I have red firespike that do well, but certainly do not grow real tall. They freeze back every winter and start again from root stock. I picked up a purple firespike at the Butterfly Museum sale. It's still getting settled in. I'd love to see it get tall like my iron weed plants.
And speaking of the ironweed. These plants are native and I call them my giants. They grow to be about 6 feet tall or more. This year on returning in the spring, each of the three I have, now have at least 3-4 stalks at the base. They have been busy this winter during their dormancy. The butterflies love them.
I had 2 cuttings of a brug and one died this winter. I have no idea what color the blooms as it hasn't gotten big enough to do that. I fertilized a lot of plants this spring and that one left seems to be multiplying branches and I am encouraged. But I also have 3 cutting left of Charles Grimaldi that I started this winter. One I have in the ground but the other two are in pots. Still trying to figure out where to put them. Maybe I will decide tomorrow.
Pam, when I first moved here I fancied growing citrus. Some nice fruiting varieties all grafted on hardy rootstock. Not a one of them survived the first freezing winters (lows in the low single digits). However, the root stock have survived and are growing and feeding the giant swallowtails. I am keeping the otherwise worthless citrus for the butterflies alone.
Can't remember who posted about the leaves on the passion vine getting eaten, but that should be the gulf frittilary. That's who eats mine. That's my most common b-fly along with the yellow sulfur that hosts on the paw paw which grow wild here.
So I am really pleased when I see the black swallowtail or the giants and even lately the buckeye. Zebra longwings also come here a lot. So Pam, what happened to your butterflies to make them temporarily absent?
My blue birds aren't here this year. Don't know why, but I sure miss them. I usually have 6-7 mated pairs living here by now.
Will be back out tomorrow pulling wild blackberry brambles from my beds, that and golden rod. Can't ever get a handle on those two hogs.
We could sure use some more rain.
