Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 23 Dec 2023

Butterfly Bush: Fast, Pretty, Low Maintenance...

Cassia (Senna) bicapsularis - Butterfly Bush

Five unbeatable reasons to plant Butterfly Cassia

Q: I am trying to find some easy flowering shrub to screen the ugly corner of my neighbor's yard, can you suggest something fast growing and pretty?

A: One of our favorite flowering shrubs in Florida is the Cassia bicapsularis, commonly known as Scrambled Egg Bush or Butterfly Bush. It is one of the most desirable plants for the southern landscape. It has all the benefits any gardener may dream of, whether a beginner or an expert:

1. Very fast growing, can screen unwanted views and create a beautiful flowering hedge. Cassia bicapsularis is known for its rapid growth, making it an excellent choice for quickly transforming an unsightly corner into a vibrant and lush area. Its dense foliage and attractive yellow blooms add both beauty and privacy to your outdoor space.

2. Easy to grow, not fussy about soil or water, drought and flood tolerant, cold tolerant. Butterfly Bush is incredibly adaptable and resilient. It thrives in a variety of soil types, is not demanding when it comes to water, and can withstand both drought and occasional flooding. Additionally, it is cold tolerant and can withstand occasional frosts once established.

3. Blooms for many months, featuring especially in winter flowers from Fall to spring. Very pretty, large "sunny" flowers resembling bright yellow butterflies, hence the name. It is a generous bloomer, gracing your garden with vibrant yellow flowers for an extended period, particularly from fall to spring. The large, sunny blooms not only add visual appeal but also attract pollinators, enhancing the ecological balance of your garden.

4. Attracts lots of butterflies. As the common name suggests, the Butterfly Bush is a magnet for butterflies. If you enjoy the presence of these beautiful winged creatures in your garden, planting Cassia bicapsularis is an excellent way to encourage and support butterfly populations.

5. Low maintenance. Butterfly Bush can be trimmed and controlled at the desired shape if needed, but if you have room for a big bush in a full sun area - just let it go and it will form a nice dense bush without any pruning: this shrub is a low-maintenance delight. While it can be pruned and shaped according to your preferences, it also flourishes when left to grow naturally. Its ability to form a dense and attractive bush without constant pruning makes it an ideal choice for those seeking a fuss-free gardening experience.

If you're looking for a fast-growing, low-maintenance, and aesthetically pleasing solution to screen an unsightly corner, Cassia bicapsularis is an unbeatable choice. It ticks all the boxes for a beautiful and resilient flowering shrub in the southern landscape.

Order Butterfly Cassia

A lady standing next to Cassia (Senna) bicapsularis - Butterfly Bush

"...Without a doubt, Butterfly Cassia became one of my favorite plants during my visit to Florida for Christmas a few years ago. I only wish I could have taken it back home with me to Latvia. If only my windowsill hadn't already reached its greenhouse capacity!.." - Alex Butova.

To see more options for flowering shrubs, check out the reference chart Hedges with Benefits Chart.

See all Hedges with Benefits

Date: 8 Oct 2025

Blue butterfly pea lemonade: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Blue butterfly pea lemonade

Blue butterfly pea lemonade

🍴 Blue butterfly pea lemonade: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

  • 🔵Blue butterfly pea flowers (Clitoria ternatea) make an excellent lemonade!
  • 🔵Brew the flowers into a blue tea, add a bit of lemon juice.
  • 🔵Watch the color turn purple like magic!

Blue butterfly pea lemonade

Ingredients

  • 🔵 A handful of blue butterfly pea flowers (Clitoria ternatea)
  • 🔵 Hot water for brewing
  • 🔵 Fresh lemon juice
  • 🔵 Ice cubes and lemon slices for serving

Instructions

  • 🔵 Steep blue butterfly pea flowers in hot water to make deep blue tea.
  • 🔵 Cool and add a splash of lemon juice — watch the color turn purple like magic!
  • 🔵 Pour over ice and garnish with lemon slices.

🛒 Plant Clitoria vine for blue and purple exotic drinks

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Date: 16 Mar 2024

Monarch Butterflies Are In Trouble
You Can Help By Planting Milkweed

Monarch Butterfly

Do you want to save butterflies from extinction? This is all you need - embrace the allure of butterfly plants and become a hero for monarchs!

...Ecologists and other scientists have been warning about an 80 percent decline in monarch populations due to habitat loss, pesticides and climate change over the past two decades, but 2024 is a critical year. A recently released annual survey on monarch populations reported a 59.3 percent decrease in population from 2022.
Milkweed plants are one of the best butterfly attractors and they can grow pretty much anywhere. It is a favorite of monarchs, according to Monarch Watch.... (Source: blockclubchicago.org)

Join us in combating the decline of monarch populations by welcoming these graceful creatures into your garden! Discover the beauty of butterfly plants today and help preserve their habitat.

Shop Milkweed

Milkweed

In the photo: Asclepias - favorite plant of all butterflies.

More butterfly plants

Calotropis gigantea, Giant Milkweed

In the photo: a caterpillar of a future Monarch butterfly climbing up the Calotropis gigantea - Giant milkweed flower, one of the best host plants for Monarch butterfly.

