Smooth blue aster, pasque flower, dotted blazing star — these are some of the best perennials for Nebraska landscapes.
The icy winters of Nebraska can make selecting perennials a challenge. We’ve selected the eight best perennials for Nebraska landscapes to help you develop your dream perennial garden that can survive the region’s harsh climate and beautify your yard.
Butterfly milkweed
Blooming in late spring, butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is found mostly in southeastern Nebraska and brings vibrant orange hues to your landscape.
Among the many milkweed species in Nebraska, the butterfly milkweed is considered the best option for home lawns: It doesn’t grow as aggressively as the common milkweed and has few maintenance requirements and bug problems.
The butterfly milkweed is also an important host for the monarch butterfly, an endangered species. If you plant it in your landscape, you will certainly invite these beautiful guests to brighten up your view.
An expert tip: Bob Henrickson, Horticulture Program Coordinator at the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, suggests combining butterfly milkweed with leadplant and purple poppy mallow as a charming trio in full-sun areas.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Clay, loam, sand. Needs moist soil with good drainage conditions.
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: Vanilla
Bloom time: June to September
Water needs: Low
Mature height: 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 1.5 feet wide
Potential hazards: Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses
Maintenance: Low. When handling the plant, use gloves because the milky sap can cause contact dermatitis.
Smooth blue aster
A hardy perennial native to the northwestern and southeastern corners of Nebraska, smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) serves as a late-season pollen source for bees and other pollinators.
Its beautiful purple flowers that bloom up until the first hard frost will add fall interest to your garden. Asters work well in mass plantings* alongside black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and other Nebraska native plants.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 8
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Average, well-drained soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: No fragrance
Bloom time: September until the first hard frost
Water needs: Medium
Mature height: 2 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
Potential hazards: No hazards
Maintenance: Medium
*Mass planting is a landscape technique where you plant lots of the same plant in a given area.
Narrowleaf coneflower
Attracting pollinators and butterflies, narrowleaf coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) is native to most of Nebraska and makes a great addition to butterfly gardens or wildflower gardens. A versatile plant, it can also be cultivated in containers. Heat- and drought-tolerant, narrowleaf coneflower blooms in daisy-like pink or creamy white flowers.
Pro Tip: For inspiring ideas to help build your own wildflower garden, check out our article on the topic: “Design Ideas for Your Wildflower Garden.”
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
Sun: Performs best in full sun; can adapt to partial shade.
Soil: They prefer loamy, well-drained soils and can adapt to a wide pH range.
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: Light, sweet, honey-like
Bloom time: Late summer to early fall
Water needs: Low
Mature height: 16 to 28 inches tall and 10 inches to 1.5 feet wide
Potential hazards: No hazards
Maintenance: Moderate. Narrowleaf coneflower is susceptible to various diseases, including aster yellows, which is transmitted when leafhoppers feed on the plant.
Dotted blazing star
The dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata) is among the shortest liatris species in Nebraska and native to most of the state (except for its northeastern corner). Perfect for borders, these upright blazing stars attract both pollinators and the neighbors’ eyes. The dotted blazing star is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant that adds striking beauty to your garden.
When paired with short bushes or plants, it adds a vertical element to your landscape. For a more striking or taller element, opt for taller varieties such as the spiked gayfeather (Liatris spicata). Bob Henrickson also suggests combining spiked gayfeather with sweet coneflower and Joe-pye plant.
USDA hardiness zone: 4 to 9
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Likes well-drained, dry to moist soils. Tolerates alkaline soils.
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: No fragrance
Bloom time: September to early October
Water needs: Low to medium
Mature height: 12 to 18 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches wide
Potential hazards: Very low toxicity
Maintenance: Low
Wild bee balm
Also called wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), wild bee balm is native to most of Nebraska. This fragrant perennial forms upright bushes adorned with lavender-colored flowers that bloom in August. Used as a honey plant in native or herb gardens, it attracts bees and has historically been used as a medicinal herb to soothe bee stings and make tea.
Pro Tip: Plant bee balm at a safe distance from your home, since this plant has moderate flammability.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
Sun: Full sun or partial shade
Soil: Shallow, rocky soil or clay that’s moist, well-drained, or dry-ish.
