Inconspicuous flowers give way to stunning clusters of magenta-purple berries in fall. The berries are the show.
Large flat clusters of creamy flowers in early summer give way to dark berries for jams and wildlife.
Enormous snowball blooms on a native species. Blooms on new wood, so prune hard in spring.
The grand finale of the garden season. Essential for fall pollinators.
Shaggy, crown-shaped flowers that hummingbirds fight over.
Mountain West maple with brilliant orange-red fall color and rugged drought tolerance.
Golden prairie workhorse that lights up late summer meadows.
Fiery bicolor pinwheels that bloom nonstop in the worst heat and soil.
Lupine-like spikes on a native that lives forever. Gets better with age.
Delicate sky-blue flowers open each morning on airy stems over fine foliage.
Short clumping grass with distinctive eyebrow-shaped seed heads thrives in dry soils.
Massive suckering shrub with foot-long white flower candles. Showpiece for large shade gardens.
Low mounds of gray foliage are covered in tubular red-orange flowers in late summer.
Electric blue flower clusters on an evergreen California native. Hummingbird and bee magnet.
Golden cups that carpet hillsides across the state. Closes at night and on cloudy days.
Screaming scarlet spikes. The most vivid red in the native plant world.
Delicate, spurred flowers that dance on wiry stems. Hummingbird favorite.
Tall stems with large yellow daisies tower over deeply cut basal leaves that align north-south.
Tough prairie native with long bloom season and medicinal history.
Bold spikes of tubular red flowers in spring attract hummingbirds before bean pods form.
Cheerful desert wildflower that blooms almost year-round in warm climates. Thrives on neglect.
Iconic spring bloomer with fall berries and winter bark. Four-season beauty.
Magenta flowers erupt directly from bare branches. Spring showstopper tree.
Spikes of scarlet tubular flowers that hummingbirds fight over. Southwestern native at its finest.
Clouds of white fringed petals dripping from branches in late spring. Fragrant and underused native.
Billowing clusters of fragrant summer color. A butterfly magnet.
Giant creamy plumes like an astilbe on steroids. Native woodland giant that anchors a shade border.
Wrongly blamed for allergies. A vital late-season pollinator magnet.
Nodding tubular flowers in soft lavender shades brighten moist woods of the Gulf Coast.
White spring flowers, glossy red fruit, and exfoliating bark. Thorny but beautiful native with winter interest.
Warm-toned daisy-like flowers with raised centers bloom as summer turns to fall. Loves moist soil.
Bell-shaped spring flowers are followed by sweet blue berries and excellent fall color.
Tubular, nectar-rich flowers with a fragrance that defines summer evenings.
Annabelle's bigger sibling with stronger stems that don't flop. Blooms the size of basketballs.
Bright red to orange bracts surround small flowers and glow across spring prairies.
Massive 6-9 inch golden daisies on a short-lived plant. Bigger and bolder than perennial black-eyed susans.
Hooded green-and-brown striped spathe sheltering a hidden spadix. Woodland curiosity followed by red berries.
Towering native with mauve domes that butterflies swarm in late summer.
Blazing star. Spikes that bloom unusually from top to bottom.
Upright clumps turn coppery orange in fall and stand well through winter.
Dramatic spikes in every color. Short-lived but self-seeds generously.
The gold standard coneflower. Flat, non-drooping petals around a bold copper cone. Perennial Plant of the Year.
Smooth red bark with urn-shaped flowers that feed hummingbirds in late winter. Sculptural beauty.
Glossy buttercup flowers in early spring along streams and wet areas. One of the first wetland bloomers.
Enormous fried-egg flowers on blue-gray stems. California's largest native wildflower. Spreads aggressively.
Distinctive sombrero-like flowers sway on wiry stems in summer prairies.
Exquisite geometric buds open to cupped flowers. A native evergreen gem.
Peeling bark, burgundy foliage, and white puffs. A native multitasker.
Oak-shaped leaves turn burgundy in fall. White cone blooms age to pink. Four-season native shrub.
Holly-like evergreen with yellow flower clusters followed by blue berries. Tough, shade-loving native.
Tall vase-shaped fronds that unfurl from fiddleheads in spring. Spreads to form dramatic colonies.
Western native that blooms much longer than its eastern cousin. Ferny foliage all season.
Tubular flowers on upright stems. Native hummingbird magnet for dry gardens.
Spikes of violet-blue flowers above glossy arrow-shaped leaves. Native pond and stream bank staple.
Compact, heavily branched, and smothered in deep rose-purple blooms. Reblooms without deadheading.
Huge basal leaves and tall stalks topped with yellow daisies give strong prairie structure.
Fine-textured mounds send up airy fragrant flower sprays that persist into winter.
Brushy purple flower spikes rise over fine foliage and feed prairie pollinators.
Flat clusters of white flowers and berries give way to vivid red stems that shine in winter.
Large blue-and-white spurred flowers bloom in late spring above lacy foliage.
Spikes of deep blue tubular flowers rise above glossy evergreen foliage in early summer.
Leathery evergreen groundcover of Pacific Northwest forests. Urn-shaped flowers lead to edible berries.
Grassy tufts topped with round pink pom-poms. Loves lean soil and coastal conditions.
White spring clouds, edible berries, and blazing fall color. Four-season native tree that deserves more attention.
Nodding flowers with swept-back petals resemble tiny shooting stars in spring meadows.
Upright spikes of bright yellow flowers feed late-season pollinators on dry prairies.
Arching stems hung with dangling white bells. Pairs of leaves create graceful, layered architecture.
Pure joy on a stalk. Birds love the seeds, kids love the spectacle.
Upright native grass with airy seed heads. Gold and red fall color.
Fine foliage and pale blue starry flowers are followed by golden fall color.
Cheerful native daisy that blooms for months with almost no care.
Three leaves, three petals, pure elegance. The jewel of eastern woodlands.
Aggressive native vine with fiery trumpets. Hummingbird highway.
Snapdragon-like flowers shaped exactly like a turtle's head. Loves wet feet.
Fragrant snowball clusters in spring, then berries for birds in fall.
Woodland ephemeral with sky-blue bells. Disappears by summer, returns faithfully.
Pure white drooping petals around a bronze-orange cone. Elegant and underused.
The wild cousin of bee balm. Lavender puffs alive with pollinators. Tougher and more mildew-resistant.
Soft pink blooms over deeply-cut foliage. A woodland edge staple.
Inconspicuous blooms, but covered in brilliant red berries all winter long.
Spidery, fragrant blooms on bare branches when nothing else dares.
Flat-topped clusters on ferny foliage. Thrives on neglect in poor soil.
Sword-like evergreen foliage sends up dramatic stalks of white bells. Tough, architectural, underrated.