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By Karen England

Try adding some or all of the following plants to your garden since these plants are easy to grow and attract both Hummingbirds & Butterflies. Add a water feature to your garden and the little visitors might even linger. Remember to never use pesticides if you are trying to host butterflies & hummingbirds because they are definitely not compatible.

Buddleja davidii or “Butterfly Bush” - Full sun. Semi-evergreen shrub that likes well drained soil. The branch ends are adorned with small fragrant flower clusters in the form of a spike that are available in deep blue, purple, lilac, yellow and white colors. 

Alcea rosea or “Hollyhock” - Full sun. Sow seeds now (late summer) for bloom next season. Choose reds and pinks for hummingbirds and all colors for butterflies.

Digitalis purpurea or “Foxglove” - Full sun on coast. Short lived perennial with a full range of flower colors in 2 inch bell shaped blossoms on tall stalks that rise from clumps of large green leaves.

Ceanothus varieties or “Wild Lilac” - Full sun. Evergreen shrubs with flower colors in white, pale blue, blue & dark blue. Most varieties are native to California and when established are drought tolerant. 

Cuphea varieties - Full sun or partial shade. Perennial border plant with lots small tubular flowers.
Available in a wide range of colors.

Lavandula species or “Lavender” - Full sun. Evergreen herb with fragrant purple blossoms prized by crafters and cooks. Drought tolerant when established. 

Rosmarinus officinalis or “Rosemary” - Full sun. Much loved evergreen herb with blue flowers.

Savia varieties or “Sage” - Full sun. Wide variety of colors and annual and perennial varieties available. Try Salvia leucantha or “Mexican Bush Sage” for non-edible landscape use and Salvia clevelandii or “Cleveland Sage” for a culinary sage with beautiful blue blossoms that is native to our local Cleveland National Forest.

Penstemon or “Beard Tongue” - Full sun or partial shade. Perennial with bell shaped flowers that come in a full spectrum of colors. 

For a lengthy list of plants that attract butterfly larvae, butterflies and hummingbirds consult the completely revised and updated Sunset Western Garden Book ©2001, pages 116-121.

Karen England is the "Queen of Edgehill Herb Farm". www.edgehillherbfarm.com.

All gardeners live in beautiful places because they make them so. Joseph Joubert
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