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: The foliage emits a mint-like scent.
Bloom time: August
Water needs: Natural rainfall should be sufficient; it is drought tolerant.
Mature height: 4 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Potential hazards: Moderately flammable/risk of fire
Maintenance: Low-maintenance; drought-tolerant, resistant to deer and rabbits
Virginia bluebell
Although not native to Nebraska, Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) can thrive in the state, making its mark as the perfect perennial for shade. Adding a flush of blue to your spring landscape, the flowers begin as pink buds and mature into blue, bell-shaped blooms. Virginia bluebells make a great choice if you’re looking for a perennial to plant under trees or in shady areas.
Pro Tip: Plant them among other summer perennials (such as purple coneflower, purple poppy mallow, or black-eyed Susan) to hide the bare spots bluebells leave when they go dormant in mid-May.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Soil: Consistently moist but well-drained soil
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: A delicate, sweet scent
Bloom time: April to May, going dormant by mid-May
Water needs: Average
Mature height: 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 1.5 feet wide
Potential hazards: Non-toxic and considered edible. (Be careful not to confuse Virginia bluebells with other bluebell species, which are highly toxic.)
Maintenance: Medium. It should be cut back after flowering.
Pasque flower
A member of the buttercup family, pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens) is native to northwestern Nebraska. An early spring bloomer, the pasque flower’s feathery seed heads complement its delicate purple flowers. Easy to grow, it would fit perfectly into your wildflower garden or prairie landscape.
An Expert’s Tip: Bob Henrickson suggests combining pasque flower and other sun-loving wildflowers with short prairie grasses to create a more biodiverse and colorful prairie meadow landscape in your home. Here are his recommendations by season:
- Early spring: Pasque flower and prairie smoke
- Summer: Smooth penstemon, lanceleaf coreopsis, pale purple coneflower, purple poppy mallow, and black-eyed Susan
- Fall: Showy goldenrod, aromatic aster, and turtlehead
USDA hardiness zone: 4 to 8
Sun: Part shade to full sun
Soil: Prefers well-drained, dry to medium soils with a gritty texture
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: A faint, pleasant scent
Bloom time: April to May
Water needs: Average
Mature height: 9 to 12 inches tall
Potential hazards: All parts of the plant are highly toxic and may cause stomach upset if ingested.
Maintenance: Low
Black-eyed Susan
Found mostly in western Nebraska, the black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a bright yellow perennial with a distinctive brown-to-black center. A standout among landscape flowers, black-eyed Susans can be planted on slopes, in butterfly gardens, and even along borders or foundations when grouped.
An important tip: A short-lived perennial, black-eyed Susan is often treated as an annual in Nebraska, but because it usually reseeds itself in the garden, you probably won’t have to worry about replanting.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Prefers well-drained soils, and tolerates dry conditions
Duration: Depending on growing conditions, can act as a biennial, annual, or short-lived perennial
Fragrance: Sweet
Bloom time: From mid-June until plants are killed by frost
Water needs: Medium. It has moderate drought tolerance.
Mature height: 2 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
Maintenance: Low. Removing flowers as they fade can improve blooming.
FAQ about perennials in Nebraska
What is Nebraska’s hardiness zone?
Nebraska comprises hardiness zones 4b, 5a, 5b, and 6a. Knowing your hardiness zone can make a great difference in your landscaping: It allows you to choose the plants that fit well in your local climate and persist year-round.
What is the best grass seed for Nebraska?
The best grass seeds for Nebraska lawns are cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue and warm-season buffalograss.
Pro Tip: Visit our guide on “When to Plant Grass Seed in Nebraska” to know the perfect time to overseed or seed a new lawn in the state.
What are some other Nebraska native flowers?
Some other native flowers for Nebraska include:
- New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
- Purple poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata)
- Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
- Dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata)
When to call a pro
Caring for perennials or doing lawn care doesn’t have to be exhausting. You can count on specialized support from one of our trusted Nebraska lawn care professionals. Contact a local lawn care pro and get your dream lawn today.
Main Image Credit: Joshua Mayer | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0
