Page 55 - Free State Summer 2023

tails to sail on the breezes. Unlike Butterfly weed, the Whorled attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, and when
milkweed stems are filled with the milky white sap of most in seed the goldfinches flock to the buffet. The Narrow
of the other milkweed plants. Whorled milkweed spreads by leaf cone flower can be planted in pollinator, native plant
seed and rhizomes, making them more suited to butterfly gardens, or meadows. Pests can occasionally include
and native meadows, where they can spread without Japanese beetles and leaf spot.
restrictions. Aphids are the only pests listed.
Echinacea purpurea, or Purple coneflower, blooms from June
Coreopsis verticillate, or Threadleaf Coreopsis, blooms from to August, thriving in full sun and moist well drained soils,
June to September and is a very long lived native that thrives and is very tolerant of poor soils, drought, heat and humidity.
in full sun and dry, poor, even slightly salty soils with excellent Plants grow 2-5 feet tall, 1½ -2 feet wide in clumps made
drainage, are very tolerant of heat, humidity and drought. up with 4-8-inch-long dark green serrated leaves that are
Plants grow 2½ -3 feet tall and 1½ -2 feet wide creating an airy covered with short hairs. The daisy like flowers sit on top of
green cloud with dark green 3 palmately segmented leaves stiff stems, and expand to 1½ to 5 inches with orange-brown
attached in a whorled pattern on thin wiry stems. Bright cones surrounded by a row of thin purple pink ray flowers
1–2-inch daisy-like blooms have golden yellow, fertile center that gracefully droop downward. The flowers bloom strongly
disk flowers surrounded by 8 petaled untoothed yellow ray through June and continue lightly until frost, providing a
flowers. Flowers are sprinkled like stars in loose clusters or buffet for butterflies, bees, other pollinators and in the fall
singly at the tips of stems, blooming from June to September, songbirds, and especially goldfinches, feast on the seeds.
attracting butterflies, other pollinator and songbirds. Plants The Purple coneflower fits into border, pollinator and native
spread by seed and by rhizomes, making them a good fit for gardens and meadows in groups or as a mass planting.
pollinator, native plant gardens and meadows. Occasional Pests can include aster yellows, leaf spot and Japanese
pests include aster yellows, botrytis, fungal spots and beetles.
powdery mildew.
Gaillardia grandiflora, or Blanket flower, blooms from June
Echinacea angustifolia, or Narrow leaf coneflower, blooms to September, and thrives in full sun and organically rich
from June to July and thrives in full sun and well drained moist well-drained soils but is tolerant of drought and salt.
soils. It is also very tolerant of poor soils, drought, heat, and Plants grow 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide with clump forming
humidity. Plants grow 1-2 feet tall and 1- 1½ feet wide on stiff, 4–6-inch gray green coarsely toothed hairy leaves. Sitting
hairy stems. This cone flower grows in a clump formed by on top of upright stems, the 2–4-inch daisy-like flowers have
4-6-inch-long narrow lance shaped leaves. Daisy-like 3-inch a dark burgundy center disk which is surrounded by 15 or
flowers bloom on tall single stems, with the center cone of more colorful yellow, orange, red ray petals. These brightly
copper orange blooms surrounded by light pink to pale colored blooms attract butterflies and other pollinators, and
lavender ray petals that spread, then droop. The flowers (continued on next page)

Ascelpias Tuberosa Gaillardia pulchella. SpinTop Yellow Touch

Get Active. Stay Involved. • SUMMER 2023 55