Native Butterfly Plants

Wildflowers are beloved little treasures that have inspired poets, artists and storytellers from around the world and learning to recognize them and preserving their declining habitat is something all gardeners should aspire to.

Below is a short list of flowering bushes you may want to plant in order to draw these little darlings to your gardens.9-10 (could be perennial in 8 & 11 with right conditions)I have not included annuals in this article, however, there are many native...

Yes it fruits but it's fine textured evergreen foliage is fantastic! The bright pink new growth of spring matures to a dusty blue-green with hints of pink in summer, followed by deep purplish-blue in fall which deepens through winter.

The flower show of Texas Greeneyes is never a grandiose all-at-once cacophony of flowers but the continuous procession of flowers from spring to fall, rain or no, on established plants is impressive.

Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Ratibida may reseed under good conditions. 3" yellow daisies top the tall wispy stems of this vigorous native perennial from mid spring to late summer.

As you move into hotter climates more shaded conditions are generally preferred for this species and its cultivars. In cooler more northerly latitudes the Oakleaf Hydrangea is known to tolerate more sun.

The Oakleaf Hydrangea produces large white conical flower heads with large white sterile florets. The images provided are examples only. Winter shows off the Oakleaf Hydrangeas peeling buff and coppery colored bark and tiny buds which look like praying...

Although 'Ihi is considered hardy to 20-25 o F we suggest that you bring it indoors anytime temperatures fall below freezing and place it in a warm sunny window. From Almost Eden" below.

We recommend feeding your Butterfly weed in the very early spring and again in mid summer after all new growth has hardened off and it begins to set flower buds. Follow this up with another early summer application of , this will again provide the necessary...

As you move into hotter climates more shaded conditions are generally preferred for this species and its cultivars. In cooler more northerly latitudes the Oakleaf Hydrangea is known to tolerate more sun.

Once established in the landscape they require little extra attention and can become a cornerstone of almost any landscape. As you move into hotter climates more shaded conditions are generally preferred for this species and its cultivars.

A tough dwarf native blueberry with as much to offer the palette of the mouth as well as the garden. Excellent for muffins, pancakes, or fresh eating. Steely blue-gray finely textured new growth gets slightly darker with age.

You will find your own local DNR and Extension Services to be fantastic sources of information about the butterflies in your own locality!Below are the plants originally purchased for our butterfly garden.

Take long slow drives into the countryside around your garden and keep your eyes open for the milkweed growing all around the road sides - keep mental notes and watch for the seeds to start flying!Want more blooms?

An application of fertilizer at this time may also be beneficial in spurring flower production. The nectar rich flowers provide fodder for a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, butterflies, and a variety of bees but especially bumblebees in...

An old and reliable perennial Verbena that produces large clusters of deep purple blooms from spring to fall. Homestead Verbena was discovered by Dr. Allan Armitage and Dr. Michael Dirr on an old homestead in Georgia.

The dainty nectar rich flowers are visited by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Cloud Eight is a semi-dwarf selection of Purole-Top Vervain with a compact and free flowering habit.

The Maypop Passionvine or Passion Flower produces a summer long display of 2-3" wide white, lavender, and purple exotic flowers that are held against medium green tropical foliage.

An application of fertilizer at this time may also be beneficial in spurring flower production.Average moist, well-drained, moderately fertile soils. A popular and easy to grow beauty that is now considered to be very rare if not extinct in its native...

The small size, exceptional flower power, and spreading habit lends Lilac Chip to use in the perennial border, as a groundcover, smaller spaces, and containers where it is sure to attract loads of butterflies and other pollinators! The Lo & Beholdtm Buddleja...

1", sleepy, rose to coral-pink flowers are borne from late spring to fall on this vigorous perennial. In mild winter climates they can get fairly large but are certainly amenable to pruning.

A tough and hardy, drought tolerant, perennial US Native. Masses of tall wispy deep pink spikes are covered by a succession of large pink butterfly-like flowers throughout summer.

The flowers shine brightly against the backdrop of deep blue-green foliage. This Passionvine along with many of Myles Irving's Riverside hybrids appear to rarely produce fruit and are often triploid to tetraploid in nature.

Train it on a trellis or other support to produce a small-medium sized fragrant evergreen vine. This naturally sprawling vine-like shrub can easily be pruned to produce a dense mass of foliage and flowers.

An excellent choice for butterfly and hummingbird gardens that will flower from summer until frost. Where not hardy, heat and humidity tolerant Pentas make wonderful annuals for gardens or containers.

This exciting new day-length neutral and thusly free flowering Black-Eyed Susan was discovered at Dupont Nursery near Plaquemine, Louisiana and is sure to bring in the butterflies and pollinators as well as providing color all summer.

Excellent fall color for the garden as well as drought tolerance and pest and disease resistance make this an excellent addition to the perennial or wildflower border. Pruning if necessary should not be done after June as you may be removing flower buds...