Songbird Plants

Slender arching stems that end in spikes of purple flowers emerge from the soft fine textured foliage of this dainty Liatris from late spring through early summer and may even flower into fall. The soft texture and and gently arching flower spikes make this beautiful Blazing Star a perfect candidate for the perennial garden where it sure to attract attention as well as butterflies and pollinators. Plant several together for the best effect. Item# 9865.

Considered by many to be the showiest and most garden friendly of our native Goldenrod species in the US. Showy Goldenrod lives up to its name producing dense, spike-like to pyramidal, clusters of large bright yellow flowers in late summer and early fall on sturdy upright stems. A clump forming perennial unlike many of its cousins which spread aggressively.  An excellent choice for pollinators. Item# 10222.

A mainstay of southern and western Texas and New Mexico butterfly gardens! Bright yellow daisies are produced from late spring into fall and are held against a foil of dark green, deeply lobed, fragrant, narrow foliage with the heaviest flowering occurring in fall. The flowers are highly attractive to a variety of butterflies, bees, and other garden beneficials. Skeleton-Leaf Goldeneye, Viguiera stenoloba and now Sidneya tenuifolia, is a native, naturally evergreen, small shrub with fine-textured, very dark green, deeply lobed, strongly resiny fragrant foliage that is resistant to being browsed by deer and rabbits. It is tough as nails and is highly drought resistant once well-established. Use it as a low maintenance formal or informal hedge, back drop, or groundcover. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained soils. A caterpillar host plant for the Bordered Patch Butterfly. Item# 13084

Rounded clusters of small white and green starry flowers emerge from the leaf axils in spring and summer from the seemingly delicate upright to arching stems. Slim Milkweed could easily be confused with Whorled Milkweed and the difference is that Slim has opposite leaves and is rhizomatous whereas Whorled Milkweed of course has whorled leaves and is clump forming. Exclusive to the coastal prairies and prairies of southeastern and southcentral Texas, Asclepias linearis does well in clay soils and in well-drained soils and has been one of the easiest and most reliable species for us to grow and so it should be for gardeners. The flowers provide fodder for Bumblebees and other native bee species and you can expect the foliage to be used by the Monarch, Queen, and Soldier butterfly caterpillars. Item# 11661

Clusters of white spring flowers are followed by green berries that slowly change through pink, to blue, and to near black once mature. The glossy, bronze-tinged, medium green, deciduous foliage of the Withe-rod Viburnum produces fall color in red and purple tones. This is an upright to rounded, medium-sized native shrub commonly found near wet areas. Considered by some to have the best tasting fruit of our native Viburnums giving it the name of Wild Raisin. Item# 10382

Large pyramidal clusters that are composed of showy, 1" wide, trumpet shaped, white flowers that have yellow to orange stripes and purple dots for bee guides are borne over a few weeks in mid spring. The nectar and pollen rich flowers of the Southern Catalpa are excellent for honey production as well as for native bees and other pollinators. Fast growing and pyramidal when young, the Catalpa can quickly reach flowering size at 15-25' under good conditions with ample moisture and moderate fertility. Item# 3057.

The huge white fruitily fragrant flowers of the Southern Magnolia can reach up to 12" across and are set against a backdrop of deep green glossy foliage in mid to late spring. Pollinated flowers are followed by cones whose fruit ripens to bright red and are often used as additions to fall and early winter bouquets, wreaths, and other types of floral arrangements. The ripe red fruit attract songbirds and small mammals. The Southern Magnolia is a moderately fast growing tree when young and typically develops into a naturally pyramidal form when young and typically develops a rounded crown at maturity. In a full to mostly sunny position limbs will often reach to ground even on mature trees and the dense thick foliage makes a nearly impenetrable mulch beneath them. Seedling trees, which these are, are somewhat variable and flowering may not begin flowering until the trees are 10-25 years of age. Item# 12030

A low growing, clump forming to slowly spreading perennial the Southern Prairie Aster produces 1" wide, medium purple to lighter pinkish purple daisies with a yellow eye atop sturdy upright to arching stems beginning in late summer and lasting into fall. This is another Aster that is native to sandy dryer upland soils and so is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Excellent for native pollinators. Item# 10694.

