Plants for Butterflies and Other Pollinators
Showing 209–211 of 211 results
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Veronicastrum virginianum, Culver’s root Z 4-9
Tall, graceful ivory spires
Tall, graceful ivory spires bloom from mid to late summer
Size: 4' x 18"
Care: full sun to part shade in moist to moist well-drained soil
Native: From Canada to Texas incl. Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: attracts butterfliesUsed by American Indians as a laxative and to induce vomiting and clean blood. Cherokee cured typhus and inactive livers with Culver’s root. Remember Culver’s Little Liver pills? Seneca Indians used the root in their ceremonies. 1st collected by Rev. John Banister who moved to colonial Virginia in 1678. A gunman mistakenly shot and killed him while he collected plants. Colonial Puritan Cotton Mather unsuccessfully attempted to use this plant to cure his daughter’s tuberculosis in 1716.
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Viola tricolor Johnny jump up, Heartease Z 2-9 RESEEDING short-lived perennial
Cheery purple, yellow and white small pansies from spring to late fall
Cheery purple, yellow and white small pansies from spring to late fall
Size: 3-5” x 4-6”
Care: Sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil
Native: Europe and Asia
Wildlife Value: Violas are the sole food source for the caterpillar of Fritillary butterflies.Viola was named after a mythical young woman who Zeus loved and who Zeus’ wife harassed. Athens adopted the V. tricolor as its symbol. Pliny prescribed it for headaches in ancient Rome. Mentioned repeatedly by Shakespeare. In the 1500’s the plant was used to make a medicinal tea to cure chest and lung inflammations, (Gerard) and later to cure impetigo and ulcers. When Napoleon Bonaparte died Viola tricolor found in his locket with a snip of Josephine’s hair. Thomas Jefferson imported Viola tricolor from France in 1767. Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.
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Zizia aurea Golden alexanders Z 4-9
In spring, golden umbels
Tiny chartreuse-golden flowers, grouped in umbels, spring. Good cut flower.
Size: 30"x 24"
Care: full sun in moist to moist well-drained soil
Native: from New Brunswick south to Florida - west to Texas, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: Primary host for the Missouri Woodland Swallowtail butterfly.Meskwaki used the root to reduce fevers and the flower stalks to ease headaches. Collected by late 1700’s. Good cut flower.
