2025 Plant Give-Away List

The list below includes an image of each plant with information about light requirements, height, bloom period, moisture requirements, and general notes.

The images below show mature plants. During Monarch Fest, you will receive a small plant that is primarily developing it's root system. It may not bloom this year, but should take off next year and beyond.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Light:  Full to Part Sun
Height:  1-2 feet
Bloom Period:  June-August
Moisture Req.:  Medium-Dry
  • Deer resistant
  • Beneficial to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds
  • Host plant for 12 species of butterflies & moths including: Monarch Butterflies, Unexpected & Delicate Cycnia Moths, Milkweed Tussock Moths, Area Katydids
  • Has a thick woody taproot that goes several feet deep
  • Difficult to transplant once established.
  • Not an aggressive spreader; can spread by seeds if seedpods are not removed
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) 
Light:  Full to Part Sun
Height:  3-5 feet
Bloom Period:  June-August
Moisture Req.:  Medium-Dry
  • Deer resistant
  • Beneficial to many pollinators
  • Host plant for 12 species of butterflies & moths including: Monarch Butterflies, Unexpected & Delicate Cycnia Moths, Milkweed Tussock Moths, Area Katydids
  • Has a deep tap root
  • Choose location carefully, spreads aggressively by underground runners; can also spread by seeds if seedpods are not removed
Early Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
Light: Full to Part Sun
Height: 3-5 feet
Bloom Period: June-August
Moisture Req.: Medium
  • Deer Resistant
  • Beneficial to a multitude of pollinators including Holcopasites heliopis and other Aster family specialist bees
  • Host plant for 2 species of moths and a variety of other insects
  • Seeds provide fall and winter food for birds
  • Root system is fibrous
  • Cheerful, easy to grow and quick to develop. A short-lived perennial​ that can spread by seed, but not aggressively. ​​​
Eastern Beebalm (Monarda bradburiana)
Light:  Full to Part Sun
Height:  1-2 feet
Bloom Period:  June-July
Moisture Req.: Medium 
  • Deer resistant
  • Beneficial to numerous pollinators, including at least one specialist bee, hummingbird moths, and hummingbirds
  • Host plant to 11 species of moths including: Hermit Sphinx Moth, Pink-patched Looper Moth, Gray Marvel Moth
  • Leaves have a minty smell; can be used for tea and have beautiful fall color
  • Dense colonies may form from the rhizomes. Less aggressive than other monardas
  • Easy to grow and very durable! Not as susceptible to powdery mildew as other monardas
Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus)
Light:  Full Sun to Shade
Height:  18 inches
Bloom Period:  May-June
Moisture Req.:  Medium-Dry
  • Deer resistant
  • Beneficial to many kinds of bees and hummingbirds
  • Host plant for 10 species of butterflies and moths including: Common Buckeye, Baltimore Checkerspot, Confused Haploa
  • The native specialist bee Osmia distincta prefers this flower
  • Root system is fibrous
  • Spreads by seed
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Light:  Full to Part Sun
Height:  3-4 feet
Bloom Period:  Late June-July
Moisture Req.: Medium
  • Deer resistant
  • Beneficial for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and songbirds
  • Host plant for several species of butterflies and moths including: Silvery Checkerspot, Blackberry Looper, Sunflower Moth
  • 63 native specialist bees prefer this flower!
  • The root system is fibrous and short rhizomatous; small colonies of plants may form from the rhizomes
  • Very popular and easy to grow
Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Height:  2 feet
Bloom Period:  May
Moisture Req.:  Medium-Dry
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  • Deer resistant
  • Beneficial to hummingbirds and bumble bees
  • Host plant for 11 species of butterflies & moths including: Columbine Duskywing, Pink-patched Looper Moth, Smoky Carpet Moth
  • Has deep fibrous roots
  • Spreads by seed to form attractive groundcover
  • Very easy to maintain once established; will need protected from drought the first year
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Short's Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii)
Light:  Part Sun to Shade
Height:  3 ft
Bloom Period:  August - October
Moisture Req.:  Medium 
  • Provides nectar and pollen late in the season for many pollinators including several species of specialist bees
  • A winter food source for several birds and small mammals
  • Host plant for 12 species of butterflies and moths including:  Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly, Pearl Crescent Butterfly, Asteroid Moth
  • Provides color for your woodland area well into fall
  • The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous.
  • Colonies of plants occasionally develop from rhizomes; also spreads by seeds 
Shrubby St. John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum)
Light:  Full to Part Sun
Height:  2-4 feet
Bloom Period:  June-July
Moisture Req.:  Medium


 
 
  • Deer resistant
  • Loved by bumble bees
  • Host plant for 23 species of butterflies and moths including: Gray Hairstreak, Wavy-Lined Emerald, Burgundy St. John’s Wort Moth, Gray Half-Spot Moth
  • Develops slowly, but is extremely easy to grow with a nice compact habit; highly recommended for home landscaping
  • The root system is woody and branching
  • Spreads by seeds
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Light:  Full to Part Sun
Height:  3-4 feet
Bloom Period:  June-August
Moisture Req.:  Wet-Medium
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  • Deer resistant
  • Beneficial to numerous pollinators
  • Host plant for 12 species of butterflies & moths including: Monarch Butterflies, Unexpected & Delicate Cycnia Moths, Milkweed Tussock Moths, Area Katydids
  • Sweet fragrance
  • The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous
  • Colonies of plants occasionally develop; can spread by seeds if seedpods are not removed
Monarch Fest Menu
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Christ the King Lutheran Church
7393 Dimmick Rd., West Chester, OH  45069
Office: (513) 777-4370