Bee Plants

Maryland Goldenaster is a clump forming native perennial whose silky-edged rosette of foliage is barely noticed much of the year but in fall it bursts into color producing a multitude of 18-24" stems that are topped by large clusters of nearly 1" wide golden yellow daisies. The perfect native replacement for mums in the fall garden and one of our favorite fall flowering native perennials. The Maryland Goldenaster is generally found in sandy, well-drained soils in full sun to partially shaded locations and is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. This is sure to brighten up the late summer and fall meadow, prairie, or roadside as well. It provides bees and smaller butterflies with a much needed source of pollen and nectar late in the season. Item# 10687

Large clusters of lightly fragrant very pale-blue flowers, that appear white from any distance, are produced in early spring and are held well above the deep dark green foliage. May Breeze Phlox was selected by renown Netherland landscape architect Piet Oudolf for its vigor and near white coloration. This Woodland Phlox  is an excellent choice for lightly to partially shaded gardens, as a groundcover under deciduous trees. Provide shade during the hottest portion of the day in hot summer climates and a well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Easy and reliable once established. The flowers provide early spring nectar to butterflies and other pollinators. Item# 12352

The Maypop Passionvine or Passion Flower produces a summer long display of 2-3" wide white, lavender, and purple exotic flowers that are held against medium green tropical foliage. Pollinated flowers are followed by round passion fruit that ripen to yellow and contain a tangy tropical tasting clear flesh that surrounds each of the small black inedible seeds. This easy to grow perennial native vine can grow to 15-18' each year if given a suitable support but it is also happy to clamber along a fence, trellis, or any other support that it can grasp with its strong tendrils. Provide a well-drained soil and a full to mostly sunny position for the best results. Caterpillar host: Gulf Fritillary, Julia Butterfly, Variegated Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing. Click on "More Details and Growing Info" or the image to learn more about growing Passionvines as perennials in containers or in the garden and landscape. Item# 500

Medium pink trumpets with deep pink throats are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop sturdy stems. Mayan™ Pink Ruellia or Mexican Petunia is a relatively new seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. In many regards it is similar to but outperforms Purple Showers in overall flower power and disease resistance. It is also a tetraploid so the funnel-shaped flowers are slightly larger than your typical Mexican Petunias. The Mexican Petunia is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous or spreading, tropical perennial that is grown as a die-back perennial in zones 8-9. It can be grown as a low maintenance container specimen plant, in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. It can also be used as a tall groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full sun to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12436

Deep violet trumpets are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop sturdy stems. Mayan™ Purple Ruellia or Mexican Petunia is a relatively new seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. In many regards it is similar to but outperforms Purple Showers in overall flower power and disease resistance. It is also a tetraploid so the funnel-shaped flowers are slightly larger than your typical Mexican Petunias. The Mexican Petunia is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous or spreading, tropical perennial that is grown as a die-back perennial in zones 8-9. It can be grown as a low maintenance container specimen plant, in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. It can also be used as a tall groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full sun to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12435

These Coneflowers are produced with a range of ray colors from creamy yellow, through banana yellow, and into mango and pumpkin. Mellow Yellows Coneflower, a seed grown selection of Echinacea purpurea developed by Jelitto® Seed that has taken 20 years to develop, was selected for its better and more consistent branching habit, larger deeper colored flowers and scapes, and improved disease resistance. Coneflowers are clump forming perennials whose often fragrant flowers are adored by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators that can be enjoyed as part of the sunny garden garden and landscape as well as container specimens. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Periodic deadheading will keep the plants looking clean and may help promote continuous flowering. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile, preferably mineral soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Photos courtesy of Jelitto® Seed, all rights reserved. Item# 12794

Large, semi-double, pale apricot pink fading darker toward the tips and especially on the outer rows of petals into rose and scarlet all centered by a large boss of gold tipped stamens on white filaments and are produced late in the season, March to April. The pollen laden flowers are sure to attract bees and other pollinators. Meredith Camellia is a large type Japonica with a moderate rate of growth, densely branching habit, and is cloaked in dark green glossy foliage eventually developing into a large upright and rounded evergreen shrub. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13236

The typical Mexican Butterfly Weed that produces clusters of orange to red-orange flowers with contrasting sunny yellow centers are produced from mid to late spring to frost or nearly year round under warm tropical conditions. An excellent host plant for Monarch, Queen, and Soldier Butterflies. It has a naturally upright to vase shaped habit and the stems are adorned with medium sized deep green narrow foliage. Mexican Butterfly Weed can be grown as a short-lived (2-3 years usually) die-back perennial in zones 8-9, it should remain evergreen in zone 10, and is commonly grown as an annual in colder zones. Makes a wonderful heat and sunloving plant with something of a tropical look. Use Mexican Butterfly Weed at the back of the perennial border or in mixed combination pots. Item# 502

