Butterfly Nectar Sources

The large creamy white flowers emerge from loose purple-black tinged spikes and calyxes from spring to fall attracting hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Cool Cream Salvia, a selection or hybrid of the Little Leaf or Mountain Sage, Salvia microphylla, boasts excellent vigor and flower power with flowering beginning early and continuing reliably through summer and into fall. In areas where hard freezes do not occur, The Mountain 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 in the garden and landscape or as rewarding and forgiving container specimens. Provide full sun to partly shaded sites in well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Photos courtesy of New World Plants, LTD., all rights reserved. Item# 13146

The large hot pink flowers are center by a contrasting bright white bee guide and adorn loose red-purple tinged spikes and calyxes from spring to fall attracting hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Cool Pink Salvia, a selection or hybrid of the Little Leaf or Mountain Sage, Salvia microphylla, boasts excellent vigor and flower power with flowering beginning early and continuing reliably through summer and into fall. In areas where hard freezes do not occur, The Mountain 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 in the garden and landscape or as rewarding and forgiving container specimens. Provide full sun to partly shaded sites in well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13147

The large violet colored flowers emerge from loose purple tinged spikes and calyxes from spring to fall attracting hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Cool Violet Salvia, a selection or hybrid of the Little Leaf or Mountain Sage, Salvia microphylla, boasts excellent vigor and flower power with flowering beginning early and continuing reliably through summer and into fall. In areas where hard freezes do not occur, The Mountain 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 in the garden and landscape or as rewarding and forgiving container specimens. Provide full sun to partly shaded sites in well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Photos courtesy of New World Plants, LTD., all rights reserved. Item# 13148

Coming again for 2022! The Coral Firecracker Fern produces loads of 1" salmon tubular flowers that are born in large loose clusters along the arching ferny stems throughout the warmer months of the year or nearly year round where winters are mild. Excellent for Hummingbirds! Plant it with the red and yellow for a colorful combination. This is a durable and long-lived, clump forming perennial that requires little additional care once well-established. The Firecracker Fern has excellent heat and sun tolerance as well as moderate drought resistance once well-established. It is even listed as being suitable for xeriscaping. Firecracker Fern, Russelia equisetiformis, is listed as a Texas A&M Outstanding Coastal Plant as it has excellent resistance to soil and wind born salts, though it could use some protection from harsh, drying winds. It is also an RHS Award of Garden Merit selection. It can be used as a low informal hedge, allow it to spill over walls, enjoy it as a hanging basket, window box, or container specimen, as well as in mixed container gardens. Item# 992

Clusters of red to coral, 2" long, tubular flowers are produced beginning in late winter and early spring and continue cyclically through summer and into fall attracting mainly hummingbirds but potentially other pollinators. The Coral or Trumpet Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, is a native, deciduous to semi-evergreen, twining, woody vine growing to about 10' high and is cloaked in bluish-green to medium green, rounded foliage. Flowers are followed by 1/4" red berries that are a treat for songbirds. This is a mannerly and manageable Honeysuckle, unlike its white and yellow flowered Japanese cousin, and will happily twine through a 6' high chain link fence or up an 8-10' arbor, trellis, or post. Few other native woody vines can boast such a long flowering season as the Coral Honeysuckles making them our #1 pick for attracting hummingbirds. Provide a sunny, average moist, well-drained site for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Chalcedon Checkerspot. Item# 1171

1/2" wide coral pink to orange flowers adorn the long spike-like flowering stems that are held above the foliage and the plants flower from spring to first frost or year round under warm frost free conditions. The nectar laden flowers are seemingly in constant use by hummingbirds, butterflies, and larger bees from just after dawn to near dusk. Coral Porterweed, Stachytarpheta mutabilis, is a vigorous growing, heat and sunloving, herbaceous shrubby tropical growing to about 4-5' high and wide by the end of summer. Porterweeds are a mainstay of butterfly houses due to their reliable and ample nectar production and it is an important nectar source for many overwintering hummingbirds in Central and South America. This species is also known as Pink Porterweed, Orange Porterweed, Pink Snakeweed. Item# 372

A 2012 American Rhododendron Society Rhododendron of the Year award winner! The glowing clear red flowers of Coronado Red Evergreen Azalea are produced in spring and again in fall on this compact growing, rounded, small evergreen shrub which matures to about 3-4' high and wide. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have 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# 10203

Correll's False Dragonhead is a rare but wonderful, seemingly more refined garden species that is as vigorous as it is beautiful. The dense spikes of purplish-pink, tubular, often speckled, flowers are held atop sturdy, 3' high stems in summer. Like most other Physostegias, Correll's False Dragonhead does spread by large rhizomes even in average soils. The leaves of this species are toothed, widest in the middle, sessile, and are almost always a rich dark green. Item# 10236.

