Plant attracts butterflies, hummingbirds - Plant Encyclopedia Results

Very unusual strophanthus with orange-brown flowers that look like carved out of wood with petals curled like a wooden shavings. This flower is very unique, looking almost artificial. Bright orange twisted petals with yellow margins indeed look like fancy wood shavings. Very rare plant in cultivation, and hard to propagate. Spectacular eye stopper, it is in bloom 2-3 times a year! Drought tolerant, takes both full sun or shade. Compact shrub in container, can be trained into a small tree. Leaves are leathery and dark green with white veins, and light green when young.

Learn more: How to get Strophanthus tree to bloom?

The fruit looks somewhat like a straight, small banana with rounded ends. It was given this name in New Zealand, where passionfruit are also prevalent. In Hawaii, it is called banana poka. In its Latin American homeland, it is known as curuba, curuba de Castilla, or curuba sabanera blanca Vines with cylindrical stems densely coated with yellow hairs, and are vigorous climbers, growing up to seven metres. The leaves are a shiny green with clearly defined veins, the flower is large, pink and green petalled with a yellow and white centre. The fruit is yellow-orange when ripe and contains a sweet edible orange-colored pulp with black seeds.

In some sources Memecylon umbellatum is indicated as synonim of Memecylon ovatum.

Most Verticordias (Featherflowers) grow to a height of 5-10 ft tall. Verticordias varieties can feature a range of colors, from white and off-white, to pink, red, crimson, and a vinous color, as well as yellow and orange. This is why planting Verticordias in your garden is like going on a treasure hunt, searching for the various colors of flowers. The flowers tend to bloom more profusely in full sun and regular watering. However, the plants can survive on moderate water and soil which is less than ideal. So if you live in a drier area, you can still enjoy the beauty of Verticordias.

Not only are Verticordias a beautiful addition to the garden, they also serve some practical purposes. They attract lots of butterflies, bees and sometimes even hummingbirds, so you can enjoy the biodiversity in your own backyard.

Verticordias can be grown in USDA Zone: 9-11. In colder regions, they can be grown in a pot and protected through the winter. For planting in a pot, choose a container with good drainage. Be sure that the container receives adequate sunlight and water regularly. In the winter, cover the pot with a plastic wrap to keep the soil temperature warm.

Overall, Verticordia sp. is a large and diverse genus, native to Australia, that features many colors and sizes of beautiful fringed flowers. Its easy maintenance and hardy traits make it great for different gardens and climates.

One of the most impressive tropical vines that is very popular in Thailand and other South-East Asia countries. Moderate growth woody climber with clusters of fragrant white flowers, it is easy to care and tolerates wide range of conditions. It can be trained as a compact bush and is good for container culture. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Thryptomene calycina is a beautiful shrub found growing wild in south-west Victoria, where it is common on rocky mountain sides. The foliage is small, neat and smooth and aromatic when the shrub is brushed in passing. Flowers of exceptional quality are the main attraction of this species, which flowers from autumn to spring. During spring the first pinkish buds appear low on the branches and open to tiny flat flowers facing all one way in straight tapering sprays. They are pure white with a dark eye. Flowering gradually spreads over the shrub until in midwinter the plant appears covered with snowy spires. These are checked only by the severest spells of cold. On fading, the flowers become suffused with pink tints which are held until mid-October and merge into the brighter spring show of other plants. This is a perfect cut flower lasting many weeks in water even as long sprays.

Thryptomene is a Greek word meaning 'made small', alluding to the small size of most Thryptomenes Clycina signifies the prominent calyx of the flower.

Phaleria clerodendron (Scented Daphne) is a beautiful plant that is best suited for areas that receive full sun to semi-shade and require regular watering. It can grow up to 5-10ft tall as a shrub or up to 20ft when grown as a small tree. The fragrant white flowers of the plant are an attractive addition to any garden and are known to attract a variety of butterflies and hummingbirds. However, its sap can be very irritating to the skin and should be handled with care.

