Butterfly Nectar Sources

An easy groundcovering perennial, Selfheal produces dense spikes of contrasting coppery tinged green bracts from which row after row of white tubular flowers with a purple 'hood' emerge. It begins flowering in early to mid spring lasting for several weeks providing nectar to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This member of the mint family is easy to establish and requires little care once established in the garden. Use Selfheal as a groundcover, on roadsides, as a component of the meadow, prairie and other naturalistic settings. Selfheal can be used to good effect spilling over walls or even in containers if you feel you need to contain it. Deer, rabbit, and pest resistant. Mainly a winter and spring growing perennial that moves into dormancy after seeds set in summer. Item# 11176

The clusters of nectar rich, larger flowers open a deep golden yellow and quickly deepen into fiery oranges to near red attracting a variety of pollinators and especially butterflies and bees. Shamrock™ Orange Flame Lantana was selected it for its moderately vigorous but compact habit, deep green foliage, larger flowers, and exceptional flower power all lending this variety to use in containers, as specimens or in mixed container gardens, as well as in hanging baskets, and for summer long color in a sunny garden or landscape. Provide Lantana with a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile soil with good drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 13500

Slender upright to arching stems are topped by spikes of purple frilly starry flowers are produced in summer attracting a variety of pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. Sharp Blazing Star, Liatris acidota, is an herbaceous, often multi-stemmed, cormous, native perennial cloaked in dark green narrow foliage and growing to about 18-30" high and is found in central and western Louisiana and southeastern Texas. The soft texture and and gently arching flower spikes make this beautiful Blazing Star a perfect candidate for the perennial garden where it is sure to attract attention as well as butterflies and pollinators. Plant a grouping for the best effect. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9865

Shoal Creek Vitex produces 12" spikes of rich deep purplish-blue from late spring to fall.  This is a vigorous and disease free and drought tolerant spreading to upright deciduous shrub or small tree that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Shoal Creek was selected as a Louisiana Super Plant for the spring of 2011 due to its large & richly colored spikes as well as for the fact that Vitex is an excellent low maintenance plant with a long flowering season. Item# 10305.

Forget those brittle old fall mums that need pinching and special treatment! Deep indigo, dense, fully double flowers are produced over an extended period in late summer and fall atop neat compact naturally rounded plants with deep green foliage. Forget about the throw away garden mums for fall, find an aster instead! Showmakers® Blue Bayou Dwarf New York Aster or Michaelmas Daisy, a selection of Aster novi-belgii or now Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, is a dense dwarf, hardy, clump-forming, native herbaceous perennial that develops into a neat rounded mass of flowers and foliage to about 12" high and wide with no pinching required. These were developed with container culture in mind but are sure to make statement in the garden or landscape as well. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Midday shade may be desirable in hot summer climates. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, all rights reserved. Item# 13165

Vibrant yellow and red flowers are borne from Spring to frost on an upright to spreading perennial. Raise Monarch Butterflies in your own backyard! The Monarchs migrate through our area just as the Asclepias begin to awaken in spring, just in time for the females to lay their eggs on the new growth. Caterpillar host: Queen and Monarch. Item # 3078.

Silver Mound Lantana is a low growing, mounding lantana that produces an abundance of soft yellow flowers that mature to white and are borne from spring to fall attracting a variety of other smaller pollinators as well as butterflies. An old favorite with the vigor and flower power of the ever popular New Gold as it spends its energy on flower production instead of seed production. An excellent low maintenance groundcover or for the front of the garden or landscape. Item# 10896.

