I have spent twenty years gardening with the intention of attracting hummingbirds, wild birds and butterflies. Hopefully, this plant list will help you attract wildlife into your gardens. This is an informal journal that is only meant as a reference tool.
Gardening for hummingbirds and butterflies is easy and rewarding. Wild birds, and particularly songbirds, will flock to the insect-rich blooms and the dying seed heads of spent flowers. You can create an abundant food supply and simultaneously build a habitat for your wildlife.
I would like to add a special thanks to people who have sent in information about which birds they see at which plants. It has helped me immensely!
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Plant Name
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Plant Description
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Abelia, Glossy
Abelia grandiflora
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Evergreen shrub to 10' with 6' spread.
Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Sun or shade. Most soils. Space 3-4' apart. Dark green. Fragrant. Long bloom season. Flowers on new growth. Can be pruned anytime. Attracts bees.
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Achillea species
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See Yarrow.
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 due to the nature of the ever-expanding list of suitable plants.
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Agarito
Berberis trifoliolate
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Evergreen perennial to 6'.

Birds love the red fruits.
Small, fragrant, yellow blooms in early spring. Fruit ripens in May. Leaves have
interesting and unusual shape. Full sun for dense growth. Drought resistant.
Does not transplant well so plant young plants.
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Ajuga
Ajuga reptans
Photo of
purple/green foliage
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Groundcover to 10".

Hummingbirds. Several hours of full sun and then shade. Mint family. Will tolerate moderate drought. Foliage is purple-green. Blue, white or rose flowers rising above plant in spikes 5 inches high. I planted 4-inch potted specimens about 1' apart. Not a fast grower but mine filled in the gaps in about 2 months. Watch for spider mites.
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Althea
Hibiscus syriacus
Hollyhock
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Deciduous shrub to 10'.
Evergreen shrub to 10' with 6' spread.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Plant in full sun. Flowers in single and double blooms. Apply root stimulator
and mulch after planting. Slow-release fertilizer such as for roses. Watch for
aphids and spider mites. Works in containers. Upright growth shape. I cut mine back after blooming and created a second blooming cycle. Hostplant for Checkered Skippers.
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Asclepias
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See Butterflyweed and Milkweed.
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Asters
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 Attracts birds to the
garden.
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Astilbe
Saxifragaceae |
 Hummingbirds.
Full sun in cooler temperatures. Moist, rich soil. Feed often. I've only tried these once and didn't pamper them enough. Might try again. |
Azaleas
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Shrub to 10'.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Poisonous to humans.
Be sure to check the sun requirements. Some grow in full sun and some in shady
spots. Grow in raised beds. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Apply generous
amounts of peat moss, mulch and other organic matter into the soil at planting
time. Azaleas like acid conditions. Apply root stimulator and keep mulched.
Fertilize after blooming.
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Bacopa
Photo
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Small white flowers cover this low growing plant. It works well in a hanging basket.
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Beautyberry, Am.
Callicarpa americana

Photo of tiny flowers
Young tree photo
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Deciduous shrub to 5'.

Attracts many species of birds
such as Painted Buntings, Mockingbirds, House Finches, Gray Catbirds,
Brown Thrashers, Northern Bobwhite, Northern Cardinals, American Robins.
Semi-sun. Morning sun. Well-drained soil. Afternoon shade. Understory plant for light shade. Small blue flowers. Beautiful purple
berries in summer. May be pruned severely to encourage thicker growth or left to
grow taller than 5 feet. Fertilize with long-lasting slow-release product in early
spring when you see new growth and again in the fall. The summer berries in my yard begin to turn purple in July.
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Beebalm
Monarda fistulosa
photo
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Perennial to 3'.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Plant in sun to dappled shade. Moist soil with afternoon shade. Watch for mildew. Space 3' apart. Divide in Fall. Mine are getting leggy because they are not getting enough sun.
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Begonia
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Hummingbirds. Sun or shade. Red, pink, white colors. The deer have left my begonias alone in the past. (Just jinxed myself!)
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Bignonia capreolata
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See Crossvine.
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Blackfoot Daisy
photo
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Native wildflower.

Butterflies.
Will bloom all summer with continued watering. Attracts for Skippers, Horace's Duskywing, and more.
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If you are like most people, you are about to ask me to name just two or three favorite plants for butterflies and hummingbirds. I would ask you back, "Don't you want to fill your yard with a multitude of colors and texture and smells?" but, I understand.
For butterflies, go for butterfly bush, lantana and verbena. For hummingbirds, pick from red tubular flowers - coral honeysuckle, hamelia patens, salvias, etc.
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Blue Queen Salvia
Salvia superba
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Perennial to 3'.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Blooms summer. Space to 2 feet apart. Drought tolerant. Heat tolerant.
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Bottlebrush
Callistemon
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Evergreen shrub to 4'.

Hummingbirds.
Sun. Space 2' but makes a good specimen. The blooms are beautiful red
"brushes". Showy. Blooms April - May.
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Bougainvillea
Photo of vibrant pink
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Vine.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Sun. Not too much water. Prune and pinch for continuous color. Very showy. Pink, purple, white, peach and more colors. I learned the hard way not to over fertilize. Lush foliage will result but no blooms. Nectar plant for Cloudless Sulfur butterflies.
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Butterfly Bush
Buddleia davidii
Photo of bloom
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Invasive in some areas. Always check before planting.
Deciduous perennial to 6' trimmed.

Butterflies.
Sun. Rich soil and good drainage. This perennial blooms on new growth from
summer through fall. It will die back in winter. Trim them back to only 10
inches before spring growth. I keep the spent blooms trimmed off to promote
larger blooms. It is November, as I write this, and there are four or more
butterflies (just like the Queen pictured on the left) on each bloom on my single
bush. It is incredible! Nectar plant for Anise Swallowtail, Cloudless Sulphur,
Queen, Giant Swallowtail, Monarch, Fiery Skipper, Painted Lady, Spicebush Swallowtail, Tiger
Swallowtail, Gulf Fritillary.
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How do you learn which plants are best for your yard?
One way is to talk to your regional nurseries. Locate and phone any and all nurseries in your area especially those selling native plants. Tell them you are interested in attracting birds or butterflies to your property and see which plants they recommend. Ask anyone with knowledge every single chance you get. Take notes. Keep a journal of successes and failures.
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Butterflyweed
Asclepias species
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Perennial to 36".

Butterflies.
This is a milkweed. Butterflies will lay their eggs on this plant and use as larval
food. Full sun. Dry, sandy soil. Drought resistant. Zones 3-9. Larval and nectar plant for
Monarch butterflies.
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Calendula
Calendula Officinalis
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Attracts birds to the
garden.
Sunny location. Space 12" apart. Cool temperatures. Grows in most types of soil.
Organic fertilizer. Suitable for containers. Self sows.
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Canna
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Rhizomes grow 18 inches - 8 feet tall.

Hummingbirds.
Plant in spring. Blooms available in multiple shades. Moist soil. Fertilize in
spring. Full sun. Well drained location. Prune bloom stalk when faded, Keep
soil mulched. May be grown in containers.
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Cape Honeysuckle
Tecomaria capensis
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Evergreen shrub to 8'.

Red to yellow blooms. Sun. This plant is sold as deer resistant but mine has been nibbled. Only the top is damaged so I guess that's fairly resistant. Drought tolerant. Mine isn't getting any supplemental water.
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Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
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Hummingbirds.
Information coming soon.
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Castor Bean
Ricinus communis
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*
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Hummingbirds do not depend on a sense of smell. You do not need to consider fragrance when choosing flowers for them.
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Century Plant
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Hummingbirds.
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Cherry Laurel
Laurocerasus caroliniana
Wild Peach
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Tree to 25'.

Butterflies. Birds will nest in these
trees.
Part shade. Rose family. Small white fragrant clusters of flowers. Don't plant in wet areas. Use fertilizer ratio of 3:1:2 once in spring,
summer and fall. We edge our property with these trees whenever possible. Our
yard is filled with butterflies when the flowers bloom. Rich soil. Doves and other birds have nested in ours. Watch for grasshoppers. Crush some leaves to sample the cherry smell.
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Columbine
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Hummingbirds.
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Coral Bells
Heuchera sanguinea |
 Hummingbirds. |
Coralberry
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
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Deciduous shrub to 5'.

