Hollyhock, Jet Black (Alcea rosea)

Hollyhock, Jet Black (Alcea rosea) Jet Black Hollyhock is a dramatic beauty valued for its visual impact and garden versatility. Admired for its dark maroon to near-black flower spikes, this biennial can grow up to 8 feet tall under ideal conditions, with its towering stems creating bold vertical accents in gardens.

Weld aka Dyer’s Rocket (Reseda luteola)

Weld aka Dyer’s Rocket (Reseda luteola) Weld is an unassuming yet legendary plant. A slender biennial with upright spires of tiny greenish-yellow blossoms, it brings a dignified grace to the garden.

Pokeweed, American (Pytolacca americana)

They are often spread by birds, as the tough outer coatings of their seeds can withstand a bird’s digestive system (this tenacity allows them to be viable for up to 40 years!). As a result of this, the plant can spread rapidly if unchecked, particularly in disturbed soils.

Alexanders, Golden (Zizia aurea)

It produces bright clusters of yellow, umbrella-like flowers atop smooth green stems, providing early-season color and a vital nectar source when few other plants are in bloom. Valued in restoration work and native plant gardening, Golden Alexanders is adaptable and ecologically important.

Tulsi, Rama aka Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum var. rama)

(Rama) Rama Tulsi, the most common type of Holy Basil and a cousin to Sweet Basil, bears bright green, softly textured leaves that release an uplifting, clove-like fragrance with the slightest touch. Slender, purple-tinged stems rise to display whorls of delicate pinkish blossoms, attracting bees and other pollinators with their nectar.

Valerian Seeds (Valeriana officinalis) ~Traditional Herb Pollinator Garden

Growing upwards of 5 feet, Valerian has sweetly scented pink or white flowers that attract many fly species, especially hoverflies. Also known as Garden Heliotrope, Valerian is one of nature’s best herbal allies because of the profoundly calmative qualities that work quickly and that can help to lessen even chronic conditions of nervous excitability.

Milkweed, Whorled (Asclepias verticillata)

It prospers even in challenging sites and is appreciated for its resilience to heat, drought, and lean soils. Its fine, threadlike leaves grow in elegant whorls around slender stems, giving the plant a soft, airy appearance.