Blake Nursery Home Page

Native Perennials	Common Name	Height	Description
Achillea millefolium	Yarrow	18-24"	Recognized by it's lacy fernlike leaves (millefolium means "a thousand leaves"). Flat-topped white flowers on self-supporting stems provide nectar for butterflies. Long blooming especially with deadheading. Seedheads attractive in winter.
Anaphalis margaritacea	Pearly Everlasting	8-36"	An upright plant with papery, round, white flowers. Foliage is woolly and silver. Excellent as a dried flower.
Antennaria microphylla	Rosy Pussytoes	4-12"	Low, mat-forming. Spreads slowly by trailing stems. Flower color varies from white to rosy.
Aquilegia coerulea	Columbine	30"	Thrives in cool, moist spots. Blue spurred blossoms with white corollas. Hummingbirds, butterflies and hawkmoths pollinate flowers.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	Kinnickinnick	3-6"	Forest groundcover prefers acidic soil. Leathery, evergreen leaves. Pink urn-shaped flowers hang downward from stem. Red berries eaten by birds and mammals; persist through the winter.
Artemisia frigida	Fringed Sage	18"	Fast growing. Mixes well with native grasses and penstemons.
Balsamorhiza sagittata	Arrowleaf Balsam root	2-3'	Solitary yellow sunflower-like blooms on long stems. Large, attractive leaves shaped like arrowheads. Birds love the seeds.
Clematis hirsutissima	Mountainspray Clematis	2'	Distinctive, bell-shaped, purple flowers on erect stems. Fuzzy seedheads. Hairy, finely-divided foliage.
Dalea purpurea	Purple Praire Clover	2-3'	Produces many purple ball-shaped flowers with elongated centers on upright stems. Fixes nitrogen in the soil.
Echinacea angustifolia	Narrow-leaf Purple Coneflower	12-24"	Pink to purple petals fall gracefully downward from bronze center. Attracts beneficial insects and butterflies. Seedheads attractive all winter.
Eriogonum umbellatum	Sulphur Buckwheat	6-12"	Ground cover for a sunny, dry spot. Leaves form evergeen or purplish mat in winter. Vibrant yellow flowers turn rust in fall. Birds eat the seeds. Good in dried arrangements. Withstands wind.
Gaillardia aristata	Blanket flower	2-3'	Bright, daisy-like flowers, yellow with red centers, attract butterflies and bees. Great for dry, sunny spots. Forms a clump with upright, spreading stems. Deadheading keeps it tidy.
Geranium viscosissimum	Sticky Geranium	12-36"	Pink to violet flowers.
Geum triflorum	Prairie Smoke	24"	Soft-textured red flowers. Feathery, pink seedheads blow in wind, like smoke. Attractive, deeply-lobed foliage turns red in fall. A distinctive groundcover.
Heuchera sanguinea	Coral Bells	12-18"	Bell-shaped pink to white flowers held on slender stems. Will bloom into early summer if deadheaded. Lends an airy appearance to the landscape.
Iris missouriensis	Rocky Mountain Iris	12-30"	Only native iris in Central Rocky Mountains. Delicate flowers vary in color from white to dark blue. Grass-like foliage.
Lewisia rediviva	Bitterroot		Narrow, succulent leaves appear with fall rains, resume growth in spring and disappear when flower is in full bloom. Beautiful, large flowers.
Liatris punctata	Gayfeather	6-24"	Bright pink to lavender flowers borne on a 6" spike. Blooms attract butterflies and bees. Seedheads are attractive in winter and good in floral arrangements.
Linum lewisii	Blue Flax	12-18"	Self-sows readily so let it spread in a naturalized short or mid-grass meadow. Dainty sky-blue flowers open in morning and fall by mid-afternoon.
Lupinus argenteus	Silvery Lupine	6-12"	Poisonous to livestock; blue flowers.
Lupinus leucophyllus	Velvet Lupine	12-30"	Lilac colored blossoms appear over densely hairy, velvety foliage. Attracts butterflies.
Lupinus sericeus	Silky or Blue Lupine	12-24"	Soft blue blossoms above hairy, silky foliage.
Mahonia repens	Creeping Oregon	1-2'	Excellent groundcover. Fragrant yellow flowers. Shiny, dark green, holly like leaves become red in fall. Blue edible fruits persist in winter.
Mimulus lewisii	Monkeyflower	1-3'	Magenta to pink flowers similar to snapdragons, but more open. Attracts hummingbirds and beneficial insects.
Oenothera caespitosa	Gumbo Lily	10-12"	Lemon yellow flowers open from red buds towards end of day and last until following morning. Lovely summer groundcover. Great bloomer even in the heat of summer. Deer generally leave this plant alone.
Penstemon cyanantus	Wasatch Penstemon	2-3'	Trumpet-shaped blue-purple flowers.
Penstemon cyaneus	Big Blue Penstemon	12-30"	Flowers are some of the deepest blue of the penstemons.
Penstemon eriantherus	Fuzzy-tongued Penstemon	8-18"	Attracts butterflies; lilac-purple flowers.
Penstemon procerus
Penstemon strictus	Rocky Mountain Penstemon	2-3'	Attracts butterflies. Dark "guidelines" on purple flowers direct insects into petal tube for pollination.
Pulsatilla patens	Pasque Flower	6-12"	Delicate, cup-shaped purple flowers.
Pulsatilla vulgaris	Pasque Flower	9-12"	Earliest of spring bloomers. Deep purple flowers open to a bright yellow center. Seedheads turn to feathery plumes that persist through early summer.
Ratibida columnifera	Prairie Coneflower	18-24"	Yellow to red flowers top slender stalks. Petals droop slightly away from the center. Does well in naturalized settings.
Sphaeralcea coccinea	Scarlet Globemallow	6-8"	Excellent between paving stones or for edging. Red to orange flowers held above attractive, silver-green foliage. Mat-forming. Attracts butterflies.

Flowers Flowers Flowers

Native Grasses	Common Name	Height	Description
Achnatherum hymenoides	Indian Rice Grass
Andropogon gerardii	Big Blue Stem	3-8'	Distinctive three-parted seedheads shaped like a turkey's foot. Lush green leaves change to reddish-cooper in fall. Provides cover and seeds for birds.
Bouteloua gracilis	Blue Grama	10-20"	Warm season bunchgrass. Short stature makes it excellent mixed with wildflowers in shortgrass meadows. Decorative seedheads.
Festuca idahoensis	Idaho Fescue	12"	Bluish, wiry leaves. Tolerates wind.
Leymus cinereus	Basin Wild Rye	5-8'
Pseudoroegneria spicata	Bluebunch Wheatgrass	3-5'	Accent plant with upright flowering spikes and true green leaf blades. Provides nesting cover and seeds for birds.
Schizachyrium scoparium	Little Bluestem	1-4'	Warm season bunchgrass begins growth in midsummer. Reddish fall color is stunning in mass plantings or singly. Seedheads attractive in winter. Stands up well in snow. Provides cover and seeds for birds.
Sorghastrum nutans	Indian Grass	5'	Striking accent plant with dramatic, silky golden brown seedheads in autumn. Reddish- orange fall color.
Stipa comata	Needle and Thread Grass	2'	Tufted clump grass with unusual seedheads in July that dry and persist through late fall.


We also carry a custom wildflower seed mix, which is adapted to Montana growing conditions. This mix includes both annual and perennial species. Ask us about how to plant a successful wildflower meadow!