist meadows, but it does well in moderately irrigated gardens. Supports native pollinators.

Sisyrinchium montanum
  • Common name: Blue-eyed Grass
  • Zone: 3
  • Exposure: Sun/Part shade
  • Height x Width: 6" x 10"
  • Native to: Idaho

This cheerful little native wildflower produces dainty blue/purple flowers on grassy foliage. It prefers rich, moist soil in spring but tolerates summer dryness. Will gradually spread, creating a little ‘meadow’.