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| Common name | Scientific name | Zones | Flower color | Height | Exposure | Comments |
| Ageratum | Ageratum houstonianum | Annual | Blue, pink, white | 6 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in summer; moderate drought tolerance |
| Allium | Allium spp. | Perennial | Blue, pink, white | 2 to 3' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers late spring to early summer |
| Armeria | Armeria maritima | Perennial | Pink, white, lavender | 6 to 12" | Sun | Cab be used as a ground cover; need good soil drainage |
| Aster, New England | Aster novae-angliae | Perennial | Violet-purple | 3 to 5' | Sun | Flowers in late summer to early fall |
| Aster, Stokes | Stokesia laevis | Perennial | Lavender, blue, white | 12 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | Native; flowers in early summer |
| Aster | Aster spp. | Perennial | Blue, pink, violet, white | 12 to 48" | Sun | Flowers late summer, fall; well drained soil |
| Astilbe | Astilbe spp. | Perennial | Pink, red, white | 24 to 48" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers early to mid summer; moist, fertile soil |
| Balsam | Impatiens balsamina | Annual | Pink, purple, red, rose, white | 12 to 36" | Sun to partial shade | Summer; low drought tolerance |
| Bachelor button | Centaurea macrocephlala | Annual | Blue, pink, white, wine | 12 to 36" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers early summer |
| Bee balm | Monardia didyma | Perennial | Pink, red, rose, violet, white | 24 to 48" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in summer; moist soil |
| Begonia | Begonia semperflorens | Annual | Red, white, pink | 6 to 12" | Sun to shade | Flowers spring to frost |
| Bellflower | Campanula spp. | Perennial | Blue, lavender white | 9 to 60" | Sun | Summer; Well drained soil |
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta pulcherrima | Perennial | Gold with black center | 18 to 30" | Sun to partial shade | Late summer; well drained soil |
| Bluet, Mountain | Centaurea montana | Perennial | Blue | 12 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | |
| Boltonia | Boltonia astroides | Perennial | White, lavender, purple | 3 to 5' | Sun | Flowers summer to fall |
| Bonset | Eupatorium spp. | Perennial | White | 1 to 4' | Sun | Flowers summer to fall |
| Bouncing bet | Saponaria officonalis | Perennial | Pink | 1 to 2' | Sun to partial shade | Moist but well drained soil |
| Brown-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia triloba | Perennial | Gold with black center | 18 to 30" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers late summer |
| Butterfly weed | Asclepias tuberosa | Perennial | Orange, red, yellow | 24 to 36" | Sun | Flowers spring, summer; dry; well drained |
| Calendula | Calendula officinalis | Annual | Gold, red, yellow | 12 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer to fall; low drought tolerance |
| Candytuff | Iberis amara, I. umbellata | Annual | Lilac, pink, red, white | 12 to 18" | Sun to partial shade | Late spring to early summer |
| Cardinal flower | Lobelia cardinalis | Perennial | Red | 36 to 48" | Partial shade | Late summer; moist soil high in organic matter |
| Clemone; Spider flower | Clemone hasslerana | Annual | Pink, purple, white | 36 to 72" | Sun | Flowers summer to early fall |
| Columbine | Aquilegia canadensis | Perennial | Red and yellow | 1 to 2' | Partial shade | Flowers in spring; prefers moist, well drained soil |
| Coneflower, Purple | Echinacea purpurea | Perennial | Rose pink or white with gold centers | 24 to 36" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer; well drained soil; drought tolerant |
| Coreopsis, Threadleaf | Coreopsis verticillata | Perennial | Yellow, gold | 9 to 18" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer; well drained; dry soil |
| Coreopsis, Lance | Coreopsis lanceolata | Perennial | Gold, yellow | 12 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | |
| Cosmos | Cosmos bipinnatus | Annual | Lilac, pink, red, white, yellow, | 36 to 72" | Sun | Flowers spring to early fall |
| Daffodil | Narcissus spp. | Perennial | White, yellow, bicolor, orange | 12 to 18" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers early spring |
| Dahlia | Dahlia spp. | Perennial | Red, pink, white, yellow, bicolor | 24 to 84" | Sun | Flowers summer to fall; semihardy |
| Daisy, Glorisa | Rudbeckia hirta 'Glorisa' | Annual | Yellow, orange, reddish | 24 to 30" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer to fall; moderate drought tolerance |
