How do I make a garden especially for butterflies and hummingbirds? ?

Question

I am pretty much home-bound now due to an unfortunate back issue, and most of my day is spent looking outdoors at the wooded area around our house. I would love to have a flower garden where butterflies and hummingbirds gather nectar. How wonderful to watch them each day! I live in southeast Texas, and I have an area that is well-drained with good soil. What flowers should I plant that will do well here, and how will I manage to water them on very hot days without having to stand with the garden hose for a long time? We have tried soaker hoses, but they just don't seem to do a good job. I will have to hire someone to plant the flowers, but I want perennials that are long blooming, and maybe some annuals that will be prolific bloomers. How can I accomplish this on a retirement-pension budget?

Franklinrawley · Answer

they LOVE to be around RED and PURPLE flowers. also we have the feeders and they will be back EVERY year if you feed them. Petunias, 'hummingbird' vines - they have a trumpet like flower, and you can find all these at Lowes or a gardening store. have fun!

Deb · Answer

Butterflies love my liatris. Don’t know if it will grow in your climate. I am in Michigan

Susan Houke · Answer

A friend of mine has put in several humming bird feeders, blue bird houses and an owl house.... her yard is like a bird aviary. She's had 3 sets of babies this year...she feeds them mealy worms and it is an amazing sanctuary!

Deb · Answer

What a good idea! I have one small hummingbird feeder, but we will certainly add more. Blue bird houses would be a nice addition, too. I have never heard of an owl house, but I am intrigued. What kind of owls live in it, do you know? I have seen the mealy worms online. An 'amazing sanctuary' is the perfect phrase for what I want! Thank you!!!

Franklinrawley · Answer

your rose feather vine is what the wife calls her hummingbird vine. I can tell you, once yours bloom save teh brown teardrop shaped point left over from the flower. these are your next years bloomers! if you dont pick them they will throw the seeds every where, so if you want to grow these in certain places, then pick them early. thanks for the response.

Deb · Answer

Great tip about the Rose Feather Vine. I noticed the seeds and will save them. I did not realize they would come up again next year from the areas they drop their seeds! We may have them coming up everywhere! I guess that's an easy way to attract a lot of hummingbirds and butterflies! Thanks again.

Leta Smith Sathoff · Answer

Butterfly bushes, trumpet vine, Rose of Sharon.

Phyllis Kolpak · Answer

Somebody just told me milkweed attracts butterflies by the droves....in fact, I have heard they have asked farmers to plant it so that we can bring back Monarch butterflies again.

The Great Dane Gardener · Answer

Where are you located? Which zone? State? Send me a pic of the area and I will do a virtual concept sketch of the site for you to have someone install for you.

Plants to consider:

Butterfly Bush

Rudbeckia

Asclepias or Butterfly weed

Milkweed

Lantana

Zinnia

Gazania

Sage - pineapple, raspberry, Russian, Mexican bush, black and blue

Roses - Drift and Knockout

Canna Llies

Asiatic Lilies

Day Lilies

Dwarf Crape Myrtle

Abelia

Ajuga

Guara

There’s more... tons actually!! Send me a pic!

Krafty Mrs.K · Answer

The Great Dane Gardener has a great list.

Those Asclepias or Butterfly weed can be tricky with germinating seeds and which species for your climate. I had the best luck with the plants I bought at a Texas Native Plants Society sale. The Texas Master Gardeners or Naturalists offer advice on Butterfly gardens. The Blue Mist flowers they suggested for our school garden was covered in butterflies and thrive without watering through the summer. Fennel, parsley and dill feeds the caterpillars of swallowtail butterflies. Monarch need Milkweed. Honeysuckle and trumpeter vines grow wild and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. They love butterfly bushes which grow into small trees in our climate. Lantana will make small bushes.

Firewheel or Indian blanket is another wildflower that is easy care and attracts butterflies. And don't forget Bluebonnets.

Susan · Answer

Check with your county extension office. They are a great resource for gardening questions.

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