Butterfly Nectar Sources

Perennial of the Year in 2016, Missouri Botanic Gardens Plant of Merit, and a RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! As per Allan Armitage's Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 4th Edition "It has graced European gardens since the beginning of the American Civil War and is still the most popular and highly sought after white anemone today.". The clusters of 2-3" wide, pure white, upward facing flowers with yellow eyes are held high above the mass of deep green foliage on sturdy wiry, 3-4' high stems in fall. The flowers of this easy heirloom attract bees and other pollinators. Honorine Jobert Anemone is an easy to grow, clump forming, slowly spreading, shade tolerant perennial whose mass of 12" high, medium textured, deep green, Astilbe-like foliage makes a nice accent or groundcover even when the plants are not in flower. Anemones make good companions for spring flowering bulbs. Tough, easy, and reliable. Tolerant of *full sun in cool summer climates, elsewhere provide midday and afternoon shade or filtered shade. Provide an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum flowering and vigor. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12778

A sterile exceptionally free flowering Lantana with a compact well-branched habit and improved vigor over similar cultivars that has received high marks in trials across the US. Hot Blooded™ Red Lantana produces rounded clusters of flowers that open golden yellow, deepen to fiery orange and quickly darken to deep brilliant red. The compact habit lends this Lantana for use in containers as a specimen or in combinations as well as in formal and informal garden and landscape settings. Hot Blooded™ Red Lantana develops into a rounded mound of foliage covered in flowers from spring to fall and the flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other garden beneficials. Item# 12105

Spikes of red lipped, pure white or occasionally solid red, two-lipped tubular flowers are produced continuously from spring to fall on this durable drought and heat resistant perennial salvia. Hot Lips Salvia develops into a mounding upright to spreading plant that loves the heat and sun. It is considered a hybrid by some but most experts consider it to be a selection of Littleleaf Sage, S. microphylla. Its bicolor flowers attract a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, butterflies, and larger bees. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile well-draining soil for optimum vigor and flower power. In areas that experience hard freezes plant this Salvia out between early spring to midsummer to ensure winter survival. Hot Lips Salvia was selected as a Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merit Winner for 2015. Item# 3002

Considered by many to be one of the most fragrant Passionvines with a strong gardenia-like perfume emanating from the 2" white flowers that have a purple stripe centered on the frilly corona. May produce delicious passionfruit under good conditions and with cross-pollination. The beautiful silvery-green delicate trilobed foliage makes it a great contrast for darker colored trellises and backdrops. A vigorous growing vine that is adaptive to containers as well. Can be successfully grown indoors.Caterpillar host: Gulf Fritillary, Julia Butterfly, Variegated Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing. Item # 9229.

Clusters of 2" deep reddish orange upward facing tubular blooms are born from summer to fall, making this a choice plant for fall migrating Hummingbirds. The bright nectar rich flowers are held on sturdy stems above the beautiful bluish gray velvety foliage on this tough little heat and sun loving perennial. Typically freezes to the ground in winter but readily returns in spring. Drought tolerant once well established and does best in well drained soils. Caterpillar host: White Peacock and Malachite. Item# 9563.

This plant covers up in 1" bright cherry red tubular flowers that are tipped in nicely contrasting sunny yellow and are sure to provide a feast of nectar for hummingbirds and other long-tongued pollinators. Hummingbird's Lunch Cuphea is a well-branched, naturally mounding plant to 24"H x 36"W that revels in the heat and sun of summer offering up a riot of continuous color for hanging baskets, window boxes, container specimens, in mixed container gardens as well as in the garden and landscape. This exciting new hybrid Cuphea has received top marks in trials across the US! Provide a full sun to part shade site in a well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of PlantHaven International, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12407

Pastel orange falls tinged with rose and with nicely contrasting gold signals and slightly darker veining are centered by slightly lighter standards and yellow style arms. Hurricane Colin Louisiana Iris is midseason flowering and grows to about 36-38" high. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13434

The bluest of the blues! Blue Arrowleaf Sage produces large branching clusters composed of dense spikes of 1" vivid cobalt blue tubular flowers that may be produced nearly throughout the year on this hybrid Salvia. Blue Arrowleaf Sage has large velvety arrowhead shaped aromatic foliage that seems to retain its tidiness throughout the growing season. The nectar rich flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies alike. Grow it in the garden or as as a medium-sized container plant. Item# 9949

