Hummingbird and Butterfly information

Pineapple Sage

Fragrant and lovely to look at

Hummingbird Corner:

The most common hummingbird to be found in southeast Texas is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

During the winter months, we have several species of hummingbirds wintering in Texas: Rufous and Black-chinned are the most common, but the rarer Allen's, Anna's, Calliope, Costa's, Broad-tailed and Buff-bellied are occasionally found, too.

Feeders are an important part of attracting Hummingbirds. Important things to look for are perches. Hummingbirds like to perch while feeding and prefer several options for seating. From our own experience, I would tell you to look for an easy to clean feeder. Nectar can attract mold and heavy rain can create a watered down sour nectar that will need to be cleaned. Color is important. Hummingbirds are attracted to red, while bees and wasps are attracted to yellow and blue.

While feeders are an important factor, you must know that they are a supplement for the sparce pollen times. Good Hummingbird plants are a necessity for your feathered friends.

Some of the better plants are listed below with pictures following.

Pineapple Sage, a beautiful plant, that the leaves can be used in your own cooking.

Salvia greggii, in reds and pinks, hardy and drought resistant and blooms from spring to fall. Native, and the hummingbirds love it.

Black and Blue Salvia, while this is not red the flower is funnel form and the Hummers go wild over it. The Hummingbirds became so competitive for the nectar that we had to put up a sign "Hummingbird Crossing". The green foliage in contrast with the black stems and dark blue petals makes a beautiful plant.

Heuchera sanguinea 'Cora Bells'

This is a delightful plant for a shady area where you would put your bird bath and have shrubs near by for the Hummingbird to dry his feathers.

Bee Balm is another plant that the foliage is colorful as well. We have Rasberry Bee Balm that has a wonderful scent.

Cross Vine or 'Tangerine Beauty'is a delight, especially if you have an unsightly pole around to hide. It's blooms can provide an abundance of nectar for your hummer. This is a native.

Lantana, especially the 'Dallas Red' cultivar, is a all summer color provider and nectar provider.

Hamelia is great. The foliage has a touch of orange in it and the flowers are bright.

The Hummingbirds love it.

Mandevilla is enjoyed by our Hummingbirds. The new cultivar we have is a beautiful dark red.

This is a useful site to hummingbird watchers:

http://www.hummingbirds.net

This site is helpful about feeders:

http://birdfeedersinfo4u.com/

Black and Blue Salvia with Lemon Grass background

A hummingbird magnet and very hardy.

Tangerine Beauty Crossvine

Non-damaging tendriles. Native

Hamelia patens

Called Hummingbird Bush

Bee Balm

Foliage is excellent when not blooming.

Lantana

The butterflies cover bring even more color.

Abelia grandiflora makes a great hedge. Thus it can provide the refuge near a birdbath that the hummingbird would need for protection while drying and the flowers are perfect form and bloom most of the summer.

Chrysanthemum

This is a good example of a composite flower

Buddleia

This has a fragrant and appealing appearance

This is a great site to learn the names of the Texas butterflies

This site gives you the images.

If you want to build a butterfly garden, you will want more than one plant each. Mass plantings are usually the best way to entice them to feed in your garden. You will also need to decide which butterfly you are trying to attract, because butterflies are very plant host specfic. We suggest planting the host plants as well as the nectar plants to insure that butterflies will feed and continue to visit your garden.

The following aspects are important in including to insure a attractive and inviting environment for your butterflies.

Shelter from the wind ie, shrubs near water

Shallow bowl of water

Maintain reliable sources of nectar

Maintain host plants (food for caterpillars and egg laying, etc)

Protection for danger/predators...

When choosing your butterfly plant, look for color. They prefer strong colors as orange, yellow, and purple, but you are not limited to those colors.

Also consider shape, the butterfly needs a place to land. They prefer umbels such as Lantana, Celosius, Alyssum, and Zinnia, and daisy-like composites such as Asters, Mums, Purple coneflower.

Fragrance is a factor too. Flowers with the heaviest perfume are most appealing to the butterflies sensitive sense of smell. Alyssum, old fashion petunias, marigolds, and zinnias are good examples.

Silver Mound Lantana

Lantana in all colors are a butterfly choice

Penta

This is a favorite of butterflies