Bee Plants

Intense deep red rays surround the dark orange tipped rounded cones of disk flowers on flowers that can reach 6" across and sit atop sturdy 24-32" high stems beginning in late spring and continuing into early fall. Flower color lightens into pastel shades as the flowers age. PRAIRIE STARS™ Tomato Soup Coneflower is a hybrid Coneflower selected for its exceptionally long flowering season that lasts from late spring or early summer often into fall, briliant color, huge flowers, excellent branching habit meaning more flowers, as well as its perennial reliability as a garden plant. 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. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12788

Clusters of 2" wide primrose yellow fragrant 4-petalled flowers are produced in mid to late spring into early summer atop the low growing spreading stems adorned with deep green fuzzy foliage of this native perennial wildflower. Prairie Sundrops, a.k.a. Meadow Evening Primrose, is a dayflowering species of Evening Primrose with a low somewhat bushy habit and it does spread somewhat by rhizomes which is great for naturalistic settings like meadows, prairies and roadside plantings and it is reportedly relatively easy to control in garden settings as well. An adaptable native perennial that is tolerant of wet to dry soils including clay but it seems to prefer an acidic pH. The flowers attract butterflies and larger native bees. Item# 11662

The 2-1/2" to 3" wide, rich watermelon pink, funnel-shaped flowers sport a contrasting deep red blotch on the upper most petals and are produced in midspring on this highly popular old cultivar. Pride of Mobile Azalea, a.k.a. Elegans Superba or Watermelon, is a vigorous heirloom Southern Indica evergreen azalea with an initially upright habit to about 6-8'(-10') and wide. Its vigorous habit lend this large growing evergreen azalea to use as an informal hedge, specimen plant, and as a spring flowering backdrop for mixed perennial gardens as well as in the 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# 12802

In warm orange and yellow shades, the large, fragrant, upward facing flowers are centered by a large dark, nectar rich cones tipped in dark orange and red tones and the ray petals tend to be lightest at their tips deepening into orange tones nearest their base. PRIMA™ Tiger Echinacea or Coneflower was selected for its compact mound of clean deep green foliage that is topped by by sturdy 12-18" high stems that flower for months beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing into fall. This is a hardy clump forming perennial that will do best in fertile, well-drained, average moist soils in a full to mostly sunny site. The compact habit of PRIMA™ Tiger Echinacea lends it to use as a container plant as well as in the garden and landscape. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 13079

3-5" wide exotic looking flowers with dark purplish-red petals and sepals are topped by a corona of contrasting indigo, purple, and white filaments that are produced throughout the warmer months or nearly year round under warm frost free conditions. Pura Vida Passionflower is a vigorous growing and exceptionally free flowering tropical vine that may reach 30'H if given support but can be easily maintained on a 3-6'H trellis. The nectar rich flowers are adored by larger bees and the foliage is a host to a variety of butterflies like the Gulf Fritillary and Zebra Longwing. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moderately fertile, average moist, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering although it seems to flower nearly as vigorously in bright shade to part sun conditions. 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# 11241

Large, 3" wide deep purplish red trumpet shaped flowers are produced throughout the warmer months of the year to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions. The Purple Allamanda, we originally thought that this was the dwarf form, is a vigorous growing and very free flowering, naturally evergreen, scandent (or vine-like shrub, rambler, etc.) and can be trained to espelier, trellis, or arbor or periodic pruning will help to keep it semi-shrub-like. Rich green smooth foliage adorns the upright to arching stems on a plant that grows to about 8-12'H and may get larger with age under good conditions. Provide the Purple Alllamanda with a full to partly sunny site in an average moist but never soggy wet, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Where not hardy it can be easily overwintered in a warm sunny window as a container plant. It should make an excellent container specimen that is sure to add a little tropical flair to any sunny setting. Item# 12976

A purple form of the Blue Butterfly Bush, producing large clusters of violet and purple butterfly-shaped flowers beginning in spring and early summer and continuing into fall under good conditions. For years the only cultivar of Blue Butterfly Bush available was 'Ugandense' the common Blue Butterfly Bush, Rotheca myricoides (syn. Clerodendrum myricoides 'Ugandense'), a.k.a. Oxford Blue and Cambridge Blue, this darker purple to violet flowered cultivar was shared with us by plantsman Heidi Sheesley of Treesearch Farms, Inc., Houston, Texas. The specialized butterfly-shaped flowers are pollinated by Bumblebees and Carpenter Bees. The Purple Butterfly Bush can be enjoyed as a colorful container plant or in the garden and landscape where hardy. Item# 11765