An unusually pure white selection of Vitex. Silver Spires produces medium sized spikes of white flowers that are held against the dark blue-green fragrant foliage. Vitex is a vigorous, disease and deer resistant, drought and salt tolerant large spreading to upright deciduous shrub or small tree. Excellent for Butterflies, Bees, and Hummingbirds. Silver Spires was the top rated white flowered Vitex in trials at Longwood Gardens. Item# 11954

2-3" long, light bluish purple to purple fading to light blue, slightly flaring, tubular flowers are produced in large hanging clusters throughout the growing season, to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions, and are designed for hummingbird pollination, but may attract bees and butterflies as well. Sky King Iochroma, a selection of Iochroma cyaneum, is a naturally evergreen, loosely branching, tropical shrub with an upright to spreading habit typically growing to about 4-6' high and 2-3' wide. This miniature cousin of the Angel's Trumpet is easily enjoyed as a container plant where not hardy. Site in full sun to partial shade in a fertile, average to well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Iochroma, Tubeflower, or Mini Angel's Trumpets flower on new growth so keep them growing and healthy for and endless display. Item# 790

Large purplish-red to near fuchsia colored tubular flowers are borne in dense spikes beginning in spring and continuing until frost. Skyscraper™ Dark Purple Salvia is a mid-size well-branched and exceptionally free flowering Sage perfectly suited for use in medium-sized containers as well as in sunny garden and landscape settings. The Skyscraper series grows to about one half the size of the Wish series Salvias and flowers longer than typical Tropical Salvia, Salvia splendens, selections. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist well-drained fertile soil. Item# 12158

A 2019 Classic City Award winner in the UGA Trials Gardens! Large deep orange tubular flowers emerge from dense spikes composed of bronze and orange tinged calyxes beginning in spring and continuing until frost and are sure to draw in hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Skyscraper™ Orange Salvia is a mid-size well-branched and exceptionally free flowering Sage perfectly suited for use in medium-sized containers as well as in sunny garden and landscape settings. The Skyscraper series grows to about one half the size of the Wish series Salvias and flowers longer than typical Tropical Salvia, Salvia splendens, selections. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist well-drained fertile soil. Item# 12157

Large 2" long rosy-pink tubular flowers emerge from contrasting light bronze and rose tinged calyxes in dense spikes atop the deep green glossy foliage from spring until first frost. Skyscraper™ Pink Salvia is a mid-sized well-branched and exceptionally free flowering Sage perfectly suited for use in medium-sized containers as well as in sunny garden and landscape settings. The Skyscraper series grows to about one half the size of the Wish series Salvias and flowers longer than typical Tropical Salvia, Salvia splendens, selections. It is reported to have some winter hardiness into zone 7B. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist well-drained fertile soil. Item# 12459

The long, cascading spikes composed of hundreds of golden yellow flowers are produced in late summer and fall attracting a variety of pollinators and an especially important for native bee species. Solar Cascade Short's Goldenrod, a Cincinnati Zoo Botanical Garden selection of Solidago shortii as part of the Endangered Plant Program, is a well-behaved, clump forming, or short thizomatous, upright to arching perennial that is tolerant of calcareous soils, has good deer and drought resistance, and is self-sterile. By being self-sterile, if it is the only goldenrod species flowering at that time then any seed produced should not be viable. Use this easy to grow native perennial in naturalistic settings and in mixed perennial gardens and landscapes. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist to periodically dry soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Cincinnati Zoo Botanic Gardens, all rights reserved. Item# 12874

"One of the Best" in 2017 at Penn State Trial Gardens! The 3-4" wide, rich lemony yellow flowers are complemented by a orange cones and are held on sturdy 20" high stems above the deep green foliage in summer. SOMBRERO® Lemon Yellow Improved Coneflower or Echinacea is a reliably hardy clump forming perennial growing to about 18-22"H x 22-24"W making it compact enough for containers as well as being a colorful addition to the sunny garden and landscape. Like all of the Echinaceas, the fragrant nectar rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, especially butterflies and bees. Provide a fertile, average moist, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13600

The UGA Trial Gardens 2017 People's Choice Award Winner! The 3-4" wide, glowing orange-red flowers are complemented by a dark red-orange cone and are held on sturdy 18-22" high stems above the deep green foliage in summer. SOMBRERO® Sangarita Coneflower or Echinacea is a reliably hardy clump forming perennial growing to about 18-22"H x 22-24"W making it compact enough for containers as well as being a colorful addition to the sunny garden and landscape. Like all of the Echinaceas, the fragrant nectar rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, especially butterflies and bees. Provide a fertile, average moist, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13599

