Dr. Danesha Seth Carley, assistant professor of horticultural science at North Carolina State University, recommends the following low-maintenance perennial native plants for pollinator-friendly gardens:

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Asters
Photo courtesy of Flickr user Anna Richards

Asters – Full sun; well-drained soil. Hardy, short and tall varieties in many colors bloom summer through late fall.

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North Carolina Field & Family Spring 2026
Flip through the pages of the Spring 2026 edition of North Carolina Field and Family magazine. In this issue, impress your guests with creative yet easy spring holiday recipes, learn how farmers face challenges planning the future of their farmland, meet some North Carolina beef producers raising the steaks, start your engines with eight reasons to visit Richmond County, get crabby with Sheri Castle’s Deviled Crab recipe and much more.

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