The following list of plants are 12-30″ tall and do well in average to lean soil. Most are native to the central part of the US and can grow in a wide variety of USDA hardiness zones. They can be used to complement tall plants including grasses, to provide more texture and color. The color pallet is wide and ranges from white, yellow, orange, pink and red, to blue and purple. Further interest can be added to a meadow garden with annuals and groundcovers. Photo Credit Sten, Wikipedia Commons
Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Native Range: Throughout North America
Height: 24″
Width: 24″
Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
Bloom Color: White
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
Photo Credit: SAplants, Wikipedia
Sunset hyssop (Agastache rupestris)
Native range: Southwestern US
Height: 24″
Width: 30″
Bloom Time: Mid-summer to early fall
Bloom Color: Orange-lavender
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4b-10
Photo Credit: Atilin, Wikimedia Commons
Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
Native Range: North America
Height: 24″
Width: 18″
Bloom Time: Late summer
Bloom Color: White
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
Photo Credit: Ayotte, Gilles, Wikimedia commons
Fringed Sage (Artemisia frigida)
Native Range: North America
Height: 12″
Width: 12″
Bloom Time: Late summer
Bloom Color: Yellow
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10
Photo Credit: Jim Pisarowicz , Wikimedia Commons
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Native Range: Eastern and southern US
Height: 18″
Width: 12″
Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
Bloom Color: Orange-yellow
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Photo Credit: Derek Ramsey, Wikimedia Commons
Wholeleaf Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja integra)
Native Range: Southwestern US
Height: 16″
Width: 12″
Bloom Time: Early summer to mid fall
Bloom Color: Orange-red
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-10
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)
Native Range: Central US, Great Plains
Height: 18″
Width: 18″
Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
Bloom Color: Rose-purple
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Narrow-leaf Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)
Native Range: Central southeast to southwest US
Height: 18″
Width: 12″
Bloom Time: Mid summer
Bloom Color: Light pink to pale purple
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
Photo Credit: Dy-e, Wikimedia Commons
Aspen fleabane (Erigeron speciosus)
Native Range: Western US
Height: 24″
Width: 18″
Bloom Time: Late summer
Bloom Color: Purple
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
Photo Credit: Kor!An, Wikimedia Commons
Dotted Blazing Star (Liatris punctata)
Native Range: Central US
Height: 24″
Width: 12″
Bloom Time: Mid summer to early fall
Bloom Color: Purple
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin, Wikimedia Commons
Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata)
Native Range: Eastern US
Height: 20″
Width: 12″
Bloom Time: Early to mid-summer
Bloom Color: Cream pink and lavender
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Photo Credit: Ted Bodner, Wikimedia Commons