The planting recipe
Quantities assume nursery-grown plugs or small containers and are a planning baseline. Adjust spacing to the mature width listed by your regional supplier.
| Plant | Qty. | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Little Bluestem | 3 | Back-row structure |
| Purple Coneflower | 5 | Summer flower drift |
| Aromatic Aster | 3 | Low fall edge |
| Butterfly Weed | 3 | Orange focal group |
How to lay it out
Mark the perimeter with a hose or washable landscape paint. Place the structural plants first, then the main flower drifts, and finish with the lowest edge. Keep each species in a readable group instead of alternating every plant.
Season by season
Cut standing stems to 10–14 inches before new growth begins.
Edge once and remove only volunteers that interrupt the main groups.
Leave seedheads and grass stems standing for birds and winter structure.
Before purchasing
Open each plant field card, verify regional range, and ask for straight species or locally appropriate cultivars. Availability and local native status vary. If your site differs substantially, use the plant finder to rebuild the list around the actual conditions.
