Native Plants of Kansas
Native plants of Kansas are adapted to the state's prairie climate with extreme temperature swings and periodic drought. These tough species form resilient landscapes.
American Bellflower
Campanula americana
White-tailed deer sometimes consume the leaves.
American Bladdernut
Staphylea trifolia
Forms thickets, provides cover for wildlife.
American Bladdernut
Staphylea trifolia
Forms thickets, provides cover for wildlife.
American Bluehearts
Buchnera americana
American Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Late-season nectar source for pollinators.
Awnless Bushsunflower
Simsia calva
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Baldwin's Ironweed
Vernonia baldwinii
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Blue Sage
Salvia azurea
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Important host plant for Monarch and Queen butterflies.
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Provides nectar for pollinators and seeds for waterfowl.
Carolina Larkspur
Delphinium carolinianum
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
Provides nectar for pollinators and seeds for birds.
Dakota Mock Vervain
Glandularia bipinnatifida
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Dotted Blazing Star
Liatris punctata
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Early spring bloomer, provides nectar for early pollinators.
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Provides food and cover for wildlife.
Frostweed
Verbesina virginica
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Host plant for the Black Swallowtail butterfly.
Golden Crownbeard
Verbesina encelioides
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Golden Currant
Ribes aureum
Provides food for wildlife.
Gray Goldenrod
Solidago nemoralis
Provides nectar for a wide variety of pollinators.
Green Antelopehorn Milkweed
Asclepias viridis
Host plant for Monarch caterpillars.
Hoary Verbena
Verbena stricta
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Indian Blanket
Gaillardia pulchella
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Indiangrass
Sorghastrum nutans
Provides cover and nesting sites for wildlife.
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
It is palatable to livestock and is an indicator of prairie health.
Leavenworth's Eryngo
Eryngium leavenworthii
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Lemon Beebalm
Monarda citriodora
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Host plant for several skipper butterflies.
Missouri Evening Primrose
Oenothera macrocarpa
Provides nectar for moths.
Narrowleaf Mountainmint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
Provides nectar for a wide variety of pollinators.
Narrow-leaved Coneflower
Echinacea angustifolia
Provides nectar for pollinators and seeds for birds.
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Nitrogen fixer.
Partridge Pea
Chamaecrista fasciculata
Host plant for the Cloudless Sulphur butterfly.
Plains Coreopsis
Coreopsis tinctoria
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Prairie Acacia
Acacia angustissima
Host plant for several species of butterflies.
Prairie Phlox
Phlox pilosa
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Prairie Spiderwort
Tradescantia occidentalis
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Prairie Sunflower
Helianthus petiolaris
Provides seeds for birds and nectar for pollinators.
Purple Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
Host plant for the Gulf Fritillary and Variegated Fritillary butterflies.
Purple Poppy Mallow
Callirhoe involucrata
Drought tolerant groundcover.
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Provides nectar for a wide variety of pollinators.
Sand Plum
Prunus angustifolia
Provides food and cover for wildlife.
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Provides forage for livestock and wildlife.
Soapweed Yucca
Yucca glauca
Pollinated by the yucca moth.
Tall Thistle
Cirsium altissimum
Provides nectar for many pollinators.
Tenpetal Blazing Star
Mentzelia decapetala
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Texas Bluebonnet
Lupinus texensis
Nitrogen fixer.
Twistspine Prickly Pear
Opuntia macrorhiza
Provides food and cover for wildlife.
Upright Prairie Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
Provides nectar for pollinators.
White Prairie Clover
Dalea candida
Nitrogen fixer.
White Wand Beardtongue
Penstemon tubiflorus
Provides nectar for pollinators.
Yellow Wild Indigo
Baptisia sphaerocarpa
Host plant for the Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly.