Plants for Butterflies and Other Pollinators

Showing 169–176 of 223 results

  • 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!

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    $16.95/ONLY AVAILABLE ON SITE @ NURSERY

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    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. Best to grow as hedge, along a roadside, fence-line or forest edge.
    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.. Many birds (including, Pheasant, Bluebird, Cedar waxwing, Cardinal, Mockingbird and others) as well as some mammals eat the sweet, but slightly bitter, fruit. It is a source of pollen for numerous bees and other insects.

    Collected before 1735. Native Americans made extensive use of this, Cherokee used it topically for boils, burns and infections and internally for rheumatism, fevers, dropsy, as   a diuretic, 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. Reportedly ripe berries are high in vitamin C and fiber. It’s also an antioxidant.

    **LISTED AS OUT OF STOCK BECAUSE WE DO NOT SHIP THIS ITEM.  IT IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT OUR RETAIL LOCATION.

  • 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.

    $9.75/pot

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    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. (Bloodroot) 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.  Used to induce 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. According to John Bartram this was “…(C)alled by the Country People, Red Root, or Tumerick  The Root dried and powdered is recommenced by Dr. Colden, as a Cure for jaundice, the Powder has been given to the Weight of a Drachm in Small Beer; and by others, for the Bite of a Rattle Snake.”   Grown at Shadwell, Jefferson’s birthplace and home until it burned in 1770.  Grown at America’s 1st botanic garden, Elgin Botanic Garden 1811, located where Rockefeller Center now stands.  Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.

  • Sanguisorba hakusanensis  Korean burnet, Lilac squirrel Z 4 – 9

    In mid to late summer bushy purplish-pink tails (like a Barbie doll squirrel tail) nod gracefully downward atop erect stems emerged from a clumping base that sprouts sage-colored, scalloped leaves.

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    In mid to late summer bushy purplish-pink tails (like a Barbie doll squirrel tail) nod gracefully downward atop erect stems emerged from a clumping base that sprouts sage-colored, scalloped leaves.

    Size: 12-18”x12”
    Care: sun to part shade in moist to moist well-drained soil 
    Native: Korea and Japan

    Sanguisorba is Latin meaning to soak up blood, for the plant’s reputed ability to clot blood. Hakusanensis means coming from Haku, a mountain in Japan where this grows. Described in Botanical Magazine (Tokyo) in 1907.

  • Sanguisorba obtusa Japanese burnet Z 4-9

    A confection - neon Barbie-doll pink dangling bottle-brush spikes

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    OUT OF STOCK

    A confection – neon Barbie-doll pink dangling bottle-brush spikes- spectacular- July – September

    Size: 2-3’ x 2’
    Care: moist to moist well-drained soil in sun
    Native: Honschu Japan
    Wildlife Value: attracts bees and butterflies

    Sanguisorba is Latin meaning “to soak up blood”, for the plant’s reputed ability to clot blood.  This species collected before 1873.

  • Sanguisorba parviflora syn S tenuifolia var. parviflora, S. tenuifolia var. alba White Japanese burnet Z 4-8

    Drooping white spikes (I know, drooping and spike are an oxymoron but you get the idea) atop tall stems and above narrow, dissected foliage.  Blooming in July into October.

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    $12.75/bareroot

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    Drooping white spikes (I know, drooping and spike are an oxymoron but you get the idea) atop tall stems and above narrow, dissected foliage.  Blooming in July into October.

    Size: 3-5' x 18"
    Care: Sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil
    Native: Japan, Korea, Mongolia & Russia
    Wildlife Value: attracts bees and butterflies

    Collected by 1874. (Maxim.)

  • Scabiosa lucida Pincushion flower Z 4-9

    Lilac pincushions all summer & fall

    $12.95/bareroot

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    Lilac pincushions all summer & fall, non-stop

    Size: 24" x 12"
    Care: full sun in well-drained soil.
    Native: Central and Eastern Europe
    Wildlife Value: attracts butterflies

    Scabiosa from Latin scabies referring to the itch caused by a mite infestation, which another Scabiosa species allegedly cured.   This species 1st described in a French publication in 1779.

  • Scabiosa ochroleuca Cream pincushion Z 4-9

    June-October ivory pincushions atop wiry stems

    $12.95/bareroot

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    Looking for a non-stop bloomer?  June-October ivory pincushions atop wiry stems

    Size: 18"-24" x 18"
    Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil. Drought tolerant.
    Native: Europe & Asia
    Wildlife Value: attracts butterflies

    The name scabiosa from Latin scabies refers to the mite infestation that this plant was supposed to cure; ochroleuca means “yellowish white.”    First described by Bauhin Caspar in Pinax theatri botanici  in 1623.

  • Schizachyrium scoparium syn. Andropogon scoparium Little bluestem Z 3-9

    Wispy, feather-like seedheads atop blue-grey foliage that turns plum-orange-red in fall.

    $12.75/bareroot

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    Wispy, feather-like seedheads atop blue-grey foliage that turns plum-orange-red in fall

    Size: 18" x 12"
    Care: sun in well-drained soil.
    Native: all No. America
    Wildlife Value: leaves food for Skipper butterfly caterpillars and seeds food for songbirds

    First collected by French plant hunter André Michaux in America’s prairies c. 1790.  Comanche used it to remedy syphilitic sores. Lakota made soft, wispy seedheads into liners for moccasins.