Songbird Plants

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

Narrow, upright to arching, 24-30" high spikes of rich purple flowers are produced in mid to late summer and into fall attracting a host of pollinators. Smallhead Blazing Star, Liatris microcephela, is a cormous, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with narrow, dark green, fine-textured foliage and produce a multitude of flower spikes per plant at maturity. This tough little deer and drought resistant native is typically found in sandy to clayey, well-drained soils in the southeastern US. Like all of our Liatris species, it is a key pollinator plant attracting bees, butterflies, flower flies, and likely occasional low-flying hummingbirds. Smallhead Blazing Star makes for a long-lasting cut flower and, unlike most Liatris, the flowers begin opening from the top downward. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in fertile, average moist to periodically dry soil. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 13266

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

A 2018 UGA Trial Gardens Classic City Award and a People's Choice Award winner! The large, lightly fragrant flowers open a coral pink, deepen through rose, and finally maturing to burgundy held on sturdy 18" high stems above the deep green foliage in summer. SOMBRERO® Tres Amigos Coneflower or Echinacea is a hardy clump forming perennial growing to about 18-20"H x 22-24"W making it compact enough for containers as well as being a colorful addition to the garden and landscape. Like all of the Echinaceas, the fragrant nectar rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, especially butterflies and bees. Provide a fertile, average moist, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of Darwin Perennials, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13156

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.

Dainty, nectar-rich, late winter to midspring, greenish white flowers are followed by sweet, clear orange, 3/8" diameter berries with a flavor reminiscent of cantaloupe ripen in fall. Like all of our native Hackberry species, the Spiny Hackberry, Celtis pallida or C. ehrenbergiana, is an important host plant for the Hackberry butterflies (American Snout, Tawny Emperor, Hackberry Emperor, etc...) as well as the Red-Bordered Metalmark. The ripe fruit are devoured by a variety of birds and other wildlife. Human nibblers should be aware that the fruit does contain a large pit. The Spiny or Desert Hackberry develops into a large shrub or small tree that seems to prefer average moist soils but as the name implies it is quite drought tolerant once well-established. Item# 10682

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.

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.

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

This vigorous native produces masses of black-eyed golden yellow daisies from mid-summer to fall on tall sturdy stems. A vigorous clump forming perennial common to stream banks and moist areas but will do fine in average garden soils. The sweetly scented foliage gives it its common name. A good choice for the back of the border. Item# 9261.

Wonderfully fragrant of licorice or anise when bruised or dried, Sweet Goldenrod produces medium to large pyramidal clusters of golden yellow flowers in summer that are excellent for attracting pollinators and other beneficials. The flowers and foliage, fresh or dried, is often used to make a very nice herbal tea, as a mild spice in cooking, and could certainly be used in potpourris as well (Bonnie fell in love with the fragrance of the dried seed heads!). Another of the garden friendly clump forming Goldenrods, Sweet Goldenrod makes a nice addition to the garden, as well as in natural areas and along roadsides. Item# 10684.

The Sweetbay Magnolia or White Bay is an upright to pyramidal generally small to medium-sized native tree typically found growing in baygalls as well as along small creeks and streams in nearly every state bordering the Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf Coast. In midspring, mature trees produce fragrant white flowers to about 4" across and are followed by typical Magnolia cones whose seeds turn a bright orangey-red when mature in fall and winter and are utilized by songbirds as well as other wildlife. Magnolia virginiana is sometimes used as a caterpillar host by Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly, Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly, and the Sweet Bay Silk Moth .The deep blue-green to green foliage has a white reverse and can be used in the place of the unrelated Bay Leaf which is also known as Sweetbay or Laurus nobilis. Prefers average moist to moist to boggy to swampy acidic soils and is tolerant of clay soils. Item# 11713

see # 666 for the cooking Bay, Laurus Nobilis.

Loads of glossy black, 3/8", thin skinned, very sweet huckleberries (actually blueberries) begin ripening in mid April often lasting through May. This is one of the earliest ripening native blueberries and we selected this variety for its exceptionally sweet, tender fruit and its heavy bearing characteristics. An excellent berry for pancakes, muffins, pies, and certainly fresh eating. An Almost Eden Exclusive introduction! In limited supply. Item# 10832.

An Almost Eden exclusive! Clusters of soft orange buds open to intense dark orange tubular blooms. Flowering from early spring to fall. Trumpet Honeysuckle is an excellent choice anywhere a 'tame' vine is needed. Item # 957.

Large dark purplish pink rays surround the green and copper tinged cone of nectar rich disk flowers in summer and interestingly the flowers always face eastward. The Tennessee Purple Coneflower is a rare species of Echinacea known only from a small area in central Tennessee around the Nashville area and was one of the very first plants to be added to the Endangered Species list but now the populations are stable enough that it has been unlisted and is a model success story for endangered plant species. A taprooted drought resistant native perennial, provide the Tennessee Purple Coneflower with a well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site in the garden and landscape. The flowers attract a menagerie of pollinators, especially butterflies, bees, as well as hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Item# 11727

A choice native coneflower, the Texas Coneflower produces 3-5" bright golden yellow daisies that  are borne singly, or in small clusters of up 5 flowers, and are held on sturdy upright stems in summer. A rosette of large, rich dark green glossy foliage subtends the flower stalks. Texas Coneflower provides us with a medium-sized Rudbeckia that is similar in habit to the stately Giant Coneflower. Item# 10217.

Clusters of 3" long yellow, orange, orange-red, or red trumpets adorn this vigorous native vine throughout summer. An excellent choice for hummingbirds. Trumpet Creeper's vigor, tolerance of poor soils, and durability lend it to use in difficult sites. Use as an espalier, allow it to climb a sturdy fence, or cover an arbor. These are seedling grown and so the flower color may be range from a rich orange to nearly yellow to a dark brick red. Item# 11295