Butterfly Nectar Sources

From mid to late summer to fall this vigorous sturdy sunflower covers up in soft lemony yellow 2-3" wide flowers over a period of about 6 weeks. Lemon Queen Sunflower is not for the faint of heart and can reach 6-8' high and slowly develops into a 3-4' wide clump of sturdy upright stems. A perfect specimen to add color to the late summer and fall garden where the nectar rich flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Provide a full sun location in an average moist soil but do not overfertilize as the stems may flop from excessive nitrogen. The flowers also make good cut flowers. This native perennial is reported to be a naturally occurring hybrid of two of our native species Helianthus pauciflorus var. subrhomboideus x H. tuberosus and is considered to be H. microcephalus by other sources. Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11715

Rounded clusters of deep purple long-lasting flowers nearly cover this easy and rewarding annual from spring to fall. Lil Forest^™ Plum Gomphrena or Globe Amaranth is an excellent nectar plant that attracts a seemingly continuous parade of pollinators and garden beneficials as well as providing summer long color. A compact and well-branched Gomphrena, it will prefer a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained, average moist soils. Use Lil Forest^™ Plum Gomphrena in mixed containers as a filler or in the garden and landscape. Gomphrena or Globe Amaranth are heat and sun loving annuals whose flower power and ability to attract pollinators makes it worth replanting year after year. Item# 12123

This Black-Eyed Susan gets a gold star for flower power! An improved truly dwarf selection of the award winning Goldsturm, Little Goldstar Black-Eyed Susan produces loads of dark eyed golden yellow daisies on well branched sturdy stems beginning in summer and continuing into fall. All on a neat and tidy compact native perennial with deep green foliage that is deer and drought resistant once established. LIttle Goldstar Rudbeckia lends itself to use in formal settings, mass plantings, as well as for a bright spot of summer long color in less formal perennial gardens and landscapes. Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10920

Small clusters of 2" long tubular red and orange flowers with a yellow throat emerge from the leaf axils on long peduncles, the stem that supports the flowers, to offer up its nectar reward to hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Under warm tropical conditions Lobelia aguana flowers nearly year round with the heaviest flowering in summer and fall. A shrubby Lobelia with long deep green narrow foliage it quickly matures into a 5'x5' specimen. Lobelia aguana hails from the Mesoamerican Cloud Forests of Central America. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist soil with average or better drainage. Item# 11802

Dense clusters of fragrant dark azure to blue-violet flowers nearly cover up the nicely contrasting blue-gray foliage of this shrubby perennial beginning in mid to late summer and continuing into fall. The flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Longwood Blue Bluebeard is a vigorous freely flowering selection of Caryopteris growing to 4' high and 3-4' wide and selected by Longwood Gardens of Pennsylvania. Caryopteris prefers a well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny position. Somewhat drought resistant once well-established. A Missouri Botanic Gardens Plant of Merit award winner. Item# 11671

Intense pure red, massive, dinner plate sized flowers are produced beginning in early summer and continuing until fall on this vigorous and free flowering perennial Hibiscus. Lord Baltimore is one of the first widely cultivated Hardy Hibiscus developed by Robert Darby in the 1950's and it is still popular to this day! Perennial Hibiscus produce the largest flowers of any perennial in the garden and the rich red of Lord Baltimore may even stop traffic, if accidentally. It is a vigorous upright to spreading perennial that easily fits into the back of the perennial border or as a specimen in moist sites. Item# 11017

A beautiful and compact selection of our native Woodland Phlox, Louisiana Blue produces large clusters of purplish-blue flowers that are held above the rich green foliage in early spring. An easy to grow groundcover that does well in deciduous shade since it is a winter and early spring growing perennial. Provide a well-drained soil, acid soil with partial shade during summer for the best results. Item# 9410.

