Bee Plants

Rounded clusters of fragrant creamy white nectar rich flowers are produced atop spring's new growth and from the axils and are held against a foil of deep green foliage. The New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus, is a small growing, naturally compact and rounded shrub typically found in deep well-drained sandy soils in our area of Louisiana in full sun to partly shaded sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; foliage and stems are utilized by various species of Blues (a tiny butterfly) caterpillars and are browsed by White Tail Deer; and the seeds attract Wild Turkey, Quail, and other seedeaters. As the name implies, this mintily fragrant foliage of New Jersey Tea was used as a tea substitute around the time of the Boston Tea Party and during the Revolutionary War. Excellent drainage will be key to the plant's longevity. Item# 12395

Clusters of purple frilly flowers are produced atop tall sturdy stems providing late summer and fall color as well as nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. New York Ironweed, Vernonia noveboracensis, is a vigorous growing clump forming native perennial preferring moist to wet to average moist, fertile soils where it grows 5-8' high providing a tall safe platform for pollinators. This tough and easy perennial is well suited to moist naturalistic areas like meadows and prairies where it can mix with fall flowering sunflowers and asters. Tolerant of periodic drought once well-established and can be grown in average moist garden soils. Reseeds, deadhead to prevent unwanted seedlings. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12109

You can see why they named this series NIMBUS™! Dense cloud-like masses composed of hundreds of frilly lavender-pink flowers are held atop sturdy dark colored stems and the fine-textured Columbine-like bluish-green foliage beginning in mid-spring and continuing into summer. NIMBUS™ Pink Thalictrum is a clump-forming perennial that was selected for its more compact habit than the species as well as for its denser showier flower clusters. *They are tolerant of full sun in areas with cool summers but may do best with midday and afternoon shade or filtered shade in hot summer climates. We actually grow them under deciduous shade to good effect here in 8B. Meadow-Rue generally prefers a moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Flowering may be limited the first season but will increase with each year as the plants become better established. Photos courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12871

You can see why they named this series NIMBUS™! Dense cloud-like masses composed of hundreds of frilly white flowers are held atop sturdy dark colored stems and the fine-textured Columbine-like bluish-green foliage beginning in mid-spring and continuing into summer. The flowers are followed by lavender-pink seedheads adding further interest. NIMBUS™ White Thalictrum is a clump-forming perennial that was selected for its more compact habit than the species as well as for its denser showier flower clusters. *They are tolerant of full sun in areas with cool summers but may do best with midday and afternoon shade or filtered shade in hot summer climates. We actually grow them under deciduous shade to good effect here in 8B. Meadow-Rue generally prefers a moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Flowering may be limited the first season but will increase with each year as the plants become better established. Photos courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12870

Beginning as early as midsummer the branching stems are cloaked in 1/2" wide white daisies with a contrasting yellow eye eventually becoming reddish. The nectar and pollen laden flowers attract mainly smaller pollinators like bees providing an important late summer source for winter stores. The Ontario Aster, Symphiotrichum ontarionis, is a native perennial that colonizes via rhizomes and grows to about 30-40"H. It is found mainly in the central US from coastal Louisiana north to Canada commonly in semi-shaded sites along stream banks, bogs, and similar consistently moist locations. Deadhead once flowering is complete to minimize reseeding if desired but songbirds may enjoy the small seeds if they are left to ripen. This species is very similar to and is often confused with other white flowered late summer and fall flowering asters. Item# 12775

The exceptionally dark purple to near black foliage provides the perfect foil for the numerous 2-3' high spikes of light lavender tubular flowers that appear white against their backdrop. Onyx and Pearls Penstemon or Beardtongue begins flowering in late spring to early summer providing weeks of color and a feast of nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Even when not in flower the cloak of dark foliage provides a wonderful contrast for its neighbors. This easy to grow, clump-forming perennial is a selection of our native Foxglove Beardtongue, Penstemon digitalis, and will perform best in a moist to average moist, well-drained soil and a full to mostly sunny site will provide the darkest foliage color. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12308