Date: 12 Jul 2022

The Milkweed and the Monarch, how to raise your own

Monarch butterfly

by Ed Jones, the Booster Guy

...How to attract butterflies in your garden? What plants do butterflies love? How to grow those plants when butterfly larvae keep eating them?...
Many gardeners ask these questions and butterfly attracting plants always have been very popular. But did you know that you could actually turn your garden into a little butterfly farm?...
Find out from Ed and Juvonda's butterfly mini-farm experience!
CONTINUE READING >

LEARN MORE

Monarch butterfly on the hand

See full list of butterfly attractors

Date: 21 Apr 2026

13 tropical flowers to plant in spring to attract pollinators year around

13 tropical flowers to plant in spring to attract pollinators year around: Abutilon Fireball (Abutilon darwinii x striatum), Almond Bush (Aloysia virgata), Calico Flower (Aristolochia littoralis), Pride of De Kaap (Bauhinia galpinii), Mexican Bird of Par

13 tropical flowers to plant in spring to attract pollinators year around: Abutilon Fireball (Abutilon darwinii x striatum), Almond Bush (Aloysia virgata), Calico Flower (Aristolochia littoralis), Pride of De Kaap (Bauhinia galpinii), Mexican Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia mexicana), Red Tassel Flower (Calliandra tweedii With Love), Giant Milkweed (Calotropis gigantea), Blue Butterfly (Clerodendrum ugandense), Tropical Hydrangea (Dombeya wallichii), Fire Bush (Hamelia patens), Butterfly Orchid

13 tropical flowers to plant in spring to attract pollinators year around



Spring is when everything wakes up - and if you plant smart now, your garden can stay alive with butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds all year long. The key is mixing tropical bloomers that flower in waves, not all at once. These plants don’t just look good - they keep pollinators coming back season after season, turning your yard into a living, moving ecosystem.

    • 1. Abutilon Fireball (Abutilon darwinii x striatum)


    Bell-shaped flowers in warm red and orange tones hang like little lanterns. Very cold hardy, blooms on and off through the year, especially in mild climates. A steady nectar source for hummingbirds. More 👉

    • 2. Almond Bush (Aloysia virgata)


    Light, airy clusters of tiny white flowers with a strong almond scent. Bees absolutely cover this plant when it’s in bloom. Flowers repeatedly through warm months. More 👉

    • 3. Calico Flower (Aristolochia littoralis)


    One of the most unusual flowers you can grow - patterned like fabric. More importantly, it’s a host plant for butterflies, giving them a place to lay eggs. More 👉

    • 4. Pride of De Kaap (Bauhinia galpinii)


    Bright orange-red blooms cover this shrub for months. Tough, fast-growing, and constantly visited by butterflies and bees. More 👉

    • 5. Mexican Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia mexicana)


    Sunny yellow flowers with a light fragrance. Handles heat, freeze, and poor soil easily. A reliable nectar plant for bees and butterflies. More 👉

    • 6. Red Tassel Flower (Calliandra tweedii With Love)


    Very showy red-flowered powderpuff, fast-growing and spacey shrub. Cold tolerant to hard freeze, making it a strong choice for subtropical gardens. Forms a dense, many-stemmed plant with fine, feathery foliage that folds at night or by touch. Large scarlet tassel flowers bloom from spring to autumn and attract pollinators nonstop. More 👉

    • 7. Giant Milkweed (Calotropis gigantea)


    A bold plant with thick leaves and waxy flowers. Important host plant for butterflies, especially monarchs. Handles heat and drought well. More 👉

    • 8. Blue Butterfly (Clerodendrum ugandense)


    Flowers really do look like little blue butterflies. Blooms frequently and attracts actual butterflies along with bees. More 👉

    • 9. Tropical Hydrangea (Dombeya wallichii)


    Large clusters of soft pink flowers appear in cooler months when little else is blooming. A major nectar source in winter. More 👉

    • 10. Fire Bush (Hamelia patens)


    One of the best all-around pollinator plants and a tough bush - takes both cold and heat. Tubular orange-red flowers attract hummingbirds nonstop, plus butterflies and bees. More 👉

    • 11. Butterfly Orchid Vine (Mascagnia macroptera)


    A climbing, cold hardy vine covered in bright yellow flowers and butterfly-like seeds. Great for fences or trellises, adding vertical color and feeding pollinators. More 👉

    • 12. Mexican Flame Vine (Senecio confusus)


    Fast-growing, hardy vine with intense red blooms. Flowers heavily and brings in butterflies quickly. More 👉

    • 13. Yellow Elder (Tecoma stans)


    Bright yellow trumpet flowers that bloom over a long season. A dependable plant for both bees and hummingbirds. More 👉


✔️ Planting a mix of these gives you something in bloom almost every month.
That’s the real trick - not just planting for spring, but building a rotation of flowers that keeps pollinators fed all year long.

🛒 Transform your yard into a Butterfly Haven with exotic plants

📚 Learn more:


#Butterfly_Plants
Butterfly Haven or a Heaven on Earth?
Top 20 plants for a Butterfly Haven
Five best butterfly attractors for a Southern garden
Top Eight irresistible vines for a hummingbird haven: Part 1 - Part 2

#Hedges_with_benefits #Butterfly_Plants #How_to #Discover

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