Plants for Butterflies and Other Pollinators
Showing 45–48 of 225 results
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Baptisia tinctoria Wild indigo, Horsefly Z. 3-9
Sweet saffron yellow pea-like flowers, July to September
Sweet saffron yellow pea-like flowers, July to September
Size: 2-3’ x 2-3’
Care: sun to part shade in dry to moist well-drained soil
Native: Ontario, Maine to MN S to GA, Wisconsin
Wildlife Value: Attracts butterflies.Baptisia is Greek meaning “to dye” referring to use of Baptisia australis as a substitute for indigo dye. Tinctoria means used in dying. For Cherokee it induced vomiting. They made a poultice to “stop mortification.” The root, held against teeth, remedied toothache. Iroquois used it to cure rheumatism and cramps in the stomach or legs. The Cherokee & Ojibwa used it for dye. Collected by John Banister in Virginia by 1692. Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.
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Bigelowia nuttallii Nuttall’s rayless goldenrod Z 4-10
Clouds of soft yellow flower clusters rise above evergreen foliage from mid summer through fall
Clouds of soft yellow flower clusters rise above evergreen foliage from mid summer through fall
Size: 10-15” x 5”
Care: full sun in well drained soil, perfect rock garden plant
Native: Southern US; TX, LA, AL, GA, FL
Wildlife Value: attracts honeybeesCollected on banks of Ohoopee River in Tattnall County GA before 1970
Possibly collected by Nuttall before 1818. -
Boltonia asteroides False starwort, Bolton’s aster Z 4-9
Profuse small white daisies cover this 6 foot tall Midwestern native.
A cloud of profuse, spectacular small white daisies cover this 6 foot tall Midwestern native. Exceptional because it flowers in fall when yellows and purples predominate, making its white stand out. Great cut flower.
Size: 6' x 4'
Care: full sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil. Drought tolerant. If you want shorter plants cut back halfway in early to mid June.
Native: Kansas and Missouri to Arkansas
Wildlife Value: attracts butterfliesIntroduced to gardens in 1759. Named in honor of 18th century English botanist, James Bolton.
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Buddleja alternifolia ‘Argentea’ Silver fountain butterfly bush Z 5-9
Graceful, arching, weeping silvery foliage with cascading lavender flowers
Graceful, arching, weeping silvery foliage and, in early summer, lavender flowers cascade all along the stems like an upside-down mop of purple. It’s fragrant too and, true to its name, butterflies love it.
Size: 8-10” x 8-10” fast growing
Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained to well-drained soil. Prune just after blooms finish.
Native: China & Japan
Wildlife Value: attracts butterfliesBuddleja named to honor Reverend Adam Buddle, Vicar of Farmbridge in Essex and botanist, (1662-1715) Alternifolia means the leaves alternate on the stem. The cultivar’s name ‘Argentea’ means silver due to the tiny hairs on the foliage giving the plant a silvery appearance. ‘Argentea’ selected at Hillier Nursery in England in 1939.
