Butterfly Nectar Sources

A profusion of golden orange-yellow dark eyed daisies are produced in mid to late summer and into fall atop tall sturdy stems and attract a myriad of smaller pollinators and garden beneficials. Deam's Black-Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii, is different from Goldstrum by having a clump forming habit, slightly larger flowers, and overall taller plants with better resistance to powdery mildew. Its reliability has garnered this US native perennial the coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit. Provide Deam's Black-Eyed Susan with a full to mostly sunny site in average to well-drained soils. Songbirds enjoy the ripe seed heads and it may reseed under good conditions on exposed soils making it a good addition to cottage gardens, meadows, prairies, and other naturalistic and informal settings. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12115

Clusters of red, 3/4-1" long, flaring tubular flowers with yellow throats encircle the softly textured fountaining green stems from summer to fall on this heat and sun-loving drought resistant perennial. Desert Fire Firecracker Fern is a herbacious tropical perennial with low-growing to fountaining green stems whose flowers attract hummingbirds and larger butterflies. This Mexican native is considered to be cold hardy into the warmer portions of zone 9 and it makes this an excellent choice for sun-baked xeric landscapes, well-draining garden soils, as well as a container specimen where not reliably hardy. Item# 9566

Tall spikes adorned with whorls of 3/8" purple flowers edged in light lavender are produced throughout the growing season and the nectar rich flowers attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and even hummingbird moths. From the breeding work of the Durham twins of east Texas, Darrell and Jerrell, comes this unusual picoteed color form of Porterweed. These are vigorous well-branched herbaceous to shrub-like tropical perennials that revel in the heat and sun of summer providing a continuous display of flowers and pollinators until the first frost. The flower power of Porterweeds makes them worthy of being grown as annuals where not hardy or they can be overwintered as container plants in a warm sunny location indoors. Provide a full to mostly sunny location with average or better drainage and moderate fertility for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 11967

Tall spikes adorned with whorls of 3/8" purple flowers edged in white to light lavender are produced throughout the growing season and the nectar rich flowers attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and even hummingbird moths. From the breeding work of the Durham twins of east Texas, Darrell and Jerrell, comes this unusual picoteed color form of Porterweed. These are vigorous well-branched herbaceous to shrub-like tropical perennials that revel in the heat and sun of summer providing a continuous display of flowers and pollinators until the first frost. The flower power of Porterweeds makes them worthy of being grown as annuals where not hardy or they can be overwintered as container plants in a warm sunny location indoors. Provide a full to mostly sunny location with average or better drainage and moderate fertility for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 11931

Clusters of fiery-orange tubular blooms are seemingly born throughout the year atop this miniature growing plant and attract hummingbirds as well as larger butterflies. The compact form of the Dwarf Mexican Firebush lend it to smaller spaces and for use in containers. Surprisingly it appears to be just as hardy as the larger form and can be grown as a die-back perennial well into zone 8. Provide a full to mostly sunny position for the best results. Item# 403

1-1/2" bright orange-yellow daisies top this diminutive and durable dwarf Coreopsis in late spring and early summer. Deadhead to extend flowering into fall. An evergreen perennial that slowly develops into a 6" high slowly spreading stoloniferous groundcover. Item# 9851.

1/4" soft red blooms adorn the long spike-like bloom stems from spring to frost. Another of the smaller varieties creating a dense bush with loads of nectar rich flowers for the butterflies and hummingbirds. Dwarf Red Porterweed is the smallest and most compact Porterweed that we offer and it lends itself to use near the front of the border, in butterfly and hummingbirds gardens, as well as in containers. Item# 407.

A must have perennial! Early Bird Gold Rudbeckia produces wave after wave of bright golden yellow, 3-4" daisies from late spring to fall on a nicely branching plant. This exciting new day-length neutral and thusly free flowering Black-Eyed Susan was discovered at Dupont Nursery near Plaquemine, Louisiana and is sure to bring in the butterflies and pollinators as well as providing color all summer. Drought tolerant, deer resistant, and reliable. Item# 9853.

A must have perennial! Early Bird Gold Rudbeckia produces wave after wave of bright golden yellow, 3-4" daisies from late spring to fall on a nicely branching plant. This exciting new day-length neutral and thusly free flowering Black-Eyed Susan was discovered at Dupont Nursery near Plaquemine, Louisiana and is sure to bring in the butterflies and pollinators as well as providing color all summer. Drought tolerant, deer resistant, and reliable. Item# 10626.

