Butterfly Caterpillar Host Plants

Dense black spikes of dark tubular calyxes produce 2" long bright fuchsia tubular flowers beginning in spring or early summer and continuing until fall atop compact plants with rich green foliage. Rockin'® Fuchsia Salvia is a Salvia guaranitica hybrid similar to but more compact than Black and Blue Salvia but in an exciting breakthrough color. Its compact habit lends this Salvia for use in medium-sized containers as well as in the garden and landscape. The summer long supply of tubular flowers attract hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Provide a sunny location in an average moist well-drained fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering.Item# 11985

A continuous summer long display of short deep blue tubular flowers emerge from dark calyxes on dense tall dark spikes. A seedling of Mystic Spires Salvia, Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® Salvia is similar to the ever popular Indigo Spires Salvia with the same reliable flower power and slightly lighter blue flowers on a somewhat more compact upright growing plant. The nectar rich flowers are especially attractive to larger bees as well as butterflies and hummingbirds. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained fertile soil. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 11983

The large deep purplish red petals of Ruby Glow Passionflower are topped with a halo of deep bluish purple filaments. A heady sweet fragrance fills the air when this beautiful passionvine is in flower and it may produce very large, up to 3"W x 5"L, yellow tropical fruit if the flowers are cross pollinated by another species, cultivar, or seedling passionflower. Ruby Glow is a vigorous growing, heat loving tropical vine that can reach 20'H under good conditions. Item# 631.

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. San Antonio 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# 10034

Possibly the most exciting native grass introduction on the market to date! In spring the narrow blades emerge heavily variegated with green and cream and are accented by pink tones, especially when weather is cooler. By summer it has grown into a 12-18" by 12-18" mass of arching boldly variegated white and green foliage. In late summer the flowering stalks begin to elongate showing off their variegated form and as summer temperatures begin to cool the white portions of the foliage and flowering stems deepens into pink and rose tones and finally into burgundy. Shining Star™ Little Bluestem, a beautifully variegated selection of our native Schizachyrium scoparium, is a widely distributed, clump forming, herbaceous perennial grass that is native to all but 2 of the lower 48 US states and is a major component of the Tall Grass Prairies of the midwest. Provide this lovely little grass with a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and growth. Images courtesy of Emerald Coast Growers, who discovered this new nativar, all rights reserved. Item# 13138

Vibrant yellow and red flowers are borne from Spring to frost on an upright to spreading perennial. Raise Monarch Butterflies in your own backyard! The Monarchs migrate through our area just as the Asclepias begin to awaken in spring, just in time for the females to lay their eggs on the new growth.Item # 3078.

Solid yellow blooms are borne from spring to fall on this vigorous and fast growing upright perennial. Raise Monarch Butterflies in your own backyard! The Monarchs migrate through our area just as the Asclepias begin to awaken in spring, just in time for the females to lay their eggs on the new growth. item # 643.

A mainstay of southern and western Texas and New Mexico butterfly gardens! Bright yellow daisies are produced from late spring into fall and are held against a foil of dark green, deeply lobed, fragrant, narrow foliage with the heaviest flowering occurring in fall. The flowers are highly attractive to a variety of butterflies, bees, and other garden beneficials. Skeleton-Leaf Goldeneye, Viguiera stenoloba and now Sidneya tenuifolia, is a native, naturally evergreen, small shrub with fine-textured, very dark green, deeply lobed, strongly resiny fragrant foliage that is resistant to being browsed by deer and rabbits. It is tough as nails and is highly drought resistant once well-established. Use it as a low maintenance formal or informal hedge, back drop, or groundcover. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained soils. A caterpillar host plant for the Bordered Patch Butterfly. Item# 13084

