Butterfly Nectar Sources

The spikes of ball-shaped deep red-pink buds uncurl into deep rosy pink and cream flowers that may be produced throughout the year on mature plants and are sure to attract low-flying hummingbirds and some larger bees. Coastal Gem Grevillea is a very low growing nearly ground-hugging, evergreen, subtropical shrub that tops out at about 1' high and can reach 4-5' feet across at maturity. It makes an easy choice as an evergreen groundcover in tough situations where hardy or add it to rock and xeric gardens for a long-flowering specimen plant. Coastal Gem Grevillea is one of the few US hybrids and was developed at the University of California's Santa Cruz Arboretum and has proven to be cold hardy well into zone 8. It is tolerant of full sun to part sun conditions and needs little supplemental water once well-established in the garden and landscape. Grevilleas can be maintained as container plants where not hardy and the flowers make long-lasting cutflowers. Do not use phosphorous containing fertilizers, especially in soil-less potting mixes and soils low in Iron. Item# 12639

The 3" wide, cornflower-like daisies open white, slowly work their way through shades of lavender, and finally deepen to a violet blue creating a rainbow of cool-colored flowers even on the same flower stalk. Colorwheel Stokesia is just as tough and reliable as its brethren creating a mound of foliage on a durable and dense clump forming native perennial. Stokesia Daisy is one of those plant it and forget it perennials, once they become established in nearly any garden or landscape they require almost no additional care. Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10928.

Small clusters of large 4-petaled sunny yellow flowers are lightly fragrant and open in the evening to attract pollinating moths and may last until about noon the following day when they attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Ripe seeds are utilized by songbirds. Common Evening Primrose is a tall growing tap-rooted native biennial species found throughout most of the lower 48 states and into Canada. It is common in disturbed areas, meadows and prairies. The first year it produces a rosette of foliage and the second year it shoots up to 3-6' high and begins flowering in summer and may continue into fall under good conditions. The Common Evening Primrose will readily reseed on exposed soils. It is a good addition to naturilized areas or add it to the Moon Moth Garden. Item# 11761

Huge rosettes of extremely soft fuzzy evergreen gray-green foliage subtends the tall spikes of yellow flowers in summer. Considered to be one of the very first plants introduced into the US and was used herbally by Native American Indians and settlers as well as in its homeland of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Item# 9950.

3-4" wide, yellow,  sunflower-like flowers are born on 4-8'H+ sturdy stems over an extended period in summer on this durable, native, clump-forming, tap-rooted perennial. The dark green, deeply dissected foliage of the Compass Plant was used as a compass as the large leaves generally point north and south. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. Item# 10309.

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

Beautiful deep red to coral, yellow throated tubular blooms are born from spring to fall. Attracts hummingbirds and occasional butterflies. Its tame habit and long blooming season make this manageable Honeysuckle an choice for covering a fence, arbor or trellis.  Item# 1171.

1/2" salmon pink blooms adorn the long spike-like bloom stems from spring to frost. The flowers are filled with nectar from before dusk until nearly dark making this a favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds alike! Coral Porterweed is a vigorous grower making it a good choice for the back of the border. It 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

Spikes of red rounded buds open to deep orange, 1" long tubular flowers that darken to deep red and contrast nicely with the gray-green fragrant foliage. Coronado® Red Hummingbird Mint flowers from late spring to fall and attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and larger bees. Provide a full to mostly sunny location with excellent drainage and good air circulation for the best results. Enjoy this Hummingbird Mint as a low maintenance container plant or use it en masse in the garden and landscape. Moderately drought resistant once well-established. Deer and rabbit resistant. Coronado® Red Agastache is a Plant Select® Award winner. Item# 11428

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.