Attracts birds to the
garden.
Winter coral berries. Full sun to part shade.
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Coreopsis
Coreopsis Lanceolate
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Perennial to 2'.

Butterflies. Seeds will attract birds.
Sun to partial shade. Space 12-18" apart. Prefers well-aerated sandy soil.
Deadhead (remove spent blooms) for continuous flowering. Regular but
restrained watering. Slow-release fertilizer with low nitrogen. Blooms May-July.
Nectar plant for Buckeye, Silver-Spotted Skipper, American Painted Lady butterflies. Supposed to be deer resistant.
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Cornflower
Centaurea Cyanus
Centaurea hirta
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Butterflies. Attracts birds to the
garden.
Sunny location. Plant 8-12" apart. Aerated, rich, moist soil. We used to casually throw these seeds into our spent garden plot in the fall to enjoy early spring blooms. A mix of cornflowers and poppies is beautiful.
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Cosmos
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Annual to 4'.

Butterflies. Attracts birds to the
garden and Dark-eyed Juncos.
Sunny spot. Easy to grow. Dry, poor soil. Taller varieties can be staked. Nectar plant for Buckeye and Cloudless Sulphur. Supposed to be deer resistant.
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All the photographs of flowers, birds, hummingbirds, butterflies and deer come from my own yard. The graphics are copyright 2002 birdsngarden.com.
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Cotoneaster
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Attracts birds such as
Cedar Waxwing, House Finch, Mockingbird, Purple Finch.
More information soon.
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Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
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Vine.

Hummingbirds.
Full sun. Profuse bloomer. Mine die back in the winter and sprout about April. Leaves turn purple in cold. Self-clinging.
Large flowers. Drought tolerant once established. Space 3-6' apart. Keep moist until established.
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Cuphea hyssopifolia
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See Mexican Heather.
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Cuphea ignea
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See Cigar Plant.
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Dahlia
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Hummingbirds.
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Daylily
Hemerocallis
Photo of red & yellow bicolor
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Butterflies.
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Delphinium
Delphineum spp.
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Hummingbirds.
Information soon.
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Dianthus
Garden Pinks
Photo of bicolor
pink and white
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Annual, biennial, perennial to 2'.

Butterflies.
Cooler temperatures in Texas. Full sun. Early color that attracts butterflies. Good for cutting. Divide in Fall. Early spring finds Giant Swallowtails, Tiger Swallowtails, Eastern Swallowtails, Pipevine Swallowtails and many skippers and hairstreaks pushing their head all the way into the center of these flowers trying to reach the nectar. Not too much else was blooming. August update: my dianthus is still blooming in 100 degree temperatures. They are planted under some trees.
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Dill |

Caterpillar food for Black Swallowtail.
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Don't use pesticides if you want butterflies and birds in your garden.
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Dogwood
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Attracts birds such as
Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Summer Tanager, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, Northern Flicker, Eastern
Bluebird, Hermit Thrush and Violet-Green Swallow.
More information soon.
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Dusty Miller
|
 Attracts birds to the
garden. Gray foliage is attractive in contrast to other garden colors. Supposed to be deer resistant.
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Elaeagnus
Elaeagnus pungens
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Shrub 8 - 12' tall and almost as wide.

Birds love the fruit and will use shrub to nest
in.
Sunny location. (Actually, mine only get afternoon light but have stayed dense during their four years in this location) Will get very large.
Tolerates poor conditions such as heat and
drought and partial shade. Use fertilizer
ratio of 3:1:2 in spring and fall. Prune often
to shape or let it go naturally. Will add a
silvery hue to the garden.
Hummingbirds. SPECIAL HUMMINGBIRD NOTE 2002: An adult male Rufous hummingbird has lived in my elaeagnus from November through New Year's Day and shows no sign of leaving. He is one of three rufous and one black-chinned wintering hummers this year. We have had several nights with temperatures into the high 20's and a very rainy fall/early winter.
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Elderberry
Sambucus Canadensis
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Perennial to 12 ft.

