Tag: water wise pollinator gardens

 

Plant Family

Aster or Composite family (Asteraceae / Compositae)

Other Common Names

Echinops

Description

• Herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe and Asia
• Globe thistle is a striking plant with interesting round vibrant blue/purple thistle-like flowers and leaves that attract lots of bees
• Can reach heights of up to 4 feet and can grow to 3 feet wide
• Full sun but can tolerate part shade in hot climates
• Cold hardy and grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to

…

Plant Family

Caper Family (Capparaceae)

Common Names

Rocky Mountain bee plant
Stinking-clover
Bee spiderflower
Toothed spider-flower
Stink weed
Skunk weed

Description

Rocky mountain bee plant is an annual plant native to the western, central, and northern United States and throughout Canada.  It is often found on disturbed sites and grows to about 5 feet tall. Open cluster of purple pink flowers bloom continuously from mid to late summer. Long pods produce abundant seed that readily recolonizes bare well …

 

Plant Family

Mint Family (Labiatae/Lamiacea)

Other Common Names

Catmint, Faasen’s catmint (N. faassinii), Blue catmint

Description

• Attractive long lived perennial native to Europe
• It grows to 12 to 36 inches high and wide, depending on cultivar
• Tall spikes of purple flowers bloom from late spring through summer
• Requires well drained garden soils
• Performs well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8
•  Full sun but can tolerate some shade in hotter climates

Note: Catmint should …

 

Plant Family

Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae)

Common Names

Gaura, Butterfly gaura, Bee blossom, Lindheimer’s beeblossom

Description

• Native to the warmer regions of the United States
• Use caution when planting this species as it can be weedy and is considered invasive in some areas
• Long-lived
• Open growth habit with delicate looking flowers that bloom continuously from summer through fall
• It grows to about 3 to 4 feet tall
• Several attractive cultivars of G.lindheimeri have been developed
• Flower colors

…

 

Plant Family

Aster Family (Asteraceae / Compositae)

Common Names

Threadleaf coreopsis, Tickseed, Tickweed, Whorled tickseed, Whorled coreopsis

Description

• Long-lived perennial plant native to the eastern and southeastern United States, and eastern Canada
• It can also be grown in much of the lower 48 states of the United States
• Cultivars have been developed for the landscape industry.
• About 24 inches tall and 18 or more inches wide but can range from 12 to 48 inches tall depending on

…

 

Plant Family

Flax family (Linaceae)

Common Names for Lewis Blue Flax

Lewis flax, Blue flax, Prairie flax, Western blue flax

Description

Two species of blue flax are found in North America. Perennial or common blue flax (Lineum perenne) is a perennial flax from Eurasia that has naturalized in parts of North America.  Lewis flax (Lineum Lewisii) is a native North American perennial found throughout the Great Plains and western U.S. and most of …

 

Plant Family

Mint Family (Lamiaceae)

Common Names

Texas hummingbird mint, Bubblegum mint Hyssop, Double bubblemint, Wild hyssop, Mosquito plant, Mexican hyssop, Licorice mint

Description

• Long lived perennial native to the southwestern United States
• Adapted to USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 7 but may persist in Zone 4 if planted in warmer microclimates
• Many other agastache species can be used as water wise landscape plants
• Grows to about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
• Pink to raspberry

…

Plant Family

Until recently, penstemons belong to the Figwort or Snapdragon family (Scrophulariaceae).  Penstemons are now classified in the Plantain (Plantaginacea) Family.

Other Common Names

Beardtongue, Penstemon (by species common name)

Description

• A large number of penstemon species are native to North America
• Many are available in garden centers for use in the water-wise pollinator landscape
• Be aware that some penstemon cultivars sold in gardens centers may not be water wise (check labels)
• Generally short lived

…

Plant Family

Aster or composite family. (Asteraceae or Compositae)

Common Names

Blanket flower, Gaillardia, Firewheel (annual), Indian blanket (annual)

Description

• Many species are native throughout North America
• A variety of both annual, biennial, and perennial cultivars have been developed and are available in garden centers.
• Readily reseeding annuals and short lived perennial depending on the species
• Cultivars range from 6 to 24 inches high to about 12 to 36 inches wide
• Two to 4 inch wide showy blooms

…

Plant Family

Aster Family (Asteraceae / Compositae)

Common Name(s)

Sunflower

Description

Several species of sunflower are found in North America. The large annual sunflower Heleanthus annuus is thought to have originated in the Western U.S. and developed by Native Americans from the smaller many branched native sunflower.

Many cultivars have been produced with flower colors ranging from yellow through dark brown.Be aware that some pollenless cultivars have been produced. Also, some varieties can produce seed without insect pollinators…