What a lovely plant. I'm always glad to learn about another plant to consider growing for the hummingbirds!
This is a winner!

Thank you, Marilyn.

I used to only have the Blue Porterweed Stachytarpheta urticifolia, which I really liked. This one grows into a 3-4' shrub, and has blueish-purple flowers. I would have a hummingbird come around and work these shrubs like crazy. It also attracted a lot of butterflies.

Now I have all five of the "commonly" available types:
Stachytarpheta urticifolia - Blue Porterweed [3-4' shrub]
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis - Sky Blue Porterweed [10-12" sprawling groundcover]
Stachytarpheta mutabilis - Coral Porterweed - [large 6-8' shrub]
Stachytarpheta frantzii - Purple Porterweed - [large 6-8' shrub]
and
Stachytarpheta microphylla - Red Porterweed [small 12-18" shrub]

All are great for butterflies, but my resident hummingbird now ignores the Blue in favor of the Coral and the Purple.

Seed are easy to collect. If you have a short season, let the first few flower stems turn brown on the plant. If you wait longer, the seed are easier to harvest, but watch, if you wait too long, you will lose most of the seed.

Once picked, allow to continue to dry for a few days, then twist the stem back and forth over a container. The thistle-like seed are easy to see, especially with the Coral and the Purple, as they are larger. The seed actually come in pairs. If the seed is black, but flat and white on one side, it is a single seed. If it is black all around, roll it between your fingers and it will split into the two separate seed.

I love how drought-tolerant and carefree these shrubs are. That, plus their draw for hummers and butterflies, have earned them a permanent place in my landscape.

It is in my mind too.

I planted 2 plants this year in different locations. I added the tall (double) stacking tomato cage one year and the hummers loved to sit and rest a lot and leave it up. The third tomato cage I used on the patio with the other coral porterweed and they've used it also, even if it is shorter. But they really loved the taller (double) stacking cage to look around and spy on other hummers. The taller cage I've on the end of our side entry driveway with a lot of containers.

Thanks for the info Ron!

Great pictures of the hummingbirds!
They are hard to get a picture of.

Thanks Ashton and Terry!

they are! I was surprised those two pics came out, as good as they did!