Tall dense spikes of light blue-purple tubular flowers are held above the licorice-scented deep green foliage that is neatly edged in bright white. The nectar rich flowers are produced throughout the growing season and attract a seemingly endless procession of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Crazy Fortune Anise Hyssop, a selection of the award winning Blue Fortune, is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial with an upright bushy habit maturing to about 2-3'H and half as wide. The variegated foliage will be most noticeable where plants are upclose and personal making this an easy choice for containers on a sunny deck or patio or near the front of the garden or landscape. Provide a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil in a full to mostly sunny location for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Concept Plants BV®, all rights reserved. Item# 13161

This native perennial Hibiscus boasts large 6-8" wide typically white but occassionally pink flowers with a dark burgundy eye. The Crimson-Eyed Rosemallow, Hibiscus moscheutos, is common in moist and wet areas as the name implies but is tolerant of average moist garden soils but may require extra moisture during dry spells. This is a vigorous and hardy native perennial that can reach 5-7' high but is more commonly found at 4'. The foliage may be used as a butterfly caterpillar host by Hairstreaks, Blues, Coppers, and others. Hibiscus moscheutos is one of the main species used in breeding of the large dinner plate-sized Hardy or Perennial Hibiscus cultivars. Item# 9399

In late summer, fall, and winter - in tropical climates, Crucita covers up in nectar rich, flat-topped clusters composed of numerous, fuzzy, light blue to light purple flowers that make the perfect landing platforms for pollinators of all shapes and sizes. Crucita or Jack in the Bush, Chromalaena odorata, is a naturally evergreen to semi-evergreen, shrub-like to vine-like perennial, typically growing to about 4-6' high and wide in areas where freezes regularly occur. In tropical winter climates where the woody stems do not freeze back, it can become scandent, or vine-like, with plants potentially scrambling up to about 10-20'H. In late fall in South Texas, where this is one of the most common species planted for butterflies, the plants seemingly cover up with pollinators. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in, fertile, average moist, and average to well drained soils. A breathable winter mulch is recommended anywhere hard freezes occur and in drier locations. Caterpillar host: Rounded Metalmark. Item# 10670

Crushed Coral Mamou Bean produces tall spikes of dark coral pink, 2-3" tubular flowers in late spring and early summer atop sturdy stems that are held well above the foliage of this tough native perennial. The Mamou Bean is a drought tolerant and hardy shrublet that freezes back to the ground to return in spring. The flowers are followed by dark colored bean pods that split open to display their brilliant red-orange beans that can remain on the plant all winter. Excellent for Hummingbirds. Crushed Coral Mamou Bean is an Almost Eden exclusive introduction. Caterpillar host: Holly Blue. Item# 10751

1" long tubular fiery orange flowers are produced throughout the growing season on compact well-branched plants attracting low flying hummingbirds, larger butterflies and especially Sulphurs, and potentially bees. Cubano™ Presidente Cigar Plant, a hybrid Cuphea similar to the perennially popular David Verity, was selected for its more refined compact 10-12"H habit making it an excellent filler in mixed container gardens or use it in specimen containers, as well as a colorful addition to the sunny garden and landscape. Cupheas are heat and sunloving tropicals with excellent flower power and will perform best in a full to mostly sunny, average moist, fertile soil. Images courtesy of Danziger, all rights reserved. Item# 13313

New for 2023! The large pink flowers are subtely two-toned with lighter pink lower lips complementing the near fuchsia colored hood and tube all borne from darker tinged spikes and calyxes and are produced from spring to fall. Cuello Pink Salvia, a hybrid developed by the UK's Salvia guru David Dyson of Dyson's Nurseries, was selected for its profusion of sweetly colored flowers, reliability, and bushy habit making it a useful container specimen as well as a colorful addition to a sunny garden or landscape. The flowers attract hummingbirds, larger bees, and the occasional butterfly. In areas where hard freezes do not occur, this sage 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. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in well-drained, average moist, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13149

Pure white 1" wide daisies with a nicely contrasting yellow center are produced beginning in late spring and through summer often continuing into fall atop a neat mound of deep green foliage. Daisy Mae Japanese Aster is a tidy under-used clump-forming perennial selected for its exceptionally long flowering season that is sure to add delightful color to the garden and landscape but it also makes easy and exceptionally long-flower container specimens. The flowers are sure to attract a multitude of pollinators. Provide a full to mostly sunny site with a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Heat, sun, and humidity tolerant. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12178

