Iris versicolor Native to: All of New England Life cycle: Perennial Light: Full/Partial Sun Soil Moisture: Wet to Medium Height: 1-3’ Spacing: 1-2' Blooms: May-July Bloom Color: Blue, Purple Natural Habitat: Wet meadows and ditches Benefits: Attracts Bees, Benefits Other Pollinators/Wildlife, Host Plant, Deer/Rabbit Resistant, Low Maintenance Pairs Well With: Boneset, cardinal flower, swamp milkweed, blue vervain, New England aster, coastal Joe-Pye weed, and golden alexander “This tall, wet-loving plant does well wherever soil does not dry out, and can be great when used for contrast against plants with less linear leaf structures.

Lobelia siphilitica Native to: All of New England Life cycle: Short-Lived Perennial Light: Full/Partial Sun Soil Moisture: Wet to Medium Height: 18-36” Spacing: 12-18” Blooms: July-October Bloom Color: Blue/Purple Natural Habitat: Moist woods, damp areas, streamsides, and pond margins. Benefits: Pollinator Favorite, Bird Favorite, Deer/Rabbit Resistant, Host Plant (eg. hummingbird moths), Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance Pairs Well With: Golden groundsel, zig-zag goldenrod, bluestem goldenrod, white snakeroot, and blue-wood aster “Royal blue, tubular flowers burst into bloom from green basal foliage for several months in late summer.

Verbena hastata Native to: All New England Life cycle: Perennial Light: Full/Partial Sun Soil Moisture: Wet to Medium Height: 2-5’ Spacing: 18-24" Blooms: July-September Bloom Color: blue Natural Habitat: Wet meadows and edges of streams, rivers, and marshes. Benefits: Pollinator Favorite, Bird Favorite, Deer Resistant, Benefits Other Pollinators/Wildlife, Attracts Bees, Host Plant (eg. verbena moth, common buckeye butterfly), Compaction Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Fragrant Verbena hastata makes for a great meadow planting when intermixed with other species.

Symphyotrichum cordifolium Native to: All New England Life cycle: Perennial Light: Partial/Full Shade Soil Moisture: Medium to Medium-Dry Height: 1-3’ Spread: 18-24” Spacing: 18-24” Blooms: September, October Bloom Color: Pale blue to purple Natural Habitat: Wet meadows and ditches Benefits: Pollinator Favorite, Bird Favorite, Drought Tolerant, Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Songbirds, Host Plant (eg. Pearl Crescent butterfly; numerous moths), Low Maintenance “A fall-blooming aster with billowy lavender blue daisy-like flowers and heart-shaped leaves that thrives in woodland edges or disturbed areas with poor soil.

aka Wreath Goldenrod Solidago caesia Native to: All New England Life cycle: Perennial Light: Partial/Full Shade Soil Moisture: Medium to Medium-Dry Height: 18-30” Spread: 1-2’ Spacing: 2-3’ Blooms: August-October Bloom Color: Yellow Natural Habitat: Dry deciduous woodlands and shady edges Benefits: Pollinator Favorite, Bird Favorite, Deer/Rabbit Resistant, Attracts Hummingbirds, Host Plant (eg. wavy-lined emerald, goldenrod hooded owlet), Urban Environment, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance Pairs Well With: Blue-wood aster, Christmas fern, white snakeroot, large-leafed wood aster, and zig-zag goldenrod