Light blue starry flowers are produced in pyramidal clusters atop the new stems in early to mid spring and are visited by butterflies and hummingbirds. Louisiana Bluestar is a rare and unusual Amsonia with large rounded velvety foliage with a silvery reverse. Unlike most other Bluestars it is short rhizomatous but is not invasive or aggressive and develops into a small tight colony of plants and stems. Also known as Sandhill Bluestar it is more tolerant of drier sites than other Bluestars once established. Easy and enjoyable. Item# 9809

A 2014 Louisiana Super Plant selection! Luna™ Rose Hibiscus produces large, full, rich rosy red flowers to 10" across on a sturdy and compact plant. Provide a wet, moist, to average moist and moderately fertile soil for the best flowering and growth. Sure to make a statement in any sunny garden spot! Provide a wet, moist, to average moist and moderately fertile soil for the best flowering and growth. Item# 11493

Highly rated in trials across the US, Luscious® Royale Pina Colada Lantana produces clusters of flowers that open a bright sunny yellow edged in white and then fade to white with a yellow center as the flowers age. This is a small compact plant with a mounding habit well suited for use in containers as a specimen plant or in combinations or use it near the front of the formal or informal garden and landscape settings where it will provide colorful nectar rich flowers from spring to fall. The large nearly sterile flowers attract bees, butterflies, the occassional hummingbird, and other garden beneficials. Provide a full to mostly sunny location for optimum vigor and flowering. Heat and sunloving! Item# 12156

A sterile clump forming selection! Machu™ Morado Ruellia produces a summer long display of purple trumpet shaped flowers that attract bees and larger butterflies. This new introduction boasts a slightly more compact habit than the similar Purple Showers but with all the flower power, heat tolerance, and adaptability and with a sterile non-invasive clump forming habit. Machu™ Morado Ruellia or Mexican Petunia is an easy to grow heat and sunloving tropical well suited to container culture as well as in the garden and landscape. Adaptable to soil types but prefers a sunny site in a fertile moist to average moist soil. Item# 12072

Large clusters of 1" wide starry golden yellow flowers with anthers that age to a contrasting red may be produced throughout the year under warm tropical conditions. The flowers attract bees and butterflies and if pollinated they are followed by 3/4-1" wide helicopter-like samaras. Maiden's Jealousy, Tristellateia australasiae, is a naturally evergreen tropical twining woody climber with rich green foliage and purplish stems on the growth. It can be grown in the ground in areas with mild winters and can also be grown as a container plant where not hardy. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum flowering. Maiden's Jealousy should be fairly tolerant of soil types as it is a component of Mangrove swamps and coastal forests in Tropical Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Australia. Item# 12026

Tall spikes of glowing red to purplish-red, 2-3" tubular blooms are born in summer above the foliage of this tough native perennial. A drought tolerant and hardy shrublet that freezes back to the ground to return in spring. The flowers are followed by dark colored bean pods that split open to display their brilliant red-orange beans that can remain on the plant all winter. Excellent for Hummingbirds. Item# 9408.

Small clusters of 2" wide white fragrant flowers open at the end of long slender tubes release their fragrance mainly at night with some fragrance maintained throughout the day as well. Peak flowering is generally in spring and summer with some flowers produced year round under warm tropical conditions. Manacá, Brunfelsia uniflora, is considered to be the most importnat Brunfelsia species used by South American shaman's and medicine men with a wide variety of uses from poison arrows, to 'dream walks', as an aphrodesiac, as well as a medicine to treat a variety of illnesses (we cannot recommend the use of this plant in any form as it can be potentially deadly). This is a naturally evergreen medium to large tropical shrub that may be planted in the garden and landscape where hardy or use it as a container plant that is overwintered indoors elsewhere. Item# 11896

Dense spikes of tubular flowers range from soft mango orange to light peach and emerge from long lasting rose colored calyxes. The flowers are produced basically from late spring to fall atop the fruitily fragrant grayish green foliage. Mango Tango Hummingbird Mint was selected for its dense and compact habit as well as for its ability to provide a long season of color as a container plant or in the garden and landscape. The flowers attract hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering as well as the plant's longevity. Image courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12028