Attracts birds - more than 40 species are
attracted to the berries such as Bullock's Oriole, Pileated
Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Western
Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Red-headed Woodpecker, Rose-breasted
Grosbeak, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Robin,
Brown Thrasher, Northern Flicker, Northern Cardinal, Mockingbird and Tufted
Titmouse.
Poisonous to humans and animals.
Sunny location. Dark purple berries. White flowers in early to late summer.
Moist, rich soil. Space 4 - 5 ft. apart. Zones 4 - 9.
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Eucalyptus
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Hummingbirds.
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Fennel |

Caterpillar food for Black Swallowtail.
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Firebush
Hamelia patens
Photo
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Deciduous shrub to 10'.

Hummingbirds.
Red tubular blooms. This attractive plant, covered in vivid blooms, is very well suited to hot and dry conditions. It blooms all summer right up until the cold weather. Mine received shade for part of the day but still bloomed just fine. It was not as spectacular as the full sun plantings around town. Firebush can be trimmed back lightly to encourage a bushier growth shape. A mass planting of these, down a fence line or in a large bed, would look fantastic! They make nice container specimens too. There are no special soil requirements. As always, have good drainage. Supposed to be deer resistant. I've never tried in outside the fence.
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Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrificius
Texas Firecracker Plant
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Perennial to 6 ft. Works as deciduous shrub.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Texas native. Sunny location. Drought tolerant. Red-tubular flowers. Blooms summer to fall. Works in containers.
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Flowering Quince
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Deciduous shrub to 3 ft.

Hummingbirds.
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Four-o'-clocks
Mirabilis jalapa
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Perennial to 4 ft.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Multiple colors to choose from. The flowers open in
the afternoon. They enjoy sun but afternoon shade
is welcome. After planting, apply root stimulator and mulch.
These can become evasive.
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Foxglove
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Annual and biennial to 4'.

Hummingbirds.
Poisonous to humans and animals.
Part sun. Well-drained, fertile soil. May self-sow. Flower from spring through
summer. Water regularly.
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Fuchsias
Photo
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Annual.

Hummingbirds.
Light shade. Acid soil. Keep well watered. Light fertilizer use. Prune in winter.
Watch for aphids, fungal diseases and root rot.
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Fuchsia, Hardy
'Gartenmeister'
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Hummingbirds.
Information soon. |
Gaura lindheimeri
'Whirling Butterflies'
Photo of single pink flower
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Perennial to 5'.

Hummingbirds.
Full sun. Well-drained location. Native of SW US. Very drought tolerant once established. Remove dead flower spikes for continuous bloom through summer possibly until frost. Responds to pruning. No pest or disease problems. Pink variety 'Siskiyou Pink' too.
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Gaillardia
Blanket Flower
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Perennial to 15"
Colorful native flower or cultivated garden variety. Easy to grow. No special needs. Nectar plant for Clouded Sulphur and Red Admiral. See Indian Blanket below. |
Geranium
Pelargonium
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Perennial to 2'.

Hummingbirds.
Sun to partial shade.
Space 12 inches. Don't overwater.
May be brought indoors for winter. The heat really gets to my geraniums. If your plants get unattractive in the heat, don't throw them out. They will come back in the fall and be glorious once again.
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If you enjoy hummingbirds visiting your yard, I highly recommend cultivating plants to attract butterflies too. These flying rainbows are slower and much easier to approach for a close-up view.
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Gladiolus
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Hummingbirds.
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Globe Amaranth
Gomphrena globosa
Photo
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Annual to 2'.

Butterflies.
Sun.
Space 12 inches.
Pinch early for fuller growth. Purple 'Buddy' stays compact and dense. Supposed to be deer resistant.
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Hackberry
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Tree common to 50'
Sugar to 100'

Butterflies. Attracts birds - more than 20 species are
attracted such as Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Cardinal, Mountain Bluebird, Northern
Flicker, Tufted Titmouse, Swainson's Thrush and Mockingbird.
More information coming.
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Hamelia patens
Firebush
Photo
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See Firebush. |
Haw (Viburnum), Rusty Black
Viburnum rufidulum
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Deciduous tree to 15'.

