Butterfly Nectar Sources

The 2-1/2 to 3" wide, deep red daisies with a small green to yellow eye are produced atop sturdy stems throughout the growing season above the low growing rosettes of deep green foliage. The Garvinea® Sweet Love Gerber Daisy was developed to produce perennial Gerber Daisies specifically for the garden and landscape, as well as container culture, with excellent disease resistance under a variety of growing conditions and continuous flowering from spring to fall. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials and can also be used as long-lasting fresh cut flowers. Provide an average moist, fertile soil with sharp drainage for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Item# 12557

One-sided, toothbrush-like, upward facing spikes of deep red hooked filaments spring erect from short purple to red-purple tubes from late winter to fall to potentially year-round. Guadi Chaudi Grevillea, a naturally occurring hybrid, is a very low growing, ground-hugging, naturally evergreen shrub with bronze and red-tinged oak-like foliage that can be readily used as a tough drought-resistant groundcover or allow it to spill over walls. Grevilleas need little supplemental water once well-established in the garden or landscape. Grevilleas may also be utilized as cut flowers. Do not use phosphorous containing fertilizers, especially in soil-less potting mixes and soils low in Iron. Item# 12641

The rounded flower clusters open to a bright orange-yellow and quickly deepen into rich red tones. Gem™ Compact Orange Fire Lantana was developed with container culture in mind where they will provide spring to fall color and nectar for pollinators all on a compact rounded plant growing to just 8-10"H x 10-12"W. These versatile heat and sunloving plants can also be utilized for hanging baskets as well as in the garden and landscape. Due to their slow growth rate, the Lantana in this series may not be suitable for cool summer climates. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Danziger, all rights reserved. Item# 13121

The 2021 Classic City Award winner in the UGA Trial Gardens! The rounded flower clusters open yellow, fade into peach, and then deepen into rich pink tones. Gem™ Compact Pink Opal Lantana was developed with container culture in mind where they will provide spring to fall color and nectar for pollinators all on a compact rounded plant growing to just 8-10"H x 10-12"W. These versatile heat and sunloving plants can also be utilized for hanging baskets as well as in the garden and landscape. Due to their slow growth rate, the Lantana in this series may not be suitable for cool summer climates. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Danziger, all rights reserved. Item# 13122

The rounded flower clusters open a sunny yellow, fade into pastel peachy and apricot shades, and finally into soft rosy pink tones. Gem™ Compact Rose Quartz Lantana was developed with container culture in mind where they will provide spring to fall color and nectar for pollinators all on a compact rounded plant growing to just 8-10"H x 10-12"W. These versatile heat and sunloving plants can also be utilized for hanging baskets as well as in the garden and landscape. Due to their slow growth rate, the Lantana in this series may not be suitable for cool summer climates. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Danziger, all rights reserved. Item# 13123

The rounded flower clusters open to a bright orange-yellow and quickly deepen into rich red tones. Gem™ Ruby Lantana was developed with container culture in mind where they will provide spring to fall color and nectar for pollinators all on a compact rounded plant growing to about 10-14" high and wide. These versatile heat and sunloving plants can also be utilized for hanging baskets as well as in the garden and landscape . Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Danziger, all rights reserved. Item# 13120

Large ball-shaped clusters of pure white trumpet shaped flowers are produced in late spring and summer atop sturdy 2-3' high stalks attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Getty White Agapanthus, a seed grown strain of Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis, is one of the more reliably cold hardy Agapanthus cultivars that naturally goes dormant in fall. This is a clump forming perennial with rich green strap-like foliage that is sure to add a tropical flare to any sunny well-drained garden or landscape setting. Even though it is fairly cold tolerant, the plants will still benefit from a breathable mulch in any area that experiences freezing temperatures for extended periods. Agapanthus are somewhat drought resistant once well-established but generally prefer an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Deer and rabbit resistant and moderately salt tolerant. Makes an easy and low maintenance container plant where not hardy. Item# 12768

