Butterfly Nectar Sources

A choice native coneflower, the Texas Coneflower produces 3-5" bright golden yellow daisies that  are borne singly, or in small clusters of up 5 flowers, and are held on sturdy upright stems in summer. A rosette of large, rich dark green glossy foliage subtends the flower stalks. Texas Coneflower provides us with a medium-sized Rudbeckia that is similar in habit to the stately Giant Coneflower. Item# 10217.

Texas Gold Columbine produces bright sunny yellow flowers over an extended period from mid to late spring. The spurred flowers are visited by a variety of pollinators including butterflies, bees, and moths. The fine, fern-like soft textured blue green foliage provides a nice contrast with surrounding plants. Columbine are not always long lived perennials but readily reseed on bare soils. Provide this beautiful perennial to biennial with a moist, semi-shaded location for the best results. Texas Gold Columbine, a hybrid seed strain of Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinkleyana x A. canadensis, was selected and introduced by Greg Grant and Jerry Parsons and is a Texas Superstar® plant selection. Item# 11388

Texas Ironweed produces clusters of rich purple, to pinkish purple, frilly flowers in summer atop fairly sturdy upright stems. This one of the smaller growing Ironweeds and can be somewhat rhizomatous but does not appear to aggressive. This is tough little drought resistant perennial that is excellent for pollinators common to well-drained soils. Texas Ironweed is shade tolerant but will perform best when grown in full sun in well-drained soils. Item# 10671.

The wispy and whimsical, but sturdy, elongating, and often eventually branching, flower spikes are adorned with small, light purple to light purple-blue, funnel-shaped shaped flowers from late winter or early spring and well into fall attracting a variety of smaller pollinators. Texas Vervain, Verbena halei, is a small, clump forming, herbaceous, native perennial that emerges from a basal rosette of foliage in spring and is adorned with medium to dark green, spatulate to oblong, serrated foliage and growing to about 18-24" high and 8-16" wide by the end of the growing season. This is a tough and easy to grow, deer and drought resistant, smaller growing native perennial with one of the longer flowering periods of most native perennials. It should lend itself to use in naturalized areas like roadside plantings and shorter meadows as well as a mixed perennial borders or whimsical container specimens. Texas Vervain is native to the south central and south eastern US as far west as southern Arizona, as far east as Florida, and north to lower central Arkansas. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained, loamy to sandy, average moist soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13579

A new twist on old favorite! The 5-6" wide bubblegum pink flowers may be single, semi-double, or fully double depending on the whimsy of the plant and are produced in late summer and continuing into fall. Tickled Pink Confederate Rose Hibiscus is a selection of Hibiscus mutabilis that was shared with us by a longtime customer and Hibiscus enthusiast. Expect the growth habit to be similar to the old standards reaching about 8-12' high and wide at maturity. In areas where hard freezes occur, provide a breathable but insulative mulch, such as pine straw or pine needles, around the crown of the plants. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. An Almost Eden exclusive introduction for 2025! Item# 13137

Torpedo is a slightly larger flowering form of Batface Cuphea which produces 1-1/2" long red tubular blooms that end with a purple bat-like face that is accented by the bright red 'ears' on a naturally mounding plant. Flowers from late spring to frost and is adored by hummingbirds. Use Torpedo Batface Cuphea in mixed containers as a spiller or filler, as specimen containers, hanging baskets, or in mass in the garden and landscape to create a bold effect. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 315

Large intense deep blue flowers emerge from tall spikes beginning in spring and continuing throughout the growing season and into fall. Van Remsen Salvia, an Anise Sage or chance hybrid, is an excellent nectar plant for hummingbirds and may also be visited by larger butterflies. Unlike many of the Salvia guaranitica selections available Van Remsen is a clump forming vigorous growing perennial that can hit 7' high bringing the flowers closer to the hummingbirds and towering over most other garden perennials. This cultivar was discovered in the garden of James Van Remsen of Louisiana and was named and introduced by Salvia guru Richard Dufresne of North Carolina. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in an average moist, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12118

The spikes of 1" long, creamy white,, two-lipped tubular flowers that emerge from pale yellow buds are produced throughout the growing season attracting hummingbirds, bees, and the occasional butterfly. Vanilla Cream Salvia or Jame Sage, a hybrid selection grouped with Salvia x jamensis, is a compact perennial Salvia growing to about 18-24" high and 12-18" wide that is small enough to enjoy as a low maintenance container plant as well as in a sunny garden or landscape. The glossy, deep green, fragrant foliage acts as the perfect foil for the light colored flowers. Plants may remain evergreen in mild winter climates and are reported to be hardy into zone 7. 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. New to the US for 2025! Item# 13519

Worth growing just for its randomly variegated bright white and green variegated foliage that is a standout in the garden. The sleepy, deep red 1" blooms glow like Christmas lights against the white and green foliage. Super easy to grow and care for and your Hummingbirds and Butterflies will show their appreciation for this attractive plant as well. Caterpillar host: Glassy Winged Skipper. This selection does show solid green new growth from time to time which should be pruned away. Item# 712.

