Butterfly Nectar Sources

A succession of red tubular blooms that end in a purple bat-like 'face' are topped by a pair of glowing red 'ears' creating the interesting 'bat face' look. Batface Cuphea, or Georgia Scarlet Batface Cuphea, is a tough and reliable low mounding perennial which blooms from late spring to frost. Provide a well-drained soil with full to mostly sun for the best results. An excellent choice for hummingbirds, mixed containers, hanging baskets, and in mass plantings. Item# 1220

In late summer and fall the plants cover up in 2" wide, sunny yellow daisies, sometimes with an orange halo, attracting a variety of pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. The Bearded Beggartick, Bidens aristosa, is a tall, branching, herbaceous, native annual, that readily reseeds, growing to about 4-5' high and about 2' wide. It is native to the central and eastern US from eastern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to the Eastern Seaboard and as far north as southern Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine. While it is among the Beggarticks, this species does not produce seeds that stick to clothes and fur. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moist to average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. This is easily one of our showiest wildflowers for the fall. Item# 13558

Large rounded ball-like clusters are adorned with dense rings of tubular lavender to white flowers in late spring to summer on sturdy 3-4' high stems attracting hummingbirds and Swallowtail butterflies. Beebalm or Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa, is a winter deciduous, herbaceous, native, clump forming to slowly spreading rhizomatous perennial with lightly fragrant medium green foliage. This is a relatively drought resistant low maintenance plant once fully established and we normally see it in moist but well-drained soils here in the Pineywoods. Beebalm is native throughout the US except for the western most states. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in average to well-drained, average moist soils for optimum vigor and flowering. It makes an easy addition to garden and landscape or add it to naturalized settings like meadows, prairies, and roadside plantings. Item# 10484

Spikes of fuzzy, glowing red tubular blooms are borne from summer to frost attracting hummingbirds for the duration of the flowering period. Where protected from frosts and freezes Belize Sage can flower continuously throughout the year. Smooth glossy green foliage and a compact habit set this Salvia apart as well as its preference for partial shade conditions. An excellent choice for containers or in the ground anywhere it is hardy, or it is vigorous enough to grow as an annual in cooler climates. Item# 10118

Belle Starr Gold Lantana produces a endless display of deep golden yellow, nectar rich, rounded flower clusters on a vigorous mounding to trailing plant with deep dark green glossy foliage acting as a backdrop. A 2015 LSU Agcenter Plant with Potential, this hardy Lantana attracts loads of butterflies, bees, smaller pollinators, and other garden beneficials and flowers from spring to frost. Use Belle Starr Gold Lantana as filler/spiller for medium to large containers or as a groundcovering perennial in the garden or landscape. It was named for the famous outlaw queen associated with James - Younger gang. Item# 11146

The spike-like clusters (racemes) of tiny fragrant white flowers of Berlandier's Fiddlewood attract a whole host of pollinators including butterflies large and small, bees, and many other beneficials. Pollinated flowers are followed by long clusters of attractive orange berries that mature to black and are utilized by a variety of birds and mammals. This is an adaptable South Texas native that develops into a medium to large deciduous shrub to small tree. Item# 11368

The arching spikes of 1" long, velvety, tubular, white flowers emerge from constrasting and 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. Bicolor Mexican Bush Sage, Salvia leucantha, is a multi-stemmed, clump forming and slowly spreading perennial whose 3-4' 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. Selected as a Texas Super Star© Plant and as an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Item# 10284

Selected at the esteemed Biltmore Estate, Ashville, NC, the summerlong display of 2" wide dangling Chinese lantern-like flowers are a soft yellow-orange heavily overlaid with a strongly contrasting deep red veining. Biltmore Ball Gown Abutilon or Flowering Maple is an exceptionally hardy and reliable upright growing, naturally evergreen shrubby tropical that has proven to be evergreen in mild zone 8 winters but where it is not reliably hardy it makes an easy container plant that can be overwintered indoors near a sunny window. Abutilons are also known as Parlor Maples as this was a reliably flowering indoor plant and a conversation piece. The flowers attract hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a fertile, average moist soil. Item# 13087

