Western Nebraska to Rocky Mountains; Plant List

This List is Only Intended to Act as a Guide to Assist You in Planning and Planting your Pollinator Pasture.

Please refer to NRD/USDA Plant Maps for Your Ideal Planting Locations and Times.

(“) - Indicates Preferred Inches of Rain Per Year

Agricultural Crops
  • Alfalfa
  • Cover Crops (vetch & clovers)
  • Fruit Trees (apples, peaches, plums, cherries, pears)
  • Melons and cucumbers
  • Squash and pumpkins
  • Berries (raspberry, blackberry, strawberries)
  • Sunflowers
  • Field Peas
  • Soybeans
  • Dry Beans
Lawn Plants (all seasons)
  • Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
  • Lance Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris spp. lanceolata)
  • White Dutch Clover (Trifolum repens)
Garden Plants
  • Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)
  • Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
  • Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
  • Winged Lythrum (Lythrum alatum)
  • Sugarbowl Clemantis (Clematis scottii)
  • White-tufted Evening Primrose (Oenothera caespitosa)
  • ‘Kannah Creek’ Sulfur Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum)
  • Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.)
  • Large Beardtongue (Pentemon grandiflorus)
  • Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
  • Rocky Mountain Penstemon (Penstemon strictus)
  • Purple Prairie Clover (Petalostemon purpureus; also, Dalea purpurea)
  • Palmer’s Beardtongue; also known as Pink Wild Snapdragon (Penstemon palmeri)
  • Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
  • Prairie Coneflower; also known as Upright
  • Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida Columnifera)
  • Garrett’s Firechalice (Zauschneria Garrettii)
  • Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata)
  • Black-eye Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
  • Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
  • Narrow-leaf Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)
  • Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
  • Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa)
  • Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
  • Colorado Four O’clock (Mirabilis multiflora)
  • Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) 16-60”
  • Gentians (G. septemfida hybrids)
  • Scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata)
  • Dotted Blazing Star; also known as Gayfeather (Liatris punctata)
Late Summer-Fall Blooming
  • ‘Autumn Joy’ Sedum (Sedum)
  • Colchicum
  • Giant Hyssop (Agastache pallidiflora) 12-24”
  • Gray Aster (Aster glaucodes) 10-18”
  • Aspen Fleabane (Erigeron Speciosus) 18-25”
  • Annual Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) 8-15”
  • Prairie Sunflower (Helianthus petiolaris) 9-18”
  • Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) 28-60”
  • Hoary Tansyaster (Machaeranthera canescens) 8-15”
  • Tansyleaf Aster (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia) 16-24”
  • Western Aster (Symphyotrichum ascendens) 14-60”
Spring Blooming
  • Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris, Pulsatilla patens)
  • Hall’s Penstemon (Penstemon hallii)
  • Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) 16-30”
  • Hooker’s Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza hookeri) 9-20”
  • Cutleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza macrophylla) 14-40”
  • Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) 14-18”
  • Yellow Beeflower (Cleome lutea) 8-12”
  • Rocky Mountain Beeplant (Cleome serrulata) 13-55”
  • Shaggy Fleabane (Erigeron pumilus) 6-17”
  • Sticky Geranium (Geranium viscosissimum) 16-20”
  • Northern and Utah Sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale) 12-18”
  • Blue Flag Iris (Iris missouriensis) 24-35”
  • Fewflower Pea (Lathyrus pauciflorus) 5-14”
  • Lewis Flax (Linum lewisii) 10-20”
  • Nineleaf Biscuitroot (Lomatium triternatum) 12-20”
  • Sharpleaf Penstemon (Penstemon acuminatus) 12-30”
  • Narrowleaf Penstemon (Penstemon angustifolius) 9-35”
  • Firecracker Penstemon (Penstemon eatonii) 10-18”
  • Low Penstemon (Penstemon humilis) 12-20”
  • Thickleaf Beardtongue (Penstemon pachyphyllus) 12-20”
  • Showy Penstemon (Penstemon spectabalis) 12-40”
  • Tall Cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta) 10-50”
  • Scarlet Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) 6-15”
  • Gooseberryleaf Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia) 8-15”
  • Small Flower Globemallow (Sphaeralcea parvifolia) 6-15”
  • Goldenbanner (Thermopsis montana) 24-30”
  • Strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum) 20-60”
  • Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridum) 25-60”
  • American Vetch (Vicia americana) 9-50”
  • Mule-ears (Wyethia amplexicaulis) 12-20”
Mid-Summer Blooming
  • Western Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 8-60”
  • Nettleleaf Giant Hyssop (Agastache urticifolia) 18-36”
  • Western Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) 10-35”
  • Pussytoes (Antennaria spp.) 8-40”
  • Blue Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) 20-40”
