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  1. Midwest Living
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  4. 15 of the Best Plants for Creating a Meditation Garden At Home

15 of the Best Plants for Creating a Meditation Garden At Home

By Midwest Living editors Updated January 09, 2022
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Showy Milkweed
Credit: Bob Stefko

You can meditate in any outdoor space—even your backyard. Learn more about plants that stimulate your senses through color, scent and texture.

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Showy Milkweed

Showy Milkweed
Credit: Bob Stefko

 Native Americans used the  fibers of Asclepias speciose to make ropes and nets; in the garden, it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

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Blood Grass

Blood Grass
Credit: Bob Stefko

The flame-like red tips on this drought-tolerant grass (Imperata cylindrica) intensify in hue through the growing season.

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Red Beebalm

Red Beebalm
Credit: Bob Stefko

Hummingbirds are drawn to these red-flowering natives (Monarda didyma), and their leaves offer a minty fragrance.

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'Karl Foerster Reed Gras'

'Karl Foerster Reed Grass'
Credit: Bob Stefko

In a sensory garden, feathery grasses tempt visitors to touch and engage with the plants.

Related: 12 Fragrant Flowers That Bring Natural Aromatherapy to Outdoor Spaces

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Blazing Star

Blazing Star
Credit: Bob Stefko

This prairie native (Liatris spicata) brings vertical interest to a garden. Plus, its purple spikes draw bumblebees and butterflies.

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Pale Purple Coneflower

Pale Purple Coneflower
Credit: Bob Stefko

Plant purple or yellow varieties of this prairie icon (Echinacea). The dainty pale purple coneflower (E. pallida) blooms in June while its deeper purple cousin (E. purpea) blooms in July. For yellow blooms, try gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) and cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniate).

Related: 12 Top Midwest Perennial Flowers

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Sunflowers

Sunflowers
Credit: Bob Stefko

 These taller flowers (Helianthus) create vertical interest at eye level. Try both annual and perennial varieties.

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Swamp Milkweed

Swamp Milkweed
Credit: Bob Stefko

Pink clustered blooms draw a plethora of pollinators to this Monarch host plant (Asclepias incarnata).

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Garden Phlox

Garden Phlox
Credit: Bob Stefko

These large purple flowering clusters (Phlox paniculata) attract butterflies and hummingbirds and offer a spicy vanilla-clove perfume.

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Ohio Spiderwort

Ohio Spiderwort
Credit: Bob Stefko

The blue-violet flower clusters (Tradescantia ohiensis) open in the morning and close by afternoon.

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Sedum

Sedum
Credit: Bob Stefko

These succulents, aka stonecrops, take heat well and add low-growing texture to rock gardens and borders.

Related: 15 Easy Midwest Groundcovers

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Sea Holly

Sea Holly
Credit: Bob Stefko

The silvery leaves and blue blooms of Eryngium stand out in perennial borders and add striking texture to arrangements.

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Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed
Credit: Bob Stefko

Asclepias tuberosa lures legions of monarchs and queen butterflies.

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Little Bluestem

Little Bluestem
Credit: Bob Stefko

 This textural blue-green grass (Schizachyrium scoparium 'Standing Ovation) turns a striking crimson in fall and is an important food source for wildlife.

Related: Want to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden? Here's What to Plant for Gorgeous Color (and Visitors) All Spring

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Spike Speedwell

Spike Speedwell
Credit: Bob Stefko

The deep blue-purple flowers of 'Royal Candles' attract both hummingbirds and butterflies.

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Labyrinth mindfulness garden

aerial view of meditation garden
Credit: Bob Stefko

Heady herbs, dewy leaves and whirring bees wind through Annamarie Fernyak's meditation labyrinth in Ohio, created with the plants featured in this slideshow and others.

Related: How Your Garden Can Help You Achieve Ultimate Mindfulness

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    1 of 16 Showy Milkweed
    2 of 16 Blood Grass
    3 of 16 Red Beebalm
    4 of 16 'Karl Foerster Reed Gras'
    5 of 16 Blazing Star
    6 of 16 Pale Purple Coneflower
    7 of 16 Sunflowers
    8 of 16 Swamp Milkweed
    9 of 16 Garden Phlox
    10 of 16 Ohio Spiderwort
    11 of 16 Sedum
    12 of 16 Sea Holly
    13 of 16 Butterfly Weed
    14 of 16 Little Bluestem
    15 of 16 Spike Speedwell
    16 of 16 Labyrinth mindfulness garden

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