Designing an Austin Pollinator Oasis: Color, Height, and Texture
Looking to create a butterfly garden? Want hummingbird plants? It’s easy! There are so many options, colors, and heights.
Great choices for color are Lantana, Salvia, or Butterfly Bush. In addition, there are flowering vines and shrubs! All are great options for your garden, landscape, or container depending on your sun/ shade. Don’t forget the Plumbago and the Texas native Gregg’s Mistflower- both great additions to attract bees and butterflies. Salvia greggii, Agastache and Shrimp Plants are excellent hummingbird plants.
Monarch Butterfly on Lantana
Top Perennials for Central Texas Butterflies, Bees and hummingbirds.
Quick Guide to Growth Habits:
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Shrub Form Lantana: Available in various color combos (perfect for structure).
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Trailing Lantana: Best for groundcover or spilling over edges—available in white, purple, or ‘New Gold’.
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Large Perennials: Mexican Bush Sage, Salvia ‘Amistad’, and Tecoma (Yellow or Orange).
‘Mystic Spires’ Salvia bloom spike and bee at Vivero Growers Nursery, Austin, TX
For a visual guide, watch our Lantana and Firecracker Fern video on YouTube. We have videos of several pollinator-friendly plants such as Butterfly Bush, Tecoma, Salvia, and Plumbago.
Plant Salvia the pollinators will thank you!
‘Mystic Spires’ Salvia is a popular option for gardeners. The ‘Mystic Spires’ provide fabulous blue bloom spires spring thru fall.
It is a wonderful way to bring pollinators to the garden. As seen in the photo with the bee, they are a favorite of pollinators. Several of our customers plant the ‘Mystic Spires’ Salvia in their garden to attract the bees.
You can’t go wrong with Salvias in general! Salvia comes in a range of heights, colors and spreads. Choose from the low-growing May Night, the mid-range Salvia greggii or full-sized like the Mexican Bush Sage or ‘Amistad’.
Above all, have fun!
Whether you want a free-flowing garden meadow to look at or a more maintained garden, the options are endless. There are a wide array of options for hummingbird plants, and blooms to attract the bees and butterflies. The bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds will thank you!
Don’t forget to leave out a water source for the pollinators as well.
Stop by the nursery this week to see these bloomers in person and find the perfect fit for your sun or shade!