This small tree or large shrub is a rare gem in home cultivation. It is a bushy rainforest plant with dark glossy green leaves that can grow up to 18 inches long. The plant produces spectacular white, strongly pineapple scented, tubular flowers on the trunk and larger branches with the onset of rain. The scent of masses of flowers permeates through the garden, making it a great addition to any outdoor space. The plant is fast-growing in a moist site with bright or filtered light and can tolerate moist soils. Fruit-eating birds also relish the glossy fruit of the plant, although the flesh of the fruit is stringy and is reputed to be poisonous to humans.

This plant can be grown in USDA Zones 9-11. In cold weather, the plant generally loses its leaves and can look unattractive.

Overall, Phaleria clerodendron is a stunning and easy-to-care-for plant that can add a touch of beauty and fragrance to any garden.

Vachellia cornigera, commonly known as Bullhorn Acacia, is an evergreen small tree that typically grows up to 10-20 feet tall. Native to Central America, Mexico, it is drought-tolerant and can thrive in full sun and dry conditions. Its foliage is typical of Acacias, with bright, tiny leaves and prominently spaced, prominent thorns. The thorns also serve to protect the tree from herbivores.

Its bright yellow, orange flowers, produced in spring and summer, attract nectar-seeking butterflies and hummingbirds. The plant is also highly decorative and can be used in gardens for topiary or hedges. As it produces fragrant flowers and can attract wildlife, it is a popular choice in the ornamental gardening trade.

Bullhorn Acacia is moderately adaptable to various soil types, but it prefers well-drained soil and is intolerant of moisture-retaining soil. It should be fertilized with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer twice a year, in spring and summer. It prefers a sunny site and protection from cold winds. In cold regions, it can be grown in large pots, which can be shifted indoors during cold periods.

In USDA Zone 8 through 11, Bullhorn Acacia is low-maintenance and makes an excellent addition to any landscape with its fragrant flowers, lush foliage, and attractive thorns. It is easy to grow and can be propagated from seed or cuttings. With minimal care, Bullhorn Acacia is a natural way to add a dose of greenery and bring a bit of nature to your garden.

The name is a botanical convenience, applied to a group of presumed hybrids.

Mussaenda philippica is a tropical shrub or sub-shrub that will grow to 10ft tall in tropical areas, but more likely will reach 1-3ft tall in containers. Clusters (corymbs) of small, tubular flowers with five spreading lobes bloom in summer, however it is the large and colorful, ovate, leaf-like sepals (to 3" long) that provide the real ornamental display. Some individual flowers in each cluster will develop a single enlarged sepal. Elliptic to ovate, bright green leaves (to 6" long). Hybrids typically feature flowers in red and/or yellow with showy sepals of white, bright red or pink. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-11. Use a well-draining potting mix and keep soils consistently moist. Grow in full sun to part shade. Best bract/sepal color in full sun, but plants also appreciate some mid-day filtered sun in hot climates. Bring containers indoors in fall when night temperatures start dropping into the 50s. Overwinter in a greenhouse or a warm sun room. Cuttings may be taken in late summer for overwintering. No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for spider mites and whiteflies on indoor plants.

They may be derived from Mussaenda erythrophilla

and M. frondosa. Zones 11 - 11.

Barleria obtusa, the bush violet, occurs naturally along forest margins in the summer rainfall region of South Africa where it is widely cultivated as a decorative garden shrub and used medicinally. It is an evergreen multi-stemmed shrublet with a sprawling habit. The branches have an erect or decumbent habit. The size of the plant varies when planted in different growing environments.

The soft, sage green leaves are oppositely placed and have entire margins with fine translucent hairs. A characteristic feature is that the leaves are reflexed (the margins are upturned).

Clusters of 1 inch wide blue flowers appear at the branch tips in the fall and winter. The flower petals are borne on the top part of the branch. A closer look at the individual flower will reveal the style and only two stamens with violet colored pollen.

Plant in full sun or partial shade, water infrequently - once established is quite a drought tolerant in coastal gardens. Hardy to 20-25° F. In deep shade plants often grow taller and clamber up if supported by other plants or structures. Can reseed a bit in the garden but not to the extent of being pesky.

This great soft rounded low shrub for the garden that is attractive to bees, butterflies, and nectar feeding birds.