Butterfly Nectar Sources

The Red Firecracker Fern produces loads of 1" showy red tubular flowers that are born in large loose clusters along the arching ferny stems throughout the warmer months of the year or nearly year round where winters are mild. Excellent for Hummingbirds! This is a durable and long-lived, clump forming perennial that requires little additional care once well-established. The Firecracker Fern has excellent heat and sun tolerance as well as moderate drought resistance once well-established. It is even listed as being suitable for xeriscaping. Firecracker Fern, Russelia equisetiformis, is listed as a Texas A&M Outstanding Coastal Plant as it has excellent resistance to soil and wind born salts, though it could use some protection from harsh, drying winds. It is also an RHS Award of Garden Merit selection. It can be used as a low informal hedge, allow it to spill over walls, enjoy it as a hanging basket, window box, or container specimen, as well as in mixed container gardens. Item# 417

Huge deep scarlet red, 10" wide, widely flaring flowers with overlapping petals are borne from summer to fall on this beautiful perennial Hibiscus cloaked in rich apple green foliage. Red Flare Hardy Hibiscus is a showstopper with its continuous display of massive cranberry red flowers thanks in no small part to being nearly sterile and rarely producing seed. The Flare Hibiscus series have been selected as Texas Superstar© Plants due to their toughness, reliability, and performance in the garden and landscape throughout the state. These root hardy, 4-5' high and 4-6' wide herbaceous perennials will die-back to the ground in fall returning from the crown the following spring. Provide a richly fertile, moist, wet, to average moist soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and to maximize flowering. Easy and reliable! Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 13129

Small spike-like racemes composed of numerous 1-1/2" long, tubular, deep cherry red flowers are produced from spring to frost to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions potentially attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Red Fountains Skullcap, a selection of Scutellaria longifolia, is a mounding, naturally evergreen, herbaceous perennial perfectly suited for hanging baskets or container culture as a spiller or filler and is considered to be a root hardy, dieback perennial into zone 8. It can also be utilized as a groundcover for near the front of the border or landscape. Hanging basket culture will bring the nectar rich flowers within easy reach for hummingbirds. Provide an average moist to moist, fertile soil in full sun to partly shaded conditions for optimum vigor and flowering. Provide an organic mulch to protect the crown in areas where freezes occur if it is intended to be grown as a perennial. Item# 1201

Red Fountains Skullcap is considered by some to be hardy to zone 8A if provided with a breathable but insulative winter mulch like pine straw (a.k.a. pine needles).

It's hard to beat Turk's Cap for sheer flower power! From summer to fall the brilliant red flowers just keep coming. Red Hot, a.k.a. Red Spreader, is a lower growing and more spreading form of Turk's Cap with slightly larger red flowers that was selected by plantsman Greg Grant who also developed Pam Puryear's Pink, and Big Momma. Greg says that Red Hot has a more noticeable lower and spreading habit when grown in full sun. Excellent for Hummingbirds and Butterflies, especially the Sulphurs. Item# 9726.

An earlier flowering and cold hardy selection of the Forsythia Sage developed by Plant Delights, Red Neck Girl boasts dark maroon red stems that contrast nicely with the 12-18" spikes of yellow tubular flowers in late summer and fall. This is a vigorous growing Salvia that can reach 7' high and wide in a single season so plan to give it plenty of space as it will tower over most other perennials in the late summer garden. Enjoys a moist, but not wet or soggy location, and a full to mostly sunny location. Item# 11517

A seemingly continuous display of upright to arching spikes composed of large showy maroon bracts from which the individual pink lipped tubular flowers emerge from spring to fall to year round under warm tropical conditions. This plant has exceptional flower power and makes a beautiful display as a container plant specimen and in mixed container gardens as well as in the garden and landscape. The common Red Shrimp Plant, Justicia brandegeeana, is a heat loving, naturally evergreen, bushy, tropical plant with dark olive green foliage and grows to about 24" high by about 18" wide. It is both full sun and bright shade tolerant but tends to have the densest branching habit where it receives at least 4 hours or more of direct sunlight. Provide an average to well-drained, moderately fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Attracts hummingbirds and the occasional larger butterfly and is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Caterpillar host: Cuban Crescent, Texan Crescent, White Peacock, and Malachite. Item# 620

A wonderfully colorful fall suprise, the Red Spider Lily produces neatly rounded clusters of deep red spidery flowers atop sturdy 12-18" high stems in late summer and early fall before the blue-green narrow straplike foliage emerges for winter. The nectar rich flowers attract larger butterflies and the large yellow Sulphur butterflies seem to be especially attracted to them. This heirloom pass-a-long multiplies readily to create a dense clump of offsets that can be divided in summer. Each pot contains 3 medium to large flowering size bulbs that can be planted anytime of year from containers. Work them into garden and landscapes but they can also be allowed to naturalize in the lawn. Item# 9338

