Tag Archives: Attracts Butterflies

Horticulture Report: Phuopsis stylosa

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Botanical Name: Phuopsis stylosa

Common Name Creeping Crosswort; Caucasian Crosswort

Plant Type: Perennial

Height: 8-inches Spread: 1-2 feet

Flowers: Globular clusters of fragrant tiny pink flowers

Bloom time: June- August ( can re-bloom if flowers are trimmed after blooming)

Attributes: Bright green aromatic narrow-leaf foliage; Soft in appearance; Rapid but low spread, not aggressive; Forms a “loose” semi-evergreen mat; Low maintenance.  

Uses: Perennial gardens; Rock gardens; Borders; Containers; Provides birds with nesting material; Provides texture in a layered garden; Mass plantings; Ground-cover; Slopes; Attracts Bees, Butterflies & Birds

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Soil requirements: Rich/Average/Moist well-drained

Water requirements: Moderate, Semi-drought tolerant once established

Firewise: Yes- foliage has high moisture retention and no flammable oils

Native to: Caucasus, Asia Minor, and Iran

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5–9.

Article by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC President

Syringa Vulgaris ‘Charles Joly’

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Today in the garden:  Syringa vulgaris ‘Charles Joly Lilac’ – This french lilac hybrid was introduced in 1896 by Charles Joly.  The Charles Joly Lilac is a multi-stemmed reliable old classic lilac.  It’s double florets form tight clusters of dark magenta-purple flowers which are extremely fragrant.  It works well in the landscape as a specimen shrub,  an ascent shrub, and an informal hedge. It’s disease resistant and deer resistant and preforms well in cold landscapes. USDA Zone: 3-8

This deciduous shrub likes full sun and will grow to the height of 12 -15 feet. Blooms often start early to mid-April and continue into late May.

Article and Photo by: Carlotta Lucas , AGC President

Fire-wise & Native Plant: Western Clarkia

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Plant Name: Clarkia purpurea

Common name: Western Clarkia

Plant type: Annual Wildflower

Height: 3’

Spread: 1’

Bloom Time: April – July

Flower Color: Pink, Purple, Deep Wine Red

Exposure: Full Sun

Soil Requirements: Drainage can be Fast, Medium, or Slow

Water Needs: Low

 

Attributes: Supports Bats, Bees, Caterpillars, Butterflies; Conspicuous Flower; Slug Resistant

Uses: Containers; Bedding Plants

 

Firewise: YES

Native To: Western North America

Oregon Native: YES

USDA Hardiness Zone: 6b – 10b

 

 

Report by Viki Ashford & Carlotta Lucas, AGC Members

 

Photo by: John Doyen, Calscape.org

Attracting Pollinators

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Pollinator populations have declined significantly in recent years, mainly due to habitat loss. Homeowners can help by creating pollinator-friendly gardens. Knowing plant traits such as flower color, shape and scent will guide you to which plants to choose for pollinators.

Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers of vivid shades of red, yellow, and purple with a tubular shape that they can access with their long narrow beaks.

Bees prefer purple, blue, orange, or yellow flowers with short tubes or no tubes which they can easily access.

Butterflies are drawn to white, pink, red, yellow, or purple flowers with a place they can perch while sipping on nectar.

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ANISE HYSSOP (Agastache foeniculum)
Attributes: Hyssop supports a wide range of pollinators, including hummingbirds, honey bees, bumble

bees, carpenter bees, butterflies and night flying moths.
Bloom time: June until first frost
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright habit with flower spikes blooming throughout summer.
Height/Spread: 2 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide
Flower color: Varieties available are purple, lavender, red, pink, orange-yellow
USDA Zones: 5-9, for most varieties
Native: North America
Firewise: Yes
Important Note on fire resistant plants: It’s crucial to remember that fire resistance can vary within the same plant species depending on local conditions and specific varieties and some plants considered fire-resistant, may produce flammable dry material that can negate their fire resistance. 

Photo from University of Wisconsin Horticulture Extension: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/anise-hyssop-agastache-foeniculum/

Posted by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC Member

Fire-wise Native Plant: Green Rabbitbrush

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Plant Name: Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus

Common names: Green Rabbitbrush, Yellow Rabbitbush

Plant type: Evergreen to Deciduous Shrub

Height: 1’ – 4’

Spread: 3’

Bloom Time: August – October

Flower Color: Yellow

Exposure: Sun

Soil Requirements: Dry, Well-Drained, Medium to Coarse Textured Soil

Water Needs: Low

 

Attributes: Adapted to Drought; Larval Host and Nectar Source to Sagebrush Checkerspot; Attracts Native Bees & Butterflies; Provides Cover & Nesting Habitat for Birds & Rodents

 

Note: susceptible to infestations of the larvae of hairy yellow-marked buprestid (Acamaeodera pulchella) which bore tunnels through the stems resulting in plant death

 

Uses: Rapidly establishes in disturbed open sites, including burned sites, rockslides, flood washes.  A valuable shrub for re-vegetating damaged land, such as overgrazed rangeland and abandoned mining areas.

 

Firewise: YES

Native To: British Columbia to Southeastern CA East to North Dakota to Texas

Oregon Native: YES

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5b – 8b

 

 

Report by: Viki Ashford & Carlotta Lucas, AGC Members

Sagebrush Checkerspot  photo by: Scott Paige, Pacific Southwest Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Firewise & Native Plant: Fireweed

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Name: Chamaenerion angustifolium
Common name: Fireweed
Plant type: Hardy Perennial Wildflower
Height: 4’ – 6’
Spread: 1’ – 3’
Bloom Time: June – September
Flower Color: Pink to Rose Purple
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Organically Rich, Well-Drained; Moist
Water Needs: Medium; Needs Regular Moisture
Attributes: Pollinator Showy Flower; Tall, Showy Wildflower; Attracts Bees & Butterflies
Note: Can Quickly Take Over Garden from Rhizomes & Seeds; Remove Spent Flower Stems for Additional
Bloom; Some susceptibility to powdery mildew, downy mildew, rust and fungal leaf spots. 
Uses: Naturalize; Rock Gardens; Cottage Gardens; Borders
Firewise: YES
Native To: Temperate Northern Hemisphere
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 2 – 7

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Photo credit: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons