News Flash

Red Plants:
Okay, so red native plants are a challenge. There red native flowers are limited because most pollinators do not see red very well, except for hummingbirds. This can be an opportunity to put in some red garden art (birdbaths, garden gnomes, etc.) or some strategically placed potted red annuals.

On to the plants…
Red Maple – an early spring pop of red flowers with red leaves in the fall
Native Red and Yellow Columbine – red and yellow flowers, works well in shade
Scarlet Beebalm – native to the U.S. and can grow in Minnesota, although Minnesota is slightly out of its range
Sideoats Grama – a grass species with subtle red anthers
Cardinal Flower – a biennial that needs to reseed itself every year
Jack-in-the-Pulpit – green flowers in spring produce red berries (poisonous) in fall, good shade plant
American Highbush Cranberry – white flowers in spring, red berries and leaves in fall (avoid its non-native European cousin)
Red Osier Dogwood – red stems, white flower and berries

White Plants:
Canada Anemone – can be shade tolerant
Bloodroot – shade plant
White Prairie Clover – very delicate leaves
Whorled Milkweed – good for Monarch Butterflies
Culver’s Root – pollinator favorite
Boneset – really cool clasping leaves
Frost Aster – late season bloomer

Blue Plants:
Wild Blue Phlox – early spring bloomer for shady locations
Ohio Spiderwort – grass-like leaves
Wild Lupine - Lupinus perennis is the only food of endangered Karner Blue Butterfly caterpillars, not to be confused with western native lupines that the Karner Blue Butterfly caterpillar cannot eat and are commonly sold in nurseries
Blue Lobelia – pollinator favorite
Bottle Gentian – sometimes bloom white, fun to watch bumblebees muscle their way in to get to the pollen
Sky Blue Aster – delicate blue flowers, plant a group to get a better pop of color

Red, White and Blue in One Plant:
Black Chokeberry – white flowers in spring, blue-black berries in summer and red leaves in fall