| Daisy, Oxeye | Chrysanthemum leucanthemum | Perennial | Yellow and white | 1 to 2' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers spring to summer |
| Daisy, Shasta | Leucanthemum x superbum | Perennial | White, yellow centers | 12 to 36" | Sun | Flowers spring, summer; well drained soil |
| Dame's rocket | Hesperis matronalis | Perennial | White, pink, mauve, purple | 2 to 3' | Sun | Flowers in summer |
| Daylily | Hemerocallis spp. | Perennial | Yellow, pink, red, purple | 12 to 36" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in summer |
| Erigeron | Erigeron speciosus | Perennial | Lavender, pink, mauve | 18 to 24" | Sun | Prefers dry, infertile soil |
| Evening primrose | Oenothera speciosa | Perennial | Pink, white | 12 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in summer; well drained, infertile soil |
| Everlasting pea | Lathrus latifolius | Perennial | Pink, red, white, lavender | 4 to 8' | Sun | Native; flowers in summer |
| False indigo | Baptisia filipendulina; B. australis | Perennial | Blue | 3 to 4' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in spring; well drained soil |
| Fire pinks | Silene virginica | Perennial | Red | 1 to 1.5' | Sun to partial shade | Well drained average soil; flowers in spring and summer |
| Flowering tobacco; Nicotiana | Nicotiana alata | Annual | Lime green, red, white, yellow | 12 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer to fall; low drought tolerance |
| Forget-me-not | Myosotis sylvatica | Annual | Blue, pink, white | 6 to 18" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in spring; low drought tolerance |
| Four O'Clock | Mirabillis jalapa | Annual | Mahogany, red, pink, purple, yellow, | 20 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | Summer to fall; moderate drought tolerance |
| Foxglove | Digitalis purpurea | Perennial | Purple, white | 24 to 60" | Partial shade | Late spring; moist; well drained soil |
| Gaillardia | Gaillardia x grandiflora | Perennial | Red and yellow | 12 to 36" | Sun | Summer, long flowering |
| Gas plant | Dictamnus albus | Perennial | White | 36 to 48" | Sun | Early summer |
| Geranium, Wild | Geranium manculatum | Perennial | Blue, purple, white | 1 to 2' | Partial shade to shade | Flowers in spring, summer |
| Geranium, Zonal | Pelargonium x hortorum | Annual | Bicolors, red, pink, white | 1 to 2' | Sun | Flowers late spring to fall |
| Gladiolus | Gladiolus spp. | Perennial | White, red, pink, yellow, orange | 36 to 48" | Sun | Flowers in summer; semihardy - dig and store corms |
| Globe amaranth | Gompherena globosa | Annual | Lavender, orange, pink, purple, red, white | 12 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers late spring to early fall; high drought tolerance |
| Glorisa daisy | Rudbeckia hirta | Annual | Orange, red, yellow | 24 to 30" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in summer |
| Goat's beard | Aruncus dioicus | Perennial | White | 48 to 60" | Partial shade | Flowers late spring; moist, rich soil |
| Golden aster | Pityopsis graminifolia | Perennial | Yellow | 1 to 3' | Sun | Flowers summer to fall |
| Goldenrod | Solidago spp. | Perennial | Gold, yellow | 18 to 72" | Sun | Late summer to fall; well drained soil with high organic matter |
| Grape hyacinth | Muscari spp. | Perennial | Purple | 6 to 12" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers early spring |
| Heliotrope | Heliotropium arborescens | Annual | Blue, purple, white | 18 to 36" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in summer; low drought tolerance |
| Hibiscus | Hibiscus spp. | Perennial | Red, white, pink | 3 to 8' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers midsummer to fall |
| Hollyhock | Alcaea rosea | Perennial | Apricot, pink, purple, white, yellow | 24 to 60" | Sun | Spring to fall; well drained soil |
| Honesty; Moneyplant | Lunaria annua | Biennial | Pink, purple | 2 to 3' | Sun to partial shade | Grown for flat fruits |
| Houstonia | Houstonia spp. | Perennial | Blue, lavender | 6 to 12" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers spring to summer; native |
| Impatiens | Impatiens wallerana | Annual | Orange, pink, purple, red, white | 8 to 24" | Partial shade to shade | Flowers late spring to fall; low drought tolerance |
| Iris, German | Iris gemanica | Perennial | Blue, white, pink, lavender | 4 to 48" | Sun | Flowers in spring |