The large 3-4" wide, funnel shaped, white flowers are neatly edged in a broad band of contrasting rich reddish-pink and seem to nearly glow against the foil of dark green, medium textured foliage. Flowering is in midspring attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Vibrant Evergreen Azalea, a Harris hybrid, is a rare dwarf with a dense and compact habit that lends itself to bonsai culture but is sure to be a low-maintenance conversation piece in the garden and landscape.  Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but that has 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. Item# 12576

Nearly black buds open to 7" wide scarlet red to deep wine red ruffled flowers with a darker burgundy eye that are produced throughout the summer growing season. Vintage Wine Perennial Hibiscus is a compact well-branched large clump forming perennial with a naturally rounded habit. This is an indeterminate Hardy Hibiscus meaning that they flower all up and down the stems instead of just on the upper half of the plants creating a knockout display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 12059

Dense flattened clusters of dainty white tubular flowers top the narrow blue-green to green fragrant foliage in summer. The small nectar rich flowers of Virginia Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum virginianum, attract a wide variety of pollinators, and are especially important to native bees. This is a rhizomatous native perennial that will readily spread especially in moist soils. It is native mainly to the northcentral and northeastern US and is typically found in moist soils but can tolerate drier sites where it is less likely to spread aggressively. Virginia Mountain Mint is tolerant of a wide variety of soil types from clay, to sandy, to rocky as well as calcareous soils. Item# 12355

From dark spikes and calyxes emerge the large, bright pink, 1" long, tubular flowers that are produced throughout the growing season atop tidy compact plants attracting a variety of smaller pollinators, especially bees and low flying hummingbirds. VISIONAL® Pink Salvia, a Salvia x jamensis hybrid, boasts a densely branching compact habit and early and excellent flower power with flowering beginning early and continuing reliably through summer and into fall. In areas where hard freezes do not occur, these Sages may develop a shrubby semi-woody base, while in zone 8 and colder, established plants act more like herbaceous perennials dying back to near ground level and returning in early spring. Enjoy these colorful pollinator attractors as forgiving container specimens or in a sunny garden or landscape. Provide full sun to part shade in well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13596

New to the US for 2026! From dark spikes and calyxes emerge deep royal purple, 1" long, tubular flowers that are produced throughout the growing season atop tidy compact plants attracting a variety of smaller pollinators, especially bees and low flying hummingbirds. VISIONAL® Purple Improved Salvia, a Salvia x jamensis hybrid, boasts a densely branching compact habit with early and excellent flower power that continues reliably through summer and into fall. In areas where hard freezes do not occur, these Sages may develop a shrubby semi-woody base, while in zone 8 and colder, established plants act more like herbaceous perennials dying back to near ground level and returning in early spring. Enjoy these colorful pollinator attractors as forgiving container specimens or in a sunny garden or landscape. Provide full sun to part shade in well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13594

The dark spikes are adorned with 1" long, bright to intense deep red tubular flowers that are produced throughout the growing season atop tidy compact plants attracting a variety of smaller pollinators, especially bees and low flying hummingbirds. VISIONAL® Wine Red Salvia, a Salvia x jamensis hybrid, boasts a densely branching compact habit with early and excellent flower power that continues reliably through summer and into fall. In areas where hard freezes do not occur, these Sages may develop a shrubby semi-woody base, while in zone 8 and colder, established plants act more like herbaceous perennials dying back to near ground level and returning in early spring. Enjoy these colorful pollinator attractors as forgiving container specimens or in a sunny garden or landscape. Provide full sun to part shade in well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13595

A Louisiana Super Plant selection! The large 3-4" wide, coral pink, funnel-shaped flowers are produced beginning in late spring with sporadic summer flowering and another nice show in fall with the flowers attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Watchet Azalea, an evergreen Satsuki type, has a neat and compact, densely branching, naturally rounded habit that lends itself to use in low-maintenance gardens and landscapes, including formal settings. Its small size also lends Watchet to use in bonsai as well as for low-maintenance container plants. Provide your evergreen Azaleas with a well-drained, average moist, humus rich, acid soil and topdress with an organic mulch for the best results. Item# 12575

