I'm looking for a plant I saw that I want to add to my garden. It has light-med blue flowers, is attractive to b'flies (natch!), grows in shade, and starts with A. It is not Aconitum but darned if I can recall the name. The flowers were sort of star shaped in a ball format- like a loosely organized penta if that makes any sense.
Thanks in advance,
Maggie
help me remember....
plumbago???
That's what I was going to say. But actually Plumbago needs full sun to bloom. It is a host plant for the cassius blue butterflies. I don't know, margaran. Sorry. Maybe someone else here can help.
Ageratum? Not star shaped tho...
No, I have plumbago, it's not ageratum. I think it grows in Texas, might be a native. Looks like a one stalked, light blue penta.
Thanks for all your help,
Maggie
Found it -Amsonia tabernaemontana, Willowleaf Amsonia
That's very pretty. I don't think I've seen it before. It says it's Dogbane, and the sap is poisonous. (just fyi) Have you seen it in person or just in pics?
Only in pics. I seem to recall that HB moths like them. There are many similarities between the HBM attractants and bat attractants so i hope to attract 2 with one.
Maggie
That's a really neat plant, Maggie! Thanks for starting a thread about it!
If you find one you'll need to give us a "review" on it. We all love something new! :)
Cool beans! Now it's my "responsibility" to get one (or two) ;-) But honey, I have to review this for the butterfly forum, that's why I'm getting another plant ;-)))))
Maggie
LOL! I wonder if my dh would believe that excuse! Nah .... he knows better! LOL
Oh! That is a pretty good one! My dh doesn't care so I'd be trying to fool myself. It usually works tho! ...but if I don't get it now it will be gone...
Info in my native plant book says soil tolerated is sand or loam, acid; well-watered, poor drainage okay; from dappled shade to full sun (only if kept moist enough). It would never survive in my area! Guess that's why I hadn't heard of it.
Oh, that's a good one margaran, 'review for the bf forum', I'm going to try that one. I'll tell him how we are trying to improve the forum by divvying up certain plants and we each took some....it's a responsibility not to be taken lightly haha.
He's catching on to......'but it was on sale', I need some new material.
No sacrifice is too great for research;-)
Maggie
I have been experimenting with aquilegias in my shade garden...(actually it gets about two to three hours sunlight a day). Does this only attract hummingbirds or do butterflies also like it? We bought a collection of aquilegias from High Country Gardens last spring. The ones that are left are tough plants.
Hope this helped.
Chuck