ColorScapes Butterfly and Hummer Garden Info

14032 State Route 15  *  Defiance, Ohio  *  419.395.2515

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly.

"One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

                                       Hans Christian Anderson

 

Set the stage for butterflies and hummingbirds by planting flowering plants that are their favorite food sources.  They will soon become regular visitors to your gardens. 

Butterflies are guided by the world of color and scents.  Certain flowers give off fragrance that butterflies find attractive.  Flowers that grow in clusters with tubular or flat-topped blooms are especially attractive. 

Hummingbirds are guided by visual means and are especially attracted to shades of red.   Many red-colored flowers just happen to be good sources of nectar. Blue is another of their favored colors.

Both butterflies and hummingbirds appreciate the warmth from the sun.  Fortunately, most of the plants listed here prefer full sun exposure. It is good to plan for continuous bloom so you will have butterflies and hummingbirds around from early spring through fall.

Accent your butterfly habitat by adding a "sunning stone".  Butterflies need to warm up in order to begin flying.  A source of water should also be provided.  This may be a shallow birdbath or even a mud puddle will work.

Hummingbirds are also attracted to artificial feeders filled with a mixture of one part sugar to three parts water.  Boil the mixture for a few minutes to kill bacteria and inhibit mold growth.  Rinse out feeders and replace sugar mixture every few days, especially in hot weather.  Hummers are territorial so two or more feeders in different areas are best.

Flowering plants that attract Hummingbirds

Perennials   Annuals
Butterfly Bush    Cleome
Cardinal Flower     Fuchsia
Columbine     Mimulus
Coral Bells          Nicotiana
Hollyhocks        Petunia
Hummingbird Mint    Streptocarpus
Monarda        Salvia (Red)
   

Shrubs and Vines for Hummingbirds

     Trumpet vine      
Red Honeysuckle
Weigela

Flowering Perennials that attract Butterflies

Anise Hyssop     Jupiter's Beard
Aster       Lavender
Beebalm     Lily
Blanket Flower    Mallow
Brown-Eyed Susan   Milkweed
Butterfly Bush  Obedient Plant
Butterfly Flower     Penstemon
Blazing Star    Phlox
Cardinal Flower     Purple Coneflower
Catmint  Rockcress
Chives  Salvia
Coral Bells     Scabiosa
Dames' Rocket  Sedum
False Indigo    Shasta Daisy
Flowering Onion    Statice
Forget-Me-Not   Tickseed
Globe Thistle        Turtlehead
Goldenrod    Violet
Hibiscus      Yarrow       

Annuals that attract Butterflies

Ageratum 

Nicotiana

Alyssum  

Passion Flower

Cosmos   

Pentas

Gazania    

Petunia

Heliotrope    

Salvia

Impatiens  

 Snapdragon

Lantana     

Verbena

 Marigolds 

Vinca

Nasturtium      

Zinnia

Trees, Shrubs and Vines for Butterflies

Some of the plants listed below are valuable food sources during the caterpillar stage as well as nectar sources for adult butterflies. Consider some of these plants for a windbreak to provide shelter for butterflies and hummingbirds as well.

Apple Spicebush
Black Locus Spirea
Bluebeard     Tulip Tree
Cherry     Viburnum
Clematis   Wax Leaf Privet
Lilac    Willow
Red Buckeye         Wisteria