6 Wildflowers with 'Weed' Names That Are Garden Gems

I don't have many weeds anymore—dense perennials outcompete them. When I see something out of place, its fate depends on my mood. But "out of place" is funny; many thriving plants grow exactly where they want. We often disdain weeds in the wild, assuming roadside wildflowers are weeds—if they weren't, they wouldn't grow in such inhospitable places, right?

What is a weed? In home gardens, weeds are plants we didn't put there—blown in or carried by wildlife. But sometimes a weed is a doorway to knowing local plants, what thrives, what insects prefer. It's unfortunate many beneficial natives have "weed" in their common name. Can we reprogram ourselves to see that as an attribute, not a liability? As winter catalogs arrive, don't let a weedy name scare you off—here are six plants to consider.

Sneezeweed

(Helenium autumnale)
Native to almost every U.S. state.

This lovely late-summer to early-fall bloomer gets its name from outdated practice of snorting dried leaves to induce sneezes, driving out evil spirits. Sneezeweed pollen is heavy, insect-carried (like goldenrod), not wind-borne—so it won't make you sneeze.

Grows 2–4 feet tall in medium to moist soil, full sun. Winter seed heads feed birds and create nice form en masse. Try in rain garden or low-lying area with consistent moisture.

Rosin Weed

(Silphium integrifolium)
Native to central U.S., Louisiana north to Minnesota, Kansas east to Tennessee.

Named for sticky resin once used as chewing gum. Lovely plant blooming earlier than common sunflowers, often mistaken for milkweed early season. Deep taproot makes it especially drought-tolerant in slightly moist to dry soil. Slowly spreads by rhizomes, but at 2–4 feet tall, never imposing. Fantastic pollinator plant; seeds attract mammals and birds.

Photo by F.D. Richards

Tall Thimbleweed

(Anemone virginiana)
Native almost everywhere in eastern half of U.S.

Once petals fall, bloom head elongates into thimble-like structure. Summer-blooming, 3-foot-tall plant in woodland to meadow settings, attracting bees, flies, beneficial wasps. Prefers rich soil with consistent moisture.

Photo by Joshua Mayer

Butterfly Weed and Milkweed

(Asclepias tuberosa and Asclepias spp.)
Native from Minnesota southwest to Arizona, all points east to Maine and Florida.

Once scourges of farmers/ranchers; kids told to yank out milkweed (common A. syriaca or showy A. speciosa). Such thinking caused monarch butterfly decline and pollinator loss—milkweed hosts many bugs/beetles, not just monarchs. Orange butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) does great in dry, sunny areas; ≤2 feet tall; bright orange blooms.

See how to grow milkweed

Ironweed

(Vernonia spp.)
Native to most of eastern half of U.S.

Common name from rusty seed head color, not wind resistance—though quite stout in strong breeze. Several species; most common tall ironweed (Vernonia altissima), 5+ feet in full sun, moist to medium soil, boon to late-season pollinators.

Other species: common ironweed (V. fasciculata), Missouri ironweed (V. missurica), New York ironweed (V. noveboracensis), western ironweed (V. baldwinii).

See how to grow ironweed

Joe Pye Weed

(Eupatorium purpureum)
Native from Minnesota south to Arkansas, east to East Coast.

Joe Pye Weed and butterfly milkweed (and cultivars) are two of the most common "weeds" sold in nurseries. Reaches 5–7 feet, loves medium to moist soil, full sun to partial shade. Butterflies flock mid to late summer; several bee species too.

Other Joe Pye Weeds: spotted (E. maculatum), native to most northern U.S.; hollow (E. fistulosum), native Maine to Florida, west to Indiana and Louisiana.

See how to grow Joe Pye Weed

Tell us: Do you have any "weeds" you like to grow? What wildlife benefits do they offer?