Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’
Common Name: montbretia
Type: Perennial Bulb
Height: 2-4 feet
Spread: 1-2 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Scarlet red
Sun: Full sun -Part shade
Water: Medium amount, but regular watering
Maintenance: Medium
Attributes: Showy Flowers, Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds, Deer Resistant,
Use: Cut Garden, Mass plantings, Pool-side planting, Borders, Containers, Contemporary Garden, Cottage Garden, Hummingbird Gardens.
USDA Zone: 5-9
Tag Archives: Flowers for Butterflies
Drumstick Allium
Plant Name: Allium sphaerocephalon
Common name: Persian Onion or Drumstick Allium
Plant type: Bulb
Height: 20-24 inches
Bloom Time: May-June
Flower Color: Reddish-Purple
Exposure: Full Sun- Part Sun
Soil Requirements: Well-drained fertile sandy soil
Water Needs: Average
Attributes: Colorful Fragrant Flowers, Interesting egg-shaped flower, Attracts Pollinators, Easy to grow, Deer resistant , Squirrel & Rabbit resistant.
Uses: Cut flower, Dried Flower, Perennial Garden, Mass plantings, Garden Interest
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-8
Growing Milkweed
I found a foolproof way to grow milkweed starts from seed. Last year I had a 100% yield
Oregon Native Milkweed – John Day, Oregon
on 3 different kinds of milkweed. (Seedlings are pictured on the second page of newsletter)
Click to download newsletter with instructions: Starting_Milkweed_RockbirdGardens
For anyone interested, I’ll be giving a presentation at the offices of the Pollinator Project in Phoenix, Oregon, on March 10th. “Planning and Growing a Butterfly Garden”
Best regards,
Robin McKenzie
Rockbird Gardens
Today in the Garden
Cosmos (annual cut flower) , Japanese Anemone and Hydrangea paniculata (good for drying)
Today in the Garden!
Ashland Oregon August Bloomers: Gladiolus, Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata), Malva sylvestris, Asiatic lilies, Snapdragons, Sweet Williams! 
Horticulture Report: Centranthus ruber
Plant Name: Centranthus ruber
Common Name: Jupiter’s Beard ( aka: Red Valerian)
Plant type: Perennial
Height: 1 ft – 3 ft
Spread: 1 ft – 2 ft
Bloom Time: May
Flower Color: ‘Ruber’ – Pale to Deep Rosy Red, ‘Albus’- White
Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well Drained Soil- Prefers Alkaline Soil
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes: Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Attracts Butterflies & other insects,
Showy Flowers, Good Cut Flower, Fragrant leaves.
Note: Easy to grow, Self-seeds freely, Reported as “suspected” on the Oregon invasive plant list!
Uses: Containers, Rock Garden, Mixed Flower Bed
Native to: Europe, Northern Africa, Asia Minor
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-8