Red Spread Lantana produces clusters flowers that open orange and then darken to deep rich red on a mounding to spreading plant. Lantanas are excellent free flowering perennials that love the heat and the sun. Use Red Spread as a ground cover or allow it spill from large containers. Great for butterflies and other pollinators. Item# 10104

A multitude of upward facing, sleepy, scarlet blooms are born among the soft, dark green foliage from late spring to frost. A hardy and long-lived, spreading to upright perennial, Turk's Cap is an easy to grow heirloom that will flower in sun or light shade. An excellent nectar plant for hummingbirds as well as butterflies. Caterpillar host: Glassy Winged Skipper. Resistant to browsing by deer and moderately drought resistant once well-established. The ripe fruits are readily consumed by birds and other wildlife, along with the occasional curious human. Item# 691.

18-24" high spikes are adorned with 1" long, tubular, purple buds that open to display 3 large lower lips and 2 recurving upper lips and are produced in fall attracting butterflies, larger bees, and hummingbirds. Reverchon's Lobelia, Lobelia reverchonii, is a rosette forming, native, herbaceous perennial to biennial and is adorned with deep green, lanceolate foliage and obviously hairy stems. This species is found in consistently moist to wet sites, like pitcher plant bogs, in eastern Texas and western Louisiana. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a wet to moist, sandy to loamy soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13563

New for 2025! This Texas Superstar® selection produces large, two-toned intense red and gold pink flowers from spring or early summer until frost, to potentially year round in frost free climates, attracting a variety of pollinators but especially bees. Rio Grande™ Citrus Crush Purslane, a.k.a. Portulaca, is a low growing, well-branched, vegetatively grown selection of this succulent annual with a slightly more compact habit meaning that it isn't apt to open up in the middle like older varieties thus providing a fuller look throughout the growing season. Its exceptional flower power, larger and intensely colored flowers that remain open longer, and a neater habit make this Purslane an excellent choice for low maintenance sunny containers, whether in hanging baskets, as specimens, or as a spiller in mixed gardens, or utilize it for the front of the garden and landscape as a sunny groundcover. Provide a full sun to partly sunny site in a well drained, average moist, fertile soil and allow the soil to become slightly dry between waterings. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 13503

New for 2025! This Texas Superstar® selection produces large, two-toned magenta and pink flowers from spring or early summer until frost, to potentially year round in frost free climates, attracting a variety of pollinators but especially bees. Rio Grande™ Frosted Strawberry Purslane, a.k.a. Portulaca, is a low growing, well-branched, vegetatively grown selection of this succulent annual with a slightly more compact habit meaning that it isn't apt to open up in the middle like older varieties thus providing a fuller look throughout the growing season. Its exceptional flower power, larger and intensely colored flowers that remain open longer, and a neater habit make this Purslane an excellent choice for low maintenance sunny containers, whether in hanging baskets, as specimens, or as a spiller in mixed gardens, or utilize it for the front of the garden and landscape as a sunny groundcover. Provide a full sun to partly sunny site in a well drained, average moist, fertile soil and allow the soil to become slightly dry between waterings. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 13502

New for 2025! This Texas Superstar® selection produces large, deep golden yellow flowers from spring or early summer until frost, to potentially year round in frost free climates, attracting a variety of pollinators but especially bees. Rio Grande™ Yellow Purslane, a.k.a. Portulaca, is a low growing, well-branched, vegetatively grown selection of this succulent annual with a slightly more compact habit meaning that it isn't apt to open up in the middle like older varieties thus providing a fuller look throughout the growing season. Its exceptional flower power, larger and intensely colored flowers that remain open longer, and a neater habit make this Purslane an excellent choice for low maintenance sunny containers, whether in hanging baskets, as specimens, or as a thrilling spiller in mixed gardens, or utilize it for the front of the garden and landscape as a sunny groundcover. Provide a full sun to partly sunny site in a well drained, average moist, fertile soil and allow the soil to become slightly dry between waterings. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 13501

Large rounded to pyramidal clusters of lightly fragrant, bright purplish-pink flowers that are produced atop the sturdy stems attracting mainly butterflies. The show begins in early summer and lasts for several weeks and potentially longer if plants are deadheaded. Robert Poore Garden Phlox, a Mississippi 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. Robert Poore is one of only a handful of Garden Phlox cultivars recommended for southern gardens by noted Texas plantsman Greg Grant. Item# 10161

