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Plants that grow well in sun
Missouri primrose | Oenothera macrocarpa
Also called glade lily, this plant is found in Missouri’s glades, bluffs and rocky prairies.
- Flowers: May–August
- Mature height, 10 inches; spread, 24–26 inches
- Has multiple stems that trail along the ground
- Lemon-yellow flowers are up to 4 inches wide
- Flowers open in late afternoon for night pollination by moths
Missouri black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia missouriensis
Also called Missouri coneflower, this plant is found throughout the Ozarks on limestone and dolomite glades and in rocky prairies.
- Flowers: June–October
- Mature height, 12–30 inches; spread 16–24 inches
- Can dominate barren, rocky areas in full sun
- Thrives in well-drained soil with full sun
Butterfly milkweed | Asclepias tuberosa
A vibrant wildflower, butterfly milkweed inhabits prairies, glades, and rocky, open places such as roadsides throughout the state.
- Flowers: May–September
- Mature height, 18–24 inches; spread, 24 inches
- Makes an excellent source of nectar for many butterflies
- Provides food for monarch butterfly caterpillars
- Grows best in well-drained soil
Prairie blazing star | Liatris pycnostachya
Found on prairies and rocky, open ground, this plant grows wild nearly statewide and makes an excellent landscaping choice.
- Flowers: July–October
- Mature height, 36–48 inches; spread, 12–14 inches
- Can produce 10 or more flowering stems on older plants
- Often visited by bumblebees, butterflies, and other pollinators in summer
- Prefers average to moist soils
Purple prairie clover | Dalea purpurea
A legume of prairies, glades and other open habitats, purple prairie clover grows wild throughout the state, except in the lowland counties in southeastern Missouri.
- Flowers: May–September
- Mature height, 18–24 inches; spread, 16–20 inches
- Grows well in dry soils
- Is a favorite for home landscapes