Butterfly Nectar Sources

Large clusters of deep purplish red tubular fragrant flowers open to display white and creamy yellow throats. Peaches and Cream Honeysuckle begins flowering in late spring and will continue into fall. It was selected not only for its ability to flower continuously throughout the growing season, exceptionally large flowers and flower clusters but also for its pest and disease resistance. Like most Honeysuckles, Peaches and Cream flowers on new growth so provide it with a full to mostly sunny position in a well-drained fertile soil. An easy mannerly vine for medium sized trellises, arbors, pergolas, and along fences. Caterpillar host: Chalcedon Checkerspot. Images courtesy of Star® Roses and Plants, all rights reserved. Item# 11719

Spikes of 1" long peach colored tubular flowers emerge from contrasting purplish pink calyces beginning in spring and continuing until fall. Peachie Keen Agastache develops into a dense rounded mass of fragrant foliage that is topped by the long-lasting display of colorful flower spikes. The tubular flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. The neat habit of this Agastache lends it to use as a container plant as well as in gardens and landscapes. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions for optimum vigor and flowering. Image courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc. Item# 11911

Large 3" wide, deep blue, cornflower-like daisies are produced on sturdy stalks starting in late spring and lasting through much of summer on well established clumps. Peachies Pick is a dense clump forming and exceptionally long flowering selection of the Stokesia Daisy. Its dense compact habit make this the perfect Stokes Aster for gardens and landscapes. Did we mention that it doesn't flop like older cultivars? This southern selection originated from the gardens of and was named for Peachie Saxon of Mississippi. It originated to us from one of the people who helped to make it known to gardeners and landscapers everywhere, noted horticulturist and author Gail Barton of Meridian, Mississippi. Item# 10810.

The huge white flowers of Peppermint Flare are randomly speckled and lightly striped with purplish pink. This hardy perennial Hibiscus is sure to be a conversation piece! This nearly sterile hybrid produces a continuous display of huge flowers, has excellent vigor, and pest resistant foliage. This root hardy die-back perennial has a compact 4-6' x 4-6' habit and is tolerant of soil moisture levels ranging from average to wet. The Flare Series Hibiscus were developed near San Antonio so in the the words of Heidi Sheesley they are 'Texas tough' as well as big and beautiful! Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 11171

3-4" high Shrimp Plant-like, square-shaped spikes of brilliant red bracts from between which emerge red-orange, curving tubular flowers with recurving petals and are produced mainly in winter into early spring. The Peruvina Wild Petunia or Lobster Claw, Ruellia chartacea, is a shrubby, naturally evergreen, tropical plant with medium-sized, glossy, deep green foliage and grows to 3-6'H x 3-4'W but can be maintained smaller with pruning. This is the only known Ruellia species with such showy bracts and they can provide color for months. Provide bright indirect sunlight, filtered shade, to cool sunlight like early or very late in the day. The Peruvian Wild Petunia will prefer an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12926

Large clusters of glowing purple tubular blooms are borne atop 3-4'H stems in spring and summer. This unusual hybrid was discovered by noted plantsman Peter Loos and is a wonderful garden plant where the butterflies flock to its nectar rich flowers.  Peter's Purple Monarda has an upright and bushy growth habit yet it refuses to flop. Extremely disease resistant. Item# 9887.

A slightly more compact Joe-Pye Weed-like hybrid, in summer Phantom Eupatorium produces large rounded clusters of purplish-pink flowers that sit atop sturdy dark maroon stems adorned with large medium green Joe-Pye Weed-like foliage. This clump forming herbaceous perennial was selected for its shorter branchier habit, excellent flower power, and mildew resistance but in all other regards is very similar to its larger growing parent. At maturity Phantom Eupatorium develops into a large rounded perennial to about 5'x5' whose stems are topped in 12" wide clusters of nectar rich flowers for weeks attracting a bevy of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Provide a full to mostly sunny location and a wet to moist soil and can be used in bog gardens and near ponds or other water sources. Received 4 out of 5 stars in Joe Pye Weed trials at Chicago Botanic Gardens. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11976

1" long recurving light lavender petals are topped by a large boss of starkly contrasting deep red to purplish red filaments that are tipped by contrasting yellow stamens and are produced in about midspring. Pollinated flowers may be followed by greenish oblong tropical flavored guava-like fruit. Pineapple Guava, Acca sellowiana or Feijoa sellowiana, is a medium to large evergreen shrub, sometimes trained into a small tree, that is cloaked in deep grayish green to olive gray green foliage that has a silvery reverse. The plants have a naturally rounded habit at maturity and typically do not require pruning and the plants have few disease or pest problems so long as they are grown in a well-drained soil. Wait for ripened 2-3" long fruits fall to the ground and allow them to continue to ripen in a cool dry area. Once they soften and the fragrance intensifies you know they are ready for eating. They have minty-ish pineapple-like flavor and fragrance. For the best fruit production plant at least two different varieties or seedlings. Ours are seed grown plants. The flowers themselves are edible also and would likely be best used in a salad. Item# 1207

3" wide creamy white flowers with a burgundy eye are produced from summer to fall on an upright growing perennial with small, trilobed, rich green foliage. The Pineland Hibiscus or Comfortroot is an uncommon native perennial Hibiscus found at the edge of pine forests, along rivers, and streams. It is not always long lived (3-6 years typically) but is certainly a worthy component of wildflower gardens, meadows, other natural settings, and near the back of the garden or landscape. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 9804

Penta-like clusters of tightly packed tubular purplish-pink tubular blooms are borne throughout late winter and spring and periodically throughout the year on the well-established plants. The Fragrant Pink Panama Rose releases its sweet fragrance at night so grow this one where it can be appreciated. A good choice for containers or in the ground where hardy. A naturally rounded and well-behaved shrub. Item# 740.