The flower clusters open a deep golden orange, deepen through fiery orange-red, and finally mature to a brilliant deep red attracting a variety of butterflies, bees, and the occasional hummingbird. Dallas Red Lantana has long been one of the best large growing red Lantanas on the market and is a vigorous plant growing to about 3' high and 4-5' wide by the end of the growing season in zone 8B and may become larger in areas with milder winters. It seem to produce few seeds and so it spends the majority of its energy on flowering. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average to well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9946

Clusters of red, 2" long, tubular flowers may be produced nearly year-round on mature plants, if they are left unpruned, and attract mainly hummingbirds but potentially other pollinators as well. Dan's Everblooming Coral Honeysuckle, an SFA selection of Lonicera sempervirens, is a deciduous to semi-evergreen, twining, native, woody vine cloaked in bluish-green to deep green rounded foliage and grows to about 10' high. Flowers are typically followed by 1/4" bright red berries that are a treat for songbirds. In 2025 we had snow in January and a few flower clusters were open even then and by mid-February it was on its way to nearly full flower. This is a mannerly and manageable Honeysuckle that will happily twine through a 6' high chain link fence or up an 8-10' arbor, trellis, or post. Few other native woody vines can boast such a long flowering season as the Coral Honeysuckles making them our #1 pick for attracting hummingbirds. Provide a sunny, average moist, well-drained site for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Chalcedon Checkerspot. Item# 9729

Dense whorls of nectar rich, purple to dark blue-purple, tubular flowers seemingly cover up the upper most portions of the plant for weeks beginning in mid to late summer and continuing into fall. Dark Knight Bluebeard, a.k.a. Black Knight, is a vigorous and easy sunloving free-flowering clump forming shrub-like perennial that quickly develops into a dense mound of fragrant and deer resistant gray-green foliage. In zones 5-6 it tends to act more like a clump forming die-back perennial and becomes more shrub-like where winters are milder although it benefits from hard late winter or early spring pruning since it flowers on new growth. Somewhat drought resistant once well-established and prefers a sunny site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12117

The huge 8-9" wide ruffled white flowers sporting darker pink veining with a dark burgundy eye shine like spotlights against the foil of dark burgundy to near black foliage and are produced throughout summer. A top performing selection, Dark Mystery Hardy Hibiscus is a vigorous and reliable clump forming perennial Hibiscus with a good branching habit. It is sure to be a star in almost any garden or landscape! Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, Dark Mystery 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# 12060

The nectar rich, 1" long, tubular, fiery orange flowers are tipped in white to yellow and are produced throughout the growing season to potentially year-round under tropical conditions attracting mainly hummingbirds but also bees and butterflies. David Verity Cigar Plant is considered a hybrid of Cuphea micropetala and C. ignea, and whose popularity has far exceeded that of either parent, thanks to its exceptional flower power, vigor, and reliability. This is a heat and sun loving, naturally evergreen, shrub-like tropical with a somewhat upright vase-shaped to rounded habit commonly growing to 3-5' high and equally wide. It is considered reliably root hardy into zones 7B-8 with a proper mulch, where well-established plants typically return from the previous season's crown in spring. While David Verity thrives in the heat and sun of summer, it flowers well even in partial sun. Provide an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Easily one of our most recommended hummingbird plants! Item # 361

Large, rounded clusters composed of nearly 1" wide, fragrant, pure white flowers sit atop sturdy stems in summer and are sure to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. David's Garden Phlox has exceptional disease resistance and was selected as the 2002 Perennial Plant of the Year. Garden Phlox is also known as Summer Border Phlox or Fall Phlox, it is a hardy clump forming, upright growing herbaceous perennial found throughout much of the eastern and central US. Item# 10830.

Spikes of comparatively large, two-lipped tubular flowers are a brilliant dayglow pink with a contrasting small white throat and are produced from late spring or summer into fall attracting hummingbirds, larger bees, and occassional butterflies. Dayglow Salvia is new to the US in 2021, an Autumn Sage and Littleleaf Sage hybrid, with a long flowering habit, sturdy disposition and a naturally upright to rounded habit. This shrub-like perennial may remain evergreen in mild winter climates, like zones 9B-10, but acts like a die-back perennial where temperatures fall much below about 30^oF. Perfectly suited for use as a low-maintenance container specimen or add it to a sunny garden or landscape for traffic stopping, summer-long color. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained, average moist, fertile soils for maximum flower power. Item# 12550

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