Grow host plants to help the next generation of butterflies and moths survive and thrive.
WORTH THE WAIT
Gas plants may take a few years to get established, but the showy result is so rewarding.
1 Gas plant
DICTAMNUS ALBUS, ZONES 3 TO 8
This novelty plant is a stunner. From May to June, white, pink or lilac flowers top vertical stems that reach 3 feet tall. The plant is low maintenance but needs full sun and well-draining soil. Wear gloves when handling gas plants to avoid any adverse skin reactions.
Why we love it: On windless summer nights, light the flammable oil from the gas plant’s old flowers or seedpods to emit a brief vapor.
Host to: giant swallowtail
2 Little bluestem
SCHIZACHYRIUM SCOPARIUM, ZONES 3 TO 9
A blue-stemmed beauty, this tufted warm-season grass provides wonderful winter interest. It’s also a resilient host plant that grows best on dry upland sites such as hilltops or ridges, though it is very adaptable to nearly all soil conditions.
Why we love it: The USDA says little bluestem is one of the best grasses for nesting and roosting birds, such as finches, sparrows and juncos.
Host to: common wood nymphs and skippers
3 Prairie blazing star
LIATRIS PYCNOSTACHYA, ZONES 3 TO 9
In late summer and autumn, blazing star’s radiant rose purple flowers spike skyward, providing vivid color in your backyard. This hardy prairie favorite grows up to 4 feet tall, especially in damp environments.
Why we love it: It’s a low-maintenance, plant-it-and-leave-it bloom that reseeds readily, and it makes excellent fresh-cut flowers.
Host to: glorious flower moth
この記事は Birds & Bloom の August/September 2018 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Birds & Bloom の August/September 2018 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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Making a terrarium is about as close as you can get to a Zen DIY project. Once you have gathered the proper materials and squared away your plant selections, it's as simple as layering it all together and watching your mini ecosystem thrive. Here, I'll walk you through my foolproof process and cover all the required elements for good filtration, healthy soil, strong root growth and resistance against fungus and disease.
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