Head-turning, stunning beauty is rare by definition. With ornamental plants it is most often the result of years of selection and breeding, followed by detailed attention, as with orchids or bonsai - a LOT of work. But in the case of Romneya it's your lack of attention that will consistently deliver its elegant charms. Appreciative of poor, dry soils, don’t irrigate it. .

Our native yarrow is one of our most common prairie plants and can be found in both wet and dry prairies. It is quick to establish on restoration sites so is great to use for enhancement or on disturbed areas. This member of the carrot family attracts many different pollinators and beneficial insects making it an important habitat plant. It can have white to pink flowers, 1-2 ft.

Hall's aster is a hardy perennial that spreads by rhizomes with numerous small, white to pale-pink asters blooming late in the summer. A key plant for restoration sites as late-season pollinator resource. A butterfly magnet!

A tight cluster of purple lily flowers grace the top of long stems. 1-2 ft tall.

Big, white, flat-topped inflorescence, dark green dissected leaves, 3-4 ft tall. The flowers of this native member of the carrot family attract a variety of pollinators and beneficial insects.

This species of wild carrot is native to western North America and was an important and often a staple food plant for many Native American groups. In Western Oregon, it is found in both wet and dry prairies. The stems are very tall, but delicate often reaching 5 feet at peak flowering.

Scurf-pea is native to many parts of the west. It is a low, bushy perennial with pretty clusters of cream colored pea-flowers. It has deep, woody roots (rhizomatous) and grows on dry edges of woods and in upland prairies where it flowers in late-spring and summer. The flowers are attractive to many of our native bumblebees. The dark-green, leathery foliage persists into late summer along with the papery bracts of the seed heads making it an attractive bedding plant for wildlife gardeners. IT'S A HUMMING BIRD PLANT!

Showy, white lily flowers penciled with blue are clustered on slender stalks. 1-2 ft tall. Grows in both wet and dry prairies. Nectar species for Skipper and Checkerspot butterflies.

Meadow deathcamas may have a bad rap for due to its toxicity to mammals but as a habitat plant for pollinators it is incredibly important. It grows in many habitats though out the west from dry sage-brush steppe to upland prairies. It has abundant star-like, cream-colored flowers bloom in late-spring and attract many species of bees. Death camas is unrelated to Camassia species which were an important food plant for Native Americans

Another really great summer blooming umbel for the garden. A slender 2' perennial with delicate, grass-like leaves and several compound umbels of minute white flowers. Similar to the invasive Queen Anne's Lace but much more elegant. Best planted in tight clumps.

It has been very rewarding developing some of the lesser Willamette Valley forbs into commercial crops, like the Cat’s ear. In late spring and early summer foliage is followed by extremely fuzzy, white or pale pink flowers. Ample winter rainfall with sparse summer irrigation is best. Low growing to 4 in. Little blossoming size bulbs. Key nectar species for Fenders Blue Butterfly and Taylor's Checkerspot.

A Heronswood Nursery selection with bamboo-like stems that emerge dark purple rather than green, sheathed at each node with golden-tan papery bracts. Makes a 4-5 ft. tall evergreen clump (hardy in Zone 6, but deciduous) with small white flowers followed by many shiny black berries. Enjoys rich, moist soil. Easy.

Oregon saxifrage grows in bogs, marshes, wet meadows and prairies throughout the west. It has fleshy roots that divide by off-sets and flowers that bloom April-May. Nectar species for Mylitta Cresent Butterfly.

Tall, robust native perennial in the carrot family found often in roadside ditches and wet seeps in prairies. The large, bright white flowers in late-May attract numerous non-bee pollinators and beneficial insects. A perfect hedge-row plant!

Selected long ago at Bellevue Botanic Garden, WA, for its superior form and color. It emerges every spring with dark chocolate foliage. Over the season, the leaves age to green with some ruddy highlights. White flowers on stems to 4 ft., leaves to 24 in.

It is widely recognized as one of the best forms that emerges with red leaves. The color is retained longer than other varieties, especially in full sun. Rodgersia are prone to spring frost so choosing a good site is important, and if they do get burnt back they will re-emerge. They are strong. Spreading ground cover to 24 in. in foliage, and 4ft., in blossom with white flowers.

A plant of real distinction with large leaves boldly edged in vibrant yellow. Robust to 3 ft. in flower, it will enliven any area where it grows. Easy and very fast in spring - a great attention grabbing garden center flip.

Although the flowers are not brightly colored, this plant in the waterleaf family attracts a wide-variety of native bees making this a must for both upland restorations and native gardens. The flowering stems elongate as they mature with new flowers opening in long succession in mid-summer. Found in dry, rocky habitat at low and high elevations.