  • Cicer Milkvetch (Astragalus cicer) 16-60”
  • Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) 28-45”
  • Basalt Milkvetch (Astragalus filipes) 8-12”
  • Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja spp.) 8-15”
  • Douglas’ Dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii) 9-15”
  • Tapertip Hawksbeard (Crepis acuminata) 7-20”
  • Largeflower Hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) 12-18”
  • Engelmann’s Fleabane (Erigeron engelmannii) 8-20”
  • White Prairie Clover (Dalea candida) 10-18”
  • Oneflower Sunflower (Helianthella uniflora) 12-35”
  • Showy Goldeneye (Heliomeris multiflora) 16-25”
  • Hairy False Goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) 10-26”
  • Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata) 13-40”
  • Dotted Blazingstar (Liatris punctata) 18-26”
  • Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) 28-60”
  • Fernleaf Biscuitroot (Lomatium dissectum, Lomatium macrocarpum)14-30”, 8-16”
  • Silver Lupine (Lupinus argenteus) 10-45” Warning: May be toxic to animals and humans.
  • Tansyleaf Aster (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia) 16-24”
  • Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) 14-45”
  • Yellow and White Sweet Clover (Melilotus alba and M. officinalis) 9-18”
  • Toadflax Penstemon (Penstemon linarioides) 12-2Palmer’s Penstemon (Penstemon palmeri) 6-12”
  • Rydberg’s Penstemon (Penstemon rydbergii) 20-30”
  • Royal Penstemon (Penstemon speciosus) 8-24”
  • Rocky Mountain Penstemon (Penstemon strictus) 14-26”
  • Silverleaf Phacelia (Phacelia hastata) 10-18”
  • Silky Phacelia (Phacelia sericea) 18-30”
  • Small Burnet (Sanguisorba minor) 15-25”
Trees/Shrubs
  • Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
  • Sand Cherry (Prunus besseyi)
  • Golden Currant (Ribes aureum)
  • Three-leaf Sumac (Rhus trilobata)
  • Lewis Mock Orange (Phildelphus lewisii)
  • Silver Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) 12-20”
  • Wood’s Rose (Rosa woodsii) 12-40”
  • Raspberry (Rubus)
  • Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa)
  • Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium)
  • Blue Mist Spirea (Caryopteris clandonensis)
  • Utah Serviceberry (Amerlanchier utahensis) 12-20”
  • Greenleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos patula) 13-60”
  • Kinnikinnik (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) 18-45”
  • Prairie Sagewort (Artemisia frigida) 10-40”
  • Black Sagebrush (Artemisia nova) 6-18”
  • Big Basin Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata) 9-15”
  • Mountain Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana) 16-25”
  • Wyoming Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) 8-13”
  • Fourwing Saltbush (Atriplex canescens) 8-16”
  • Mule-Fat (Baccharis salicifolia) 10-15”
  • Snowbush Ceanothus (Ceanothus velutinus) 16-40”
  • Desert Sweet (Chamaebatiaria millefolium) 15-60”
  • Yellow Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) 7-15”
  • Redosier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) 12-60”
  • Black Hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) 16-60”
  • Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa) 18-25”
  • Rubber Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) 7-16”
  • Whorled Buckwheat (Eriogonum heracleoides) 12-25”
  • Sulphurflower Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) 12-25”
  • Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa) 8-20”
  • Stretchberry (Forestiera neomexicana) 9-24”
  • Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor)18-24”
  • Rockspirea (Holodiscus dumosus) 10-35”
  • Winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata) 7-12”
  • Twinberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata) 14-32”
  • Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp.) 10-20”
  • Littleleaf Mockorange (Philadelphus microphyllus) 12-20”
  • Frosted Mint (Poliomintha incana) 8-12”
  • American Plum (Prunus americana) 16-40”
  • Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) 16-60”
  • Desert Bitterbush (Purshia glandulosa) 5-12”
  • Mexican Cliffrose (Purshia mexicana) 6-12”
  • Antelope Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) 10-15”
  • Skunkbush Sumac (Rhus trilobata) 8-18”
  • Yucca/Soapweed (Yucca spp.) 7-60”
  • Mountain Snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus) 14-45”
  • Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
  • Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
  • ‘Walker’s Low’ Catmint (Nepeta)
  • ‘May Night’ Salvia (Salvia nemorosa)
  • Oregano (Oreganum)
  • Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
  • Box Elder (Acer negundo)
  • Currants (Ribes aureum, americanum, odoratum, cereum)
  • Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
  • Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
  • Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
  • Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
  • Wild Plum (Prunus Americana)
  • Willow (Salix spp) 20-60”

Good sources for many of these species:

Western Native Seed

Wind River Seed

High Country Gardens