Dainty, nectar-rich, late winter to midspring, greenish white flowers are followed by sweet, clear orange, 3/8" diameter berries with a flavor reminiscent of cantaloupe ripen in fall. Like all of our native Hackberry species, the Spiny Hackberry, Celtis pallida or C. ehrenbergiana, is an important host plant for the Hackberry butterflies (American Snout, Tawny Emperor, Hackberry Emperor, etc...) as well as the Red-Bordered Metalmark. The ripe fruit are devoured by a variety of birds and other wildlife. Human nibblers should be aware that the fruit does contain a large pit. The Spiny or Desert Hackberry develops into a large shrub or small tree that seems to prefer average moist soils but as the name implies it is quite drought tolerant once well-established. Item# 10682

The large pink, white, and rose colored flowers are set against a foil of starkly contrasting near black, maple-like foliage of this hardy Hibiscus. Starry Starry Night Hibiscus has some of the darkest foliage of any of the new cultivars of perennial Hibiscus and the light colored flowers definitely stand out dramatically! This Walter's Gardens introduction was selected not only for its amazing foliage and flowers but also for the fact that it flowers from the top to the bottom of the naturally rounded plants unlike some of the older cultivars. Provide a moist, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny position. Item# 11419

Rare and Unusual! The large 7-10" wide dark magenta flowers are held against contrasting variegated deep green foliage that is edged in a narrow band of white and pink and even the buds are intrestingly striped in green and white. Summer Carnival Hardy Hibiscus is a rare variegated form of Perennial Hibiscus flowering from summer into early fall with a compact branching habit. This is sure to be a fun plant in the garden and landscape! Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12068

Huge, intense deep pink flowers with a deep burgundy eye are held against the deep green, maple-like foliage in summer on a full rounded plant that flowers from top to bottom. Summer In Paradise Hibiscus is a hardy perennial Hibiscus that is sure to make a statement in the summer garden. These Hibiscus also make great additions to bog gardens and moist areas. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in a moist rich garden soil. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 11418

The summerlong display of large, 7" wide, ruffled and textured, white flowers are lightly edged in rose pink set against a backdrop of rich green foliage all on a heavy flowering well-branched plant. SUMMERIFIC® Ballet Slippers Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a vigorous clump-forming perennial that develops into a full, but compact well-branched plant with exceptional flower power. Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, SUMMERIFIC® Ballet Slippers is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating an amazing summer into fall display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12842

Huge 8" wide purplish-pink flowers are held against a backdrop of deep dark green foliage throughout summer. Summerific® Berry Awesome Perennial Hibiscus is a compact well-branched large clump forming perennial with a naturally rounded habit. The SUMMERIFIC® Hibiscus are indeterminate types meaning that they flower all up and down the stems instead of just on the upper half 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. Summerific® Berry Awesome Perennial Hibiscus was a 2019 Proven Winners Perennial of the Year. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12057

The large bright bubblegum pink 8" wide, wind resistant flowers sport a contrasting dark burgundy eye and are held against a foil of dark green foliage providing a summerlong parade of flowers. SUMMERIFIC® Candy Crush Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a densely branching, perennial that develops into a full, well-branched upright to rounded plant. Walter's Gardens describes it as follows: "If you love 'Cranberry Crush', try 'Candy Crush'! This hardy Hibiscus shares all the great traits that made 'Cranberry Crush' popular: upright, columnar habit, fantastic garden presence, and excellent flower coverage".  Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, SUMMERIFIC® Candy Crush 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. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12493

The 8-9" wide white flowers are blushed with cherry pink and are accented by contrasting dark cherry red and pink veining originating from the contrasting dark burgundy eye and running to the edges of the full overlapping petals. The large light colored flowers standout like spotlights against a wonderfully contrasting foil of purple to purplish-green foliage. SUMMERIFIC® Cherry Choco Latte Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a densely branching, clump-forming perennial that develops into a full, but compact well-branched plant with exceptional flower power. Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, SUMMERIFIC® Cherry Choco Latte is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating a traffic stopping display in the garden and landscape. Use caution when planting near roadways as vehicles may come to a sudden and unexpected stop. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12495