The 2-3" wide funnel shaped flowers are deep red at their base with red flecking on the standard (uppermost petal) that spills over into the medium pink central portion of the petals and are broadly edged in a picotee of brightly contrasting white. Mardi Gras is an heirloom evergreen Indica Azalea with a somewhat compact naturally rounded spreading habit and has long been a favorite of ours for the excellent show that it puts on each spring. Dark green medium sized, medium textured rounded foliage creates a wonderful foil for the brightly contrasting flowers. Provide the Evergreen Azaleas with a moderately fertile, well-drained, acidic soil in a site that receives at least 4 hours of direct sunlight for maximum flowering. In hot summer climates provide morning sun or filtered shade during the heat of the day. Item# 11901

An award winning perennial, the flowers of Mardi Gras Helenium open to yellow and orange petals highlighted by deep reds that surround a small chestnut colored cone. As the long lasting flowers mature the reds and oranges intensify. An easy to grow and pest resistant perennial that provides a riot of spring and summer color on sturdy, upright plants. Item# 10653.

From large dense clusters of light green calyxes emerge large, velvety purple tubular flowers at the ends of tall sturdy stems beginning in late summer and continuing until frost or nearly throughout the year in mild winter climates. Margie Griffith is a large and vigorous growing Salvia with medium green foliage on a fairly full plant. Named and hybridized by Donna Dittman of LSU. Excellent for hummingbirds! Item# 11329

Deep brick red petals surround the rounded 'cones' of this spicily colored Helenium beginning in midsummer and continuing well into fall. As the flowers age oranges and yellows begin to show up adding to the festivities. The flowers attract smaller butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Mariachi™ Salsa Helenium is an easy to grow and pest resistant perennial that provides a riot of color on sturdy, compact, upright plants. Provide a full to mostly sunny location and average moisture. Item# 11395

Deep true red ruffled petals surround the rounded cones of this spicily colored Helenium beginning in midsummer and continuing well into fall. As the purplish brown disk flowers comprising the cone begin to open they add yellow to mix. The flowers attract smaller butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Mariachi™ Siesta Helenium is an easy to grow and pest resistant perennial that provides a riot of color on sturdy, compact, upright plants. Provide a full to mostly sunny location and average moisture. Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau, all rights reserved. Item# 12116

Dainty deep azure blue two-lipped tubular flowers are produced throughout the warmer months of the year, spring-fall, with some flowers basically year round in areas with mild winter climates. Considered to be an Australian hybrid of Germander Sage, Salvia chamaedryoides (some sources still list it as a selection) Marine Blue Salvia flowers over a much longer period on a slightly more vigorous plant but with the same gray-green fragrant foliage of the species. This is a compact growing plant that will slowly and unaggressively spread by root suckers and it will be happiest in a well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny position. Item# 11686

3" soft primrose yellow, cornflower-like daisies are born in summer on this durable and reliable, clump forming US native perennial. Stoke's Aster comes highly recommended and its easy to see why with moderate drought resistance, deer and rabbit resistance and it revels in the heat and sun of our southern summers. Plants readily multiply into dense clumps. Super easy and tough. Item# 10487.

Maryland Goldenaster is a clump forming native perennial whose silky-edged rosette of foliage is barely noticed much of the year but in fall it bursts into color producing a multitude of 18-24" stems that are topped by large clusters of nearly 1" wide golden yellow daisies. The perfect native replacement for mums in the fall garden and one of our favorite fall flowering native perennials. The Maryland Goldenaster is generally found in sandy, well-drained soils in full sun to partially shaded locations and is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. This is sure to brighten up the late summer and fall meadow, prairie, or roadside as well. It provides bees and smaller butterflies with a much needed source of pollen and nectar late in the season. Item# 10687