Attracts birds.
Glossy.
Autumn color.
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Heliotrope
Heliogropium hybrids
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Butterflies.
Sun or very light shade.
Fragrant, good container plant.
Rich soil. Not too much water.
Divide clumps periodically.
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When sneaking up on butterflies and other insects for a photograph, try not to cast your shadow over them. It might spook them away.
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Hibiscus
Hibiscus rosa-sinunsis
Hibiscus grandiflorus
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Hummingbirds.
Sun with afternoon
shade. Regular watering. Feed during
summer 8-8-8. Tender.
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Hollyhock
Alcea Rosea |
Grown as annual or perennial or biennial. Height to8 ft.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds. Sunny location. You might want to pinch these early in the season. They can get rather tall and thin otherwise. Many colors. Single and double blooms. I have grown purple and white striped ones but I can't remember the name. They have performed well. Painted Lady buttefly. Watch for aphids. |
Honeysuckle, Coral
Lonicera sempervirens
Photo
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Semi-evergreen vine.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Sun or partial shade. Long, tubular red or yellow flowers that are not fragrant. This flowering vine is cold hardy. Blooms on new growth. Any soil. It will look good on a trellis, post, fence, etc. where there is plenty of room for vertical growth.**
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Hyacinth bean
Dolichos Lablab
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Annual vine. Twining.
This vine is not only fragrant, it produces pink flower spikes and large beautiful purple bean pods that are edible. I'm afraid I only grew this vine once from a nursery started plant and I can't remember doing anything special to care for it. It must have thrived on its own. I'll look into it again though due to its attractive qualities.
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Impatiens
Photo
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Annual to 18 inches.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Shady locations. Moist soil.
May be brought indoors for the winter.
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Indian Blanket
Gaillardia pulchella
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Wildflower to 2 ft.

Hummingbirds.
Dark centers, red petals with yellow tips. Hardy and heavy blooming.
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I highly recommend the use of native plants whenever possible. Native plants use less water, less pesticide (which I don't use anyway) and less fertilizer.
Be warned: Many of the plants on these two pages have come under criticism. They are considered a threat to our native plants. It is feared that (certain) honeysuckle is(are) becoming invasive in the wild. Birds drop the seeds....invasive foreign plants take over.
Stay in touch with your county extension office.
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Indian Hawthorne
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Shrub 3 - 8'.
Sun to partial shade. Good for
mass plantings. Fertile, moist, well-drained
soil. Allow room for growth. Prune soon after
blooms. Maintain mulch.
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Indian Paintbrush
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Native annual to 18 in.

Hummingbirds.
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Ipomopsis rubra
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See Standing Cypress.
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Lantana
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Perennial to 3 ft.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Sun. Any soil. Easy to grow. Deadhead if you have the time. Shearing them brings forth new color. Before the new spring growth appears, trim down the dead sticks to within 4-5 inches from the ground. Otherwise they will show through and spoil the fresh spring appearance. Nectar plant for Julia, Giant Swallowtail, Tiger Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, Spicebush
Swallowtail, Buckeye, Cloudless Sulphur, Monarch, Gulf Fritillary. Supposed to be deer resistant.
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Laurel, Texas Mountain -
Sophora secundiflora |
Evergreen shrub or tree to 8'.
Fragrant, blue, ornamental clusters of flowers.
Sun. Good drainage. Fuzzy seed pods with red seeds.
Blooms March.
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Mealy Blue Sage
Salvia farinacea |
Short-lived perennial to 2'.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds. Deer resistant.
Sun to part shade. Blue flower spikes.
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Mexican Bush Sage
Salvia leucantha
Photo |
Perennial to 36"
Hummingbirds.
Blue/purple spikes and gray/green foliage. Mint Family. Full sun. Moist soil conditions. In the fall, hummingbirds are all over this salvia.
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Mexican Heather
Cuphea hyssopifola
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Evergreen perennial to 18".

Blue-violet blooms. Full sun to part sun. Dependable. Drought tolerant. No special treatment. Attracts bees. Deer resistant.
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Mexican Petunia
Ruellia
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Butterflies. More information soon.
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| Mexican Sunflower |
See Tithonia. |
Milkweed
Asclepias species
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Perennial to 36".

