Sorry about that folks. For some reason, I could not post the photo. Don't know if problem was caused by cyber-gremlins or something stupid that I did. Hope photo comes through this time.
OPPS! super plant #4 Photo
OK, my friends. There were 30 + responses to Hummingbird SUPER PLANT #4 and apparently no one could identify this hummingbird magnet.
All right. The plant that produces an explosion of tubular, orange to reddish-orange blooms, drives hummingbirds mad from Virginia to Mexico and is native to the great state of Texas is appropriately named: The Hummingbird Plant or TEXAS FIRECRACKER (Anisacanthus wrightii).
What a magnificant plant! These can be started from seeds or cuttings .Among the many sources are Plant Delights Nursery (NC), Logees, possibly Diane's Seeds. Just take a stroll through some of the canyons of Southern and western Texas and grab yourself some seeds.
Next hummingbird SUPER PLANT #5 will be introduced onSunday evening.
Oh, I call it Flame Acanthus myself. They come up easily from seed...I have quite a few. There's even a few blooms on mine. Although most have seeded early in this heat. Both hummers and butterflies like it.
I love this plant. What fascinates me is seeing so many hummers on them at the same time. I don't believe that I have ever seen butterflies on them. But, spiders flock to them. Hummers snap up the small spiders. Large spiders spin their webs between the branches from early spring until just before frost, in late October or Nov. When the first females arrive in the spring, I have frequently observed female hummingbirds plucking spider web from the branches for their nests.
HBJoe,
Love your 'super plant' series! I'm making my shopping list for next year!