A U.S. National Arboretum introduction, Sparkleberry Holly was selected for its ability to produce a dramatic, long-lasting display of deep glowing red berries in dense clusters that seemingly cover the generally upright to arching stems of this vigorous deciduous holly. Masses of tiny greenish white spring flowers are soon followed by small round fruit that ripen to a deep, clear red. In fall the foliage turns to yellow and is quickly shed to display the bare stems adorned with massive clusters of brilliantly colored berries that can remain well into spring. Item# 10723.

2-3" bright yellow sunflower-like flowers are held on 3'H branching sturdy stems from late spring to fall. The flowering stalks emerge from a rosette of wide medium green foliage on this fibrous rooted native perennial. Great for butterflies and pollinators. Item# 9585.

Dense rounded to flattened clusters of 1/2" wide golden yellow flowers are produced atop tall sturdy stems in mid to late summer and attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, other garden beneficials. Stiff Goldenrod, Solidago rigida and previously Oligoneuron rigidum, is a vigorous growing rhizomatous perennial found mainly in prairies and meadows in the north central US. Due to its rhizomatous, a.k.a. spreading, nature this species may best be suited for use in naturalistic areas like roadside plantings, meadows, and prairies. It is often found in dryer soils and in soils with an alkaline (calcareous) pH. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained soil with average moisture until it is well-established. Item# 12391

Beautiful yellow tubular blooms are born from spring to fall. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies make this a lovely vine for fence, arbor or trellis. It is evergreen and vigorous, but easy to control. Item # 1075.

Clusters of airy rich dark purple flowers seemingly cover up the deep green narrow foliage of this tough and disease resistant selection of Ironweed attracting myriads of bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Summer's Surrender Ironweed, a hybrid of Vernonia lettermannii x V. arkansana, was bred and selected by Dr. Jim Ault of the Chicago Botanic Gardens for its broad spreading dense and bushy habit, exceptionally disease resistant foliage, as well as for its long season of flowering. As the name implies, Ironweeds are tough as nails clump forming native perennials that provide much needed late summer and fall nectar for pollinators. Adaptable to a wide variety of soil types from clay to loam and are somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12250

1/3" wide, dark purple, airy flowers are produced in clusters and nearly cover up the dark, purple-tinged, olive green, fine textured narrow foliage adorning the wine-red colored stems of this compact, tough, and disease resistant selection of Ironweed attracting myriads of bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Summer's Swan Song Ironweed, a hybrid of Vernonia angustifolia 'Plum Peachy' x V. lettermannii, was bred and selected by Dr. Jim Ault of the Chicago Botanic Gardens for its compact, rounded, dense and bushy habit, exceptionally disease resistant foliage, wind resistance, as well as for its long season of flowering. As the name implies, Ironweeds are tough as nails clump forming native perennials that provide much needed late summer and fall nectar for pollinators. Adaptable to a wide variety of soil types from clay to loam and are somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Images courtesy of Chicagoland Grows®, all rights reserved. Item# 12251

A flower power machine! SUNNY DAYS™ Lemon Coneflower produces wave after wave of large, dark lemon yellow, fragrant, upward facing flowers with frilly, nectar rich cones from summer 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 flower power and bright color lends this nativar 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# 13081

SUNNY DAYS™ Ruby Coneflower produces wave after wave of large, claret ruby red, fragrant, upward facing flowers with frilly, nectar rich cones from summer into fall. The double, anemone-like flowers hold their dark coloration with little fading and attract a variety of pollinators and garden beneficials. 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 flower power and bright color lends this nativar 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# 13082

Large red berries cover the bare stems of this native deciduous shrub beginning in fall and lasting throughout much of winter and possibly into spring. Sunset Winterberry Holly develops into a medium-sized well branched shrub with a an upright to vase-shaped habit when young broadening with age. The textured deep green foliage may provide some yellow fall color prior to leaf fall if grown in full sun. Winterberry Hollies are easy to grow adaptable shrubs that produce clusters of small white flowers in spring that provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators. Sunset Winterberry Holly is a female and so will need a male pollinator that flowers at the same time for maximum berry production. 'Southern Gentleman' and 'Apollo' are two males that are recommended. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moist acidic soil. Item# 11888