The nearly 1" wide creamy white starry spring flowers are streaked with pink and are soon followed by glossy deep purple new growth that matures to deep green. The Purple Glaze® Japanese Anise Shrub, Illicium anisatum 'Murasaki-no-sato', is a shade tolerant medium-sized to large growing evergreen shrub with a slow to medium rate of growth and naturally has an upright to rounded habit. It is somewhat resistant to short periods of drought once well-established and should be grown in a site with good drainage and average moist to moist soils in an area that receives shade during the hottest part of the day, especially in hot summer climates. Anise flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Not a spice plant. Item# 12003

Deep velvety purple blooms are produced continuously from spring to fall on this upright to spreading perennial. The Purple Porterweed is a medium sized variety becoming fairly dense as it matures. Porterweeds are excellent nectar producers outperforming all other butterfly plants in the garden. Item# 578.

The dainty 3/4" wide, iris-like flowers open a deep purple, lighten through mauve, and into light lavender shades and are produced for weeks in spring. Purple-Eyed Grass is a selection of one of our native Blue-Eyed Grasses, the Sisyrinchiums, that was originally shared with us by Dawn Stover, then of SFA Gardens and now with SFA's Pineywoods Native Plant Center. It has narrow strap-like upright to arching, deep green foliage in typical flat, iris-like fans on an evergreen, clump-forming perennial that readily multiplies into 6-10"H x 8-12"W plants. Use the Blue-Eyed Grasses, or Purple-Eyed in this case, near the front of the perennial border, tuck them among the rock garden as an accent, as an informal border along paths, as well as part of naturalistic settings with other plants of similar size. The flowers are likely mainly bee pollinated and the plants can reseed though it never seems do so aggressively and unwanted seedlings are easily removed. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in average to well-drained soils. Easy and sweet. Item# 12907

Intense orange-red funnel-shaped flowers are produced on sturdy spikes throughout summer on compact, well-branched plants and the flowers are sure to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Quartz® Red Penstemon or Beardtongue was selected for its neat, well-branched compact habit, sturdy flowering stems, intense red showy flowers, and especially for its ability to flower continuously throughout summer. This a clump-forming, heat loving perennial that is perfectly suited to create fantastic specimen container plants as well as in mixed company or utilize its color show in the garden and landscape for summer-long color. Provide Quartz® Red Penstemon with a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering potential. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12404

Brilliant crimson red bottlebrush-like flowers are produced in summer often into fall to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Red Clusters Bottlebrush, a selection of Callistemon viminalis, is a vigorous freely flowering, naturally evergreen large shrub that can also be trained into a small tree form that matures to about 12' high by about 8' wide. In zone 8, the foliage may drop after hard freezes potentially reducing flowering and so this cultivar may be best grow in warmer winter climates like zones 9 and 10. They can also be enjoyed as container plants where not reliably hardy. Provide Bottlebrush with a full to mostly sunny site in an average to well-draining, fertile soil and they are moderately drought resistant once fully established. Item# 603

The large glowing red 'parent' flowers of the original El Capitolio Hibiscus appear to have a second smaller double bloom that is held out away from it creating a 'poodled' effect. The El Capitolio Hibiscus have the potential to flower throughout the year under good conditions and with enough warmth and sunlight.The large blooms often have a streak of white adding to their tropical beauty. Their unique form, flower size, vigor, and flower power all make the El Capitolio Hibiscus types some of our favorites for large tropical specimens. They can be used as formal or informal shrubs for hedging and screens, as tree forms, or even trained into large espalier. Item# 610.

Huge deep scarlet red, 10" wide, widely flaring flowers with overlapping petals are borne from summer to fall on this beautiful perennial Hibiscus cloaked in rich apple green foliage. Red Flare Hardy Hibiscus is a showstopper with its continuous display of massive cranberry red flowers thanks in no small part to being nearly sterile and rarely producing seed. The Flare Hibiscus series have been selected as Texas Superstar© Plants due to their toughness, reliability, and performance in the garden and landscape throughout the state. These root hardy, 4-5' high and 4-6' wide herbaceous perennials will die-back to the ground in fall returning from the crown the following spring. Provide a richly fertile, moist, wet, to average moist soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and to maximize flowering. Easy and reliable! Item# 13129

Clusters of dark red to red-orange daisy-like flowers with yellow fading to red 'eyes' are produced throughout the growing season, and potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions, on this vigorous and easy small to medium-sized vine. The Sao Paulo Mexican Love Vine, a somewhat rare selection of Senecio confusus, is a naturally evergreen, twining herbaceous tropical vine that can be grown as a die-back perennial in areas with mild winters, like zones 9-10 and even into 8B, if provided with a breathable insulative protective mulch for winter. It is vigorous enough to be grown as an annual in colder climates and can also be maintained as a container plant that is overwintered indoors. The Mexican Love Vine, a.k.a Mexican Flame Vine, is a heat and sunloving free-flowering tropical suitable for small to medium-sized trellises, fences, and can even be allowed to spill from hanging baskets. The flowers attract a variety of butterfly species and seem to be especially popular with migrating Monarchs as well as bees and hummingbirds. Provide a full to partly sunny site in any average to well-drained, fertile, average moist soil. Item# 612