The large rich scarlet red 8" wide, slightly cupped flowers are held against a foil of dark green foliage with purple overtones providing a summer into fall parade of flowers. SUMMERIFIC® Cranberry Crush Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a densely branching, perennial that develops into a full, but compact well-branched plant with exceptional flower power.  Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, SUMMERIFIC® Cranberry Crush is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating a traffic stopping display in the garden and landscape. Warning, hummingibirds may leave your neighbors gardens and use caution when planting near roadways as vehicles may come to an unexpected stop. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12494

The exceptionally dark, near black foliage acts as the perfect foil to compliment the summerlong display of bright bubblegum pink, 7-8" wide flowers that are accented by dark pink to red veining all on a neatly compact rounded plant. SUMMERIFIC® Edge of Night Perennial Hibiscus tops out at just 36-40" high and is considered one of the most compact Hibiscus on the market today as well as boasting some of the darkest, practically black, foliage to date. The SUMMERIFIC® Hibiscus are indeterminate types meaning that they flower all up and down the stems instead of just on the upper half 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. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13101

The summerlong display of 8" wide intense deep magenta pink, crinkly flowers are centered by a deep burgundy eye and are held against a foil of near black foliage. SUMMERIFIC® Evening Rose Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a densely branching, clump-forming perennial that develops into a full, but compact well-branched plant with exceptional flower power. Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, SUMMERIFIC® Evening Rose is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating a traffic stopping display in the garden and landscape. The dark foliage and hot pink flowers are sure to make a statement in the garden and landscape. From Walter's Gardens: "we are proud to introduce 'Evening Rose' as an excellent combination of hot pink flowers and near black foliage. 8" puckered flowers cover the round, dense habit top to bottom. Compared to 'Berry Awesome', the foliage is much darker and the flower color is more magenta than lavender. A must have statement piece for your garden!" Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12496

Creamy yellow buds open to 8" wide french vanilla colored ruffled flowers with a dark red-burgundy eye that absolutely shine against the backdrop of deep dark green foliage throughout summer. SUMMERIFIC® French Vanilla Perennial Hibiscus is a compact well-branched large clump forming perennial with a naturally rounded habit. The Summerific® Hibiscus are indeterminate types meaning that they flower all up and down the stems instead of just on the upper half 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. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12058

2022 Missouri Botanic Garden Plants of Merit selection! The pinnacle of Hardy Hibiscus breeding in traffic stopping form! The summerlong display of huge 8-9" wide, textured, dark red flowers are set against a foil of deep dark maroonish-purple near black foliage all on a heavy flowering well-branched plant. SUMMERIFIC® Holy Grail Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a vigorous clump-forming perennial that develops into a full, but compact well-branched plant with exceptional flower power. Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, SUMMERIFIC® Holy Grail is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating an amazing summer into fall display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12498

The newest color in the SUMMERIFIC® series! The summerlong display of large, 7-8" wide, ruffled and textured, lilac colored flowers with good substance are set against a backdrop of rich green, maple-like foliage all on a heavy flowering well-branched plant. Flowers may be deepest purple under cooler conditions. SUMMERIFIC® Lilac Crush Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a vigorous clump-forming perennial that develops into a full, rounded, slightly more upright growing, well-branched plant with exceptional flower power. Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, SUMMERIFIC® Lilac Crush is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating an amazing summer into fall display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12844

The large 7-8" wide white to light pink flowers are centered by a deep red eye that radiates outward along the veins of the petals and the light colored petals darken slightly at the outer edges and are a standout against the darkly contrasting deep maroon foliage. SUMMERIFIC® Perfect Storm Perennial Hibiscus flowers throughout summer and is an indeterminate type meaning that they flower all up and down the stems instead of just on the upper half of the plants creating a knockout display in the garden and landscape. It matures to about 3' high and spreads out to 4-5' wide at maturity. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12192

The large 8" wide, ruffled and textured, white flowers are heavily overlaid with sweetly contrasting deep rosy pink and a large dark burgundy eye simply that simply shine against the foil of deep green foliage. SUMMERIFIC® Spinderella Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a vigorous clump-forming perennial that develops into a full, rounded, compact growing, well-branched plant with exceptional flower power. Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, SUMMERIFIC® Spinderella is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating an amazing summer into fall display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12845