5" wide rounded clusters of pure white trumpet shaped flowers are held above the dark green mounds of strap-like foliage on short sturdy 24-30" high stems beginning in spring to early summer and continuing into early fall. Ice Angel™ Lily of the Nile or Agapanthus is a newly introduced vigorous hybrid with a medium sized vigorous habit with excellent flower power. It's still compact enough for colorful low-maintenance container specimens as well as adding a tropical feel to the garden and landscape. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and the plants are deer and rabbit resistant. Provide a full sun to part sun site in an average moist, fertile, well-draining soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Image courtesy of Concept Plants BV®, all rights reserved. Item# 12297

Grown mainly for its beautifully variegated foliage that starts out as creamy yellow and medium green and matures to bright white and deep green, but, plants may also produce the typical drooping clusters of sky blue flowers that attract bees and butterflies. The Improved Variegated Duranta, a selection of Duranta erecta, is a naturally evergreen, large shrub with a moderately vigorous upright and spreading habit that can mature to 8-10' high and wide but is easily maintained as a smaller container plant as a shrub or tree standard in the 3-6'H x 3-4'W range with pruning. In tropical freeze-free climates these easy to grow tropicals can be utilized as a large hedge or screen. Flowers may be followed by clusters of up to 3/8" golden berries. Provide an average moist, fertile soil with average or better drainage in a full sun to partly shaded site for optimum vigor and growth. Item# 13524

We fell in love instantly with this gorgeous Hibiscus! The summerlong display of large, 8"+ wide, ruffled and textured, deep rose pink flowers have an inner halo of lavender purple and are set against a backdrop of dark olive green foliage all on a heavy flowering well-branched plant. Inner Glow Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a vigorous clump-forming perennial that develops into a full, but compact well-branched plant with exceptional flower power. Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, Inner Glow is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating an amazing summer into fall display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 12843

In mid to late summer large clusters of frilly deep purple flowers sit atop short sturdy stems that are covered in fine dark green narrow foliage giving this tough as nails perennial as soft pleasing texture even when not in flower. Iron Butterfly Ironweed is as tough as its name implies, even though this is a selection of a rare species, it can tolerate short periods of drought or periodic inundation with ease. A nice tightly clump forming perennial from the works of Dr. Allen Armitage and the UGA horticulture program. The flowers provide much needed late summer fodder for bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 10929.

Clusters of up to a dozen 1" wide, strongly to lightly sweetly fragrant, rich yellow flowers are produced beginning in spring and may continue throughout summer on well-grown, established plants. The Italian Jasmine, newly classified as Chrysojasminum humile 'Revolutum', is an evergreen to semi-evergreen, large, scandent or vine-like, arching to fountaining shrub commonly growing to 5-7' high and wide. The dark green foliage nicely complement the sunny yellow flowers. The long limber canes of this true Jasmine make it an easy choice for an espalier if desired or they can be headed back to keep the plants smaller and bushier. It is fairly tolerant of growing conditions from sun to part shade but is likely to flower best where it receives ample sunlight. Provide an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. The flowers attract mainly butterflies and pollinating hummingbird and sphinx moths but potentially bees and hummingbirds as well. Its easy and reliable nature has garnered it the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Item# 470

The 2-3" wide, white funnel shaped flowers are randomly flecked with pink to red and are produced in late spring. Iveryanum Azalea, a.k.a. Iveryana, is an heirloom dwarf Southern Indica hybrid developing into a 3' high mound of medium to deep green, medium textured, evergreen foliage. It lends itself to bonsai culture but is sure to be a low-maintenance conversation piece 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# 12797

Jacob Cline is one of the more reliable selections of Scarlet Bee Balm producing large clusters of brilliant red tubular flowers atop sturdy 3-4' stems in summer. Considered to be one of the most vigorous and disease resistant cultivars available. A clump-forming, slowly spreading winter deciduous perennial that enjoys moist but well-drained soils and ample sunlight. A hummingbird magnet! Item# 10541.

