Top picks for flowers

Mountain mint is a native alternative to the mint you get at grocery stores, which attracts over 50 different types of pollinators. It also blooms from July-September, so if you need the most bang for your buck this will get the job done. Its also deer-resistant! Be careful though, as this spreads a lot. It grows about 1-3' and loves the sun, and will grow in any soil. It will die back in winter but is perennial so it will come back next year. 

Joe Pry-weed loves full sun and can grow up to 8' tall! It likes to be kept wet with good soil (like compost) and does not do well under heavy deer, but normally deer don't like it. But, all butterflies love it, and it's the host plant for the Swallowtail butterfly! Joe pry-weed blooms from mid-summer to fall and dies back in the winter but keep the stems! They make for good habitat for overwintering birds! 

Ironweed is another tall plant (8') that prefers the same types of soil and conditions as Joe-Pry weed. (moist rich soil, full sun). It is deer-resistant. It is a great pollinator for many bees and birds like to nest in the stems. It blooms from mid-summer to mid-fall. It will die back in winter but is perennial so it will come back next year. 

Climbing Aster is very versatile, although it likes to climb on structures, (it can go up to 10') it will also take a bush shape if cut back heavily. It prefers full sun with average to wet. It is deer-resistant and blooms from late summer until frost. lots of small mammals and birds like to feed on the seeds and shelter in the vines. It will not die back in winter but will lose its leaves. It is also perennial so it will come back next year. 

Swamp milkweed grows up to 3-5'. Although it prefers wet soils, it also can be grown in drier soils. It needs full sun, does well in clay, and is deer-resistant. It is the BEST host plant for the monarch butterfly (It used to be widespread throughout much of the Southeast but is now much rarer)and also supports hummingbirds and late-season bloomers. In the winter this has seed pods and dies back which makes a good wildlife habitat.  

Eastern Bluestar is a small (2-4') climbing (2-3' wide) deer/rabbit-resistant flower that prefers part sun and rich soils but will do fine in full sun and poor soil. Once they are established they are very drought tolerant. These flowers provide a very good wildlife shelter and are excellent larval food for hummingbirds, hummingbird moths, butterflies, bees, and more.  It blooms from late spring to early summer, and has pretty yellow colors in the fall then dies back in the winter.

Cardinal Flower is a tall part shade (full sun in cooler temperatures 3-6') clumping semi-deer-resistant (they might eat the young shoots) flower enjoyed by all types of butterflies and bees, although it mostly attracts hummingbirds. Cardinal flower needs to be kept wet all the time, and cannot handle drought. This flower blooms from July to September and will die back in winter but is perennial so it will come back next year. 

Rattlesnake master is a medium (4-5') sun-loving flower that does best in dry, poor soil. (it actually does worse in good soil). Lots of native insects like this plant such as butterflies, bees, wasps, flies, beetles, and moths, and is great for general pollination. It also has a long bloom time ranging from late May to early September. This plant will die back in winter but is perennial so it will come back next year. 

Spiked wild indigo is a short (1-2') sun-loving deer-resistant perennial that blooms from May to July. It prefers rich or poor soil and prevents moist or dry soil once established. They attract butterflies and bees, seed-eating songbirds and other incests.