Where is a good place to get mail order host plants?

OK, I guess I get it now, from my other post. Anything except except completely organic gardening and questions about pesticides not welcome here.

Can anyone give me good mail order sources of perrennials for a butterfly and/or hummingbird garden? A few annuals would be welcome, also. I am looking for quality plants rather thans seeds due to time contraints and the shorter growing season around here. Dill and Milkweed seeds I have. Butterflies I already had around last year were swallowtails, Painted Ladies and Monarchs. I would like to provide a protected area of garden just for them and add host plants to attract even more varieties, as well as plants to attract and provide nectar for the butterflies.

Do you try to avoid planting anything that attracts birds, like plants with berries, in a butterfly garden? Do birds feed on the catarpillars, or do they coexist peacefully?

Sue

Sue-
Birds have been known to carry off my "babies" but then so have lizards and toads and snakes!
I only know about native host plants for Florida ....not sure if they work elsewhere. One of the top companies listed on this site is Forest Farm. They have alot of plants that are classified as Butterfly plants. Check them out.
~Adrienne

Thank you very much for the reply! I will check them out. I can do my own research on host plants, but places that carry them are few and far bewtween because many are considered weeds or are just not attractive enough to be offered for other types of gardens. I appreciate any information on good sources.

Sue

Hi, Sue, White Flower Farms' catalog offers some suggestions for Butterflies and they are right there in Connecticut.

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/82460-product.html

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/83124-product.html

You might find the Monarch Watch butterfly garden page useful, too, if you wish to plan your own garden.

http://www.monarchwatch.org/garden/creating.htm

I think you will find asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed) generally available at garden centers and a perennial in most northern gardens. Also, verbena bonarienses and coneflowers are great butterfly attractants and available in most garden centers. Tropical milkweed (an annual in the north) is very pretty and most 'with it' garden centers offer it here and is a favorite of the monarchs.

You may be surprised, butterfly gardening is becoming quite popular---I would suggest before you mail order for the basic butterfly garden plants check your local garden centers (you may very well get bigger plants and won't have to pay shipping).

I don't know about your 'completely organic' mention. I try not to use insecticides because they are harmful to the cats and BFs and I find it interesting to try to help 'balance' the habitat. I can't always get that to work, though, and need to help things along with a little bit of chemistry. And I do use some chemical fertilizers although I try to start with well balanced and naturally amended soil. I am much more selective in my chemicals than I was 5 years ago.

And I do plant for both the BFs and the birds too. We have one acre (which sweeps into our neighbors' yardens, too) and the Birds and BFs all seem to get along together quite well. Our yard is loaded with natural activity and it is a lot of fun. I wish you luck with your garden!

Monarch cat on the tropical milkweed:

I like ordering from Shady Oak Farms. They have nectar plants and larval hosts and have very reasonable prices and shipping.

Another idea is to check with your local NABA or butterfly parks. Many out here sell plants too.

~ Cat

www.butterfliesetc.com

This message was edited Apr 15, 2007 8:21 PM