The large 1-1/2" long tubular color-changing flowers are produced in spike-like clusters from the leaf axils and start out yellow and fade through orange into red tones and are held on 3-4'H sturdy stems. The flowers are produced during the spring, where plants are not frozen to the ground, and/or in fall just in time for migrating hummingbirds. The Giant Cigar Plant, Cuphea micropetala, is a herbaceous, slowly spreading, upright to branching perennial cloaked in dark green glossy foliage. Considered by many to be the most reliably cold hardy Cuphea species surviving into zone 7B if provided a breathable winter mulch. It typically spreads stoloniferously and via rhizomes but is not considered invasive or aggressive. As with basically all Cupheas, the Giant Cigar is heat and sunloving and will benefit from average moisture, in fertile soils with average or better drainage. Where not hardy it can easily be maintained as a medium to medium-large container plant. Item# 429

Large clusters of dense frilly purple flowers are borne from mid-summer to fall on this tall vigorous native perennial. An excellent choice for the back of the border where the butterflies and bees can enjoy it. Commonly found in moist clay soils but will do fine in average garden soils. Item# 9257.

Clusters of white to lilac, up to 1" wide, star-shaped, lightly fragrant flowers are produced nearly continuously throughout the warmer months of the year. The large velvety, white to gray green, large rounded tropical foliage of the Giant Milkweed make excellent fodder for Monarch caterpillars and one leaf can provide a substantial amount of food. A large growing shrub in tropical climates where it can be trained into a tree form, grown as a shrub, or hedge. The Giant Milkweed can easily be maintained as a large container plant. Item# 11038

A nearly continuous display of dark-eyed 3-4" wide dark golden yellow daisies are held above the rosettes of deep green foliage throughout summer attracting bees and a variety of other garden beneficials. Glitters Like Gold Black-Eyed Susan is a hybrid Rudbeckia boasting improved vigor, longer flowering, and resistance to leaf spot as compared to the longtime favorite Goldstrum. This easy sunloving clump-forming perennial grows to 30-36"H x 18"W and the ripened seedheads provide fodder for songbirds in fall and winter. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in average to well-drained soils with average moisture and fertility. Item# 12284

The clusters of purple to purplish-pink 3" wide trumpet shaped flowers with a nicely contrasting white ring surrounding the yellow throats that are lined with fine magenta lines that guide large bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the nectar and pollen reward inside. The Glowvine, Bignonia magnifica, is a highly desireable, exceptionally free flowering, naturally evergreen tropical vine with unusual pairs of oval leaflets that are centered by its grasping tendrils. Once mature, these easy to grow vigorous vines can flower continuously throughout the year under warm tropical conditions. The Glowvine (a.k.a. Glow Vine) can be trained as a shrub and overwintered indoors with regular pruning or allow it to cover fences, trellises, and arbors in tropical regions. Item# 12033

You can grow this award winning Bluebeard for its foliage alone! The new bright yellow spring foliage retains its color throughout the growing season even in the hot and humid south. In late summer and fall, dense whorled clusters of deep violet-blue, nectar rich, tubular flowers are held above and among the wonderfully contrasting foliage. Gold Crest Bluebeard, a Caryopteris hybrid, was selected for its heat tolerant brilliant foliage, for its dense compact habit, and its pollinator attracting flowers. In zone 6 Bluebeard tends to act more like a clump forming die-back perennial and becomes more shrub-like where winters are milder, although, it benefits from a hard late winter or early spring pruning since it flowers on new growth. Somewhat drought resistant once well-established and prefers a sunny site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Won Best Pollinator Friendly Perennial for the Southeast in 2019 at the UGA Trial Gardens and was rated above a 4.5 out 5 at both Penn State(2021) and Mississippi State(2020) trial gardens as 2nd year perennials! Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12506

Golden Alexanders ( zizea aurea) produces flat topped clusters of tiny yellow flowers atop tall 2-3' high stems in spring atop the rosette of glossy lobed foliage. This is a member of the carrot family, Apiaceae previously Umbelliferaceae, and is a host of the Black Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. A native clump forming perennial, Golden Alexanders, Zizia aurea, is found throughout the central and eastern US. It is commonly found in moist woodlands, roadsides, meadows, and prairies. The flowers attract a variety of smaller pollinators including bees and butterflies. The ripened seed heads are utilized by songbirds. Item# 11774