The tubular, lavender flowers emerge from contrasting deep purple buds on large flower spikes beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing into fall. The nectar rich flowers are seemingly mobbed by bees of all shapes and sizes and are also utilized by butterflies, both large and small, and hummingbirds. Black Adder Agastache or Giant Hyssop, a sterile hybrid of, Agastache rugosum x A. foeniculum, is a branching, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial growing to about 24-36" high and wide by the end of the growing season. Utilize it in containers to bring the pollinators in close as well as in sunny garden and landscapes. Its licorice or anise scented foliage help provide deer and rabbit resistance. This is a vigorous and free flowering perennial that will do best in soils with good to excellent drainage and in full to mostly sunny sites. Item# 10807

The dark purple to deep burgundy foliage nearly black foliage of this sturdy perennial is topped by spikes of sweetly contrasting purple to lilac flowers in mid to late spring. Flowers attract native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Blackbeard Penstemon or Beardtongue is hybrid selection of our native species (Penstemon species are found native only in North America) whose intensely colored foliage is sure to provide wonderful contrast with surrounding perennials in the garden and landscape or use it as a specimen in containers. Provide a full to mostly sunny location for the darkest foliage coloration and a well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Blackbeard Penstemon was selected not only for its foliage color but also for its compact habit and flower power. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 11904

The 6-petaled starry flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red are heavily speckled and flecked with red and are produced on sturdy stems atop the fans of medium to light green iris-like foliage in summer over a period of several weeks. The flowers of the Blackberry Lily, Belamcanda chinensis or more recently Iris domestica, are followed by seed pods that split open to reveal shiny black round seeds that are sometimes used in dried arrangements for fall. This is a hardy clump forming heirloom perennial with a tough constitution as well as being a colorful and low-maintenance addition to the garden and landscape. It will do best in an average to well-drained, average moist, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12304

The summerlong show of 8" deep dark merlot colored, ruffled flowers unfurl from nearly black buds and are held against a foil of deep green foliage. The darkest of Walter's Gardens intorductions, the large flowers of Blackberry Merlot Hardy Hibiscus are sure to stop traffic and may steal your neighbors hummingbird population! This is a compact well-branched plant on a clump-forming hardy perennial rated into zone 4 with proper winter protection.  Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, Blackberry Merlot is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom 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. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12492

The large rounded flower clusters open a soft lemony yellow, darken to apricot and coral, and finally fade into shades of pastel orange. Bloomify™ Mango Lantana is a sterile dwarf cultivar with a compact, well-branched upright to rounded habit lending it to use near the front of the garden and landscape, in mixed contaiener gardens, and as specimen container plants. Since the Bloomify™ Lantanas do not waste energy on fruit and seed production they can spend that much more time flowering! The flowers are sure to attract a myriad of pollinators with their nectar rich flowers. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Item# 12409

The rounded flower clusters open sunny yellow and deepen into shades of orange as they mature. Bloomify™ Orange Lantana is a sterile dwarf cultivar with a compact, well-branched upright to rounded habit lending it to use near the front of the garden and landscape, in mixed contaiener gardens, and as specimen container plants. Since the Bloomify™ Lantanas do not waste energy on fruit and seed production they can spend that much more time flowering! The flowers are sure to attract a myriad of pollinators with their nectar rich flowers. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture Company, all rights reserved. Item# 12589

Bloomify™ Pink Improved Lantana produces rounded clusters of flowers that open a sunny yellow, fade through orangey pink, and finally darkening to near fuchsia. These are compact and free flowering plants with a naturally dwarf rounded habit. Since they don't have to spend energy on ripening fruit they can spend much more time flowering. The compact habit of the Bloomify™ Lantanas make them an easy choice for containers or in the garden and landscape. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. The Bloomify™ Lantana series are the first certified sterile Lantana on the market. Bloomify™ Pink Improved sports slightly darker pink flowers than the original form. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture Company, all rights reserved. Item# 13307

The Bloomify™ Lantana series are the first certified sterile Lantana on the market. Bloomify™ Rose Lantana produces rounded clusters of flowers that open a soft yellow and fade through an orangey pink to deep fuchsia. These are compact and free flowering plants with a naturally rounded habit. Since they don't have to spend energy on ripening fruit they can spend much more time flowering. The compact habit of the Bloomify™ Rose Lantanas make them an easy choice for containers or in the garden and landscape. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. Item# 11412

