native blue or purple companion for butterfly weed

18 years ago

Wasn't sure if I should ask here or the companion plants forum, but since I specifically want a native plant I figured I give it a stab here first... Thanks for your responses.

Jenny

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Comments (9)

sam_md
18 years ago
Upland Ironweed or Vernonia glauca grows in the same dry, even xeric spots that butterfly weed likes. It has loose, purple flower clusters earlier than the other ironweed.
You might have to propagate your own, hard to find in the trade.
Sam
ahughes798
18 years ago
Echinacea purpurea, Verbena Stricta, Liatris, Smooth Blue Aster, New England Aster,
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I don't think that the Verbena is hardy in Philly, unless it is planted every year as a annual. There are low-growing phloxes that are perennial, like 'Nicky', and you could intersperse with some low growing liatris like 'Kobold', which is shorter than other liatris. I like Misssherry's idea of the Stokes Asters, and some of the newer cultivars have a longer bloom time. Some of the shorter salvias are also good, and often, if not perennial, will reseed. Monardas that are shorter are also good nectar plants. I don't know which butterfly weed you're growing, and whether it is one that likes a lot of moisture or is pretty drought tolerant. You would probably want to choose something that would tolerate the same conditions as the milkweed. If you wanted to stick with something in the milkweed family, there are shorter growing milkweeds, like verticillata, that has feathery foliage that could make a nice contrast with other milkweeds. Susan
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Hi Steve, Sorry I missed you but stop by some time and I will give you a tour of the tiny yard. It is amazing how many plants I have managed to squeeze into it. I have even crammed in a number of trees although I have to keep them cut back in the spring or I would have no room for any of the other guys. Speaking of echinacea, I have never had a whole lot of it but it is because I NEVER saw a butterfly on the ones that I had and I didn't want to waste space which I have so little of. But last weekend I went to visit family in Belmont and they had a next-door neighbor who had several hundred of the purple ones all planted together and there were lots of skippers and lady butterflies on them so I guess number counts. Anyway, at the moment what I see most of all is skippers, hairstreaks, ladies, painted and west coast and a monarch or two along with an occasional pipe vine swallowtail. I am a little concerned about not seeing more monarchs by now but I am hoping that will improve. I have a variety of milkweed plants which have tons of seeds you are welcome to and I have started some pipe vine seedlings you can have also though they are not the CA variety. I have not had success getting the native vine seeds to germinate. The ones I have are Aristolochia durior which are native to the east but they grow much more rapidly so I have planted them as well out there. Some of the butterfly species mentioned in other posts aren't native here which is sad because many of them are really beautiful but we do have some great ones that are very rewarding to see in the yard. Murray
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Thanks Terrene! I have zinnias, tithonia, verbena bonariensis and two Pink Delight butterfly bushes. I have never gotten even one seedling from my butterfly bushes on our entire property so they stay, although I'm not going to plant any more. I'm afraid if I plant another variety, they could pollinate each other. Verbena bonariensis reseeds very heavily for me but only right under the plants so I'm not getting rid of that either. The seedlings come up almost as thick as grass They bloom their heads off all summer even though I don't thin them at all. I just let them duke it out. There is always a constant swarm of Buckeyes and Variegated Fritillaries on them but the larger butterflies such as Swallowtails and Monarchs were mostly going to my zinnias. It's wonderful that one of the easiest and cheapest things to grow is also one of the best things to plant for butterflies. I plan to plant a lot of zinnias next summer. We have an 8 acre hayfield that has a long line of trees along the north property line and I'd like to plant some native perennials along the south side of that tree line. I will have to use stuff that's pretty drought tolerant because the tree roots make the soil dry in late summer. The perennials would get plenty of sun though. I can water until they're established but don't want to plant stuff that I'd have to water forever. Do you have to keep your Cup Plant watered in the summer Terrene? I think I'll add that one to my wish list. I already have Liatris ligulystylis on there. : ) I have Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant) on my wish list as well. If you have both and the Cup Plant seems to be more attractive to butterflies than Compass Plant, I should probably stick to that.
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joepyeweed
18 years ago
Are you trying to get them to bloom at the same time? If so, purple coneflower is the probably your best bet.

The butterfly weed is usually in pod stage when the asters are blooming.

Vernonia would be good, it will grow anywhere, it can get a bit tall in the right soil.

Leadplant, Liatris aspera (rough blazingstar), and
Purple Prairie Clover might work also.
john_mo
18 years ago
In my garden, butterfly weed coexists and blooms with:

Meadow phlox
Tall larkspur
yarthkin
18 years ago
Campanula rotundifolia - They've got nice blue flowers and can handle dry rocky conditions.

Eastern Lupine - Lupinus perannus (sp?) likes dry sites and nice blue flowers. Grows best from seed.
joepyeweed
18 years ago
Its interesting to note site differences (geography) can make a difference in bloom time. In my area, Tall larkspur blooms much earlier than butterfly weed does.
kwoods
18 years ago
Good call Joepye. The Lupine is done here before the tuberosus gets going too.

I think April is on to something with the liatris. My dense blazing star goes off at the same time as E. purpurea, A. tuberosus and A. sullivantii.
anitamo
18 years ago
How about amsonia tabernaemontana? I believe it's in bloom at the same time as butterfly weed.
cydonia33
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you all for your suggestions. As I have done all my life, I considered everyone's suggestions, then I went with my own decision!! I ended up planting the butterfly weed with blue false indigo (baptisia australis). Not sure if their blooms will coincide, but the blue-green foliage of the baptisia is attractive all summer long. Since most everyone suggested echinacea, I planted the orange meadow bright cultivar close by.

Jenny

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native blue or purple companion for butterfly weed

Comments (9)

sam_md

ahughes798

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joepyeweed

john_mo

yarthkin

joepyeweed

kwoods

anitamo

cydonia33
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native blue or purple companion for butterfly weed

Comments (9)

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cydonia33Original Author

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cydonia33
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