An Allen Armitage 'no-brainer' perennial! The white full daisies are held atop and among the rich green foliage beginning in mid to late spring to early summer and continuing into fall. The nectar laden flowers are composed of multiple outer rows of white ray petals that have a light tinge of lavender surrounding a dense rounded mass of lemon tinged disc flowers. Japanese Aster, now classified as Aster iinumae previously Asteromea mongolica or Kalimeris mongolica, is a slowly spreading rhizomatous herbaceous bushy perennial growing to about 12-24"H x 18-24"W though some sources suggest that it may reach 36"H. This plant's reliability and flower power have garnered it a top spot among Dr. Armitage's list of "no-brainer" perennials. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Use this easy perennial in both the garden and landscape as a tall groundcover or specimen as well as for easy and free flowering container specimens. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady.

Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 13150

Grown mainly for its neat form and large leathery deep green foliage, the new growth of the Japanese Blueberry Tree emerges in bronze and reddish tones, ultimately maturing to deep dark green, and as the older foliage prepares to drop it takes on deep bright red tones. In late spring to early summer, large racemes of white to light pink, fragrant, frilly flowers that are commonly hidden among the foliage attract bees and butterflies. The flowers are followed by olive like fruits that ripen to deep blue, purple, or black and give the plant its common name. The Japanese Blueberry Tree, Elaeocarpus decipiens, is a naturally evergreen small to medium-sized tree with a slow to moderate rate of growth and can be used as a screen, hedge, or specimen providing a holly or Magnolia look in areas with mild winters. These can be shaped into very nice specimens if desired and are typically maintained with the foliage going all the way to the ground. Provide a full to mostly sunny site, in a neutral to mildly acidic, fertile, quality soil with average moisture and good drainage. Item# 13419

The top performer in both attracting pollinators and disease resistance in the Mt. Cuba Center's trials! Huge conical clusters of smaller than typical fragrant lavender-pink flowers are produced over an extended period beginning in midsummer and lasting into fall attracting a host of pollinators including butterflies, hummingbirds, and larger bees. Jeana Garden Phlox is an exceptionally vigorous and free flowering selection of our native Phlox paniculata whose stems can touch on 5' by the end of the growing season. This is a hardy, clump forming, deciduous perennial preferring a full to mostly sunny site in an acidic, average moist, fertile soil with average or better drainage. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13194

The 2-3" wide mainly white flowers have a nicely contrasting deep cherry red blotch and flecks but are occasionally light pink to light lavender and are produced in mid to late spring. Johga Azalea, a sport of Izayoi and sometimes spelled 'Joga', is a dwarf Satsuki evergreen azalea that slowly develops into a 2-3' high mound of deep green medium-texured foliage. It lends itself to bonsai culture but is sure to be a low-maintenance conversation piece 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# 12799

A Texas Superstar® selection! The large pyramidal to domed clusters of dark-eyed, light pink, lightly fragrant flowers are produced atop tall sturdy stems in summer and potentially into fall attracting mainly butterflies. John Fanick Garden Phlox, a selection of Phlox paniculata, is a disease resistant, clump forming, upright growing, herbaceous, native perennial growing to about 3' high and 1-2' wide. Garden Phlox will do best in an open, full sun to partially shaded site, with a well-draining, rich and fertile, acidic soil with average moisture and an organic mulch is highly recommended. John Fanick is one of the few disease resistant Garden Phlox recommended for the hot and humid south by Texas Horticulturist and author Greg Grant. Item# 10267

One of the top performers in Mt. Cuba Center's Monarda Trials! The dense whorled, almost ball-like clusters of 2" long tubular, fuchsia flowers are subtended by darker fuchsia and purple bracts. The flowers are supported on tall sturdy stems to about 40-48" high beginning in late spring to early summer and attracting hummingbirds, larger butterflies, hummingbird moths, and bees. Judith's Fancy Fuchsia Beebalm, a likely an offspring of a promiscuous Monarda didyma and M. fistulosa, is a taller growing cultivar that has proven to have excellent resistance to powdery mildew. This is a slowly spreading hardy perennial that generally prefers a moist to average moist, fertile soil, optimally in full sun with good air circulation. The seeds are also enjoyed by songbirds. Item# 12952