Nectar Plants for Fall and Winter in So Cal

I was wondering if anyone can tell me their favorites of nectar plants for the cooler seasons. I usually plant calendula because I have heard they are good nectar plants for the butterflies. However, after three years of planting them, I have never seen a butterfly come near these. I have grown nasturtiums during the winter but I can't remember if they were attractive to butterflies. We have caterpillars and butterflies all year around except for the coldest part of our winters (20 to 25 degrees for two or three days). If someone has a suggestion of what flowering plants that attract butterflies during the Fall and Winter, I would appreciate it.

Thanks,

Chuck

I think you probably won't see a huge butterfly population during the cooler winter months here, since most butterfly's are warm season insects (as are most insects ) and many migrate to warmer areas especially during our winters.

That doesn't mean you won't still possibly see a few here and there, but you're more apt to see them in greater numbers and varied species when it's warmer.

This is an interesting question though, as I've never noticed very many at that time of year even with cool season annuals in bloom, as compared to spring and summer.

The flower that most consistantly draws butterflies here is the lowly, common Zinnia. and they are pretty to look at altho their lower skirts of leaves get a bit tattered - a low growing cover in front could help with that.

Jasper Dale, It seems to be cyclical here in Perris. The first year I planted my butterfly larval plants, there were no butterflies during the summer or winter. The next year there were butterflies from March until December. The following year there were none. This week, I have had at least 30 Gulf Fritillaries, a couple of White Cabbage Butterflies, a few different kinds of Swallowtails, and a whole bunch of skippers and other little butterflies. However, I am trying to see how I can lengthen their presence in my garden.

Blooms with a View, Thanks for sharing that with me. I am not sure that it is warm enough in the late Fall and Winter in our area. This spring I planted about 60 zinnias that I started indoors and about 15 zinnias that I purchased from our local nursery. Most of them are not growing anymore. A few are but they are not really enough for the butterflies we have.

Thanks to both of you for replying.

Thanks again,

Chuck

Chuck,

Now that you've brought this up, I'm reminded I should start thinking about what to plant. We've had more butterflies this year and we enjoy them so much, I need to get things in the ground this fall for them. I found this link at Las Pilitas that looks helpful - perhaps there's something there that will be of use to you, too.

http://www.laspilitas.com/butterfl.htm

Also, we are looking ahead to a get-together in March and would love to see you and your lovely lady if you can make it. Here's the chat link:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/896968/

We'll get more specific later about food and time, etc.

Thanks for posting this!

Kathleen

My butterfly population seems to vary too, Chuck.

I may be just a tad warmer here. Things like california fuschia, stocks, wall flowers, and the ever blooming salvias love the cool of fall here. Four o'clocks (I allow one to come up every year) will bloom into fall too. My leopard plant is a fall bloomer too but it is hardly a native. The salvia leucantha bloom in october as well-even for my Dad in Napa.

There are many species and cultivars of Salvia that are late fall-winter blooming that will act as nectar plants for Butterflies. In addition, many of our natives start to bloom in late autumn after a good rain and they too make good nectar plants. My native Heucheras are usually in full bloom in January along with Salvia brandegei.

I'm putting the S. brandegei on my list, Andy! Don't know why I've missed it in th past. I would love to have some Salvias blooming in the cooler months.

Kathleen

K, I have seeds of s. brandegei, if you want to try doing seeds. I have not sown any of those yet to know as to whether or not they would need gibberelic acid or boiling water treatment.
Sherry

I would Gib those seeds.....S. brandegei occasionally self sews in my garden yet produces copious amounts of seed....just an observation.

Yes, I've gotten a lot of seed from it and then quit bothering...perhaps I'll get volunteers. Andy, are you at Plant World Thursday? I've got a sal that I'm hoping you'll recognize if I bring it by....that might be easier than posting a photo....besides, I got a penta there today that you may have more of....
Sherry

I will be a PW on Fri through Tues....I saw you today but was busy with another lovely (lol) customer!

Oh! I didn't expect you to be there today or would have looked for you. Made another pot run to S.M., and, you know, couldn't resist stopping by. Got a couple of penstemon Electric Blue and a penta in a rather nice kinda electric purple. Wandered amongst the salvias and wished I could adopt them and bring them all home...lol.....will stop by Friday, then. Not trying to hijack your thread, Chuck...lol....

Yes, Sherry, I'll try some seed. Wouldn't know what to do with gibberelic acid if I had any, though. My record with seedlings is dismal. I get seeds to sprout OK, but then lose them when they are small. Guess I need more practice. :-}

I'll bring some when I see you again...is your seedling problem with damping off? Tried chamomile tea?

Hi,
I used a product called Plantshield in my nursery for difficult stuff....it works miracles. I went from 20 to nearly 100% take on all of my seedlings and cuttings.

Widely available, Andy?

Might be d/o, Sherry. I haven't tried any seeds since I learned about the tea.

Plantshield...as a spray?...potting ingredient? Available where?

I think we get it a Western Farms in San Marcos....don't know if it is available to the public. It is a powder that you mix in water....I use it as a soil drench for my cuttings and seedlings. Maybe do a Google search on it as my memory is failing....

Thanks for the info...I'll check Western Farms.....

Sherry, Do you still have seeds from s. brandegei? I would really like some. If you do, I will be at Las Pilitas Nursery in Escondido on Tuesday (11/4). Maybe if you have other plans that day, I can send you postage. The seeds you gave us of Cassia Bicapsularis are now a 10 foot beautiful shrub. The seeds were sown in December, also. If you don't have any of the salvia, that is okay, too. I will just wait until March when we see you.

Thanks,

Chuck

Chuck, I do still have some seeds of s. brandegei...will send some off to you. Do you want to try s. clevelandii also? I forgot...I promised some brandegei to Kathleen also. K, will send some off to you, too.
Sherry

Dear Sherry,

Thanks for the offer of S. clevelandii but I already have it. It is one of the prettier plants in my garden. The s. brandegeei is highly recommended to me from a friend of mine.

Have a GOOD DAY!!

Take care,

Thanks again,

Chuck

Okay, will mail off some s. brandegei to you today....Rain, rain, rain, how lucky can we get?!

Just discovered this thread and hope someone's still out there. I live in No. San Diego Co, four miles back from the coast and in now ready to to plant two beds for butterflies, hummers, and the bees. Unfortunately because of some big trees the small bed (15 sq. ft.) gets morning to mid day sun and the other (50 sq. ft.) will only get 3-5 hours in the afternoons. Since I have these two beds on a separate sprinkler line and because they aren't too large, I don't mind giving them a bit more water if needed. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Anna:
Lantana, is a great butterfly draw. They seem to especially like the yellow and orange colored lantana, although I've often seen them working the purple one too. Hummers like most any trumpet shaped flower, I have used honeysuckle, and they adore fuchsia's which will probably do well in your zone. There is a great vendor here at DG called Pedericks Corner, and she sells fuschia, there are others too. But those two will bring in the B.flys and the Hummers for you, and probably do well in the space you described.
Don't worry about planting for the bees because they eat the same things as the hummers and the b.flies.
This is probably the wrong thread to ask this question on, but feel free to dmail me if you have questions. Some of the DG'ers who posted on this thread are no longer with us.
But if I can help, I will.
I almost envy you the climate you have there in Carlsbad. : - )
So many of my favorite plants won't grow in my zone, although I'm always pushing it. : - )
But the ones I mentioned will do well in your area. Oh, I highly recommend the red Cape honeysuckle. The hummers seem to love that one best.
Walk In Beauty~
SingingWolf