Plants for Butterflies and Other Pollinators
Showing 41–48 of 228 results
-
Astilbe chinensis
Pink plumes in mid-summer
Pink plumes in mid-summer
Size: 24” x 24” spreads
Care: Sun to part shade in moist to moist well-drained soil, more tolerant of drier soil than modern ones. Immune to walnut toxicity.
Native: Siberia, China, KoreaUse in borders or woodland gardens, for a cut flower or leave it stand for winter interest. Astilbe is Greek from a meaning “without” and stilbe meaning “lustre” referring to the fact that the leaves are not shiny. Liberty Hyde Bailey termed this plant “graceful” in the early 1900’s.
-
Baptisia australis False Indigo Z 3-9
Indigo blue racemes in June followed by ornamental pods
In early summer loose spikes bear big blue blossoms which turn to large black seed pods. Four foot tall foliage resembles a shrub.
Size: 3-5' x 24"
Care: Full sun sandy soil. Drought tolerant
Native: Eastern United States, Wisconsin native.
Wildlife Value: Attracts butterflies
Awards: Perennial Plant Association Plant of Year 2010As its common name describes, this plant was used as a substitute for indigo dye. Horticultural greats Bailey, Breck and Robinson considered Baptisia handsome. Introduced in 1758.
-
Baptisia leucantha White Wild Indigo Z 3-9
Georgeous creamy white spikes of pea-like blooms
Georgeous creamy white spikes of pea-like blooms in May & June followed by ornamental pods
Size: 3-5' x 2-3'
Care: full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Drought tolerant
Native: from Minnesota to Texas, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: attracts butterfliesFor the HoChunk “(t)he root is a single remedy to use for injured womb alone. Cook the root and mash it to form a poltice to bind on. Wash with water and draw out the inflammation.”
-
Baptisia sphaerocarpa Yellow wild indigo Z 5-8
Spikes of yellow pea-like flowers
Spikes of yellow pea-like flowers, a legume, in spring.
Size: 2-3’ x 2-3’
Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained to dry soil
Native: Missouri to Mississippi to TXBaptisia is Greek meaning “to dye” referring to use of Baptisia australis as a substitute for indigo dye. Sphaerocarpa means “round seed.” Collected by English planthunter Thomas Nuttall before 1834.
-
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.
-
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. -
Bletilla striata syn. B. hyacinthina Chinese ground orchid Z 5-9
Racemes of pinkish-purple flowers on scapes above dark green, upright, lance-shaped leaves, April-May
Racemes of pinkish-purple flowers on scapes above dark green, upright, lance-shaped leaves, April-May
Size: 12-18” x 12”
Care: Part shade in moist, well-drained soil.
Native: China, Japan
Wildlife Value: Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Deer & Rabbit resistant.
Awards: Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden MeritProtect with thick winter mulch, may not reliably survive Zone 5 winters.
Spreads slowly by rhizomes and seeds in optimal conditions.
‘Bletilla’ honors Louis Blet, a Spanish apothecary in Algeciras who also had a botanic garden at the end of the 18th century. Collected before 1784 by Thunberg. -
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.
