Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - April 15, 2015

From: Darien, CT
Region: Northeast
Topic: Plant Lists, Butterfly Gardens
Title: Butterfly and Hummingbird Attracting Plants for CT
Answered by: Anne Van Nest

QUESTION:

Could you please give me a list of flowers that would attract butterflies and hummingbirds? I live in Darien, Connecticut and would love to make a butterfly garden.

ANSWER:

To develop a list of plants that are beneficial to butterflies and moths and that grow in Connecticut, start with our special collections list of Plants for Butterflies and Moths of North America. Next, narrow your search to only Connecticut native plants by selecting your state. Then select "herb" general appearance and "perennial" lifespan. This will give you a list of 43 plants for your region.When you look over these plants, check out the "Use Wildlife" under the Benefits section and you will see if the plant is also attracts hummingbirds (many do).

Some of these include:

Actaea racemosa var. racemosa (Black cohosh)

Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)

Asclepias syriaca (Common milkweed)

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterflyweed)

Desmodium canadense (Showy tick trefoil)

Helianthus decapetalus (Thinleaf sunflower)

Lupinus perennis (Sundial lupine)

Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy penstemon)

Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (Blackeyed Susan)

Senna hebecarpa (American senna)

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster)

Zizia aurea (Golden zizia)

 

From the Image Gallery


Black cohosh
Actaea racemosa var. racemosa

Eastern red columbine
Aquilegia canadensis

Common milkweed
Asclepias syriaca

Butterflyweed
Asclepias tuberosa

Showy tick trefoil
Desmodium canadense

Thinleaf sunflower
Helianthus decapetalus

Sundial lupine
Lupinus perennis

Hairy penstemon
Penstemon hirsutus

Black-eyed susan
Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima

American senna
Senna hebecarpa

New england aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Golden zizia
Zizia aurea

More Plant Lists Questions

Cutting Garden Plants for TN
July 16, 2014 - I would like to know what would be in a year round cutting garden in Nashville, TN for a novel I am writing.
view the full question and answer

Trees to replace live oaks in Driftwood TX
February 07, 2012 - I am looking for ideas on what trees to plant in Driftwood, TX to replace live oaks that have been lost to oak wilt.
view the full question and answer

Need deer resistant plants for a shady north facing garden in Raliegh, NC.
June 22, 2012 - I am in need of Deer Resistant Native Shade plants for a North Facing Garden. It is 3 feet wide by 20 feet long. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you, Eaten Alive
view the full question and answer

Specifying sizes of plants for pond edge plantings in Austin area
December 19, 2014 - I am working on a list of pond edge plantings for the Austin area that will be in the fluctuation zone and I have my list of my plants but I need to know how to spec the sizes and to make sure my list...
view the full question and answer

Opinion of 5 best native garden plants in Oklahoma from Burneyville OK
September 07, 2013 - What would you say are the 3 to 5 BEST native garden plants for south central Oklahoma?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.