Tag Archives: Attracts Butterflies

Globe Amaranth

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In Hawaii, Gomphrena globosa is commonly used in long-lasting leis since it retains its shape and color after drying. In Nepal, these flowers are in  garlands used for the last day of Tihar, a five-day-long Hindu festival when sisters adorn brothers with a garland. This day is called Bhai Tika – Worship of Brother.

Plant Name:  Gomphrena globosa
Common name: Globe Amaranth
Plant Type:  Annual
Plant Height:  1’ – 2’
Spread:  .5’ – 1’
Bloom Time: June to Frost
Flower Color:  Pink, Purple, White, Yellow, Magenta.
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Tolerates most soils.
Water Needs:  Medium
Attributes: Showy Flower; Good Dried or Long-Lasting Cut Flower; Attracts Butterflies; Drought Tolerant; Tolerates Clay Soil.
Note:  If sowing seeds, germination rate is low; pinch plants to promote bushiness.
Uses: Borders, Rock Gardens, Cutting Gardens, Containers.
Native to:  Central America & northern South America
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  2 – 11

Horticulture Report: Agastache hyssop

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Plant Name:  Agastache hyssop ‘Black Adder’
(A cross between A. foeniculum & A. rugosum
Common name: Black Adder Giant Anise Hyssop
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  2’ – 3’
Spread:  1.5’ – 2’
Bloom Time: June – Frost
Flower Color:  Smokey Red Violet Flowers Emerge from Nearly Black Buds.
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes: Tolerates Deer; Fragrant; Attracts Bees, Hummingbirds, & Butterflies.
Note:  Deadhead Spent Flowers to Promote Additional Bloom.  Leave Leaf & Flower Stems for Protection Over Winter.  Crown/Root Rot may occur in poor draining soils. 
Uses: Long-Blooming for Summer Border; Butterfly or Cottage Gardens; Good Cut Flower.
Native to:  North America
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  6 – 9

Submitted by: Viki Ashford

Douglas Asters

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Botanical Name: Aster Symphyotrichum subspicatum
Common Name: Douglas Aster
Plant Type:Perennial
Height: Up to 4 ft
Spread: 3-4 ft
Flower Color: Yellow, Violet
Blooms: Summer into late Fall
Exposure: Full Sun – Part Shade
Soil: Moist &Rich, but will tolerate a variety of soils.
Water Needs: Medium
Wildlife: Host for 7 Butterfly & Moths species!
Habitat: Moist lowlands
Uses:Attracts Butterflies, Pollinator Gardens, Perennial Gardens, Native Gardens, and along Stream banks.
Native: Northwest USA
USDA Zones: 6a-9b

Photo from: https://klamathsiskiyouseeds.com/product/symphyotrichum-subspicatum-douglas-aster/

Horticulture Report: Smilacina racemosa

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Plant Name: Smilacina racemosa
Common name: False Solomon’s Seal
Plant type: Perennial, Wildflower
Height: 3’
Spread: 2’
Bloom Time:Mid Spring
Flower: Color White
Exposure: Light to Deep Shade
Soil Requirements: Deep, humus-rich, acid soils
Water Needs: Average to Moist
Attributes: Attracts Bee/Butterfly; Fragrant Flowers followed by Red Berries, Birds and small mammals eat these berries, Easy care, Drought Tolerant, Graceful arching stems
Uses: Woodland Gardens; Native Gardens
Native to: Pacific Northwest
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9

born1945_Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0

Report Submitted by: Viki Ashford

Horticulture Report: Coffeeberry

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Plant Name: Rhamnus californica ‘Eve Case’
Common name: Coffeeberry
Plant type: Evergreen Shrub
Height: 6’ – 8’
Spread: 6’ – 8’
Bloom Time: Spring
Flower Color: Greenish White
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Soil Requirements: Will grow in most soils
Water Needs: Low Water Needs; Drought Tolerant
Attributes: It has dark green leaves on reddish stems. After flowering, berries follow that are first green then red and finally black when ripe. Fast growing shrub. Fairly deer resistant.
Note: High summer heat may cause fronds to brown by mid to late summer, particularly if good soil moisture is not maintained and/or plants are grown in too much sun.
Uses: Attracts Pollinators; Larval food source for Swallowtail Butterfly
Native to: North America
Oregon Native: NO- Native to California
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-10

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo /upload.wikimedia.org: Taken by Brofri [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Fall Color: Pineapple Sage!

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Common Name: Pineapple Sage
Botanical Name: Salvia Elegans
Plant Type: Perennial (An annual in colder zones)
Height: 3- 4 ft
Width: 3-4 ft
Exposure: Full sun
Blooms: Scarlet-red exotic-looking tubular flowers
Bloom time: September to frost
Water Needs: Once establish needs only occasional watering
Attributes: Showy flowers, attracts hummingbirds. Culinary herb has a slight pineapple or citrus taste. Deer resistant! Easy Care, Waterwise plant
Uses: Culinary herb garden, Border gardens, Perennial gardens, Containers, Mass plantings, Poolside, Rock Gardens, Showy flowers.
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10