D-E Green

List of 22 items.

• Allium

  This plant, related to the common garlic, produces big, round, softball-sized flowers in shades of purple that will bloom in early summer that last for about three weeks. Alliums are known to have antioxidant, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. Alliums are extremely good at attracting bees and butterflies.

• Alyssum

  Alyssum is an annual, but it self-seeds well, so it usually comes back in the border each year. The blooming season for Alyssums ranges from June to October, growing up to 3 to 6 inches tall. Alyssums are generally used for garden purposes, such as attracting beneficial pollinators, luring aphids away from vegetable plants, and more. Given its strong, sweet scent, bees are usually attracted to this plant from large distances. These plants attract more helpful insects that keep other pests away from other beneficial plants.

• Chives

  Chives’ blooming season is from mid spring to early summer. You will find many small, tightly packed, star-shaped florets. Chives are commonly used in cooking. The chives’ blooms are popular among bees and sometimes butterflies too. Chives can possibly also repel aphids, an unwanted pest, which makes it a great addition to gardens.

• Cleome

  Cleomes will bloom from early summer until frost. They are also known as Spider Flowers or Spider Legs because of its tall, leggy appearance and the shape of its leaves. The flowers, however, are intricate, large, and showy. Cleome species attract a diverse array of native bees, wasps, and butterflies.

• Common Milkweed

  The rounded clusters of pinkish-purple flowers will bloom from June-August on the Common Milkweed. Although it is potentially poisonous, milkweed sap can also be used as treatment for some medical conditions. The seeds of the Common Milkweed are silky and are wind-dispersed. Common Milkweed is an important nectar source for monarch butterflies. The larvae of Monarch butterflies will feed on the leaves. There are cardiac glycosides in the leaves and stem that allow Monarch butterflies and larvae to be toxic to birds. This kind of milkweed also has a nice vanilla scent, but deer won’t eat it.

• Creeping sedum

  Creeping sedum, or stonecrop, is an easy-to-grow plant that blooms from July through late fall. Sedums are currently used for research aimed to reveal its anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive mechanisms. When the creeping sedum blooms in the summer and fall, it attracts bees and other pollinators in droves.

• Elderberry

  Elderberry flowers bloom in the summer in large, multi-flowered clusters that later form purple-black berries.  Although parts of the plant are toxic, the flowers and berries can be cooked and used to boost the immune system. Bees love these flowers!  The deer like to eat the plants, but they spread rapidly anyway.

• Hyacinth

  Hyacinths bloom in early to mid-spring. When the leaves emerge, it takes about 3 weeks for flowers to open. Our research suggests this plant was used in the folk medicine of England to benefit skin, hair, and health. Bees are the primary pollinators. Unfortunately deer eat the leaves, which sometimes keeps them from flowering in our border.

• Iris

  Most iris flowers will bloom from late spring to early summer. Irises can be used for cosmetics and some medical uses. Some species will actually produce a second round of flowers during late summer. Irises will attract butterflies and hummingbirds which are both pollinators.

• Lavender

  The lavender season is usually near the end of June. It lasts about three to four weeks. Lavender can benefit human health and is used in beauty products. The plant is most popular among bumblebees although honey bees will also pollinate them.

• Lemon balm

  Lemon balm blooms through summer and into fall. The leaves are lemon-scented, oval, and toothed. Lemon balm is a member of the mint family and is considered  a calming herb. They are known to reduce stress and anxiety as well as many other benefits. When brushed, it will emit a fragrant lemony odor. It will also attract bees.

• Lilac

  The bloom season for lilacs is from mid to late spring. Most shrubs will give off a sweet, floral fragrance. Lilac leaves and flowers have a history of medicinal use -- but this also means they can be toxic, so do not eat them, please. Lilac attracts honey bees as well as butterflies.

• Monarda

  Monarda, also known as bee balm, begins to bloom in July and will continue to bloom throughout late summer. We have read that these flowering plants can be made into a tea that can fight infections and for fever relief, but we don’t know if this is safe or true, so we do not recommend it. However, we know it attracts a lot of pollinators, including bumble bees, predatory wasps, hummingbirds, and hawk moths. Beneficial insects, such as butterflies, various bees, and more feed on this plant, helping them prevent further damage done by garden pests.

• Narcissus

  The fragrant flowers of narcissi bloom from late winter to late spring. The bulbs of the narcissus are poisonous, but we have read they were used in ancient times as medicines for their emetic and cathartic effects. The oil from the flowers is also used in perfume. Moths are known to visit many species of narcissus and are the primary pollinator of the species. Narcissus also received its name from the Greek myth.

• Peony

  The flowering plant of the peony blooms during the months of late spring to early summer. Both honey bees and wild bees are attracted to peonies for their nectar. Other insects, such as ants, are also attracted to peonies. Peonies provide food for ants, and ants protect the blossoms in return from other insects that feed on peonies. The deer do not seem to bother them, and they smell nice and make a good cut flower.  We have read they have many medicinal purposes and were used in ancient times as such.

• Peppermint

  Mint’s bloom season is July-September. Mint has culinary uses and health benefits when consumed. Mint attracts pollinators as well as other beneficial insects. Many pollinators such as butterflies, beetles, wasps, and bees like mint. It is also wildlife friendly and deer proof.

• Rhubarb

  Rhubarb normally blooms in the springtime. The flower stalks don’t normally grow on younger plants but are more common on more mature plants that are 3 or more years older. Rhubarb is commonly roasted, sauteed, stewed, or pureed (used for cooking). Although the flowers are wind-pollinated, rhubarb attracts many beneficial insects such as pollinators like bees and ladybugs. The leaves are mildly toxic, so that helps to keep the deer off.  People should eat only the stem-like leaf petioles and preferably cooked.

• Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan)

  Rudbeckia blooms in mid-summer through mid-fall. It has large, 3-inch yellow flowers and black centers. The flower petals can also be used to make a medicinal wash. Rudbeckia attracts long-tongued and short-tongued bees (includes honey bees), predatory wasps, butterflies, skippers, moths, and some beetles and flies. Unfortunately, deer sometimes eat the leaves and stems before they get a chance to flower, but they keep struggling on and coming back each year.

• Sunchoke

  Sunchokes will flower around August and September. Sunchokes, a root vegetable, are commonly consumed by people. The flowers attract pollinators in late summer. These include bees, butterflies, and birds. This plant also provides food for several species.

• Tansy

  This plant is mildly toxic, which keeps the deer off, and it grows very tall with interesting, feathery leaves. The clusters of yellow flowers bloom in late summer, filling in a gap we would otherwise have in our bloom cycle.

• Thyme

  Thyme blooms in spring or summer for about three to four weeks. It has tiny, pink, lavender, or white tubular flowers. Thyme is commonly used for culinary purposes. The flowers, leaves, and oil are all used to flavor foods and medicines. Thyme also contains chemicals that can potentially help bacterial and fungal infections and contains many other properties. Thyme is well-liked by bees.

• Yarrow

  Yarrow is a hardy and versatile perennial. It first blooms in late spring or early summer. Most species will actually continue to bloom intermittently into fall. The flowers have many tiny, tightly-packed flowers that rise above clusters of ferny foliage. They are most commonly yellow but can also come in red or pink. Their ‘special feature’ is their ability to attract butterflies.