Butterfly Nectar Sources

In mid to late summer large clusters of frilly deep purple flowers sit atop short sturdy stems that are covered in fine dark green narrow foliage giving this tough as nails perennial as soft pleasing texture even when not in flower. Iron Butterfly Ironweed is as tough as its name implies, even though this is a selection of a rare species, it can tolerate short periods of drought or periodic inundation with ease. A nice tightly clump forming perennial from the works of Dr. Allen Armitage and the UGA horticulture program. The flowers provide much needed late summer fodder for bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Item# 10929.

Jacob Cline is one of the more reliable selections of Scarlet Bee Balm producing large clusters of brilliant red tubular flowers atop sturdy 3-4' stems in summer. Considered to be one of the most vigorous and disease resistant cultivars available. A clump-forming, slowly spreading winter deciduous perennial that enjoys moist but well-drained soils and ample sunlight. A hummingbird magnet! Item# 10541.

Whorls of egg-yolk yellow 1 1/2" long tubular flowers surround the fuzzy gray green stems in summer. Jerusalem Sage is an heirloom tough and easy to grow, bushy clump-forming perennial whose fuzzy gray-green foliage looks very similar to the cooking Sage, Salvia officinalis, although it lacks the sage-like fragrance. Flowering can be extended by deadheading the spent flowering stems. Provide Jerusalem Sage with an average moist to semi-dry (once well-established) well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. It is considered to be a fairly reliably root hardy die-back perennial in zones 5-7 and generally remains evergreen in zones 8-10. It makes a forgiving container plant as well as a low maintenance addition to the garden and landscape. An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Item# 12179

A summer long display of upward facing nearly 2" wide sunny yellow daisies with an orange eye are held on short sturdy stems atop the medium green foliage. JEWEL™ Citrine Coreopsis is a clump forming perennial that is a hybrid of US native species and was developed for its low compact habit, excellent flower power, and excellent disease resistance. It is suitable for formal or informal cottage garden settings and perennial borders and is especially showy when planted in mass as well as an easy a rewarding container specimen. JEWEL™ Citrine Coreopsis is a heat and sunloving plant whose flowers are sure to attract bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Provide an average to well-drained, fertile soil and average moisture for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12209

This easy Garden Phlox produces large domed clusters of dark-eyed, light pink, fragrant flowers on tall sturdy stems with mildew resistant foliage. The show starts in early summer and may continue nearly until the first frost with this reliable and fragrant Garden Phlox if deadheaded. Phlox is adored by butterflies and hummingbirds alike! John Fanick, named for the Texas nurseryman, is only one of a handful of Garden Phlox varieties recommended for southern gardens by noted Texas plantsman Greg Grant. Item# 10267

Katy Dwarf Pink Mexican Petunia is a lovely dwarf perennial that produces loads of pink trumpet shaped flowers tucked in among the narrow dark green glossy foliage from spring to frost on a compact low mounding plant. This durable perennial makes a great border, groundcover, or makes a great addition to containers. The flowers of Ruellias attract bees, butterflies, and even the occassional hummingbird although they would not be as likely to get this near the ground. Where winters experience freezing temperatures (zones 8A-9B) this tough little tropical perennial may freeze back to near ground level but generally readily returns in spring once soil temperatures begin to warm. Item# 917

Hundreds of 1" wide carmine red daisies with a yellow eye literally cover these plants for weeks beginning in late summer and continuing into mid fall. The Kickin™ Asters are dense well-branched mounding plants with fine textured narrow foliage that require no pinching or pruning to get this form of the New England Aster to produce mum-like plants for an extended show of color late in the season. Use these perennials where you would normally buy Chrysanthemums whether as part of the perennial border, landscape, or as container plants. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Provide Kickin™ Carmine Red Asters with a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. We have trialed these in the nursery and they have simply been unflinching in our heat and humidity with a few scattered flowers already beginning in early August of 2020. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12208

Hundreds of 1" wide lavender daisies with a yellow eye literally cover these plants for weeks beginning in late summer and continuing into mid fall. The Kickin® Lavender Asters are dense well-branched mounding plants with fine textured narrow foliage that require no pinching or pruning to get this form of the New England Aster to produce mum-like plants for an extended show of color late in the season. Use these perennials where you would normally buy Chrysanthemums whether as part of the perennial border, landscape, or as container plants. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12018

Huge bluish purple cornflower-like daisies are born in spring to early summer on this durable and reliable US native perennial. Klaus Jiletto has some of the largest flowers of any Stokesia Daisy cultivar. This is a highly recommended clump forming native perennial and it's easy to see why with moderate drought resistance, few pest or disease problems, deer and rabbit resistance and it revels in the heat and sun of our southern summers. Plants readily multiply into dense clumps. Super easy and tough. Item# 11220

The dark coppery to burgundy colored cloak of foliage is topped by a summer long display of large full light pink to near white flowers that are delicately marked with darker pink veining and a burgundy eye. A truly remarkable contrast that is impossible to miss in the landscape! A clump forming moisture loving perennial, Kopper King's compact habit and dark foliage make it a stand out when sited behind Louisiana Irises or next to the chartreuse foliage of Maui Gold Elephant Ears. Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10925

Intense true red 1" long tubular flowers adorn dense 12-24" high spikes atop the gray green fragrant foliage of this dwarf Agastache beginning in spring and continuing well into fall. Kudos™ Red Dwarf Hummingbird Mint is a true hummingbird magnet and the compact habit of this Agastache lends it to use in containers where you can draw these aerial acrobats for up close viewing as well as in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in a well-drained soil for optimum health and flowering. Periodic removal of spent flower spikes will help to keep the plants looking clean and fresh as well as to make way for new flower spikes. Image courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 11649

Sunny yellow 1" long tubular flowers adorn dense 18-24" high spikes atop the gray green fragrant foliage of this dwarf Agastache beginning in spring and continuing well into fall. Kudos™ Yellow Dwarf Hummingbird Mint is a true hummingbird magnet and the compact habit of this Agastache lends it to use in containers where you can draw these aerial acrobats for up close viewing as well as in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in a well-drained soil for optimum health and flowering. Periodic removal of spent flower spikes will help to keep the plants looking clean and fresh as well as to make way for new flower spikes. Image courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12050

Masses of bright fuchsia flowers cover up the deep green foliage of this intermediate sized perennial beginning in late spring or early summer with some repeat flowering until late summer or early fall. Kung Fuchsia Phlox is a clump forming slowly spreading hybrid perennial with excellent disease resistance, flowering that begins 2-3 weeks earlier than the typical Garden Phlox, and with an exceptionally long flowering season. Phlox are found nowhere else but North America and their nectar rich flowers are butterfly pollinated. Provide Kung Fuchsia Phlox with an average moist, moderately fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny position whether in the garden and landscape or as an easy and low maintenance container plant.  Image courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 11935

Beautifully cut medium green deeply cut lacy foliage that is reminiscent of the delicately cut foliage of some Japanese Maples adorns this vigorous 'Chaste Tree'. 6-8" spikes of lavender-pink flowers that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees are borne in summer. The Lace-Leaf Vitex is considered by many to be the most hardy of the Chaste Trees.  Item# 787.

The large pink, dark-eyed flowers of Lady Baltimore Hibiscus are sure to make a statement in the late spring and summer garden. This root hardy, die-back perennial has a compact 5' x 5' habit and is tolerant of soil moisture levels ranging from average moist to wet soils. Lord and Lady Baltimore Hibiscus are the earliest flowering cultivars that we grow. Item# 10318.

1-1/2 to 2" wide golden yellow, orange-eyed, upward facing daisies are held well above the narrow foliage of this easy native wildflower starting in spring and lasting well into summer. Lanceleaf Coreopsis is an excellent choice for naturalizing in meadows, prairies, roadsides, and natural areas. The sunny flowers provide nectar and pollen to a variety of smaller pollinators like native bees and the ripe seedheads provide forage for songbirds and other fauna. Lanceleaf Coreopsis is used as a cut flower and is considered to be deer and rabbit resistant. This clump forming native perennial generally does best in well-drained soils in a full to mostly sunny position. Item# 10510

Multitudes of 3-4" wide golden yellow daisies with a tan to dark brown 'eye' sit atop sturdy 18-24" stems and are produced in late spring to early summer and may repeat if deadheaded. The Large-Flower or Rough Coneflower, Rudbeckia grandiflora, is a tough and easy to grow clump forming perennial that can produce 80 or more flowering stems per clump once mature. This is probably one of the most underutilized native perennials as it has one of the most uniform habits of the native Coneflowers, it is long-lived and it can tolerate the moist to wet settings of acid bogs as well as short periods of drought once well-established. This is one of the major components of our Once-Mown Meadows here onsite. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Deer and rabbit resistant and the flowers attract a variety of smaller pollinators. Item# 9885

The large lavender clusters, to 3" wide and 8-10" long, composed of tiny fragrant nectar rich flowers adorn the weeping stems of this fountaining Butterfly Bush in summer and fall. Lavender Cascade Buddleia is a vigorous hybrid and a 2018 Walter's Gardens introduction developed by crossing Buddleia davidii with Buddleia lindleyana. The flowers attract loads of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Smaller in stature and flower size than Grand Cascade Butterfly Bush. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 11635

Hundreds of 1" wide lavender daisies with a yellow eye literally cover these plants for weeks beginning in late summer and continuing into mid fall. The Kickin™ Asters are dense well-branched mounding plants with fine textured narrow foliage require no pinching or pruning to get this form of the New England Aster to produce mum-like plants for an extended show of color late in the season. Use these perennials where you would normally buy Chrysanthemums whether as part of the perennial border, landscape, or as container plants. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Item# 12018

Nectar-rich, light purple flowers are produced continuously from spring to fall on tall spikes that butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds cannot seem to resist! Lavender Porterweed is a medium to large growing exceptionally full and vigorous Porterweed was once considered to be a purple form of the highly popular Coral Porterweed although we have learned that this is a sterile or nearly sterile hybrid cultivar. Porterweeds are excellent nectar producers outperforming nearly all other butterfly plants in the garden. Item# 483

Lecompte Vitex is noted for its extra large 8-12" spikes of purple-blue flowers that are born from late spring to fall. This is a vigorous and disease free and drought tolerant spreading to upright deciduous shrub or small tree that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Lecompte Vitex is another excellent introduction from noted plant breeder and author Greg Grant. A highly recommended 'Texas Lilac' selection of Vitex. (#9128 is another great selection !!) Item# 9167.

From near white to lavender to rich purple long-lasting bracts subtend the whorls of tubular white, lavender, to purple nectar rich flowers beginning as early as late spring and continuing well into summer and into fall under good conditions. The stems are adorned with lemony to bergamot scented narrow foliage. Lemon Beebalm is a moderately drought resistant native annual species found throughout much of the central and eastern US. It readily reseeds on exposed soils and makes a good addition to naturalized areas like meadows, prairies, and roadside plantings. The tubular flowers attract a variety of bees, butterflies, as well as hummingbirds. Plants typically die after flowering and seed development is complete. Deer, rabbit, and pest resistant. Item# 11730