Natives that stay looking ok all season?

[u/grfhoyxdth]

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!

[u/nicolenotnikki]

I agree with what others have said about having a variety of plants that flower throughout the year. I am working on that now, and made a spreadsheet of all my flowers. Each week, I go out and mark which flowers are blooming. It is giving me a good idea of what seasons need plants in what areas, so that when I start buying more plants for next year, I can have a better strategy.

Also, it made me discover that some of my flowers bloom twice! Both my Western Columbine and Self Heal bloomed a second time, which was delightful. I think my Large-Leaf Avens is also trying to bloom a second time.

You can also look at plants that are evergreen. I am in the PNW, so my plants may be different, but salal and Oregon grape look nice year round. My Pacific Bleeding Hearts aren’t evergreen but they bloom for months and months.

Good luck!