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Show notes:
Late summer is often thought of as a challenging time for gardening. It’s hot, it’s humid, we may or may not be getting regular rainfall, and there are often lots of other summertime activities competing for our attention. But if our goal is to plant for pollinators and wildlife, then it is important to make sure we have plenty of plants blooming at this time of year too.
In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, I share some of the native plants that I love and why I love them so you can decide if they are right for you. All of these plants bloom in the July / August time frame, attract lots of pollinators, and have a large native range that includes Kentucky. You’ll have to look up the plant to see if it is native to where you live.
I’m not saying these are the “best native plants to plant,” because there is no way for me to know if these are the best plants for you without talking to you and learning more about your property and goals. These are simply some of the native plants I love and are in no particular order because my “favorite” has a tendency to change based on which one I’m looking at and what pollinators I’m thinking about.
To make it easier for you to refer back to particular parts of the podcast, here are the plants and the time I start talking about each:
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): 3:22
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): 5:43
- Mountain mints (Pycnanthemum sp.): 9:22
- Goldenrods (Solidago sp.): 12:51
- Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum): 17:22
Links
- Relevant Backyard Ecology blog articles about the plants I talk about:
- Purple Coneflower: https://www.backyardecology.net/purple-coneflower/
- Black-eyed Susan: A favorite nectar source for butterflies: https://www.backyardecology.net/black-eyed-susan-a-favorite-nectar-source-for-butterflies/
- Slender Mountain Mint: https://www.backyardecology.net/slender-mountain-mint/
- Sweet Goldenrod: https://www.backyardecology.net/sweet-goldenrod/
- Goldenrods: https://www.backyardecology.net/goldenrods/
- Cup plant: https://www.backyardecology.net/cup-plant/
- Wasps: Victims of an Often Undeserved Reputation: https://www.backyardecology.net/wasps-victims-of-an-often-undeserved-reputation/
- Busy Bee Nursery and Consulting: https://busybeenurseryandconsulting.com/
- Backyard Ecology Website: https://backyardecology.net
- Backyard Ecology YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
- Backyard Ecology Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
- Backyard Ecology Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
- Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/
Episode image:
- Eastern tiger swallowtails on cup plant flowers
- Photo credit: Shannon Trimboli, all rights reserved
Do you want to make your yard more pollinator and wildlife friendly, but aren’t sure where to start?
Check out my book, Attract Pollinators and Wildlife to Your Yard: 15 Free and Easy Ways, for some easy, quick wins to get you started.
Backyard Ecology: Exploring Nature in Your Backyard
Nature isn’t just “out there.” It’s all around us, including right outside our doors. Hi, my name is Shannon Trimboli, and I am the host of Backyard Ecology. I live in southcentral Kentucky and am a wildlife biologist, educator, author, beekeeper, and owner of a nursery specializing in plants for pollinators and wildlife conservation. I invite you to join me as we ignite our curiosity and natural wonder, explore our yards and communities, and improve our local pollinator and wildlife habitat. Learn more or subscribe to my email list at www.backyardecology.net.
6 thoughts on “5 Late Summer Blooming Native Plants I Love”
Hi, Shannon! This type of episode is EXACTLY what I have been looking for! I’m a novice at gardening with natives and need the ‘don’t plant this one in a garden setting’ and the ‘this type plays nice with other plants’ direction. By sharing your gardening hacks and the wisdom you’ve gleaned from your gardening trials and tribulations, you have allowed me to spend my time making different garden blunders…I mean…learning opportunities. 🙂 I would be so grateful to listen to a series of plant profiles. By the way, I am a fan of and enjoy listening to your other episodes as well. Two of my favorites are about the lightning bugs. Take care!
Hi Heather,
Hearing this makes me so happy! I’m glad I was able to help give you some pointers and ideas for your own gardens. It’s always helpful to be able to benefit from someone else’s “learning opportunities.” Although that doesn’t always keep me from making the same blunders… I mean gaining the same opportunities …. because of course it’ll be different for me. 😊 I’m glad you are enjoying the other episodes too.
Good luck with your gardens!
Shannon
Love it! A little snippet from all native species would be awesome explaining growth habits, maybe even germination tips/secrets! Love the podcast, really digging native plants right now with the help of your podcast. Keep it up!
Hi Shane,
Thanks! I’m glad you are enjoying the podcast and finding it useful! LOL – a little snippet from all native species might be a little difficult because there are so many different species, but I know what you mean. 😊
Have a great day
Shannon
I have absolutely loved the mountain mints I got from you last year! They have had the longest bloom time of any native flower in my garden and pollinators go crazy for them. I got one of each of the 3 varieties you carry in your nursery and all three are wonderful. I had never heard of mountain mints before I saw them at your Busy Bee Nursery and I’m so glad to have added them to my garden. Thanks, Shannon!
Hi Lizabeth,
You’re welcome! Stories like this always make me happy. I’m honored to have been able to help you and your pollinators.
Take care,
Shannon