Add a little tropical punch to your summer! Brilliant orange, 5-6" wide, full rounded flowers centered by a narrow pink halo that surrounds the deep magenta eye and is centered by a contrasting red tipped staminal column adorned with bright yellow stamens. Orange Lagos Tropical Hibiscus is a deservedly popular Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar that begins flowering even at a very young age and over a long period throughout the warmer months to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions. This is a naturally evergreen, heat and sunloving tropical shrub that develops into a well-branched, small to medium-sized plant which is perfectly suited to container culture and also makes an excellent garden and landscape shrub in areas with mild winter climates. Provide a full to partly sunny location in an average moist, rich fertile soil for optimum vigor and ocntinuous flowering. Item# 12644

Tall dense spikes of golden-orange nectar rich flowers are produced throughout the year in mild winter climates atop an upright growing shrub with dense velvety gray foliage. Orange Sceptre Butterfly Bush is a hybrid Buddleja that remains evergreen in mild winter climates like zone 9 and warmer. The flowers attract larger bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in an average moist well-drained soil for optimum health and flowering. Developed by Jon Lindstrom at the University of Arkansas by crossing Buddleja stachyoides x B. tubiflora. Item# 11664

A 2020 Missouri Botanic Gardens Plant of Merit selection! 3-5" wide light pale pink to purplish pink coneflowers with drooping petals are held well above the rosette of narrow foliage on sturdy stems. Flowering normally occurs in late spring and summer and the nectar rich disk flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The Pale Purple Coneflower, Echinacea pallida, closely resembles the Sanguin Purple Coneflower, E. sanguinea, and like its cousin it is a taprooted, clump-forming perennial found mainly in the central US in meadows, glades, and other open areas. Its clump forming habit lends it to use in the garden and landscape as well as in naturalistic settings. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12392

The large conical spikes are composed of tubular flowers that curl around curiously at their tips open a pastel creamy yellow and mature to a peachy pink and orange are produced nearly year round attracting both hummingbirds and bees. At maturity the red tipped styles spring open providing additional contrast and creating a bottlebrush-like display. Peaches and Cream Grevillea is a compact well-branched medium-sized heat and sunloving evergreen shrub that is cloaked in medium-textured deeply cut rich green foliage. Grevillea are normally somewhat xeric but Peaches and Cream has proven to be wonderfully tolerant of high humidity and average moist soils but will need little supplemental water once well-established in the garden or landscape. It also makes an easy, low-maintenance and forgiving container specimen that can be overwintered indoors where not hardy. Can also be utilized as cut flowers. Images courtesy of Star Roses and Plants, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12205

Large clusters of deep purplish red tubular fragrant flowers open to display white and creamy yellow throats. Peaches and Cream Honeysuckle begins flowering in late spring and will continue into fall. It was selected not only for its ability to flower continuously throughout the growing season, exceptionally large flowers and flower clusters but also for its pest and disease resistance. Like most Honeysuckles, Peaches and Cream flowers on new growth so provide it with a full to mostly sunny position in a well-drained fertile soil. An easy mannerly vine for medium sized trellises, arbors, pergolas, and along fences. Images courtesy of Star® Roses and Plants, all rights reserved. Item# 11719

Large 3" wide, deep blue, cornflower-like daisies are produced on sturdy stalks starting in late spring and lasting through much of summer on well established clumps. Peachies Pick is a dense clump forming and exceptionally long flowering selection of the Stokesia Daisy. Its dense compact habit make this the perfect Stokes Aster for gardens and landscapes. Did we mention that it doesn't flop like older cultivars? This southern selection originated from the gardens of and was named for Peachie Saxon of Mississippi. It originated to us from one of the people who helped to make it known to gardeners and landscapers everywhere, noted horticulturist and author Gail Barton of Meridian, Mississippi. Item# 10810.