Large intense red tubular flowers emerge from deep red calyxes in tall spikes throughout the growing season on this vigorous yet compact tropical Salvia hybrid. Roman Red Salvia, a Salvia darcyi x S. coccinea cross, is similar in form and habit to the popular Wish series but in a vibrant new color! Expect an aerial dogfight when your neighbor's hummingbirds show up for a feast. Suitable for use in medium to large containers as well as in gardens and landscapes. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist well-drained fertile soil. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 11986

Deep rose pink, fuzzy tubular flowers are produced in spikes atop the tall stems of this vigorous and free flowering hummingbird magnet! Rosebud Sage is a vigorous and hardy Salvia that begins flowering in early summer and continues into fall on a plant that can easily reach 6' x 6' so allow for plenty of room. A native of Mexico it is a die-back perennial into zone 7 if give protection and a winter mulch. Provide a moderately fertile, well-drained, average moist soil in a full to mostly sunny location for the best results. Item# 11143

The dark colored nearly black spikes and calyxes provide a dark contrast to the brilliant glowing red two-lipped tubular flowers that are sure to draw hummingbirds for miles from spring to fall! Royal Bumble Salvia, a selection or hybrid of the native Littleleaf Sage, S. microphylla, is a 2015 Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merit winner with excellent vigor and amazing flower power all on a compact well-branched plant. Considered by some to be the best red Salvia x jamensis/S. microphylla hybrid on the planet! 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. Item# 12476

From dark colored spikes and calyxes emerge vivid hot fuchsia colored two-lipped tubular flowers that are produced throughout the growing season on a mound forming, heat and sunloving perennial. San Carlos Festival Littleleaf Sage, a Yucca Do selection of Salvia microphylla from the mountains of Tamaulipas, Mexico, has proven to be a top garden performer with excellent season long flower power and reliable cold hardiness. The brightly colored, nectar rich flowers are sure to draw hummingbirds as well as bees and the occassional butterfly. Provide this tough perennial Salvia with a well-drained, fertile soil with average moisture, although, fully established plants are somewhat drought resistant the plants will flower best where they have at least some moisture available during the growing season. In areas that experience hard freezes plant this Salvia out between early spring to midsummer to ensure winter survival. Item# 12477

3-4" wide light pink to purplish pink coneflowers with drooping narrow petals are held high above the foliage on sturdy 18-24" high stems. Flowers begin in May and may continue through August and they attract bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. The Sanguin Purple Coneflower is a taprooted, clump-forming native with an easy to get-along-with and tough nature. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9304

The arching spikes of 1" long, velvety, tubular, purple flowers emerge from long lasting, velvety, purple calyxes in late summer and into fall, and potentially spring where plants are protected from freezing temperatures, attracting Monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Santa Barbara Mexican Bush Sage, a dwarf selection of Salvia leucantha, is a multi-stemmed, clump forming and slowly spreading perennial whose 2' high, upright to slightly arching stems are cloaked in velvety, narrow lance-shaped, green to gray-green foliage that adorns the young white stems. This is a heat and sunloving, salt tolerant, and deer proof plant that typically does best in an average moist, well-draining soils but are somewhat drought resistant once fully established. Its uniform habit lends it to use in formal to informal garden and landscape settings as well as medium to large containers. It is considered reliably hardy in zones 8-10 and it can be enjoyed as an annual in colder winter regions. In areas that experience hard freezes, plant out as early in the growing season as possible to ensure a strong crown before frost arrives and a breathable winter mulch and excellent drainage will further help to ensure winter survival. Item# 9094

Deep blue falls, standards, and style arms are accented with slightly darker veining and a contrasting orange signal. Sea Knight Louisiana Iris is a compact growing plant reaching about 20-26" high and flowers in early midseason. 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. Sea Knight was awarded the High Commmendation in 1985. Item# 13452

Dense spikes of golden yellow flowers cover the upper 2/3's of this plant for an extended period beginning in mid to late summer and continuing into fall. Seaside Goldenrod is a clump forming native perennial common in coastal areas whose nectar rich flowers provide a much needed food source to fall migrating Monarch butterflies along with other butterflies, bees, and many garden beneficials. Deep green smooth foliage adorns the stems. This is a salt tolerant species that is more compact in poor and salt laden soils but in rich garden soil it is known to reach 6-8' high. Pinching out the growing tips in late spring will help to create a fuller more compact plant. Provide a full to mostly sunny location but it is otherwise adaptable to a wide variety of soil types from wet clay to sand. Item# 11627