3" wide golden yellow trumpet shaped flowers are held against a foil of glossy, deep green foliage are produced from spring to fall to potentially year-round on mature plants attracting butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. The Golden Butterfly Allamanda, a selection of Allamanda cathartica, is a compact form of this naturally evergreen, tropical, scandent shrub growing to 2-3' high and wide making it the perfect choice for a tropical specimen container plant and can also be enjoyed in hanging baskets and sunny window boxes. The key to success with Allandas is an average moist, fertile, well-draining soil, that should be allowed to become semi-dry between waterings, and a warm to hot, full sun to part sun site. Item# 12782

Dense clusters of golden yellow flowers sit atop sturdy 18-24" stems that emerge from the rosette of bluish to grayish green wide foliage with the nectar and pollen laden flowers attracting a myriad of pollinators in late summer and into fall. Golden Rockets Stiff Goldenrod, a compact growing selection of Solidago rigid subsp. humilis, is a naturally clump-forming Goldenrod with clean disease resistant gray-green foliage and enough manners for the garden and landscape or add it to naturalistic settings like prairies and meadows. This subspecies is found in most midwestern states and provides weeks of much needed color in late summer and fall. Somewhat drought resistant once fully established. Provide this tough native with a full to mostly sunny site in an average to semi-dry, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12320

A profusion of dark-eyed golden yellow, 3-5'', daisies are held above the tidy rosette of foliage throughout summer. A reliable, tough, and deservedly award winning clump forming perennial. Excellent for butterflies and the birds will enjoy the seedheads in winter. Item# 9155.

Enormous conicle lavender clusters, to 4" wide and 12-14" long, composed of tiny fragrant nectar rich flowers adorn the weeping stems of this fountaining Butterfly Bush in summer and fall. Grand Cascade Buddleia is a vigorous hybrid and a 2018 Walter's Gardens introduction developed by crossing Buddleia davidii with Buddleia lindleyana. The flowers attract loads of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 11634

Hundreds of 1" wide dark purple daisies are produced in fall atop these dense mounding perennials that could easily be grown in the place of fall mums. Grape Crush New England Aster, a selection of Aster novae-angliae (a.k.a. Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), is a clump forming native perennial with a densely branching, naturally rounded habit requiring no pinching, and producing a superior fall show. It doesn't lodge or break over like the species can. The flowers attract bees and butterflies. Use these perennials where you would normally buy Chrysanthemums whether as part of the perennial border, landscape, or as container plants. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average to well-drained, fertile soil with average moisture for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12741

The ray petals emerge chartreuse with an abrupt change to contrasting carmine-red which increases as the flowers mature creating a wonderful twist on this old favorite. Green Twister Coneflower, a highly popular seed grown, hybrid Echinacea strain developed by Jelitto® Seed, is a clump forming perennial reaching about 2-3' high and flowering the first year from seed. 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. Periodic deadheading will keep the plants looking clean and may help promote continuous flowering. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile, preferably mineral soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Photos courtesy of Jelitto® Seed, all rights reserved. Item# 12795

Flat topped clusters of bluish-purple Ageratum-like flowers are borne atop short sturdy stems that are adorned with finely cut and softly textured, medium green foliage. The flowers attract loads of butterflies as well as other pollinators and Gregg's Mist Flower flowers most heavily beginning in late summer and lasting through fall. Its rhizomatous though non-aggressive nature makes this durable and drought resistant perennial an excellent addition to the garden where it can be utilized as a groundcover as well as in naturalistic settings. It does seem to prefer a little midday and afternoon shade, especially in the hottest summer climates and in dryer settings. Item# 10811.

Large panicles, 12-18" in height, are composed of the deepest royal blue, 1" long, nectar-rich, tubular, two-lipped flowers that are produced from late spring or early summer until fall. Guatemalan Leaf Sage, Salvia cacaliifolia, develops into a mound of deep green, fragrant, triangular and somewhat sticky foliage and is considered to be hardy into zone 8 as a die-back perennial. This interesting flower-power filled Salvia has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its adaptability and reliability. It is also highly popular with hummingbirds, larger butterflies, and bees. In areas with cooler summers Guatemalan Leaf Sage can tolerate full sun in other regions it will prefer, like the rest of us, a little shade during the heat of the day. Item# 11917

A multitude of tall spikes of small purple foxglove like blooms are born in spring on this evergreen native perennial. Great for butterflies, bees, & birds. Reseeds readily. Enjoys an average moist to moist soil with ample sunlight. Excellent as a cut flower. Item# 9158.