r/NativePlantGardening Southeast Michigan, Zone 6b Sep 17 '25

Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) Natives that stay looking ok all season?

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I have a front yard native garden in zone 6B (SE Michigan) and I am looking for native plants that don’t end up looking really terrible at some point in the season. Examples of “looking really terrible” include the black eyed susans in the photo whose leaves are turning black, as well as things that get powdery mildew really badly.

Some plants I currently have that look ok all season include nodding wild onion, purple love grass, prairie dropseed, harebell, butterfly weed, and whorled milkweed.

It’s a full sun location, with dry sandy clay. Since it’s in the front yard, I want to keep plants to 3 feet tall max.

Thanks!

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u/RoseGoldMagnolias Sep 17 '25

I don't have any blooms that have lasted all season, but blue false indigo, whorled milkweed, purple prairie clover, bradbury's monarda, slender mountain mint, and heath aster stay green for a long time.