New for 2024! Bloomify™ White Lantana produces rounded clusters of flowers that open white with a primrose eye to solid primrose and quickly mature to pure white. These are compact and free flowering plants with a naturally dwarf rounded habit. The Bloomify™ Lantana series are the first certified sterile Lantana on the market. Since they don't have to spend energy on ripening fruit they can spend much more time flowering. The compact habit of the Bloomify™ Lantanas make them an easy choice for containers or in the garden and landscape. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13308

This award winning Agastache produces tall spikes of deep purplish blue tubular flowers held on sturdy stems atop rich deep green fragrant foliage. The flower show lasts for an exceptionally long period and begins in early summer with butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds all showing up for the feast. A drought resistant perennial preferring well drained mostly sunny sites, Blue Boa Agastache requires minimal care and provides big rewards. Photo courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.com. Item# 10918.

An unusual Bluebeard producing loose pyramidal clusters of 1" high, deep blue-purple, butterfly shaped flowers with a speckled white bee guide beginning in summer and continuing into fall that are sure to attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Blue Butterflies Bluebeard, an improved selection of Caryopteris divaricata that is now classified into the monotypic genus Tripora, is a moderately vigorous, loose shrubby perennial growing to about 4-6' high and 3-4' wide by flowering time. And while this plant may appear tender, this Himalyan native is reliably cold hardy into zone 6. Its foliage has a strong, disagreeable fragrance that is reported to repel deer and other browsers, like rabbits and voles. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13457

Large clusters of nicely contrasting two-toned, deep blue and pale blue to near white, butterfly-shaped flowers with dainty recurving styles and stamens are produced during the warmer months of the year and attract a variety of pollinators. The Blue Butterfly Bush, Rotheca myricoides 'Ugandense' and once classified with the Clerodendrum, is a medium to large, naturally evergreen, vigorous growing, heat and sunloving, tropical shrub that can attain heights of 10-12' but is more commonly maintained as a 4-6' high shrub. Its long canes lend it to use as a tree standard or as an espalier where it isn't exposed to hard freezes or allow it to grow into an informal specimen or hedge. It can also be maintained as a container plant where not reliably hardy but should be protected from freezing temperatures. *Plants can act like die-back perennials into zones 8-9 with the stems freezing to near ground level when temperatures fall below about 25^oF and plants will benefit from a mulch to help the crown overwinter. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. The Blue Butterfly Bush's ease of care and reliability have garnered it the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Item# 10681

Dense tall spikes are composed of hundreds of light violet-blue and white tubular flowers that are produced throughout the growing season attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Blue Chill Salvia, a branch sport of Mystic Spires Salvia, is a compact growing, upright to spreading, herbaceous perennial growing to about 18-24" high and 12-18" wide. Where not exposed to freezes or frosts, the plants should remain evergreen through winter, but are considered root hardy into zone 7 with a mulch. Plants are adorned in deep green foliage that acts as a wonderful foil for the light-colored flowers. Its compact size and exceptional flower power make this an excellent choice for containers, as specimens or in mixed company, as well as in a sunny garden or landscape. Provide an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum growth and flowering. Item# 13517

A crown of deep sapphire blue filaments create a striking contrast with the white petals and sepals that are held against the rich green foliage throughout the growing season. The Blue Crown Passionflower is a vigorous growing tropical vine and can easily reach 20' once well-established. This is also one of the most reliably cold hardy Passionvines with foliage remaining evergreen in the mildest 8B winters but dying back to the ground in severe winters and returning readily in spring. The Blue Crown Passionflower may spread somewhat by rhizomes but it is generally much more tame than the Maypop. Cross pollination may produce tropical tasting tangy fruit that surrounds the dark seeds inside. Click on "More Details and Growing Info" or the image to learn more about growing Passionvines as perennials in containers or in the garden and landscape. Caterpillar host: Gulf Fritillary, Julia Butterfly, Variegated Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing. Item# 733