A low to midsized growing Garden Phlox, Early™ Cerise begins flowering a month or more before other Garden Phlox producing clusters of deep purplish red, fragrant flowers that can continue into fall on well-established plants. The flowers of Phlox are designed for butterfly pollination but may also attract other pollinators. This is a clump forming, slowly spreading perennial Phlox that prefers a full to mostly sunny site with acidic, moderately fertile, average to well-drained soil. Images courtesy of Dummen Orange, all rights reserved. Item# 12103

Clusters of blue to light blue, star-shaped flowers are borne in spring on sturdy stems atop the wide foliage. The Eastern Bluestar makes a wonderful garden addition with a mannerly clump forming habit and excellent pest and disease resistance. Yellow fall foliage color adds to its interest. Tolerant of wet to average moist soils. Eastern Bluestar is an easy to grow and reliable native perennial. The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbird moths. Item# 10268

Edward Goucher Abelia produces large lilac-pink flowers in abundance from late spring to fall on this medium-sized Abelia with rich dark glossy green spring and summer foliage that becomes bronze in fall and winter. One of our favorite selections. The nectar rich blossoms of Abelia attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and a variety of garden beneficials. An easy to enjoy salt, drought, and deer resistant shrub that is tolerant of a wide range of soil and growing conditions. Item# 3041.

From the heart of Texas' Edward's Plateau comes this alkaline tolerant selection of Buttonbush with slightly narrower foliage with a bronze to gray cast. Like the species it produces tight, white to cream colored, rounded Sputnik-like flowers in late spring and summer that attract an array of butterflies, bees, and garden beneficials with its sweet, honey colored nectar. The Buttonbush is a vigorous, medium-sized to large growing, deciduous shrub that does best in consistently moist soils with most of a day of sunlight. A moderate to severe annual pruning of established plants in late winter helps to promote fuller plants and the most flowers. Item# 11264

A beautiful selection of this durable native, Emerald Blue Thrift creates a mass of lavender to blue, sometimes with a hint of pink, spring flowers that cover the fine trailing foliage. Finely textured, almost needle-like, evergreen foliage adorns the low trailing stems of this easy groundcover. Attracts butterflies. Deer and drought resistant once well established. Item# 10486.

Brilliant orange fading to pink and finally red and burgundy into the eye. The 4-5" flowers just seem to keep coming all summer long on a compact but vigorous enough tropical hibiscus. Erin Rachael's smaller stature makes it a perfect container specimen or as part of the landscape in frost free locations. Item# 10485.

Dense clusters of large pink tubular flowers with a white lower lip are born in late summer and early fall on this easy native perennial. Excellent for attracting bees. This is the latest flowering Physostegia that we grow. The Fall Obedient Plant will readily spread by rhizomes creating a mass of sturdy, 3-4' stems. An easy and reliable native perennial. Item# 10420.

Large clusters of white flowers with a light purple eye are produced beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing into midsummer with some rebloom in fall. Fashionably Early Crystal Phlox is a hybrid that is similar to Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata, but begins flowering about 2 weeks earlier, has exceptional disease resistance and thick deep green foliage, and slowly spreads to develop into a mass of foliage and 30" high flower stems. Attracts butterflies. Image courtesy of Walter's Gardens, www.waltersgardens.com. Item# 11748

Large clusters of light fuchsia pink flowers with a darker pink eye are produced beginning in mid to late spring or early summer, depending on your cold hardiness zone, and continuing into midsummer with some rebloom in fall. Fashionably Early Princess Phlox is a hybrid that is similar to Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata, in height but begins flowering about 2-3 weeks earlier (Fashionably Early Princess Phlox is the first of this series to begin flowering), has exceptional disease resistant thick deep green foliage, and slowly spreads to develop into a mass of foliage and 30" high flower stems. Attracts butterflies. Image courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 11912

Producing large, often branched, clusters of large pink tubular flowers in summer atop sturdy 4-7' high stems with narrow medium green foliage. Adored by Hummingbirds and other long-tonged pollinators. Finger False Dragonhead is a rare species that seems quite happy in average garden settings where it readily multiplies by rhizomes. This is evident by the host of new rosettes that emerge in winter for spring's flowers. Item# 10238.

Glowing clear red 10" widely flaring flowers are born from summer to fall on this beautiful perennial Hibiscus. A compact habit and free flowering perennial Hibiscus with fine textured red or purple tinged foliage. A showstopper! Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 9914.

A dwarf selection of our native Sundrops, Fireworks is the ultimate Oenothera cultivar producing vigorous but compact sprawling plants with red tinged foliage and even redder new growth and winter rosettes. The plants are absolutely covered by 2" wide, widely flaring, 4-petalled, glowing sunny yellow flowers in late spring and early summer. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10160.