My butterflies spend most of their time at one of my Cup Plants. Their favorite is over 10 feet tall, and has about a dozen stalks. I have several others ranging from 2 feet up. Notice the cup at the leaf joint, This section holds water and I have seen Gold finches drinking at the cup. The birds usually harvest the seeds before I can.
I've only seen cup plants once,growing along a trail in a state park in Ohio.I love the square stems as much as the "cups," and would like to try growing this species in my yard.
This is a new plant for me. Is it an annual? I would love to try a few seeds, if you can manage to get them first. I am an avid birdwatcher and I can just imagine the gold finch drinking from them. Are they the ones that also eat the seeds?
Teresa
Buckeyeguy... the stems are great, they are usually almost square with hard edges.
Teresa... When it is in bloom the butterflies are as thick as the flowers. As soon as the flowers are gone the Goldfinches move in.
It is a perennial I should have some small plants if you want them. I can tye up some seeds and try to save them.
Usually in the Spring there are a lot of small plants if you want to wait.
Hit the send button twice. Silly Grin on my face...
This message was edited Aug 6, 2005 8:26 AM
This message was edited Aug 6, 2005 8:27 AM
That would be great, I can wait till Spring.
So this is that Cup plant....very interesting. Be sure and take pics of the butterflies and the Goldfinches on it!
I have a a cup plant I grew from seed. The birds and butterflies love it. They are absolutely huge and have a very architectual quality. I bet mine is over 8 feet tall. It is very impressive. More people should try these giants. I have never had mine reseed though. I wonder if the birds are eating them before they have the chance.
The birds love the seeds. I try the old panty hose trick if I really want the seeds. The birds really get mad.
I love this plant but it seeds all over and once it is established it is hard to remove. They also get very large. 8' to 10'.
Very beautiful!!! I have divided mine and never let it get this thick. Yours is so pretty. I think I will let my mother plant grow thicker
Your picture shows how large the plant really gets. Where mine grow in my garden I can never get far enough away to get the entire plant in a photo.
As you say, it does spread, there are about a dozen other spots around the garden where it has spread.
Trades any one???
Mgarr- have you thought of posting your photo in plantfiles? It really is very descriptive.
Maggie