Clusters of bright orange 1-2" wide, daisy-like flowers with a yellow 'eye' that matures to orange are produced throughout the growing season to potentially year-round under warm frost free conditions. The Mexican Flame Vine, Senecio confusus, a.k.a Pseudogynoxis chenopodioides, is a naturally evergreen, small to medium-sized, herbaceous, twining tropical vine whose nectar and pollen-laden flowers are favored by butterflies, especially migrating Monarchs, as well as bees and hummingbirds. It is known to be a root hardy perennial in zones 9-10 and even in 8B if provided with a breathable insulative mulch for winter. It can be easily overwintered as a container plant and it is vigorous enough to enjoy as an annual where not hardy. Use this easy and vigorous vine on trellises and fences or allow it to spill from a hanging basket. Provide the Mexican Flame Vine with a full to partly sunny site in an average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 505

2-3" wide rounded clusters of white to light rose pink flowers, sometimes with green to purple tones, are produced in late spring and summer attracting bees and other smaller pollinators. Mexican Whorled Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, is considered one of the better native Milkweeds for garden culture. This West Coast native, rhizomatous perennial grows to about 2-3' high and spreads to about 2-3' wide with its many stems adorned in narrow medium green foliage and are readily utilized by Monarch butterflies as a larval food source. It is highly drought resistant once fully established though plants tend to look and flower best under average moisture conditions. Mexican Whorled Milkweed is found in all West Coast states including into Idaho, Utah, and Nevada as well as into Baja Mexico. Provide a full to mostly sunny site, in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Naturally enters dormancy in late summer returning in spring. Caterpillar host: Queen and Monarch. Item# 12974

Rich purplish-pink, ruffly edged, nearly 3" wide flowers with a deep red-purple blotch and darker flecking are produced in midspring and are held against a foil of medium to coarse-textured foliage with the flowers attracting bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and curious passersby. Michaele Lux Evergreen Azalea is an unusual and uncommon Aromi hybrid that develops into a small to medium-sized, densely branched shrub. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Images courtesy of Maarten Van der Giessen, Van der Giessens Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 12573

This is the male pollinator for Finch's Gold and Warren's Red Possumhaw Hollies and so it only produces the dainty white and green flowers that attract bees and small pollinators but these plants do not set fruit. The female Possumhaw Holly, Ilex decidua, is also readily pollinated by the American Holly, Ilex opaca, and most any other native male holly that flowers at the same time as the female Possumhaws and one male can effectively pollinate several females. They do not necessarily have to planted next to one another but should be in the vicinity where the bees can transfer pollen. This is a large growing, multi-stemmed, native deciduous shrub or small tree that has few if any pests or diseases. They are quite tolerant of growing conditions from average moisture, to wet, to periodically flooded sites in full sun to partly shaded sites. Item# 12749

Small, single to semi-double, red to red-burgundy flowers centered by a large boss of contrasting yellow stamens are produced early in the season, October to November, and the pollen laden flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Midnight Lover Sasanqua Camellia is a moderate to vigorous growing, large evergreen shrub with medium-textured, deep green, glossy foliage and reliable zone 7 cold hardiness. Its vigor lends it to use as a screen, hedge, or specimen plant. The Sasanqua Camellias are much more tolerant of growing conditions than standard Japonica Camellias and can tolerate less than perfect soils and full sun to light shade conditions. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13235

The deep maroon foliage provides a contrasting foil for the ball-like clusters of 2" long, tubular light pink flowers whose nectar and pollen attract a variety of pollinators like hummingbirds, larger butterflies, and long-tongued bees. Midnight Oil Eastern Beebalm, a selection of Monarda bradburiana, is a many stemmed, clump-forming to slowly spreading, upright growing, native, herbaceous perennial selected for its unique, dark and mysterious foliage. This species is noted for its earlier flowering, excellent disease resistance, a naturally shorter 18-24" high habit, drought resistance as compared to other species of Monarda, and tolerance for thinner, poorer, and/or gravelly soils. Plants may lose foliage when drought stressed so average moisture is generally preferred under garden conditions. Provide a full to mostly sunny to partially shaded site in well-drained, average moist soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Brent Horvath, Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13167

Spikes of deep dark red two-lipped tubular flowers are produced from spring to fall atop this dwarf densely branching perennial Salvia. A 5-star performer in Salvia trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens! Mirage™ Cherry Red Salvia, a form of Autumn Sage or Salvia greggii, was selected for its heat and cold tolerance, and exceptional flower power. Its dwarf and compact habit is perfectly suited for use as a low maintenance and forgiving container specimen as well as in hot and sunny garden and landscape settings. The dark colored flowers are sure to attract low flying hummingbirds as well as the occassional butterfly and larger bees with its nectar rich flowers. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions and never keep soggy wet. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 12204