A rare and highly prized, the Pedali Tree or Purple Radermachera prodcues 2" wide light purple trumpets with contrasting yellow to orange beelines in the throat are produced throughout the growing season or yearround in warm tropical climates. A.k.a. Purple Radermachera Tree, this is a vigorous exceptionally free-flowering small tropical tree with glossy rich green foliage reaching about 20-25' high at maturity making it an excellent size as a smaller specimen in the landscape or as a street tree. Unlike many in the Radermachera genus this one lacks the fragrance but makes up for it with its flower show. It can also be grown as an indoor plant that is prized for its glossy green foliage but flowering is best where it receives direct sunlight. Item# 12015

Spikes of long drooping fragrant white flowers are produced in late spring and early summer that are excellent for pollinators like bees. Peter's Peach Creek Virginia Sweetspire was selected by Peter Loos for its longer flowering season and its nearly evergreen foliage that can turn fiery shades of yellow, orange, and red in especially cold winters. This selection originates from the southwestern most portion of this easy to grow native shrub's range. Virginia Sweetspire is a naturally suckering, normally deciduous shrub well suited for use in gardens, landscapes, as well as natural areas. Item# 11382

A slightly more compact Joe-Pye Weed-like hybrid, in summer Phantom Eupatorium produces large rounded clusters of purplish-pink flowers that sit atop sturdy dark maroon stems adorned with large medium green Joe-Pye Weed-like foliage. This clump forming herbaceous perennial was selected for its shorter branchier habit, excellent flower power, and mildew resistance but in all other regards is very similar to its larger growing parent. At maturity Phantom Eupatorium develops into a large rounded perennial to about 5'x5' whose stems are topped in 12" wide clusters of nectar rich flowers for weeks attracting a bevy of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Provide a full to mostly sunny location and a wet to moist soil and can be used in bog gardens and near ponds or other water sources. Received 4 out of 5 stars in Joe Pye Weed trials at Chicago Botanic Gardens. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11976

The 3" wide, semi-double, lightly fragrant, apricot colored roses are produced most heavily in spring with some intermittent flowering on mature plants in summer. The flowers open in yellow and and deep rosy pink tones lightening, through coral to near white with age and producing a multi-colored overall effect. An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner, Phyllis Bide Climbing or Rambling Rose is a mannerly climbing heirloom noted for its flower power, disease resistance, and reliability. Its canes are not completely thorn-less but are much nicer to work with than many climbers. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Phyllis Bide is reported to be somewhat shade tolerant but will still do best with 4-6+ hours of direct sunlight per day. Fragrance is likely to be most notable early in the day. Item# 12980

1" long recurving light lavender petals are topped by a large boss of starkly contrasting deep red to purplish red filaments that are tipped by contrasting yellow stamens and are produced in about midspring. Pollinated flowers may be followed by greenish oblong tropical flavored guava-like fruit. Pineapple Guava, Acca sellowiana or Feijoa sellowiana, is a medium to large evergreen shrub, sometimes trained into a small tree, that is cloaked in deep grayish green to olive gray green foliage that has a silvery reverse. The plants have a naturally rounded habit at maturity and typically do not require pruning and the plants have few disease or pest problems so long as they are grown in a well-drained soil. Wait for ripened 2-3" long fruits fall to the ground and allow them to continue to ripen in a cool dry area. Once they soften and the fragrance intensifies you know they are ready for eating. They have minty-ish pineapple-like flavor and fragrance. For the best fruit production plant at least two different varieties or seedlings. Ours are seed grown plants. The flowers themselves are edible also and would likely be best used in a salad. Item# 1207

Clusters of pale pink trumpets with dark pink throats are produced throughout the growing season or year round under warm frost free conditions on this easy to grow twining climber with fine-textured, glossy, deep green foliage. The Pink Bower Vine is a vigorous, naturally evergreen vine that is well suited for covering sunny arbors, fences, and trellises and yet can easily enough be enjoyed as a container plant where not hardy. Provide full to mostly sunny conditions for the best flowering although the Bower Vine will tolerate light shade and still flower moderately well. Item# 11164