Butterfly Nectar Sources

Large clusters of brilliant golden yellow 3" long trumpet shaped flowers are produced most heavily in early to midspring and may be produced sporadically during the growing season. The nectar rich flowers are produced during its short deciduous period to better show them off while attracting a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. The Golden Trumpet Tree, previously Tabebuia chrysotricha and now classified as Handroanthus chrysotrichus, is a highly sought after, relatively fast growing, small to medium sized, short term deciduous, tropical tree that develops a naturally rounded crown at maturity growing to about 25-35'H and nearly as wide. This is a good choice as a street tree, small lawn tree, or for lightly shading a pool or patio. Pollinated flowers produce long, curving brown fuzzy seed pods. The Tabebuia prefers a well-drained, moderately fertile, average moist soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9678

Green, gold, and cream colored variegated foliage adds pink and orange tones with new spring growth that adorns the reddish to bronze young stems. Mature plants can produce clusters of small, fragrant, white, tea-olive like flowers on the previous year's growth in fall attracting a variety of pollinators on warmer days. The Goshiki Holly Leaf Tea Olive, a selection of Osmanthus heterophyllus, is a densely branching, slow growing, evergreen shrub growing to about 4-5' high and 3-4' wide in about 5 years and potentially to 10' high and 8' feet in 10 or more years, but can be kept smaller with pruning. The colorful, glossy, medium-textured, holly-like foliage will have the most intense colors and plants will be most apt to flower in sunnier conditions, although, the plants are fairly shade tolerant. The Goshiki Holly Leaf Tea Olive has been selected as a Great Plant Pick for the Northwest thanks to its toughness and reliability in the garden and landscape. Item# 13564

From spring to frost, the masses of rounded flower clusters open a deep golden yellow and quickly deepen into orange and near red shades attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Grandpa's Pumpkin Patch Lantana is a vigorous, bush type Lantana with excellent flower power and growing to about 3-4' high and 4-5' wide by the end of the growing season. Selected and introduced by Texas Horticulturist Greg Grant and one of our favorite large type Lantanas. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in fertile, average moist soils with average or better drainage. An organic mulch is recommended in zone 8 and colder. Easy and reliable. Item# 9605

Flat topped clusters of bluish-purple Ageratum-like flowers are borne atop short sturdy stems that are adorned with finely cut and softly textured, medium green foliage. The flowers attract loads of butterflies as well as other pollinators and Gregg's Mistflower flowers most heavily beginning in late summer and lasting through fall. Its rhizomatous though non-aggressive nature makes this durable and drought resistant perennial an excellent addition to the garden where it can be utilized as a groundcover as well as in naturalistic settings. It does seem to prefer a little midday and afternoon shade, especially in the hottest summer climates and in dryer settings. Selected as a 2024 Texas Superstar® plant thanks to its flowerpower, toughness, and reliability. Caterpillar host: Rawson's Metalmark. Item# 10811.

Conicle panicles adorned with numerous nearly 1" long, rich purple, foxglove-like flowers are produced in mid to late spring atop sturdy 20-30" high stems attracting bees, hummingbirds, and occasional butterflies. Gulf Coast Penstemon, Penstemon tenuis, is a rosette to small clump forming, herbaceous, native perennial typically found growing in or near consistently moist areas like along streams, rivers, floodplains, and at the edges of marshes or moist prairies. While it does prefer moisture it seems to be perfectly happy in an average moist soil in the garden or landscape and can also be maintained as a container plant as a specimen or in combinations. Gulf Coast Beardtongue is native mainly in Louisiana and Arkansas as well as western Mississippi and eastern Texas. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site, the latter of which may be beneficial especially in drier sites, in a moist to average moist fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9158

Dense clusters of dainty white to lavender tubular flowers top the hairy blue-green to green fragrant foliage in summer. The small nectar rich flowers of Hairy Mountain Mint attract a wide variety of pollinators, and are especially important to native bees. This is a rhizomatous native perennial that will readily spread especially in moist soils. Hairy Mountainmint, Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum, is native to the northcentral US, mainly Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, eastern Tennessee, eastern Kentucky and as far south as northern Mississippi. It is typically found in moist, calcareous soils but can tolerate drier sites where it is less likely to spread aggressively. Item# 11763