Butterflies.
This is a milkweed. Butterflies will lay their eggs on this plant and use as larval
food. Full sun. Dry, sandy soil. Drought resistant. Zones 3-9. Larval and nectar plant for
Monarch butterflies.
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Monkeyflower
Mimulus cardinalis
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Hummingbirds.
Information coming soon.
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** Do not hesitate to grow vines even if you don't have tall vertical structures for the vine. You could always let it travel along horizontal structures too such as deck railings and fence tops.
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Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus |
Annual. 12" plant or 8' climber. Spread 12" or more.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Full sun. Summer bloomer. Old-fashioned look. Soak seeds overnight and sow directly in the soil. I enjoy planting these in the fall. The high temperatures here can be too much for nasturtiums. Any soil. Edible.
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Nicotiana - Flowering Tobacco |

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Sun or part sun.
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Pansy -
Viola x Wittrockiana
Photo |
Full sun to partial shade.
Space 6" apart.
Put some bloodmeal in each hole.
Regular watering.
Can tolerate light frost. May start seeds indoors.
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Parsley |

Caterpillar food for Black Swallowtail.
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Passion Vine -
Passiflora spp. |
Vine good for climbing or container.

Butterflies (larval host).
The Gulf Fritillary chooses only species of passion vines for host plants. Sun to part sun. Blooms summer to fall.
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Penstemon, Scarlet
Penstemon murrayanus
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Wildflower to 3'.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Tubular, scarlet-red flowers.
Sun or partial shade.
Light, sandy soil.
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Penstemon, Southwest
Penstemon barbarus
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Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Wildflower. Tubular, scarlet-red flowers.
Similar to Scarlet Penstemon.
Light, sandy soil.
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Persimmon -
Diospyrus Kaki |
Deciduous tree to 30'.

Fruit for birds.
Attracts birds. Sun. Blooms June.
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Petunia
Petunia hybrida
|
Annual 6 to 18 inches.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Sunny spot. Well-drained soil, moist not soggy, and well fertilized. Most effective in single-color plantings. Add peat moss and compost when planting. Apply root stimulator and mulch. May start seeds indoors.
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Portulaca
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Attracts birds to summer garden.
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Purple Coneflower -
E. purpurea
Rudbeckia purpurea
photo of white |
Perennial to 3'.

Butterflies. . Attracts birds to fall garden.
Sun. Six or more hours of sun.
Space 18 inches. Fertilize
with new spring growth. Remove
dead flowers to encourage blooms. Blooms all summer. Good for cuttings. Tolerates heat and drought. Divide every four years.
At the end of the growing season, leave the flowers and stems alone to die back if you want to attract birds. Goldfinches, in particular, will climb all over the seed heads. They can be found in the coneflowers all day. Great viewing opportunity.
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Pyracantha -
Firethorn
Pyracantha coccinea |
Evergreen shrub to 20'.

Berries for birds including Cedar Waxwings.
Birds. Sun.
Space 4' - 6'.
Don't forget the thorns!
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Queen Anne's lace |

Caterpillar food for Black Swallowtail.
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Redbud -
Cercis canadensis
Cercis canadensis alba (white) |
Deciduous tree to 40'.
Understory height for birds.
Sun or part shade. Sandy soil.
Blooms March.
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Rudbeckia
(Black-eyed Susan) -
Rudbeckia hirta
photo
another photo |
Annual or native perennial to 3'.

Butterflies.
Sunny location. Deadhead spent blooms. Blooms summer to fall. Keep in a sunny location to avoid mildew. Plenty of water. Here is a bicolor beauty. |
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Ruellia
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See Mexican Petunia.
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Salvia coccinea
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See Scarlet Sage.
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Salvia farinacea |
See Mealy Blue Sage.
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Salvia splendens |
See Scarlet Sage.
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Salvia Greggi
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Native shrub to 3'.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds. Deer resistant.
Mint Family. Minimum of 6 hours of sun. Well-drained location.
May be pruned for perennial look or left
unpruned for shrub look. Becomes covered
with tiny colorful blooms in many shades such
as white, pink, red, orange and purple.
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Salvia leucantha
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See Mexican Bush Sage.
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Scabiosa
Pincushion Flower |
Annual to 3'.

