Best Plants for Butterflies & Hummers?

[stephanietx]

I have an area in my backyard that gets oodles of (hot) sun and I'd like to start a butterfly & hummer garden. What plants have you had the most success with?

Stephanie

[sandih]

Salvia, buddlia (butterfly bush), passion flowers, lantana...there's tons of plants.

The Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park is having a butterfly garden plant sale. Go to their website to get dates and times. Also, do a yahoo or google search on the subject. The things I listed above are sure to attract as well.

[goo0h]

I have had great success with Autumn Sage. They come in a variety of colors, but of course the deep reds tend to be their favorite. I'm not quite sure why it's called Autumn Sage because it blooms all Summer long. Starts early in Spring (usually the first thing of mine to bloom) and continues to bloom into late Fall. To my surprise some have turned out to be mostly evergreen.

There's a suppler here in Denton called Painted Plant Farms, or something like that. I see there stuff at some of the nurseries here in Denton. Typically I've had great success with their plants. I've now got a variety of salvias going and they're all wonderful.

I've also got something called Texas Betony. It's more of a low-laying, spreading type of plant. Also blooms all Summer and also a big favorite of the hummers.

I've tried Lantana twice, and even though I know it's supposed to be perennial, my luck with it has been mixed. One year it didn't come back at all, another year it came back but was quite sickly. I seem to have better luck with the salvias.

I've also got a sky blue butterfly bush that's been doing quite well. Even though hummers seem immediately attracted to red, once you've got them, they're curious enough that they'll visit everything. Many times I've seen hummers poking at all the little flowers on that bush. In fact I just bought another (pink this time) one yesterday that I need to get off my butt and plant now. ;-)

[squid]

here's one that I planted a couple of years ago thats done really well for me:

http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/11820/

and if your looking to draw in late season buckeyes, this is my favorite:

[url]
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/39786/[/url]

[stephanietx]

Thanks for the ideas! I still haven't got my spot ready; I'm just collecting ideas!! Will add these to my list!

BTW Squid, my husband is from Abilene!

Stephanie

[squid]

I bet I know him or his family, even tho' Abilene is around 115,000 in population its still a 'small town'.....

Drive out to Stuart's Nursery in Weatherford before you plant your garden, they have ALOT of great ideas for butterfly gardens.

http://www.stuartnurseryinc.com/index.htm