One of the best parts about home ownership is having the opportunity to create wildlife-friendly spaces. If you own a condo, that might mean planting some flower pots to feed butterflies, and if you own land, you can create your very own private wildlife sanctuary. You can see photos of mine on Flickr.
That’s what I have done with my yard. When I first moved in, the grass grew up to the house, and I barely saw a bird or butterfly. With lots of digging and effort, my yard is now a destination for myriad butterflies, bumblebees, and bugs I can’t even name. It’s also a favorite destination for all kinds of birds—from hummingbirds to finches and mockingbirds to crows and mourning doves. I even periodically see a crazy beautiful moth called the clearwing hummingbird moth. This amazing little creature really does look like a hummingbird! You can see one of these moths that visited my garden last summer in the video included here. The feeders in the backyard attract a wide array of birds as well, but we will save that for another day.
Below are some of my favorite wildlife plants that thrive in my Virginia clay-ridden front garden (note: I did substantial amending of the soil when I dug these beds).
Annual Vinca: This little flower surprised me! I planned them for all-summer-long color, but that also meant they provided nectar all summer long. As a bonus, last summer they attracted clearwing hummingbird moths, and they thrived during the hottest months of the summer when other flowers were fading.
Inkberry Holly: These are not the most beautiful plants, but they have berries (not really visible) that feed the birds in the winter, and they are evergreen. Spring and sometimes fall pruning keep them full shaped. You need to make sure you have male and female versions to get the berries.
Purple Cone Flower: If you love the sweet and beautiful American goldfinch, plant this flower and let it go to seed. These birds will feed on it into the winter. I have tried planting the white ones too, but with less luck.
Shasta Daisy: Here we have simple beauty with easy care. I had two varieties and one has outlived the other. I think mine is called “Becky.”
Lacecap Hydrangia: These add a little pop to those shady areas of the yard, and they bloom all summer without any effort on your part—other than a little fertilizer. Not all Hydrangea produce nectar for wildlife, so check before you plant so you know which you are getting.
Butterfly Bush: The name says it all! No plant I have brings as many butterflies, and the bloom all summer long. Hard pruning in the spring helps keep them sized well for the garden, and if you don’t prune they may be unwieldy.
Bee Balm: I started these from seeds in the house a couple of years ago, and they reward me every year with lots of flowers that the bees and butterflies just love.
Catmint: Billowy and blue, this plant easy to start from seed indoors before spring, but many garden centers will have plants as well that you can start in the spring.
Evergreen scrubs and trees such as Foster Holly, Eastern Red Cedar/Juniper: Birds need evergreens to hide in and to keep warm in winter, and some produce berries, such as junipers, that provide winter food. I recommend foster hollies because they produce prolific berries, but I also periodically find volunteer American Hollies.
False Indigo: This is one surprised me with its elegance and beauty. It looks like asparagus when it comes up in the spring, then grows into a 3- to 4-foot bouquet of total bliss that looks like it’s sitting in a vase. The rest of the summer it’s a round beautiful green plant about 3 feet high.
Foxglove: These spring show stoppers will bloom the second year after planting and will reseed. I planted some years ago and they have continued to reseed and send me flowers every spring, usually near—but not exactly—in the same places. The leaves are large and lettuce-like, so they are easy to differentiate from weeds. Note, these are poisonous, so don’t let your dog eat them.
Garden Phlox: These tall plants produce bunches of flowers that offer lots of nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, moths and bees. In the past, they didn’t seem to last long in my garden, but the ones I planted last year bloomed nearly all summer! Last year, it was on my Phlox where I first spotted the clear wing hummingbird moths! But they were also popular with other creatures.
Hummingbird Plant: I picked these up at a nursery a few years back, and they proved to be a great annual for constant color all summer. For the past several years, these plants have re-seeded, so I just move them to my desired locations once they start to emerge.
Jackmanii Clematis: Perfect for the picket fence! Lots of blooms.
Miss Kim Lilac: These lilacs are designed for smaller spaces, but mine got pretty big. I had to cut it back and hope it returns. It’s beautiful and fragrant in the spring and green all summer. I discovered that she did produce a few volunteers, but these have already been claimed!
Milkweed: Monarch butterflies need milkweed to reproduce, so it’s really important for people to keep some around. It is poisonous and and some varieties are invasive, so make sure pets don’t have access and that you pick your cultivar carefully. One option is the plant it in pots so that it can be moved out of reach and controlled.
Parsley, Dill, and Fennel. Shallow tail butterflies lay their eggs on these plants, so they are both edible to humans and the butterfly caterpillars as well. Parsley is an annual and easier to control Fennel is easy to grow but can become large and will need a good bit of space.
Salvia Farinacea: These are annual plants bloom all summer and into the fall without need for any “deadheading,” or much of anything other than water. I picked these up this year at Walmart in affordable six-packs.
Russian Sage: This easy to grow, beautiful purple flower with silver stems is a favorite among butterflies and bees, and it looks good all summer long. Pruning to maintain a reasonable size in the garden helps.
Zinna: Bees and butteries love Zinna and they bloom all summer! Many Zinna are bright red and orange, but there are a also beautiful green Zinna as well as pink and white. These are easy to start from seed either right in the garden on in pots.