Butterflies.
Full sun. Average soil. Tall, fine stems hold flowers of red, white, pink, and purple aloft. Will attract bees. Between the 'Butterfly Blue' and 'Butterfly Pink', choose the pink.
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Scarlet Sage (see below)
Salvia coccinea |
Perennial to 2 ft.
Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Sun to part sun. Blooms spring to fall. Drought tolerant. Heat tolerant. Space 24-30 inches.
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Scarlet Sage
Salvia splendens |
Annual to 18".
Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
Beautiful brilliant red tubular flowers. Eye-catching for hummingbirds. Sun or part sun.
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Sedum |
Perennial to 2 ft.
Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
'Autumn Joy'. Full sun. Blooms summer to fall. Space 12-18 inches. Drought tolerant. Heat tolerant.
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Serviceberry
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Attracts birds such as Eastern Phoebe, Northern Flicker, Black-capped Chickadee, Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal, Rufous-sided Towhee, Wood Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Red-eyed Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Tufted Titmouse, Brown Thrasher, Sage Thrasher and Hermit Thrush.
More information soon.
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Shasta Daisy -
photo |
Information soon.
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Shrimp Plant -
Beloperone guttata |
Perennial to 3'.
Hummingbirds.
Part shade.
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Snapdragons -
Antirrhinum Majus |
Annual- varieties from 6 inches to 4 feet tall.
Plant in sun or semishade.
Add root stimulator and mulch.
Regular watering for even moisture.
Fertilize during growing season.
Pinch for fullness.
Remove faded blooms. May be grown in containers.

Buckeye caterpillar and adult nectar food.
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Standing Cypress -
Ipomopsis rubra |
Perennial to 5'.
Hummingbirds.
Full sun to partial shade. Drought tolerant once established. Well-drained soil.
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Sunflower -
Helianthus |
Annual to 10 ft.

Attracts birds.
Full sun.
Taller varieties can
be leashed to fences.
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Sweet Alyssum
Lobularia maritimum
photo |
Annual.

Butterflies.
Tiny, fragrant flowers in white, purple and rose. Well drained soil. Full sun or partial shade.
May be brought indoors for the winter. |
Tithonia
Tithonia rotundifolia
Mexican Sunflower |
Annual 4 - 6 ft.

Butterflies.
Vivid orange flowers bloom during summer in part sun. Does not like dry conditions. |
Trumpetcreeper -
Campsis radicans |
Vine.
Hummingbirds.
Full sun.
Excellent bloomer. Mine covers dead
branches on the ground and creates
a secret hiding place for migrating
birds and locals.
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Turk's Cap -
Malvaviscus grandiflorus |
Native shrub to 6'.
Hummingbirds.
Morning sun and
afternoon shade best but can tolerate
more sun if it receives enough moisture.
Fertilize several times during the growing
season. Maintain mulch.
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Verbena
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Annual, perennial.

Butterflies.
Blooms of white, purple, red, pink, yellow and blue. Plant in full sun. Add root stimulator and mulch. Well drained soil, moist not soggy. Usually, deer leave verbena alone. No guarantees but a promising plant for deer country. May start seeds indoors. Buckeye butterflies.
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Viburnum -
Viburnum |

Butterflies. Attracts birds.
Sun or part shade.
Fragrant flowers. Good soil.
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Yarrow
Achillea Millefolium
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Perennial to 3'.

Butterflies.
Plant in full sun. Apply root stimulator and mulch after planting. Prune to hold
shape. Interesting airy, fern-like foliage. Tolerates poor soil and heat. Drought
resistant when established. May be container grown. Zones 3-10.
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Yaupon -
Ilex vomitoria |

Attracts birds with winter berries.
Sun. Space 4' - 6' apart.
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Yucca, Red Flowered
Hesperaloe parviflora |
Evergreen perennial to 3 ft. Bloom height 6 ft.
Hummingbirds. Sun.
Hot, dry location. Space 2' apart.
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Zinnia
photo |
Annual to 3-4 ft.

Butterflies. Hummingbirds. Attracts birds Attracts birds such as Chipping Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Fox Sparrow, House Finch, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and White-throated Sparrow.
Colorful flowers in
sun or partial shade.
Good, rich soil and regular watering.
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Zinnia angustifolia
Photo |
Annual to 18".
Mint Family. Full sun. Moist soil.
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