Butterfly Nectar Sources

Clusters of 4-6" wide, double, peony-like flowers open pure white on the first day, change to pink on the second day, and turn near red once they fade creating the tricolor effect. Flowering begins in late summer and fall and can continue for weeks on mature plants. The Double White Confederate Rose, a selection of Hibiscus mutabilis, is a multistemmed, large deciduous shrub to small tree that can grow to 15' x 15' where winters are mild and the stems are not frozen back to near ground level. In zones 8-9, the Confederate Rose acts like a die-back perennial, freezing to near ground-level and returning the following spring and can still grow to nearly 10' x 10' in a single season under good conditions. A tough and easy heirloom that has long been popular in zones 8-10. Provide a full to mostly sunny site, in an average to well-drained, fertile soil with average moisture for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 389

Coming again in 2022! Small clusters of 2-3" wide brilliant golden yellow trumpet shaped flowers are produced throughout the growing season to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions and are mainly butterfly pollinated but also attract bees and other pollinators. The Dwarf Allamanda, Allamanda cathartica 'Compacta', is a small, naturally evergreen, tropical shrub growing to 2-3'H x 2-3'W and potentially slightly larger with age. The stems are adorned with whorls of glossy narrow foliage to about 3" long. This is an easy to grow, heat and sunloving tropical with good to excellent flower power and makes an easy container plant that is sure to add a tropical flair to any sunny garden setting. For optimum vigor and flowering provide the Dwarf Allamanda with a full sun to partly shaded location in a fertile, well-drained soil. It is important to allow the soil to become somewhat dry between waterings and the hotter it is generally the happier they are and will sulk under cool (below about 55-60^oF) and wet conditions. Item# 395

Clusters of fiery-orange tubular flowers are seemingly borne continuously from mid to late spring to fall, where grown as a die-back perennial, to potentially nearly year-round under warm tropical conditions attracting mainly hummingbirds but also larger butterflies. The Dwarf Mexican Firebush, Hamelia patens var. glabra 'Nana', is a naturally evergreen, heat and sunloving, tropical shrub that acts like a die-back perennial returning from the crown in spring in areas where freezes occur. This compact form of the Mexican Firebush lends it to use in smaller spaces and containers as well as in the garden and landscape. The Dwarf Mexican Firebush appears to be just as hardy as the standard larger growing form and we have seen it take temperatures as low as 8^oF with no problems carrying its hardiness well into zone 8. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Item# 403

1/4" deep red flowers adorn the tall, wispy, elongating flower spikes from spring to frost attracting a variety of butterflies, hummingbirds, and larger bees. The Dwarf Red Porterweed, Stachytarpheta microphylla, is the most compact species of Porterweed that we grow and can potentially reach 3' high and 2' wide by the end of the growing season. The well-branched plants are adorned in smooth, medium green to nearing gray-green, rounded foliage. Its smaller stature lends it to use as a container plant to bring the pollinators in close or add them to the garden and landscape for low maintenance, summer long color. These are heat and sunloving tropicals and the hotter and sunnier it is the happier they seem to be, but can still grow and flower well in a partly shaded site. Provide a well-draining, fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 407

The sweetly contrasting bicolor flowers are composed of two large soft shell pink lower petals and a bright rosy pink tube and hood all emerging from maroon tinged calyxes and spikes. Dyson's Joy Salvia, or simply Joy Salvia, is likely a selection or hybrid of Salvia greggii or Autumn Sage, and develops into a compact rounded plant growing to about 2' x 2' that can be enjoyed as a container plant as well as in the garden and landscape. The brightly colored flowers attract low flying hummingbirds, occasional butterflies, and other pollinators with its nectar rich flowers. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions and never keep soggy wet. An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! Photos courtesy of New World Plants, LTD., all rights reserved. Item# 13140

The large rounded clusters of deep orange and gold buds open to sunny yellow, fragrant flowers that attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds in early spring atop the bare stems. Earl's Gold Deciduous Azalea, an Earl Sommerville hybrid, develops into an upright to rounded, medium to large deciduous shrub well suited to bright woodland settings but will also thrive in full sun under good conditions. Like the Aromi hybrids, the Earl Sommerville hybrids show excellent tolerance to the heat and humidity of the Southeastern US. Sometimes still fondly referred to as Wild Honeysuckle Bushes, these nativars will do best in an average moist, well-drained, fertile, acidic soil from partial shade to full sun conditions. Topdress with an organic mulch like pinestraw, a.k.a. pine needles, or pine bark. Item# 13290

One of the earliest to begin flowering and an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! Clusters of lilac-pink tubular flowers are produced in abundance beginning in midspring and continuing into fall and are held against a contrasting foil of long-lasting showy deep bronze-red bracts and exceptionally dark green glossy foliage that takes on purple and bronze tones in winter. The flowers of Abelias attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Edward Goucher Glossy Abelia, considered to be a hybrid of Abelia x grandiflora x A. shumanii, has a naturally dense, rounded to vase-shaped habit on this medium-sized, evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub. Abelias are known for their toughness and adaptability to a variety of soil types provided they have average or better drainage. Deer resistant, somewhat salt tolerant, and mature, well-established plants are moderately drought resistant. Provide a full sun to part shade site with moderately fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Long one of our personal favorites! Item# 3041

The large, up to 6-7" diameter, rounded clusters are composed of deep violet blue, trumpet shaped flowers that become pendant as they open are held on sturdy 3-4' high stems in summer. Elaine Agapanthus or Lily of the Nile is a vigorous, clump forming, naturally evergreen, tropical, root hardy perennial with arching, narrow strap-like, medium green foliage. Provide Agapanthus with a full sun to partly shaded site in a rich fertile, average moist soil with average or better drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. Makes an easy and low-maintenance container plant where not hardy. Agapanthus flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. May be fully winter deciduous in areas where moderate to hard freezes occur. The image is of Purple Cloud Agapanthus is shown here for reference. Item# 13351

