Butterfly attractors

Firecracker fern. This is a low-growing shrub, distinctive for its long, drooping, usually leafless stems and the almost continuous clusters of small, lemon-yellow tubular flowers. Each plant produces many branches and is particularly effective when grown in a raised bed or rock garden so that the flower-laden stems hang down. Attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Russelia will grow under both moist and dry conditions, but requires full sunlight and occasional pruning to flower well.

Rabbit ears, Hummingbird bush. Very rare! Beautiful unusual flowers. Blooms in winter through spring and summer. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Sambucus canadensis (nigra) - Elderberry, American Elder (Kir Royale). Elderberry is covered with large umbels of clustered white flowers from June to July, followed by a profusion of dark purple berry clusters in late summer. The fruit is prized by birds and makers of wine and jellies, alike.
Feather-like compound leaves grace this shrub, and provide outstanding cover and nesting sites for songbirds. It is also a host plant for numerous species of small moths, another reason nesting birds love this shrub.
Native to eastern North America, Elderberry is at home on streambanks or ponds, and is often seen along rural roadsides. While it prefers moist areas, it is quite tolerant of a wide range of soils in full to partial sun.
Typically growing up to 10 feet tall, it can be pruned to control spreading.
Elderberry flowers are self-fertile and only one plant is needed for bountiful fruiting.
One of the best ways to use elderberries is to make them into a syrup or cordial, to make delicious fruity drinks and cocktails (such as this Elderberry Kir Royale). You can also leave the berries to infuse their flavor into spirits. Elderberry gin is particularly tasty.

An evergreen succulent shrub of the family Asteraceae, native to Southern Africa, named after one of its native localities Barberton and is now also being cultivated for its drought resistance, clusters of sweetly scented, golden-yellow, tufted flower heads in winter and attractiveness to butterflies, the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) in particular.

Mexican flame vine. Fast-growing vine with beautiful bright orange flowers year round. Great for covering fences, etc. Good for beginners, doesn't require much care, drought tolerant once established.

Empress candle plant. Lush exotic foliage, large leaves. Impressive blooms. Fast growing. Great butterfly attractor!

Porterweed, Brazilian Tea. It bears deep blue flowers that grow along tall bracts that are favored by butterflies. Low growing shrub.

Yellow Elder. Beautiful small tree or shrub with yellow trumpet flowers, everblooming. Looks great as a standard.

Yellow Black-eyed Susan - a fine fast growing sprawling vine with attractive yellow flowers. Fast growing, easy to grow, not invasive, realtively cold hardy. Spectacular blooms from spring to fall.

Sunflower tree, tree marigold - very fast growing shrub or small tree with marigold-like flowers 2-3" size.

Yellow Buttercup, Sundrops. Low growing everblooming shrub, great butterfly attractor. Blossoms open at sunrise and close at sunset. Highly valued medicinal plant.
See article about this plant: Turnera - Aphrodisiac Superherb

Purple Arabian Lilac from East Africa. A medium size, fast growing bush with woody stems and dense soft foliage, purple in full sun and with silver underneath. Pretty purple flowers from spring to fall. Can be used as a hedge or a specimen plant. Attracts lots of butterflies and bees.

Mexican Coral Vine, Coral Creeper - fast-growing delicate vine with bright pink flowers. Cold hardy! Very fast growing, will cover a fece in one season. Blooms most of the year.

Panama Queen - a very rare plant with extremely tropical look, fragrant flowers of unusual color combination: orange and pink.

This is a rare hybrid possibly with A. scabra (panamensis) that has bright red flowers, quite unique flowering plant from S America. Like all aphelandras, it has showy flowers that are loved by hummingbirds. The flower up to 2 inch long, tubular. They are 2-lipped, fuzzy and they bloom for one day before wilting. Inflorescence is candle-like and the prepubescent flower spikes can grow up to 6 inch in height. The inflorescence has overlapping green bracts that are tinged with yellow and orange and they have extrafloral nectaries. Each day only one or two flowers open along the inflorescence to prevent self-pollination.
It is a great addition to a collectible tropical butterfly garden. Can grow into 4-5" tall bushy specimen. Blooms sporadically during warm season. Tolerates both full sun or filtered light.

Pelican flower - large flower variety. One of the most popular ornamental vines. Brown flower is very unusual-looking. Very fast-growing and vigorous, can cover a fence just in one season.
The Aristolochia gigantea will inspire a sense of marvel to anyone who gazes upon it. This truly spectacular blossom produces a pouch that in some cultivars is almost 2 feet long and more than a foot across. Ivory veins network across a burgundy velvet background as the flower unfurls. Heart-shaped, light green leaves, about 6 inches in length, adorn this easy-to-grow vine. The plant blooms at a young age and grows in full sun or partial shade.
In some sources, Aristolochia gigantea is considered as Aristolochia grandiflora var. Hookeri. The cultivation of Aristolochias is undemanding. Sun lovers that appreciate some shade in hotter inland areas, they adapt to any soil that drains well. Any pruning necessary to contain or shape the plants should be done in late winter or early spring. Cultivation is easy, and growth can be tamed.

Aristolochia gigantea var. Brasiliensis is one of the most outrageous flowers in the world. This species from Brazil has huge, over ten inches in length lemon-scented flowers and exhibits an elaborate pattern of white and mottled reddish brown. Since it is not a vigorous vine, it can easily be trained on a stake, trellis or even a hanging basket. A most interesting fly catching, carnivorous plant, this variety is a rare collectible.

Dwarf Pelican flower, Calico flower. Easy to grow, fast growing vine with curious flowers, relatively cold hardy (to some frost). Flowers are similar to A. gigantea, but smaller size (4-5").

This rare plant is one of the most spectacular Orchid trees in cultivation. Flowers and extremely showy, look like scarlet butterflies with bright yellow stripes at the base of each petal. It grows into a small tree or bush. Plant in in full sun to get the most of its flowering season. Rare collectible species. Fast growing.

Fast-growing cross-vine with deep red buds in spring, which open to reveal a cheery yellow inside. Tubular flowers appear in late spring. Very cold hardy, easy to grow.
See picture of the plants.

Jamaican Rain Tree. Rare slow growing plant, can be grown as bonsai or small specimen tree. Very showy flowers.

Pride of Barbados, Dwarf Poinciana, Flower Fence - bright pink/red flowers, national flower of Barbados. Showy flowers almost year round. Dormant in winter.

Rose cascade, Blood Red Tassel Flower. Bushy small tree or large round shrub with 2-3 inches flowers, big red puffs, in winter and spring. Nice landscape plant, very fast growing.

Very rare white powder-puff. Large bushy shrub with spectacular white flowers during spring-summer. Thge plant is relatively cold hardy. Fast growing.

Dwarf calliandra - great for bonsai. See picture of the 3 y.o. bonsai. If grown without training, the plant will make a nice bushy little tree.