Costa Rican Blue Salvia produces large spikes of exceptionally large bluish purple tubular flowers that emerge from darkly colored calyxes in summer and fall above the soft, somewhat bluish green foliage. Considered by some to be a selection of Salvia guaranitica, and possibly a tetraploid or hybrid, it differs in its larger more robust habit, larger flowers that start later in the summer, and its very pubescent foliage. Excellent for hummingbirds and other long tongued pollinators. Provide a full sun to part shade location in an average moist to moist acidic well-drained moderately fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item#10233

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

Jack in the Bush or Crucita is truly one of the very best butterfly plants! The nectar rich, light blue to purple, flat topped flower clusters make perfect landing platforms for pollinators of all shapes and sizes. Crucita can be found in flower as early as mid summer to late fall. 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. Item# 10751

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

A CSU Trial Gardens 2020 Top Performer! The dark burgundy to near black, glossy foliage is to die for but wait it gets better as in late spring or early summer, tall sturdy spikes ascend above the dark foliage and are composed of lavender to purple, 1" long, nectar rich, tubular flowers that eventually develop into decorative dark purple round seed pods. DAKOTA™ Burgundy Penstemon, a flower child of Penstemon digitalis, is more compact than and has darker foliage than Dark Towers and Mystica Penstemons and it has more purple colored flowers and improved reliability easily surviving for 3 years in CSU's trials. Provide this easy to grow perennial, a nativar (a cultivar from native species), with a moist to average moist, well-drained, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny location for optimum vigor, flowering, and for the deepest foliage colors. Pair DAKOTA™ Burgundy Penstemon with chartreuse foliaged plants for a wonderful contrast. The flowers attract a variety of polliinators including hummingbirds, bees, and occasional larger butterflies. Photos courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12856

Dallas Red Lantana has long been popular for its profusion of flowers that open a dark orange and fade to a brilliant red. This is certainly on of the best larger growing red flowered Lantana cultivars. An excellent choice for attracting butterflies and other pollinators to your garden. Item# 9946.

The tall spikes to 3-4' high are densely covered in large lilac to purple flowers, with darker maroon spots in the throat, are borne in late spring to early summer atop the rosette large medium green textured foliage. Dalmatian Purple Foxgloves are a Fleuro Select Award winner that flowers the first year, has better branching, improved vigor, and consistent uniformity. Provide a site with good drainage in a loamy acidic soil with average moisture and moderate fertility. Foxgloves are tolerant of more sun where summer climates are cooler. In hot summer climates shade to filtered shade during the heat of the day is preferential. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 11915

Velvety rosy pink tubular flowers emerge from softly contrasting spikes of downy white calyxes creating an overall pastel effect. Danielle's Dream Mexican Bush Sage flowers in spring and fall in climates where it does not freeze back to the ground (zones 9B,10), fall in areas where it is grown as a die-back perennial (zones 8, 9A). The velvety medium green narrow foliage adorns an upright to arching easy to grow Salvia and develops into a fairly dense mound at full size. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in well-drained soils for optimum growth and flowering. Deer and rabbit resistant and moderately drought resistant once well-established. An excellent choice for migrating Monarchs, medium to large butterflies, and of course hummingbirds! Item# 11693

An exceptionally free flowering form of our native Coral Honeysuckle producing a nearly continuous display of red tubular blooms with a yellow throat. Dan's Everblooming Coral Honeysuckle begins flowering in late winter and early spring and lasts through fall on established plants. This variety may produce a few flowers throughout winter even in zone 8B. Item# 9729.

Large bright red sepals serve as backdrop for the billowy deep bluish-purple petals and are produced throughout the growing season attracting hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Highly popular since the late 1950's and an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! Dark Eyes Fuchsia's trailing and mounding habit make it the perfect hanging basket specimen or tuck it into mixed container gardens for a thrilling spiller. These half-hardy, clump-forming perennials bring a splash of color to shaded porches and patios and the aerial antics of visiting hummingbirds make them all the more rewarding. Fuchsias do best under high humidity where they receive cool sunlight to filtered shade in an average moist, fertile soil with excellent drainage. Item# 12563

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