Rich purple, 1" wide daisies with a nicely contrasting sunny yellow eye are produced in mass in fall attracting bees and other smaller pollinators with a late season burst of color just in time for LSU Football! Geaux Tigers! Ezo Murasaki Japanese Woods Aster or Asian Aster, a selection of Aster ageratoides var. ageratoides, is a vigorous rhizomatous perennial adorned with deep green ovate foliage that makes an easy warm season groundcover topping out at about 24" high. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soils. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Item# 13049

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 lightly fragrant, lavender-pink flowers with a darker purple eye, the flowers fade to light lavender as they age, are held atop tall sturdy stems beginning in mid to late spring or early summer, depending on your cold hardiness zone, and continuing into summer with some rebloom in fall. Fashionably Early Flamingo Phlox is a highly disease resistant, slowly spreading perennial with deep green, thick waxy foliage. We have truly been impressed by Fashionably Early Phlox series, not only their exceptional flower power and vigor but also by their exceptionally clean healthy foliage. Fashionably Early Flamingo Phlox begins flowering a few weeks earlier than Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata, and provides an intermediate height plant that makes an easy and low maintenance groundcover for the garden and landscape. The flowers of Phlox are mainly butterfly pollinated although they may also draw hummingbirds and larger bees that rob the nectar. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12579

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

In a nod to the fierceness of hummingbirds protecting their nectar sources we bring you our latest hybrid Porterweed introduction Fiercely Fuchsia! Nearly 1/2" wide bright *fuchsia flowers are produced on narrow elongating spikes on this medium-sized Porterweed from spring to frost attracting a wide array of pollinators. Porterweeds, members of the genus Stacytarpheta, are shrubby tropicals with exceptional flower power and excellent nectar production and these are the plants that many hummingbirds feed on in their winter resting grounds in Central and South America. We can tell you from personal experience, these tiny aerial acrobats will even try to face down a human over their prized plants with a series of strong and forceful "Cheeps!". Expect Fiercely Fuchsia Porterweed to grow to about 3-4' high and 2-3' wide by the end of the growing season. Item# 13261

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.

Large rounded clusters composed of a multitude of intense deep red-orange, 1-2" long, tubular flowers and are produced throughout summer and into fall attracting hummingbirds for miles around. The Firecracker Bush, Bouvardia ternifolia, is a naturally small, upright to rounded, subtropical shrub native to the US desert southwest and Mexico growing to 1-2' high and wide but potentially to 4'. Its desert roots makes this an easy and forgiving container plant as well as an excellent addition to the garden and landscape. Provide the Firecracker Bush with a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil in part shade to bright shade for optimum vigor and flowering. Under warm frost free conditions it may flower nearly year-round. Item# 13182

2022 Missouri Botanic Garden Plants of Merit selection! 18" long arching spikes composed of numerous dark golden yellow flowers burst onto the scene in late summer and fall creating a much needed feast of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies including migratory Monarchs, and other garden beneficials. Fireworks is an award winning selection of the native Roughleaf Goldenrod, Solidago rugosa, and it won top marks in the Goldenrod trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. This is a hardy, clump-forming slowly spreading (a.k.a. short rhizomatous) herbaceous perennial that is both adaptable and manageable. Fireworks Goldenrod prefers a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist to moist fertile soil although it is tolerant of part shade, part sun conditions. Use this easy to grow native perennial in naturalistic settings and in mixed perennial gardens and landscapes. Item# 12313

Plants are covered by clusters of 2-3" wide, widely flaring, 4-petalled, glowing sunny yellow flowers in late spring and early summer and are held against red tinged foliage and even darker red new growth, flower buds, and winter rosettes. Fireworks Sundrops, a selection of our native Oenothera fruticosa subsp. glauca, but has a more compact, 12-18" high habit than the species. This is a tough and easy clump forming to short-rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial well suited to sunny, well-drained sites and plants typically need little additional attention once established in the landscape. Unlike many of the Evening Primroses, Sundrop flowers are open during the day providing nectar and pollen to a variety of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 10160

Spikes of deep red upward facing funnel-shaped flowers are produced non-stop from mid to late spring to fall atop the rich glossy deep green foliage attracting hummingbirds, occasional butterflies, and long-tongued bees. Flame Red Hummingbird Bush, a selection of Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii, is a small decidous native shrub from South Texas with excellent flower power. This easy and reliable heirloom has an upright to spreading busny habit rarely exceeding 3-4' in height (3'x3' is fairly typical in our zone 8B gardens) and it revels in the heat and sun of summer and is undaunted by the high humidity and high rainfall of the southeastern US. In the northernmost portion of its hardiness range, zones 7A-8A, the Hummingbird Bush may freeze back to near groundlevel in the hardest winters but readily returns to flowering by mid to late spring. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Small and tough enough for container culture but it also makes a low-maintenance addition the garden and landscape. Item# 13176

Rounded clusters up to 5" wide are composed of a multitude of rich fiery red butterfly shaped flowers that may be produced nearly throughout the year on this rare and unusual tropical vine. The curved butterfly pollinated flowers are produced on a woody twining vine with large rounded deep green foliage. An excellent choice for tropical gardens, indoors, or anywhere a small manageable vine is needed although in the ground plants may reach 12' high. The Flaming Glory Bower Vine truly is one of the most beautiful and free flowering of all vining Clerodendrums. Item# 9346