Last year was the first time I had ever seen one of these critters with my own eyes and it was just one. Now tonight, I was walking past my Mex. Hydrangias)(sp) and the movement caught my eye. Ran in and grabbed the camera. There were 4 to five of the little suckers flying around.
I'll just post the other images. Forgive the out of focus on but the little guy moved at the last second. You can still see the proboscus.
SIT STILL !!!
Last one
I love those little moths! They are quick!
What plant is that?
fly_girl, I can't accurately say what the plant is but it is very invasive. 2 years ago I planted one 10 inch plant and now it's filled up a 15 by 8 foot area and is 5 feet tall.
You have some nice photos in there. Mine was out during the day. I always have to wonder about those creatures and how much energy they expend for what they get - must work out well enough.
Oh, that IS invasive, but it's so pretty!
I have a 'Starburst' Clerodendrum and am afraid to put it in the ground, it's in a pot and hasn't bloomed.
Fly-girl, thank you for kicking me in the "you-know-where" to finally look the plant up. I love growing them but when it comes to all the names and info except how and where to plant, I just tend to furget.
Here is/are the plant/s.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1253/
The plant, Mexican Hydrangea, is a clerodendrum bungei.
Extremely invasive. Will take over your yard and all of your adjoining neighbors' yards. But, the butterflies, especially swallowtails of all kinds, love it. I visit ours each morning and afternoon, to see who might be "visiting".
Saw one of the hummingbird moths, photo by kipper2 above, this afternoon buzzing our phlox and pentas. It never slowed down long enough for a shot.
Missed a once in a lifetime shot this morning - beautiful male TST and male BST 6 inches apart, nectaring on the same clump of phlox blossoms. They didn't stay together long enough for me to get them in focus. Maybe next time.
Rod
Extremely invasive,...how far out from the plant, would you say? I have the bungei, and a Starburst. I mow all around the bungei, and pop off anything that grows under it.
The Starburst hasn't put out any babies yet.
I would sure hate for the bungei to get in my neighbors yard which is about 25 ft away. What do you think?
~Lucy
LOL, no problem kip, I've never heard it called the Mex Hydrangea....thanks for the link!
It's tempting to plant it just to get those moths!
Wow great pictures! I have only seen them a couple of times in my life, once recently when we were at the nursery buying some flowers. It was visiting one of the flowers we were buying and my daughter and I got to see it right up close, it didnt seem to notice us either and just went about it's business.
BlueGlancer, the distance of 25 ft is not a stretch for the Mexican Hydrangea (bungei). We planted one clump in the back corner of the lot (looked so pretty in our friend's yard). It has now gone about 50 ft along the back fence and has traveled along the East side almost to the front of the house. I know it is in our next door neighbors yard and both of the neighboring back yards.
The only way I know of to partially control the plant is to pull up all the new shoots after each rain (while the ground is soft). It develops seed heads but also runs under-ground, popping up every couple of feet. Mowing pretty much controls the yard but the flower beds are another thing. If I had it to do over again, there would never be a bungai in our yard (or a few vines that come to mind). I might change my mind, and dig a pit with siding that would control the stolens. Say a wash tub with the bottom out, buried up to the rim. That would be sufficient for a large cluster and would attract a lot of butterflies. The stolens run about 6 - 8 inches below ground.
Rod
I agree, Rod. I planning to bury an 8 inch strip of hardy plank (salvaged from my next door neighbors trash) to keep it from popping up on the other side of my fence.
Thanks Rod, for the info. I'm gonna watch it closely. If it gets 10 or 15 ft away from where it's at now...up it comes. And, I will RU anything that resembles it. I counted 3 babies this morning, so I went ahead and pulled them up.
~Lucy
Lucy,
I'd love some if you're just ripping them out. Forewarned is forearmed. Perhaps we could swap something when it's cooler? Or are you coming to the Jax round-up?
Thanks,
Maggie
I'll work on potting one up for you. Give me a few days tho....got some MIL Dr. appointments to do this week. I doubt I get to go to the RU, my scaitic nerves have been acting up. Ill just mail it to you when it's ready to go.
~Lucy
What glorious pictures - I never understood, until now, what a hummingbird moth was. I think your plant rivals the beuty of any hydrangea I've seen. Thank you.
Donna
Thanks Lucy! PLMK if I have anything you want- see round-up list.
Maggie
