Tag Archives: Flowers for Pollinators

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: Heuchera sanguinea 

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Plant Name: Heuchera sanguinea  

Common name:  Coralbells

Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial

Plant Height: 12” – 20”

Plant Width:  12” – 15”

Bloom Time: June – September

Flower Color:  Red, White, Pink; Foliage Dark Green, Maroon, Reddish, or Gold.

Exposure: Light Shade

Soil Requirements: Humusy, Rich, Organic, Well-Drained Soil.

Water Needs: Moist

Fire Resistant:  YES

Attributes: Attractive Foliage in Dark Green, Maroon, Reddish, or Gold; Attracts Hummingbirds; Nectar Source for Bees; Deer Resistant.

Uses: Rock Gardens; Borders; Containers; Edger along Walkways.

Note:  Divide Clumps every 3 – 4 years in spring; Remove Faded Flowers to Encourage More Blooms.

Native to: New Mexico/Arizona to Mexico

Oregon Native:  NO

 USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8

Photo from:

Annie’s Annuals & Perennials https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=5153

Today in the Garden

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Today in the garden flowers are in AGC member Lynn McDonald’s October garden.

Nasturtiums, Hydrangeas, Salvia and chrysanthemums, Petunias blooming since March, Geraniums, Origanum, Asters, Tithonia, Sweet peas in October (planted in spring), Gaura, Poppies and Bachelor Buttons, Verbena and Autumn Leadwort, Orange Cosmos, Dahlias

Oregon Native: Antennaria rosea (Pink Pussy Toes)

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Plant Name:  Antennaria rosea
Common name:  Pink Pussy Toes
Plant Type:  Evergreen Groundcover
Plant Height:  .33’ – 1.3’
Plant Width: 8’ – 12’
Bloom Time:  June – August
Flower Color:  Cream to Pink to Red
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Dry, Good Draining Soil.
Water Need:  Low
Firewise: Yes, 30’ from house
Attributes: Host Plant for Caterpillars & Moths; Attracts Bees & Butterflies.
Uses:  Native Wildflower Groundcover; Butterfly & Pollinator Gardens; Rock Garden.
Native to:  Western US, Great Plains, Alaska
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 7

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member, Master Gardener

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

Post by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC Board Member

Oregon Native: Thimbleberry

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Plant Name:  Rubus parviflorus

Common name:  Thimbleberry
Plant Type:  Perennial Shrub
Plant Height: 4’ – 8.2’
Spread: 4’ – 8’
Bloom Time: Spring; Fruit Mid to Late Summer.
Flower Color: White
Exposure: Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Moist, Fertile, Fast Drainage; Slightly Acidic.
Water Needs: Moderate to High
Firewise:  Yes    *Please Note: Firewise does not mean Fire Proof!
Attributes:  Hosts several Butterflies & Moths; Attracts Birds
Note: Thornless. If Fruit is priority:  Remove fruited canes immediately after harvest; leave non-fruiting canes to overwinter.  Possible Problems:  Leaf spot, anthracnose, botrytis, powdery mildew, root rots, verticillium wilt, raspberry mosaic, cane borers & crown borers, aphids.
Uses:  Bird Garden, Native Garden, Hedge.
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member and Master Gardener

Photos from Lady Bird Johnson Wildflowers website taken by Terry Glase

For more information on Thimbleberries: https://calscape.org/Rubus-parviflorus-(Western-Thimbleberry)