Each golden yellow petal is heavily splashed with burgundy and surround the tall brown central cone of each daisy-like flower. Finely textured blue-gray foliage on a plant that becomes more dense with age. Blooms from late spring through summer. This is a tough and hardy, perennial US Native. Great for smaller pollinators. Item# 9141.

Producing larger than normal white and purple flowers that are self-fertile and produce medium-sized egg shaped red fruit filled with juicy tangy tropical flesh surrounding the black seeds. Red Rover Passion Fruit, a Patrick Worley hybrid reportedly from a cross between the Yellow and Purple Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa x P. edulis f. edulis), that is reported to be a good producer with moderate vigor and does not require a pollinator for fruit set. The fruit can be eaten fresh or juiced. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site, midday shade is often recommended for hot summer climates, in a fertile, average moist, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and fruit production. The Passion Fruits can be planted out in areas that experience mild winters like zones 9-10 but may need protection during hard freezes. Red Rover Passion Fruit can also be overwintered as a container plant if provided with a warm sunny location. Item# 12751

Deep dark red, nearing maroon, 2-3" wide daisies with a contrasting orange-gold eye are borne all summer long on this easy perennial. Red Satin Permathread™ Threadleaf Coreopsis, a hybrid selection from plant breeder Darrel Probst with obvious Coreopsis verticillata in its parentage, is a slowly spreading clump-forming perennial with excellent hardiness and reliable longevity, a long season of flowering, and the dark green, finely textured foliage has improved disease resistance. The upward facing flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Provide this Tickseed with an average moist, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10619

Extra large, reportedly to nearly 1/2" in diameter, brilliant red berries literally cover up this dwarf and compact deciduous shrub throughout much of winter and may last into spring. Red Sprite Dwarf Winterberry Holly, a.k.a 'Nana', 'Compacta, and 'Macrocarpa', is a USDA release that won the 2010 Holly of the Year Award from the Holly Society of America. This adaptable native shrub drops its foliage early to better show of its display of colorful berries. It can be used en masse to great effect, as a low informal hedge, or as a specimen plant near the front of the garden or landscape. Red Sprite is even small enough to enjoy as a medium-sized container plant. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moist acidic soil. Needs a male holly, of any species, for pollination that flowers at the same time. 'Southern Gentleman' and 'Apollo' are two males that are recommended. Item# 11887

Dense bottlebrush-like flowers composed of fragrant frilly white to cream colored flowers are produced atop the tips of the bare stems in late winter or early spring. Redneck Nation Fothergilla or Witch Alder is a moderately dense growing small to medium sized deciduous suckering native shrub with showy gray-green and bronze new growth that matures to blue-green in summer and produces fall color in shades of red, orange, and yellow. This species is new to science as of 2020! The the cultivar name is in honor of its original discovery by botanist and naturalist Fred Nation in Baldwin County, Alabama and the species name honors Dr. Ron Miller. Provide an average moist, well-drained, acidic soil in full to partly sunny location for optimum vigor and flowering. Redneck Nation Fothergilla can be used as a low growing and low maintenance informal hedge or as a specimen plant in the garden and landscape as well as in naturalistic settings. Flowers will be similar to those shown although this is an image of Mt. Airy Fothergilla. Item# 12165

A continuous summer long display of short deep blue tubular flowers emerge from dark calyxes on dense tall dark spikes. A seedling of Mystic Spires Salvia, Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® Salvia is similar to the ever popular Indigo Spires Salvia with the same reliable flower power and slightly lighter blue flowers on a somewhat more compact upright growing plant. The nectar rich flowers are especially attractive to larger bees as well as butterflies and hummingbirds. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained fertile soil. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 11983

Tall dense spikes of deep blue to purple, nearly foxglove-sized flowers are produced in summer atop the rosettes of deep green foliage. Rocky Mountain Penstemon or Beardtongue, Penstemon strictus, is a long-lived, evergreen clump-forming perennial that is fairly adaptable as long as soils have excellent drainage. It is typically found in the Four Corners region of the SW US with a disjunct population in W central California. Provide Rocky Mountain Penstemon with a sunny site in well-drained soils for optimum vigor and health. May reseed on exposed soils under good conditions. The flowers of Penstemon attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Item# 11929