Plants for Butterflies and Other Pollinators
Showing 153–160 of 218 results
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Rudbeckia fulgida Black eyed susan Z 4-9
The classic Black-eyed susan, 3" wide yellow daisies with a dark center from July-October
The classic Black-eyed susan, 3″ wide yellow daisies with a dark center from July – October
Size: 30" x 18"
Care: full sun to part shade in moist well-drained to well-drained soil
Native: Southeastern U.S.
Wildlife Value: A great number of bees, flies and beetles collect pollen or drink nectar from this RudbeckiaThis species fulgida was introduced to England in 1760 and named in William Aition’s Hortus Kewensis, V. 3 p. 251 (1789). Cherokee ate the stems and leaves and also used this species to remedy earaches, sores, flux, venereal disease, snakebites, dropsy, and swelling. Iroquois healed the heart and rid children of worms with this, Potawatomi make a brown dye with this.
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Rudbeckia laciniata ‘Herbstsonne’ Rudbeckia nitida ‘Herbstsonne’ syn. Rudbeckia ‘Autumn Sun’ Z 5-10
Exceptionally large & drooping petals, with a tall, central cone of green, blooms July to September.
OUT OF STOCK
Exceptionally large & drooping petals, with a tall, central cone of green, blooms July to September.
Size: 4-7’ x 2-3’
Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil
Wildlife Value: provides butterfly nectar and seeds food for birds
Awards: Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden MeritIt’s “an old selection.”
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Rudbeckia maxima Great coneflower Z 4-9
Magnificent wildflower with huge paddle-shaped leaves of blue-grey-green and tall stalks of finch-gold petals
Magnificent wildflower with huge paddle-shaped leaves of blue-grey-green and tall stalks of finch-gold petals encircling central cones 4-5″ tall.
Size: 5-6' x 2'
Care: Sun in moist to moist well-drained soil
Native: OK, AK, TX & LA
Wildlife Value: Nectar source for larvae of painted Lady butterfly & for large Wood nymph butterfly.Rudbeckia was named by Linnaeus for his University of Upsala professor, Olaf Rudbeck. Rudbeck made the surprising claim “that the Paradise of Scripture was situated somewhere in Sweden.” C.F. Leyel. This species collected by Englishman Thomas Nuttall (1786-1859) in Oklahoma Territory near the Red River in 1816. Nuttall searched much of the No. American continent from New England west to Oregon, the South, Midwest, the Plains, S.E., California & Hawaii, finding thousands of new plants.
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Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’ Z 4-8
These Rudbeckias tower above basal leaves on rigid, branching stems forming clumps of sun yellow petaled flowers surrounding a raised, brown dome of disc flowers. But instead of flat petals, the petals are rolled into narrow tubes, looking like many spokes of a wheel blooming from mid-summer into fall.
OUT OF STOCK
These Rudbeckias tower above basal leaves on rigid, branching stems forming clumps of sun yellow petaled flowers surrounding a raised, brown dome of disc flowers. But instead of flat petals, the petals are rolled into narrow tubes, looking like many spokes of a wheel blooming from mid-summer into fall.
Size: 3-5’ x 1-2’
Care: sun in moist well-drained soil
Wildlife Value: attracts butterflies, deer resistantHenry Eilers discovered this cultivar while scouting a southern Illinois prairie. Here’s his story.
Henry Eilers, born in 1934, long-time nurseryman, had introduced selections of different ornamental plants that he found growing at his nursery. But Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’ is different. Henry worked tirelessly for decades to preserve Illinois plants and their diversity. In the early 1980’s while scouting a prairie remnant near Witt in Montgomery County IL he spied a small clump of uncommon Black-eyed susan. Instead of the usual broad, flat petals, this one has narrow, quilled petals. He dug it and replanted it at his nursery where it grew on. It still grows in his wildflower garden. He decided to name it Rudbeckia ‘Montgomery County.’ In the 1990’s Henry took it and other native wildflowers to a native plant sale at the Shaw Arboretum, Missouri Botanic Garden. He and another nurseryman, Larry Lowman exchanged a few plants, one being this Rudbeckia. Several years later he found it for sale in the Plant Delight’s Nursery catalog, renamed Rudbeckia ‘Henry Eilers.’ Over time the plant appeared in gardening magazines and mail order catalogs. It now grows in the entrance planting at the National Botanic Garden in Washington, at the Missouri Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. A nurseryman from the Check Republic told Henry he had been growing it! -
Rudbeckia subtomentosa Sweet coneflower Z 4-8
Fragrant yellow daisies with purplish cones, July- October
Fragrant yellow daisies with purplish cones, July- October
Size: 4-5' x 1-2'
Care: Sun to part shade in moist to moist well-drained soil
Native: East US, Wisconsin native.
Wildlife Value: attracts butterfleisRudbeckia was named by Linnaeus for his University of Upsala professor, Olaf Rudbeck. Rudbeck made the surprising claim “that the Paradise of Scripture was situated somewhere in Sweden.” C.F. Level. This species described in 1815. May have been collected by English planthunter John Bradbury (1768-1823).
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Rudbeckia triloba Branched coneflower, Brown eyed susan Z 3-9
Multitudes of small sunny daisies with brown centers from July to October, as cheery as they come.
Multitudes of small sunny daisies with brown centers from July to October, as cheery as they come.
Size: 3-4' x 2-3'
Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil.
Native: most of North America, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: Numerous bees, some flies, a few wasps and butterflies feed on the nectar and pollen. One bee feeds only on Rudbeckias and Ratibida flowers.
Awards: Georgia Gold Medal winner. England’s Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit.Rudbeckia was named by Linnaeus for his University of Upsala professor and founder of the Uppsala botanic Garden, and his son, University of Uppsala professor named Olaf Rudbeck. This species collected in Colonial Virginia in 1600’s.
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Ruellia humilis Prairie petunia Z 3-9
Lilac open-face trumpets late June-October. Slow to emerge in spring so be patient and watch for it. It’s one of those non-flashy work-horses. One of internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013)
Lilac open-face trumpets late June-October. Slow to emerge in spring so be patient and watch for it. It’s one of those non-flashy work-horses. One of internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013)
Size: 10-12” x 10”
Care: sun in any soil
Native: Midwest south to Florida and Texas, Wisconsin endangered plant.
Wildlife Value: Pollinated primarily by long tongue bees who can reach far into the flower’s throat.Ruellia named for French royal herbalist Jean Ruell (1474-1537.) First collected by Thomas Nuttall (1786-1859) C.1810 English plant hunter who found more American plants than anyone else, early 1800’s.
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Salvia amplexicaulis Stem-clasping sage Z 4-8
Erect spikes of two-lipped, purple flowers with reddish-purple bracts in summer. Leaves are fragrant.
Erect spikes of two-lipped, purple flowers with reddish-purple bracts in summer. Leaves are fragrant.
Size: 48" x 36"
Care: Sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil. Deadhead for rebloom.
Native: Southeastern Europe
Wildlife Value: attracts butterflies, deer resistant.Salvia is from the Latin “salveo” meaning “to heal” referring to the plants ancient medicinal uses. This species collected before 1791.
