GROUP 1 FULL SUN / DRY-MEDIUM SOIL ($ 125.86 )
Ideal for : That sunny hot area in your yard , with at least six hours of sunlight . They stand up well to our intense sun as long as they get the occasional irrigation when rainfall is absent for a week .
False Sunflower ( Heliopsis helianthoides )
Height 5 ’ Spread 2.5 ’
This plant looks just like a sunflower . It has an extended blooming interval , 8 weeks long , from June-September .
DESIGN TIPS Use false sunflower in the back , smooth aster in the middle , and butterfly weed in the front .
Butterfly Weed ( Asclepias tuberosa )
Height 2 ’ Spread 1 ’
Butterfly weed is a host plant for monarch and queen butterflies . The eastern population of monarchs is in decline . Planting milkweeds will help .
Smooth Aster ( Symphyotrichum laeve )
Height 4 ’ Spread 2 ’
Asters are keystone plants , providing the pollen to feed numerous specialized native bees . Come fall , seeds are available for birds .
SEASONAL NOTE All plants are perennials and will go dormant in the winter unless otherwise noted . To keep your garden looking great year-round , consider adding native evergreen shrubs , grasses , and palms . They provide structure , color , and texture even during the dormant season .