A 2018 UGA Trial Gardens Classic City Award and a People's Choice Award winner! The large, lightly fragrant flowers open a coral pink, deepen through rose, and finally maturing to burgundy held on sturdy 18" high stems above the deep green foliage in summer. SOMBRERO® Tres Amigos Coneflower or Echinacea is a hardy clump forming perennial growing to about 18-20"H x 22-24"W making it compact enough for containers as well as being a colorful addition to the garden and landscape. Like all of the Echinaceas, the fragrant nectar rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, especially butterflies and bees. Provide a fertile, average moist, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13156

The large pyramidal flower clusters are composed of showy, 1-2" wide, trumpet shaped, fragrant, white flowers that are accented by larger yellow-orange dots and numerous smaller purple dots and lines in the throat that act as bee guides. Flowering occurs over a few weeks in mid to late spring and attracts a number of different pollinators but especially native bees and honeybees. The Southern Catalpa, Catalpa bignonioides, is a naturally pyramidal shaped, fast growing tree when young quickly reaching flowering size at about 15-25' high under good conditions and with ample moisture and moderate fertility. With age, this deciduous tree develops a rounded crown. The large medium green leaves often produce good yellow fall color. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 3057

Dense spikes of rosy pink tubular flowers are produced in late summer and fall atop sturdy stems attracting butterflies, larger bees, and hummingbirds. The Southern Fall Obedient Plant, Physostegia virginiana ssp. praemorsa, is a clump forming species of Physostegia, whereas most species spread via long rhizomes, this one is a much more mannerly native perennial better suited to garden culture. It will slowly multiply developing into a dense clump of foliage and flowering stems. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a wet to moist to average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12752

A low growing, clump forming to slowly spreading perennial the Southern Prairie Aster produces 1" wide, medium purple to lighter pinkish purple daisies with a yellow eye atop sturdy upright to arching stems beginning in late summer and lasting into fall. This is another Aster that is native to sandy dryer upland soils and so is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Excellent for native pollinators.Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady.  Item# 10694.

Whorls of curving, tubular, yellow to cream flowers, commonly with purple dots, are held above the whorls of colorful bracts ranging from cream, to pink, to purple tones are produced in late spring and summer with the colorful bracts providing interest often into fall. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and occasional hummingbirds. Spotted Horsemint, Monarda punctata, is a clump forming, native perennial with lemony to oregano scented, narrow foliage. It is found throughout much of the central and eastern US and as far west as New Mexico and is commonly found on dryish, well-drained, and often poor, sandy soils. Spotted Horsemint makes an easy and reliable addition to naturalistic settings like roadsides, prairies, and meadows. Readily reseeds on exposed soils. Deer and rabbit resistant. Prefers a full sun site in well-drained soils.

The rounded clusters of flowers open a bright golden yellow and mature through bright pumpkin orange and finally into deep red tones all the while attracting a wide variety of pollinators with their nectar reward from spring until fall. Star Landing Lantana was selected for its low mounding habit, excellent flower power, vigor and reliable zone 7B cold hardiness. Use it as a groundcover in the garden and landscape for traffic stopping color throughout the growing season as well as for low-maintenance container specimens. When planted alone it is reported to produce almost no seed. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12886

The 1" long magenta to fuchsia tubes open to display white petals with purple markings and seemingly cover up this plant throughout the growing season to potentially year round under warm frost free conditions. The flowers attract a variety of bees, butterflies and is reported to be a hummingbird magnet. Starfire Pink Cuphea or Cigar Plant is a naturally spreading and mounding plant eventually maturing to about 18-24"H and 24-36"W by the end of the growing season. It can be used as a a stand alone specimen, in combination plantings, and even as a hanging basket plant as well as in the garden and landscape. Cupheas are some of the most reliable heat and sun tolerant plants and have exceptional flower power. Provide a full sun to partially shaded site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Item# 13421