Large soft pink flower clusters, to 3" wide and 8-10" long, composed of tiny fragrant nectar rich flowers adorn the weeping stems of this fountaining Butterfly Bush in summer and fall are held against softly contrasting a backdrop of fresh minty green foliage. Pink 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# 11636

Hundreds of 1" wide deep reddish-pink daisies are produced in fall atop these dense mounding perennials that could easily be grown in the place of fall mums. Pink 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. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12841

Huge, conicle, bright pink bloom spikes can reach 18" long and 4" wide at the base! An excellent choice for butterfly gardens.  Item # 558

Huge bright cherry pink, 10" wide, widely flaring flowers are born from summer to fall on this beautiful perennial Hibiscus. Pink Flare is a showstopper with its continuous display of massive flowers, excellent vigor, and and pest resistant foliage. This root hardy die-back perennial has a compact 4-6' x 4-6' habit and is tolerant of soil moisture levels ranging from average to wet. The Flare Series Hibiscus were developed near San Antonio so in the the words of Heidi Sheesley they are 'Texas tough' as well as big and beautiful! Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 11452

Finally a pink Obedient plant that stays where you put it! Pink Manners Physostegia is a tight clump forming perennial that produces spikes of light rosy pink flowers in summer. An excellent native that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.This is a hardy, perennial that is native to the eastern half of North America and prefers moist to wet soils but performs well with average moisture. Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 10456.

Received a rating of 4.87 out of 5 in the UGA Trial Gardens and was a staff and visitor favorite in Terra Nova Nurseries trials! The dense spikes of deep rosy pink, tubular buds open to a soft pink creating a wonderful two-toned effect from late spring through summer and into early fall. The nectar rich flowers of Agastache are a favorite of hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Pink Pearl Agastache was selected for its exceptional flower power, compact habit, and garden performance, so compact in fact it could be used as a groundcover. Hummingbird Mint's excellent flower power ensures that it will keep your hummingbirds happy throughout the growing season. Provide a full to mostly sunny location with excellent drainage and good air circulation for the best results. Enjoy this Hummingbird Mint as a low maintenance container plant or use it en masse in the garden and landscape. Moderately drought resistant once well-established. Deer and rabbit resistant. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 13083

Loads of 1-1/2" wide, starry, hose in hose flowers are light pink blushed white and have a slightly darker pink blotch and flecks in early to midspring and nearly hide the dark green foliage in peak flowering. Pink Pearl Azalea, originally named Azuma Kagami in Japan and imported and renamed by E.H. Wilson as part of the 'Wilson's Fifty', is a moderately vigorous, medium sized, heirloom, Kurume evergreen azalea with a mounding habit to about 4-5'H. Its moderately vigorous habit lend this large growing evergreen azalea to use as an informal medium-sized hedge, specimen plant, and as a spring flowering backdrop for mixed perennial gardens as well as in the 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# 12804

The extra large (for a Phlox) rich pink 1-1/4" wide flowers are centered by a contrasting dark purplish-red eye which is in turn surrounded by a narrow white halo all atop a dense groundcovering mound of rich green foliage. The butterfly attracting flower show of Pink Profusion Phlox begins in late winter to early spring and may continue for up to 8 weeks and at peak flowering the foliage may be nearly completely hidden. This is a dense clump forming slowly spreading hybrid Phlox that is well suited to the front of the border in the garden and landscape. Naturally summer dormant, consider part shade in hot summer climates. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a well-drained, humus rich, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Chicagoland Grows®, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12283

Large often pyramidal sprays of small rose colored flowers are produced from spring to fall on mature plants and are held against a foil of medium green heart-shaped foliage. The flowers are in constant use by honeybees and occasionally by butterflies. The Rosa Montana or Coral Vine, Antigonon leptopus, is a tendriled, tuberous tropical vine that is evergreen in frost free regions but acts like a die-back perennial in areas that experience freezing temperatures returning from the tubers in spring. As a perennial vine, it typically remains in the 8-15' range but can exceed 40' high in tropical regions. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum growth and flowering. Easy to grow with moderate drought resistant once well-established, though this may reduce growth and flowering. In areas where hard freezes occur, plant out early in the growing season and no later than by midsummer to help insure winter survival. Item# 825

3" yellow daisies top the tall wispy stems of this vigorous native perennial from mid spring to late summer. Finely cut rich green pinnately divided foliage adds a soft textural backdrop for the profusion of flowers. An easy and reliably perennial native for the back of the border. An excellent choice for pollinators. Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 9720.