4-6" wide, white to pale pink flowers with a contrasting burgundy eye and showy staminal column are produced in summer along the 4-6' high stems attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Halberdleaved Rosemallow, Hibiscus laevis, is a root hardy herbaceous native perennial Hibiscus producing multiple stems at maturity. It is typically found growing along freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams where it has an ample moisture supply and will likely prefer a similar, consistently moist, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum growth and vigor. This will be a good choice for bogs and rain gardens. The Halberdleaved Rosemallow is native to much of the central and eastern US and gets its name from its halberd shaped foliage. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 12975

Spikes of lightly fragrant peachy-pink butterfly-shaped flowers are produced in summer atop sturdy stems adorned in rich green tropical looking foliage in mid to late summer. The flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and likely pollinating Sphinx Moths as well. The Hardy Peach Ginger, Hedychium coccineum var. angustifolium 'Peach', is a moderately vigorous, rhizomatous, naturally evergreen tropical that acts like a root hardy die-back perennial in areas where freezes occur. It multiplies readily but not invasively. Makes a good cut flower and is resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits. The Hedychium Gingers typically need the equivalent of about 4-6 hours of cool sunlight in a moist to average moist, rich fertile soil with average or better drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. An organic mulch with all of its many benefits is highly recommended especially for new plantings and in zones 7-8. Item# 10032

The large rounded clusters of flowers open a bright sunny yellow and quickly deepen into deep cherry red tones attracting a variety of pollinators. HAVANA® Cherry Lantana is a semi-compact, growing plant to about 12-18" high and wide making these great choices for colorful containers as well as in the garden and landscape. This series is a better choice for a smaller growing, medium vigor Lantana where growing seasons tend to be cooler and shorter. The HAVANA® Lantana series are nearly sterile producing little to no fruit or viable seed thus these plants can spend their energy on flower and nectar production. They start flowering earlier giving you a longer season of color from spring into fall attracting a myriad of pollinators throughout the growing season. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Dümmen Orange, all rights reserved. Item# 13610

The large rounded clusters of peach colored buds open to yellow tones and quickly mature into a medium purplish pink. HEARTLAND™ Blue Moon Lantana is a new more vigorous cousin to the HAVANA™ series growing to about 18-24" high and wide making these great choices for colorful containers as well as in the garden and landscape. This series is a better choice for a smaller growing Lantana where growing seasons tend to be cooler and shorter. The HEARTLAND™ Lantana series are nearly sterile producing almost no fruit or viable seed thus these plants can spend their energy on flower and nectar production. They start flowering earlier giving you a longer season of color from spring into fall attracting a myriad of pollinators throughout the growing season. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Dümmen Orange, all rights reserved. Item# 13311

The large rounded clusters of flowers open a bright yellow and quickly deepen through shades of orange and red into magenta and purple tones. HEARTLAND™ Neon Lantana is a new more vigorous cousin to the HAVANA™ series growing to about 18-24" high and wide making these great choices for colorful containers as well as in the garden and landscape. This series is a better choice for a smaller growing Lantana where growing seasons tend to be cooler and shorter. The HEARTLAND™ Lantana series are nearly sterile producing almost no fruit or viable seed thus these plants can spend their energy on flower and nectar production. They start flowering earlier giving you a longer season of color from spring into fall attracting a myriad of pollinators throughout the growing season. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Item# 12813

The UGA Trial Gardens 2025 Classic City Award Winner and was the #1 of 28 Lantanas with a 4.96 rating at the 2024 Penn State Trial Gardens! The large rounded clusters of flowers open a golden yellow and quickly deepen through shades of orange into fiery reds. HEARTLAND™ Really Red Lantana is a new more vigorous cousin to the HAVANA™ series growing to about 18-24" high and wide making these great choices for colorful containers as well as in the garden and landscape. This series is a better choice for a smaller growing Lantana where growing seasons tend to be cooler and shorter. The HEARTLAND™ Lantana series are nearly sterile producing almost no fruit or viable seed thus these plants can spend their energy on flower and nectar production. They start flowering earlier giving you a longer season of color from spring into fall attracting a myriad of pollinators throughout the growing season. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Item# 12814

