Just inside our front gate an old fashioned garden begins that contains very few of the new hybrid plant varieties.  We choose to sing the song of the lazy gardener so we stick to natives and easy to grow heirloom plants.  Perennials and self-sowing annuals planted in mass predominate among the foundation of trees and shrubs.  Plants are chosen for their high nectar content and tubular flowers so that both hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the garden.  By using plants that are acclimated to our climate, the use of pesticides is unnecessary.  During the spring and summer breeding ruby throats build their walnut sized nests along tree-lined waterways.  At summer’s end fall migration begins bringing thousands of hummingbirds through our area on their way south.  The following easy to grow plants will provide nectar for both hummers and butterflies from spring to fall.  Pesticide free specimens of most of these can be found locally at nurseries; some are pass along plants. Visit our other Hummingbird Gardening page for more information about gardening to attract hummingbirds.

Mimosa	Trees Mimosa  (Albizia julibrissin) – deciduous tree, full sun or under story, blooms early summer Redbud (Cercis canadensis) - deciduous native tree, full sun or understory, blooms early spring.   Shrubs Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea) – native shrub, full sun, winter die back, blooms in mid spring Firebush  (Hamelia patens) – shrub, full sun, winter die back, blooms summer – fall Firespike (Odontonema strictum) – winter die back, part sun/shade, blooms late summer-fall Flowering Maple (Abutilon pictum, A. hybrididum) – shrub, partial shade, blooms spring – fall Mexican Cigar (Cuphea micropetala) – small shrub, some winter die back, full sun, blooms spring – fall Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) – large shrub / small tree, full sun, blooms in summer Summer Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeana and Winter (Justicia spp.) – small shrub, winter die back, full sun, blooms spring - fall Sultan’s Turban (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii) – native shrub, some winter die back, full sun-shade, blooms summer – fall Texas Star Hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) – native shrub, tolerates wet areas, winter die back, full sun, blooms summer – fall	Coral Bean
Abutilon		Firebush
Winter Shrimp Plant		Texas Star Hibiscus

Firecracker Vine

Vines Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit) – annual, full sun, blooms late summer - fall Firecracker Vine (Manetia cordifolia) – perennial, full sun/part shade, blooms early summer - fall Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) - perennial, full sun/part shade, blooms spring and fall

Coral Honeysuckle

Perennials and Annuals Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), native perennial, likes moist areas, part sun, blooms late summer - fall Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) – native perennial, part sun, blooms mid spring - summer Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica), Lady in Red or Coral Nymph (S. coccinea), Mexican Bush Sage (S. leucantha), Pineapple Sage (S. elegans) – perennials, full sun to part shade, blooms spring - fall Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) – native annual, likes moisture / shade, blooms later summer - fall	Cardinal Flower	Coral Nymph (Salvia coccinea)
Labeled Anise Sage, could be Purple Majesty Salvia	Mexican Bush Sage	Spotted Jewelweed

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