| Ironweed | Veronia fasciculata, V. novebroracensis | Perennial | Purple | 5 to 9' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in fall |
| Joe-pye weed | Eupatorium maculatum | Perennial | Pink-purple | 10 to 15' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer to fall |
| Lanatana | Lantana camara, Lantana montevidensis | Perennial | Orange, pink, yellow | 6 to 12" | Sun | Flowers summer to fall; drought tolerant |
| Larkspur | Delphinium spp. | Annual | Blue, pink, purple, white | 18 to 36" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in spring; moderate drought tolerance |
| Liastris | Liastris spp. | Perennial | Lavender, pink | 1 to 5' | Sun | Flowers summer, fall; well drained soil |
| Lily, Turk's cap | Lilium superbum | Perennial | Orange | 6 to 9' | Partial shade | Flowers in summer; deep, fertile, moist soil; native |
| Lily, Asiatic | Lilium asiatic | Perennial | Pink, white, red | 2 to 6' | Sun | Flowers in summer |
| Lily, Madonna | Lilium candidum | Perennial | White | 35 to 45" | Sun | |
| Lily, Blackberry | Belamcanda chinensis | Perennial | Orange | 30 to 36" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in summer |
| Lily, Torch | Kniphofia uvaria | Perennial | Orange, red, yellow, apricot | 18 to 80" | Sun | Flowers in spring |
| Mallow | Hibiscus spp. | Perennial | Pink, white | 3 to 6' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer to fall; prefers moist to damp soil |
| Mallow, Seashore | Kosteletzkya virginica | Perennial | Pink | 18 to 48" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer to fall; prefers moist to damp soil |
| Maltese cross | Lychnic chalcedononica | Perennial | Scarlet | 18 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | Late spring to early summer; moist; well drained, fertile soil |
| Marigold | Tagetes erecta, T. patula | Annual | Gold, orange to red-brown, yellow | 8 to 48" | Sun | Flowers late spring to fall |
| Mealycup sage | Salvia farinacea | Perennial | Blue, white | 24 to 36" | Sun | Flowers in summer; well drained, moist soil |
| Melampodium | Melampodium paludosum | Annual | Yellow | 18 to 24" | Sun | Late spring to early fall; moderate to high drought tolerance |
| Milkweed, Swamp | Asclepias incarnata | Perennial | Pink | 2 to 4' | Sun | Prefers moist to wet soil; flowers summer to fall |
| Milkweed, Common | Asclepias syriaca | Perennial | Rose, lavender, brownish purple | 3 to 5' | Sun | Native; flowers in summer |
| Mist flower; Hardy ageratum | Eupatorium coelestinum | Perennial | Violet to blue | 1 to 3' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer to fall; moist soil |
| Moss verbena | Verbena tenuisecta | Perennial | Purple | 8 to 12" | Sun | Flowers in spring |
| Nasturtium | Tropaelum majus | Annual | Orange, pink, red, speckled, yellow, white | 12" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers late spring to early fall |
| Obedient plant | Physostegia virginiana | Perennial | Pink | 36 to 48" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers late summer to early fall; well drained, moderately fertile soil |
| Pentas | Pentas lanceolata | Annual | Lilac, red, pink, white | 12 to 36" | Sun | Flowers summer to fall; moderate to high drought tolerance |
| Pearly everlasting | Anaphalis margaritacea | Perennial | Grayish white | 12" | Sun | Flowers late summer; well drained |
| Peony | Paeonia latiflora | Perennial | Pink, white | 24 to 36" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers early summer |
| Petunia | Petunia x hybrida | Annual | White, pink, red, purple, yellow | 6 to 18" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers spring to summer |
| Phlox | Phlox spp. | Perennial | White, pink, red, blue, purple | 2 to 4' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in summer |
| Pincushion flower | Scabiosa caucasica | Perennial | Blue, deep blue, lavender, white | 18 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers early summer; well drained soil; near neutral pH |
| Poppy, Oriental | Papavar orientale | Perennial | White, red, pink | 2 to 4' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in summer |
| Primrose | Primula x polyantha | Perennial | Blue, red, violet, yellow | 6 to 12" | Partial shade | Flowers in spring; cool, moist soil high in organic matter |
| Lobelia | Lobelia erinus | Annual | Purple, blue, white | 4 to 8" | Partial shade | Flowers spring to frost |
| Pussytoes | Antennaria spp. | Perennial | Silver | 2 to 6" | Partial shade to shade | Flowers in spring |
| Queen Ann's lace | Daucus carota | Biennial | White | 3 to 6' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer to fall |