Spikes of deep rose tubular buds open to display starkly contrasting near white lower petals creating a bright two-tone effect and are produced from spring to fall atop this densely branching perennial Salvia with excellent flower power. The top performer in trials at Welby Flower Trials in 2020! Mirage™ Rose Bicolor Salvia, a form of Autumn Sage or Salvia greggii, was selected for its heat and cold tolerance, and exceptional flower power. Its vigorous well-branched semi-compact habit is perfectly suited for use as a low maintenance and forgiving container specimen as well as in hot and sunny garden and landscape settings. The two-toned flowers are sure to attract low flying hummingbirds as well as the occassional butterfly and larger bees with its nectar rich flowers. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions and never keep soggy wet. Images courtesy of Darwin Perennials, all rights reserved. Item# 12423

Ooh la la! The medium to large, semi-double, deep red flowers are heavily marbled with starkly contrasting white and are centered by contrasting golden stamens with flowering occurring over an extended period from mid to late season, January to April. The pollen laden flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Miss Charleston Variegated Camellia is a highly sought after, large flowered Japonica with a moderate rate of growth and a densely branching habit maturing into an upright and rounded, large evergreen shrub. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. While this image shows a flower that is mostly white, the flowers of Miss Charleston Variegated are typically more red than white. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13237

The large lemony yellow, lightly fragrant, cupped flowers can reach up to 5" across and open from long showy pointed buds that are often tinged red with flowers opening in the evening and closing up the following morning. The flowers are held against a contrasting foil of dark green to gray green, narrow, glossy foliage and the plants are pollinated by Sphinx moths that are sometimes confused with hummingbirds. The Missouri Evening Primrose, Oenothera macrocarpa or O. missouriensis, is one of the most recognizable US native perennial wildflowers and has long been a desirable garden perennial for its showy flowers, toughness, and long season of flowering that can begin as early as midspring and may continue into mid and late summer. It is a clump-forming, taprooted perennial native to the west central US in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, southern Arkansas, and of course Missouri that is typically found in very well-drained, gravelly to sandy to loamy, typically alkaline, often dry soils. For the gardener in other parts of the country it will need excellent drainage in a relatively dry soil in a full to mostly sunny site to do well and it does not like to be crowded. The flowers are followed by large winged seedpods that are sometimes dried and used in cut flower arrangements and the plants may reseed on exposed soils. Item# 12803

A dwarf Rudbeckia, the Missouri Orange Coneflower produces 2" wide deep golden yellow to near orange dark-eyed daisies in summer on 12-16" high stems from a low rosette of narrow rich green foliage. An excellent choice for the front of a sunny perennial border. Item# 9262.

 A knockout combination! The large, 7-8" wide, white to very pale pink flowers with large starkly contrasting scarlet eye that is surrounded by a narrow fuchsia halo that bleeds out into overlapping petals and are set against a dark backdrop of deep burgundy to deep green maple-like foliage. Mocha Moon Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a moderately vigorous growing, clump forming, herbaceous perennial building to about 4' high and 5-6' at maturity. Like most of the newer Hibiscus developed by Walter's Gardens, Mocha Moon is an indeterminate type meaning that the plants both begin flowering earlier and flower all up and down the stems instead of just on the upper half of the plant creating a knockout display in the garden and landscape. *Provide full sun for the darkest foliage and provide a location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13329

Loads of 1-1/2" wide, purple tinged rich peachy-pink, starry funnel shaped flowers are produced in midspring with good repeat in fall all on a low mounding spreading plant. Momo No Haru Azalea, which roughly translates to 'Spring of Peach', is a dwarf Satsuki evergreen azalea slowly building to about 2-3'H x 4-5'W. Its compact habit lend it to use as a bonsai specimen but it can also be utilized as a low growing evergreen hedge or as a specimen plant in the garden and landscape. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Azalea flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Item# 12801

Clusters of deep red to red-orange flowers are each centered by contrasting orange to gold coronas but the most interesting thing about this cultivar is that is cloaked in beautifully variegated cream, pink, and green narrow foliage. Monarch Promise Butterflyweed, a selection of Asclepias curassavica, is an upright growing to vase-shaped, naturally evergreen, herbaceous tropical that flowers from spring to fall. It is sure to make for a colorful addition to containers as well as in the garden and landscape. In areas where freezes occur, like zone 8B, Butterfly Milkweed plants may freeze to the ground and generally return from the roots in spring but we cannot vouch for this specific cultivar's reliability as a die-back perennial. Caterpillar host: Queen and Monarch. Item# 12088