One of the most exciting new Hardy Hibiscus introductions for 2024! The medium to large, 7" wide, heavily ruffled, bright magenta flowers with a slightly darker eye are set against a foil of deep green, bronze tinged foliage. Watermelon Ruffles Hardy or Perennial Hibiscus is an indeterminate type meaning that they both begin flowering earlier and flower all up and down the stems instead of just on the upper half of the plant creating a knockout display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13298

Pyramidal, 6-10" high clusters of small creamy white flowers are produced in mid to late spring attracting a variety of pollinators and are followed by green fruits that ripen to reveal large black seeds covered in a thick translucent yellow to brown tissue that has been utilized as a soap. The Western Soapberry, Sapindus drummondii, is a small to medium-sized, native, deciduous tree with a vase shaped to rounded crown growing to 25-30' high and potentially to 50' high in good quality soils.The medium to deep green pinnately compound foliage provides good yellow fall color and the decorative fruits may remain on the tree into winter. This is a adaptable tree tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions from average moist to dry, acidic to alklaline, and clay to sandy or rocky soils. The plants are unbothered by browsers like deer and the almost 1/2" diameter, shiny black seeds are eaten by birds but are considered toxic to humans and mammals. Provide a full sun to partially shaded site in average to well-drained, average moist, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13551

Deep red butterfly shaped flowers emerge from the large clusters of starkly contrasting bright white calyxes and are produced throughout the growing season to nearly year-round under warm tropical conditions. The flowers attracting mainly butterflies but potentially hummingbirds other pollinators. The White Bleeding Heart Vine, Clerodendrum thompsonae, is a naturally evergreen, twining, tropical vine cloaked in large, deep green foliage. The White Bleeding Heart Vine may freeze to the ground in the coldest portions of its range but established plants typically return in the spring. An easy and rewarding container or hanging basket specimen where not hardy. Provide a partially shaded to partially sunny site, although plants are adaptable -see *note, in an average moist, fertile, acidic, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Its ease of care and reliability have earned it the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Item# 723

Clusters of pure-white, butterfly-shaped, fragrant flowers are produced in clusters in summer atop the tropical looking, rich green foliage and sturdy lush stems attracting both butterflies and the hummingbird-like Sphinx Moths. Cut the flowers and put them in a vase and they can perfume an entire room with their sweet heady fragrance. The White Butterfly Ginger, Hedychium coronarium, is a rhizomatous and slowly spreading, naturally evergreen tropical that acts like a die-back perennial in areas where freezes occur, reliably returning in zones 7B to 10. The Hedychium Gingers typically grow and flower best where they receive at least some direct sunlight for 3-4 hours during the day and generally have the best looking foliage where they receive shade during the heat of the day. A planting on the east facing side of a house, tree or other structure where they receive morning sun is often optimum. Provide an average moist to moist, average to well-drained, moderately fertile soil to keep this easy and reliable heirloom growing and flowering. Item# 1065

Large long-lasting clusters of fragrant, trumpet-shaped, nectar rich, white flowers are produced from mid to late spring or early summer until fall attracting a bevy of butterflies, bees, hummingbird moths, and hummingbirds. The White Chinese Abelia, a selection of Abelia chinesis, is a moderately vigorous, upright to rounded, semi-evergreen to deciduous, easy and durable shrub with a fairly dense branching habit growing to about 6-8' high and wide. The plants are cloaked in glossy, deep green, medium textured foliage that acts as a wonderful foil for the bright white flowers. Abelias make tough, reliable, disease and pest resistant, long-lived additions to the garden and landscape that can be allowed to grow in their natural form, and where we find they tend to flower most profusely, as well as a formal hedge. Provide these easy to grow shrubs with a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9680

In late summer and fall, Frostweed produces large flattened clusters of flowers that are used by a variety of pollinators including bees, migrating Monarchs and other butterflies. This is a relatively tall growing rhizomatous native perennial that will develop into a mass of upright stems and flowers. Frostweed, Verbesinca virginica, is typically found growing in moist to periodically dry soils in partly shaded to lightly shaded sites from the Edward's Plateau of west central Texas to Florida and as far north as Missouri and Kentucky. Compared to the very similar species Texas Crownbeard, Verbesina microptera, the Virginia Frostweed has fewer ray flowers (or petals) per flower and is considered to be more reliably cold hardy. Item# 11767