| Red valerian | Centranthus ruber | Perennial | Pink, red, white | 36" | Sun | Flowers in spring; well drained, alkaline soil |
| Rock cress | Arabis caucasica | Perennial | White | 12" | Sun | Flowers spring to summer |
| Scabiosa | Scabiosa atropurpurea | Annual | Lavender, pink, purple, red, yellow, white, maroon | 1 to 3' | Sun | Flowers summer to frost |
| Scarlet sage | Salvia splendens | Annual | Blue, red, white | 12 to 36" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers late spring to fall; moderate to low drought tolerance |
| Sedum | Sedum spp. | Perennial | White | 3 to 18" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers in spring |
| Sneezeweed | Helenium spp. | Perennial | Yellow, orange | 12 to 18" | Sun | Flowers late summer to fall; native |
| Snapdragon | Antirrhinum magus | Annual | Lavender, orange, pink, red, yellow, white | 6 to 36" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers spring to early summer, fall |
| Solomon's seal | Polygonatum biflorum | Perennial | Yellowish green maturing to cream | 24 to 36" | Partial shade to shade | Flowers late spring; cool, moist, well drained soil |
| Statice | Limonium incana | Perennial | Pink, red, white, yellow | 12 to 18" | Sun | Flowers in summer; well drained; slightly acidic |
| Stoke's aster | Stokesia laevis | Perennial | Lavender blue | 12 to 24" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers early summer; well drained |
| Strawflower | Helichrysum bracteatum | Annual | Orange, pink, red, salmon, white, yellow | 18 to 30" | Sun | Flowers summer to fall; moderate drought tolerance |
| Sunflower, Mexican | Tithonia rotundifolia | Annual | Orange, yellow | 36 to 60" | Sun | Flowers summer to fall; moderate drought tolerance |
| Sunflower, Swamp | Helianthus angustifolius | Perennial | Yellow | 6 to 12' | Sun | Flowers late summer to fall |
| Sunflower, Common | Helianthus annus | Annual | Gold, red, brown, yellow | 12 to 108" | Sun | Flowers summer; moderate to high drought tolerance |
| Sunflower, Tickseed | Bidens aristosa | Annual | Yellow | 1 to 5' | Sun | Flowers in fall; moderate to moist soil |
| Sunflower, Heliopsis; Ox-eye | Heliopsis helianthoides | Perennial | Yellow | 3 to 5' | Sun | Flowers summer to fall; native |
| Sweet William | Dianthus barbatus | Annual | Pink, red, scarlet | 18" | Sun | Flowers in spring |
| Sweet pea | Lathyrus odoratus | Annual | Pink, purple, white | 4' | Sun | Flowers in spring; dislikes hot weather |
| Sweet alyssum | Lobularia maritima | Annual | Purple, red, white | 3 to 10" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers spring to early fall |
| Thistle | Cirsium spp. | Biennial | Purple, lilac, pink | 1 to 5' | Sun | Native; flowers summer to fall |
| Touch me not | Impatiens capensis, I balasamia | Annual | Orange, yellow | 3 to 5' | Shade | Flowers summer to fall; moist soil |
| Turtlehead | Chelone lyonii | Perennial | White, pink, rose purple | 2 to 4' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer, fall; rich, moist soil |
| Verbena | Verbena hybrida | Annual | Apricot, blue, pink, salmon, red, white | 6 to 12" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers late spring to early fall |
| Verbena, Clump | Verbena canadensis | Perennial | Pink, purple, white, red | 8 to 18" | Sun | Flowers late spring to fall; well drained soil |
| Verbena, Brazilian | Verbena bonariensis | Perennial | Violet | 36 to 48" | Sun | Flowers summer to frost; well drained soil |
| Vinca, Annual | Catharanthus roseus | Annual | Pink, purple, red, salmon, white | 6 to 18" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers spring to fall; moderate to high drought tolerance |
| Viper's bugloss | Echium vulgare | Biennial | Purple | 1 to 2' | Sun to partial shade | Flowers summer to fall; moderate drought tolerance |
| Wallflower | Cheiranthus cheiri | Annual | Yellow, orange, brown | 1 to 2' | Sun | Flowers spring to summer; prefers a cool moist location |
| Yarrow | Achillea millefolium | Annual | Pink, purple, red, salmon, white | 6 to 18" | Sun | Flowers spring to fall |
| Zinnia | Zinnia elegans | Annual | Orange, pink, red, white, yellow | 6 to 36" | Sun | Flowers late spring to early fall |
| Zinnia, Creeping | Zinnia angutifolia | Annual | Orange, yellow, white | 6 to 12" | Sun to partial shade | Flowers late spring to early fall; high drought tolerance |
Prepared by: Erv Evans,
Consumer Horticulturist
© 2002-2003 NC State University
Images © by Erv Evans
