Transform Your Outdoor Space With Roots to Shoots Landscape Design

 Milkweed is essential for monarch butterflies, currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Planting the right species for your region makes all the difference — and this variety is well suited to the monarch migration path through the Salt Lake area. By adding it to your landscape, you directly support their survival while strengthening local pollinator health and biodiversity. 

 Evening Primrose is a pollinator favorite, especially for sphinx moths that depend on its night-blooming flowers. Don’t worry if caterpillars nibble it in early summer — this resilient native rebounds quickly, reseeds easily, and can grow 5–6 feet tall, supporting birds, bees, and other beneficial wildlife. 

 Utah Sweet Vetch is as hardworking as it is beautiful. This vibrant magenta-purple native fixes nitrogen in the soil (a natural fertilizer!), helps stabilize slopes with its deep roots, and attracts a variety of bees and pollinators. 

 Globemallow glows with vibrant orange blooms that seem to catch the evening light. Well adapted to Salt Lake County’s dry, sunny conditions, this hardy native supports pollinators, anchors soil with deep roots, and brings warmth and resilience to even the toughest landscapes. 

 Blue Flax thrives in even the harshest conditions — as shown here growing between a fence and driveway where weeds once took over. Its delicate blue blooms open fresh each day, while this drought-tolerant native suppresses weeds and provides food and shelter for a more vibrant, thriving ecosystem. 

 Hummingbird Carpet is a low, spreading groundcover that draws hummingbirds with its nectar-rich blooms. Well suited to Utah’s dry climate, it adds bright color while helping fill in open spaces naturally. 

 Yarrow has been valued for centuries as both a healing herb and a beneficial garden companion. Drought-tolerant and easy to grow, it attracts pollinators, supports beneficial insects, and brings delicate texture to sunny landscapes. 

 Comfrey is a dynamic accumulator with deep roots that pull nutrients from below the soil surface, making it a valuable companion plant in productive gardens. Its bell-shaped flowers are loved by bees, and its lush leaves can be used to build healthy compost. 

 Borage is a fast-growing companion plant known for attracting bees and other pollinators all season long. Its star-shaped blue flowers are edible, and its lush growth helps support soil health while filling garden spaces naturally. 

 California Poppy adds a sweep of vibrant orange to the garden with delicate, silky blooms that open in the sun. Easy to grow and drought-tolerant, it attracts pollinators and reseeds readily for seasons of color. 

 Chamomile brings delicate, daisy-like blooms and a light apple-like fragrance to the garden. Easy to grow and gentle in appearance, it attracts pollinators while offering a long tradition of calming herbal use. 

 Creeping Thyme is a low-growing, durable groundcover that works beautifully between pavers or as a water-wise alternative to traditional grass. Its dense growth helps suppress weeds, small blooms attract pollinators throughout the season, and when gently stepped on, it releases a lovely herbal fragrance.