Tag Archives: Attracts Butterflies

Hairy Manzanita

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Plant Name:  Arctostaphylos columbiana 
Common name:  Hairy Manzanita
Plant type: Shrub
Height: 3’ – 10’
Spread:  10’
Bloom Time:  March – May
Flower Color:  Pale Pink to White; Fruit is Tawny Orange to Bright Red
Exposure: Sun to Light Shade
Soil Requirements: Fast Draining; Rocky, Sandy Soil
Water Needs: Very Low
Attributes:   Evergreen; Supports Butterflies & Moths & Hummingbirds & Beneficial Insects; Distinctive Bark; Early Season Flowering for Pollinators
Firewise:  NO
Note:   Subject to Leaf Spot; Don’t Fertilize
Uses:  Pollinator Gardens, Native Gardens, Wildlife Habitat Gardens, Natural areas, Perennial gardens
Native to: Northwest California to Southwestern British Columbia
Oregon Native:   YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  8b -10a

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener
Photo from Oregon State University: https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/arctostaphylos-columbiana

Firewise Plant: Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

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Plant Name:  Gaillardia varieties
Common name:  Blanket Flower
Plant Type:  Perennial
Plant Height:  8” – 36”
Plant Width:  12” – 24”
Bloom Time:  June – September
Flower Color:  Red, Gold, Burgundy
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained
Water Needs: Low
Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 1-8, Plant 30’+ from House.
Attributes: Drought Tolerant; Deer Resistant; Attracts Birds & Butterflies; Other Pollinators.
Uses:  Good Cut Flower; Container Plant; Borders; Butterfly Gardens;
Note: Deadhead for Continuous Bloom; Keep Some Seed Heads for Birds; Cutting Back Clumps in Late Summer Increases Chance of Winter Survival; Divide Clumps Every 2 – 3 Years in Spring or Early Fall for Plant Vigor; Susceptible to Powdery Mildew, Leafspot, & Leafhoppers.
Native to: Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/Master Gardener

Photo credit: Lazaregagnidze, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Firewise Plant: Aurinia saxatilis (Basket-of-Gold)

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Plant Name:  Aurinia saxatilis
0Common name:  Basket-of-Gold
Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  8” – 18”
Plant Width:  1’ – 2’
Bloom Time: April – May
Flower Color:  Gold to Light Yellow
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Average to Sandy, Well-Drained Soil; Intolerant of Clay Soil.
Water Needs: Low
Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 8 = 30’+ from house.
Attributes: Attracts Butterflies; Deer Resistant; Showy Flower; Drought Tolerant; Nectar Source for Beneficial Insects.
Uses:  Rock Gardens; Ground Cover; Border Fronts.
Note:  Prune After Flowering to Maintain Shape; Possible Aphid Problem.
Native to: Central & Southeastern Europe
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 7

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/ Master Gardener

Photo credit: Meneerke bloem, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Firewise Plant: Lambs’ Ear

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Plant Name:  Stachys byzantina
Common name:  Lambs’ Ear
Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 12” – 15”
Plant Width:  15” – 18”
Bloom Time: July – Frost
Flower Color:  Purplish-pink spikes
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Dry, Well-Drained; Loam/Sand
Water Needs: Dry – Medium
Fire Resistant:  YES: Zone 2 – Plant 50’+ from Home.
Attributes: Attractive, Velvety, White-Silver Leaves; Tolerates Deer, Drought, Dry Soil; Foliage Provides Interesting Texture & Color; Attracts Butterflies
Uses: Ground Cover; Rock Garden; Accent in the border under shrubs.
Note: Spreads by creeping stems that root as they grow; Can be aggressive in rich soils; Damp leaves promote onset of disease; DON’T water overhead; Remove damaged leaves for neat appearance.
Native to: Turkey, Armenia, Iran
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo credit :Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Firewise Plant: Geranium cinereum

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Ballerina Cranesbill

Plant Name:  Geranium cinereum
Common name:  Cranesbill
Plant Type:  Semi-Evergreen Perennial
Plant Height:  4” – 6”
Plant Width:  10” – 12”
Bloom Time:  May – September
Flower Color:  Pink, White, Magenta
Exposure: Full to Part Sun
Soil Requirements: Chalk, Loam, Sand; Good Drainage.
Water Needs: Low to Average
Fire Resistant:  YES – Zone 1-8, Plant 30’+ from House.
Attributes: Deer Resistant; Attracts Butterflies.
Uses:  Ground Cover; Rock Gardens; Border Edging; Containers.
Note: Shear Plants by One-Half in Mid Summer to Encourage Bushy Growth & Repeat Blooming.
Native to: Pyrenees Mountains
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 9

Firewise Plant: Hosta Lily

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Plant Name: Hosta species
Common name:  Hosta Lily
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 6” – 36”
Plant Width:  20” – 24”
Bloom Time: July – August
Flower Color:  Purple, Lavender, White, Blue, Pink
Exposure: Shade
Soil Requirements: Rich, Slightly Acidic, Moist Soil.
Water Needs: Moist When Newly Planted; then Somewhat Drought Tolerant.
Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 1:  Plant 30+ feet from Structure.
Attributes: Attractive Foliage in Shades of Green/Bluish-Green/Greenish-White; Fragrant Flowers; Attracts Birds/Butterflies
Uses: Border; Container; Rock Garden; Shade Garden
Note:  Cut Back After Frost
Native to: Asia
Oregon Native:  NO
 USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 8

 

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/Master Gardener

Photo by: Qwertzy2~commonswiki, Wiki Commons