The rounded clusters of flowers open a deep yellow and quickly deepen through shades of orange and finally maturing into pink tones. HEARTLAND™ Sunset 2024 Lantana is a new more vigorous cousin to the HAVANA™ series growing to about 18-24" high and wide making these great choices for colorful containers as well as in the garden and landscape. This series is a better choice for a smaller growing Lantana where growing seasons tend to be cooler and shorter. The HEARTLAND™ Lantana series are nearly sterile producing almost no fruit or viable seed thus these plants can spend their energy on flower and nectar production. They start flowering earlier giving you a longer season of color from spring into fall attracting a myriad of pollinators throughout the growing season. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Item# 13312

Spikes up to 16-20" high are topped by clusters of tubular blue to blue-violet flowers with a contrasting white bee-guide are produced beginning as early as late spring but mainly in summer, occasionally into fall, and attract a variety of native bees along with larger butterflies. Helmet Skullcap, Scutellaria integrifolia, is a small, 12-20" high, clump forming to short rhizomatous perennial native from East Texas, all along the Gulf Coast and up the Eastern Seaboard into southern Massachussets and New York. This is a common component of the brightly lit understory in the Pineywoods and locally we typically see it in dryer or mesic uplands including hardwood and pineforests in well-drained loamy and sandy soils as well as in more moist sunnier sites. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. May reseed on exposed soils. Item# 12769

Henry Eiler's is unique in that is has petals that are quilled or rolled into tubes as well as having flowers that are more yellow than gold all with the same easy to grow habit of the Sweet Coneflower. A beautiful and eye-catching addition to any garden setting as well as a long lasting cutflower for arrangements. A vigorous clump forming perennial common to stream banks and moist areas but will do fine in average garden soils. The sweetly scented foliage gives it its common name. Item# 10164.

Huge 4-6" bright yellow, green-eyed daisies are held on4-6'+ sturdy stems and produce an extended summer display. A reliable and vigorous clump forming perennial that is adored by butterflies and pollinators of all shapes and sizes. The rich green deeply cut foliage is disease and pest resistant. Deadhead spent flowers to extend the flowering season well into fall. Appreciates ample moisture when in growth. One of our favorites! Item# 9366.

The large rounded flower clusters, to 12" more across, are of composed of hundreds of dainty pinkish-purple flowers are produced in mid to late summer and into fall atop tall, sturdy, upright to arching, hollow, purple spotted stems with whorled, medium green, rugose foliage. Joe Pye Weed, Eupatorium fistulosum but now classified Eutrochium fistulosum, is a long-lived, clump forming, deciduous, herbaceous, native perennial that is typically found growing along stream banks and in other relatively consistently moist areas but it does just fine under average garden conditions as well. Joe Pye Weed's nectar rich flowers attract butterflies and a variety of smaller pollinators including honeybees. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a moist to wet to average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor, the sturdiest stems, and maximum flower production. Item# 475

The purple to magenta falls and standards are edged in white with a white reverse and are accented by a yellow signal and are centered by magenta style arms. Holly Joy Carol Louisiana Iris is a mid to late season flowering selection growing to about 30-34" high. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13432

1" long tubular red to deep pinkish red flowers tipped in yellow are produced from spring to frost on low compact plants whose semi-trailing stems seem to be weighed down by the profusion of flowers. Along with Vermillionaire™, Honeybells™ Cuphea or Cigar Plant is one of the most exciting Cuphea hybrids to emerge in recent years! Its compact semi-weeping habit make it a perfect hanging basket or container specimen or place it near the front of the border in gardens and landscapes where it is sure to shine throughout the growing season. Honeybells™ Cigar Plant earned the Award of Distinction and the Classic City Award in the 2019 University of Georgia trials and received very high marks, 4.84 out of 5, in 2019 trials at Penn State. Provide a full sun to partly shaded location in an average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil. The red tubular flowers are sure to draw in hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Item# 11997

Semi-conical clusters of golden yellow, fragrant flowers are produced from spring, through summer, and continuing into fall attracting a host of pollinators including bees, butterflies, flower flies, and likely the occasional hummingbird. Honeycomb Butterfly Bush, Buddleja x weyeriana 'Honeycomb', is a vigorous growing, medium to large, deciduous shrub growing to 5-9' high and about half as wide and is adorned with large deep green to grayish green foliage. This is one of the earlier yellow hybrid selections and may still be the best and most reliable of the yellows available on the market today. Honeycomb Buddleja was one of the top performers in UGA trials conducted by Dr. Michael Dirr in the 1990's. Item# 968