Butterfly Nectar Sources

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 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

Spikes of 1" long deep rosy pink tubular flowers emerge from dark purplish pink calyces beginning in spring and continuing until fall. Rosie Posie Agastache develops into a dense rounded mass of fragrant foliage that is topped by the long-lasting dispaly 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# 11910

Clusters of bright golden yellow upward facing daisies are produced atop sturdy stems emerging from the rosettes of rounded low growing deep green foliage in early(8B) to late spring or early summer(3) depending on your cold hardiness zone. Roundleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera obovata, is very similar to the cutleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera aurea, but is more tolerant of full sun as well as light shade and drier growing conditions. This stoloniferous native perennial develops into an evergreen to semi-evergreen mat of low rich green foliage and its flowers attract many early season pollinators, especially bees. Use Roundleaf Golden Groundsel as a groundcover in informal and naturalistic garden settings as well as in roadside plantings, meadows, and prairies. It is native to much of the central and eastern US.   Item# 12249

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

An old favorite and an excellent performer Royal Red Butterfly Bush produces a continuous wave of rich reddish-purple spikes of flowers that are adored by butterflies, bees, and other beneficials. The flowers are richly fragrant with an aroma reminiscent of honey. Royal Red is vigorous and fast growing quickly developing into a medium-sized deciduous shrub that flowers from late spring until frost. Item#  630.

Mountain or Royal Sage produces loose spikes of glowing orange-red tubular flowers from mid summer to fall just in time for migrating Hummingbirds. This Texas and Mexican native is a root hardy perennial in the northern portions of its range but may become shrub-like in mild winter climates. Easy, drought tolerant once established, and virtually pest free. Item# 10021.

The nearly 1/2" wide ruby red flowers adorn the narrow elongating spikes of this large growing Porterweed from spring to frost. We are excited to be able to finally offer this true red flowering form of the ever popular Coral Porterweed! Ruby Throat Red Porterweed is a vigorous large type Porterweed that can easily exceed 3' high. The Ruby Throated Hummingbirds along with a host of butterflies are sure to search this beauty out and enjoy its rich near continuous supply of nectar. These are heat and sun loving tropical plants that have excellent flower power and will show off in a non-stop fashion throughout the growing season! Item# 12377

A rare Rudbeckia that is native only to the Pineywoods of west central Louisiana and east Texas. The bright golden yellow 4-5" daisies are born on tall sturdy stems that are held above the rich green rounded foliage. The Sabine Coneflower is native to consistently moist to bog-like conditions and will probably fare best in a moist to average garden soil. Item# 9402.

Spikes of deep red upward facing funnel-shaped flowers are produced non-stop from mid to late spring to fall atop the rich glossy deep green foliage attracting hummingbirds, occasional butterflies, and long-tongued bees. San Antonio Red Hummingbird Bush, a selection of Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii, is a small decidous native shrub from South Texas with excellent flower power. This easy and reliable heirloom has an upright to spreading busny habit rarely exceeding 3-4' in height (3'x3' is fairly typical in our zone 8B gardens) and it revels in the heat and sun of summer and is undaunted by the high humidity and high rainfall of the southeastern US. In the northernmost portion of its hardiness range, zones 7A-8A, the Hummingbird Bush may freeze back to near groundlevel in the hardest winters but readily returns to flowering by mid to late spring. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Small and tough enough for container culture but it also makes a low-maintenance addition the garden and landscape. Caterpillar host: Crimson Patch Item# 10034

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

A dwarf form of the popular Mexican Sage bush that grows to only 2'H. Santa Barbara Dwarf Purple Mexican Sage is a durable drought tolerant perennial that puts on amazing show of velvety purple flower spikes beginning in late summer (just in time for the Hummingbirds) and lasting until frost. Item# 9094

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

Large deep red bottlebrush-like flowers are produced at the ends of the arching stems in spring and sporadically through summer on large established plants. Semmes' Hardy Bottlebrush was selected as much for its cold hardiness (large well-established plants have increased cold hardiness over young tender plants) as for its habit and flowering potential. Bronze tinged new growth follows the flush of spring flowers that are sure to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other garden beneficials. Semmes' Hardy Bottlebrush has a naturally compact and rounded 4-5' x 4-5' habit with somewhat arching evergreen branches. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 11886

Slender arching stems that end in spikes of purple flowers emerge from the soft fine textured foliage of this dainty Liatris from late spring through early summer and may even flower into fall. The soft texture and and gently arching flower spikes make this beautiful Blazing Star a perfect candidate for the perennial garden where it sure to attract attention as well as butterflies and pollinators. Plant several together for the best effect. 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.

Solid yellow blooms are borne from spring to fall on this vigorous and fast growing upright 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 # 643.

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.

A mainstay of southern and western Texas and New Mexico butterfly gardens! Bright yellow daisies are produced from late spring into fall and are held against a foil of dark green, deeply lobed, fragrant, narrow foliage with the heaviest flowering occurring in fall. The flowers are highly attractive to a variety of butterflies, bees, and other garden beneficials. Skeleton-Leaf Goldeneye, Viguiera stenoloba and now Sidneya tenuifolia, is a native, naturally evergreen, small shrub with fine-textured, very dark green, deeply lobed, strongly resiny fragrant foliage that is resistant to being browsed by deer and rabbits. It is tough as nails and is highly drought resistant once well-established. Use it as a low maintenance formal or informal hedge, back drop, or groundcover. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained soils. A caterpillar host plant for the Bordered Patch Butterfly. Item# 13084