Plants for Butterflies and Other Pollinators
Showing 161–168 of 223 results
-
Salvia amplexicaulis Stem-clasping sage Z 3-8
Deep violet spike flowers in summer over green foliage
Deep violet spike flowers in summer over green foliage
Size: 24-30” x 36”
Care: Sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil
Native: Southeastern Europe
Wildlife Value: attracts bees, butterflies and other pollinatorsSimilar to Salvia nemorosa but larger.
Before 1829, Lamarck. -
Salvia azurea ‘Grandiflora’ Blue sage, Prairie sage Z 5-9
August – October sky blue racemes. One of internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013)
August – October sky blue racemes. One of internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013)
Size: 4’ x 24-36”
Care: Sun, moist well-drained soil
Native: Southeastern U.S. to Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: Primarily long tongued bees such as Bumble bees visit and pollinate the plants.Native Americans roast or popped the seed of Blue sage as a grain. American garden cultivation since 1700’s. William Robinson, father of the mixed perennial border, praised the Blue sage as “one of the finest (perennials from North America) in its flowers, borne as dense spikes of a beautiful pale blue during September and October.”
-
Salvia nemorosa Meadow sage, Balkan clary Z 5-7
Purple/lavender spire dense with flowers June to September
Purple/lavender spire dense with flowers June to September.
Size: 36" x 24"
Care: full sun in moist well-drained to well-drained soil - deadhead to promote rebloom. Drought tolerant.
Native: Europe to Central Asia. Wildlife values: attracts butterflies & hummingbirdsSalvia is from the Latin word salveo meaning “to heal” referring to the plant’s ancient medicinal uses. Collected before 1762.
-
Salvia nutans Nodding sage Z 5-8
Nodding clumps of blue flowers over basal leaves, June-September
Nodding clumps of blue flowers over basal leaves, June-September
Size: 3-4’ x 18”
Care: full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil.
Native: Balkans
Wildlife Value: attracts bees & butterflies. Deer resistant.Collected before 1753. Introduced in 1780 by Chevalier Pallas. First grown in nursery of Joseph Knight, King’s Road, London. Pictured in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine Vol. 50, 1822.
-
Salvia sclarea Clary sage Reseeding Biennial Z 5-9
Breathtaking pastel panicles of cream, blue or pink, bi-toned bracts
Breathtaking pastel panicles of cream, blue or pink, bi-toned bracts whorl around the stem, spring – summer on this deer resistant plant.
Can not ship to: Washington
Size: 3’ x 12”
Care: full sun in moist well-drained soil. Deer resistant.
Native: Europe to Central Asia
Wildlife Value: attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.Salvia is from the Latin salveo meaning “to heal” referring to the plant’s ancient medicinal uses. Romans made an eye wash from this plant to clear vision; the name “clary” is derived from this. Germans added this, plus elder flowers, to wine and occasionally used Clary instead of hops to make beer. In 1100’s an aphrodisiac. This species introduced to gardens from the south of Europe in 1562.
-
Salvia verticillata Lilac sage, whorley clary, Salbey Z 5-8
Muted lilac blue spikes June to October
Muted lilac blue spikes June to October. It took 2 years to establish this plant to maturity during which time it was unimpressive but in year 3, it’s fabulous. You get the benefit of mature plants.
Size: 24” x 18-24”
Care: sun in moist well-drained to well-drained soil. Dead head to prolong bloom
Native: Spain to Ukraine, Caucasus to Iran
Wildlife Value: Butterfly magnet.Collected before 1753.
-
Sambucus canadensis syn. Sambucus nigra var. canadensis. Elderberry, American elderberry Z 3-9
In late spring to mid-summer lavish, fragrant flat-to dome-shaped clusters of flowers bloom above this arching, multi-stemmed shrub. Late summer into fall the multitude of flowers turn into purple-black, edible fruits, up to 2000 per cluster!
In late spring to mid-summer lavish, fragrant flat-to dome-shaped clusters of flowers bloom above this arching, multi-stemmed shrub. Late summer into fall the multitude of flowers turn into purple-black, edible fruits, up to 2000 per cluster!
Size: 5-12’ x spreading quickly by suckers 5-10’ Best to grow as hedge, along a roadside, fence-line or forest edge, not within garden. It can form thickets.
Care: sun to part shade in moist to well-drained soil
Native: Americas east of Rocky Mountains south to Bolivia. Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: branches and leaves make nesting sites and give cover for birds. It is a source of pollen for numerous bees and other insects. Many birds (including, Pheasant, Bluebird, Cedar waxwing, Cardinal, Mockingbird and others) as well as some mammals eat the sweet, but slightly bitter, fruit.Collected before 1735. Native Americans made extensive use of this, Cherokee used it topically for boils, burn and infections and internally for rheumatism, fevers, a diuretic, dropsy, and of course ate the berries. Costanoan made its hollow twigs into pipes, flutes and shafts for arrows. Several Natives infused the flowers and foliage with hot water to make steam baths. And many natives ate it, boiled it, jammed it, and added the fruit to cakes. Today people eat them in jellies, jams, pancakes, pies and wine and make homeopathic medicine from it.
-
Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot, Indian paint, Red Puccoon Z 3-9
Very showy, swan-white anemone-like blooms in spring from the center of glaucus, grey-green, lobed, puckered, rolled leaves. Both the leaves and root contain a red liquid. Ephemeral, dies back in summer.
OUT OF STOCKC
Available for purchase in Spring only
Very showy, swan-white anemone-like blooms in spring from the center of glaucus, grey-green, lobed, puckered, rolled leaves. Both the leaves and root contain a red liquid. Ephemeral, dies back in summer.
Size: 6” x 12”
Care: part shade to shade in moist well-drained soil
Native: Nova Scotia to Manitoba, south to Florida and Arkansas, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: deer resistant. Pollen, but no nectar, makes this attractive to many different bees. Ants distribute the seeds.Sanguinaria is Latin meaning “blood,” so named for the red color of the sap. For Natives red sap used to make dye for skin, clothing, weapons and baskets. Also induced abortions, as well as an aphrodisiac and cure sexually transmitted diseases. The root rubbed on the palm of the hand was a love charm for Ponca men. Iroquois prescribed it for diarrhea and constipation, to draw out slivers, hiccups, and generally as a panacea. It was administered to those who saw a corpse. Sioux used a weak solution to cure fever, rheumatism, congestion, and skin cancer Ojibwa made dried roots into a necklace to prevent bleeding. 1st collected by Rev. John Banister in colonial Virginia c. 1678. Grown at Shadwell, Jefferson’s birthplace and home until it burned in 1770. Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.
