Plants have stories to tell. I created Ioana Talk Plants to explore native plants, wildflowers, pollinators, ecology, and the fascinating relationships that connect plants to the world around us.
Through approachable videos and field guides, I hope to help you recognize the plants around you, understand why they matter, and discover ways to support healthier ecosystems.
Plant of the Week
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Why it matters.
A familiar prairie wildflower with a remarkable relationship to pollinators. Purple coneflower brings months of color to the garden while providing nectar, pollen, and later seeds for wildlife.
Bloom: June–August
Sun: Full sun
Height: 2–4 ft
Wildlife: Bees, butterflies & birds
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Featured Native Species
Featured Plant Spotlights
Dive deeper into these resilient native species, crucial for supporting local ecosystems and attracting diverse pollinators to your garden.
Purple Coneflower — Echinacea purpurea
Yellow Coneflower — Ratibida pinnata
Missouri Goldenrod — Solidago missouriensis
A prairie favorite that provides nectar for butterflies and other pollinators, with seeds that attract birds later in the season.
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Tall, graceful blooms bring bright summer color to native gardens while supporting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
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A late-season native wildflower that provides valuable nectar and pollen when many other plants have finished blooming.
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Seasonal Plant Guide
Spring
Summer
Fall
New beginnings
Full of life
Seeds & color
Spring ephemerals, prairie smoke, violets, and early pollinator plants begin to appear.
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Coneflowers, milkweeds, blazing stars, and other prairie favorites support peak pollinator activity.
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Goldenrods, asters, and native grasses provide late-season food and habitat.
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Winter
Beauty remains
Seed heads, dried grasses, stems, and berries continue to support wildlife and reveal the structure of native plants.
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Botanical Episodes
Plant education, native species, ecology, and more from Ioana Talk Plants.
Purple Coneflower
Yellow Coneflower
Missouri Goldenrod
Meet one of the prairie’s most recognizable native wildflowers and discover its value to pollinators and wildlife.
Explore this distinctive native prairie plant, its unusual flowers, habitat, and ecological connections.
Discover a beautiful late-season native that provides important resources for pollinators.
Learn & Explore
Start here to build your plant knowledge.
Pollinators
Native vs. Invasive Plants
Plant Parts
Habitat
Discover how bees, butterflies, and other insects help plants reproduce and support healthy ecosystems.
Learn how native plants support biodiversity and how invasive species can disrupt local ecosystems.
Explore roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds—and learn what each part does.
See how sunlight, moisture, soil, and climate shape the plant communities around us.
Give Plants a Chance
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