1 Safari Dawn South African phlox
JAMESBRITTENIA HYBRID, ZONES 10 TO 11 OR ANNUAL
Consider this plant when you're looking for something new that has humidity and heat tolerance. This South African native displays eye-catching bicolor flowers on plants that are 6 to 12 inches tall. Give it full to part sun, well-draining soil and a trim, if needed, to encourage fuller growth.
Why we love it:
No deadheading needed to keep this one flowering from planting until frost.
2 Starship Rose F1 lobelia
LOBELIA X SPECIOSA, ZONES 6 TO 10
A new color addition to the Starship lobelia series, these perennials flower earlier, have a tidy habit, and improved branching. Plant them in full to part sun with moist (but not wet) soil. They will grow to be 20 to 24 inches tall, with brightly colored flowers that combine nicely with both annuals and perennials in gardens or decorative containers.
Why we love it: Lobelia's midsummer to early fall flowers are hummingbird magnets.
3 Luscious Citron lantana
LANTANA HYBRID, ZONES 9 TO 11 OR ANNUAL
A tolerance for heat and drought makes this easy-care lantana suitable for containers and garden beds. The large yellow flowers stand out in landscapes. This vigorous plant grows 20 to 30 inches tall and wide, producing flowers all season long. It'll last until a hard frost without the need to deadhead.
Why we love it: Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees all adore it.
CHECK THE TAG It's tempting to fill your cart with new and different plants at the start of the spring gardening season. But remember to review each plant's tag to make sure it will fit in the available outdoor space and will thrive in your growing conditions.
Denne historien er fra April/May 2022-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
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Denne historien er fra April/May 2022-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Sense or Nonsense? - Why some birds can taste and smell - but others can't
Does a porcelain berry taste like a blueberry to a gray catbird? Does a block of lard smell like frying bacon to a northern flicker? The short answer is no. While some avian species do have a well-adapted sense of taste or smell, they can't distinguish between flavors and odors the way humans can. They're not picking up every ingredient in the suet you put out, says José Ramírez-Garofalo, an ornithology researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey and the director of Freshkills Biological Station in Staten Island, New York.
Maple Mania - Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Food-Focused and Fierce - Meet Canada jays and learn why they eat almost anything they can find
Even if you haven't heard of Canada jays, you've heard of their relatives. Members of the corvid family, they belong to the same group as American crows, blackbilled magpies, and jays including blue, Steller's and scrub. "Unlike many of the other jays, a Canada jay doesn't have a crest of any kind; it just has a rounded head," says Dale Gentry, director of conservation for Audubon Upper Mississippi River.In 2018, the Canada jay's name was changed from gray jay, but Dale thinks the former adjective was fitting. "Most of its body is shades of gray with some white," he says. "There are different subspecies that have different physical traits, but most of them have some lighter coloring on their foreheads, upper breasts and throats, each with a darker streak that starts at each eye and goes back."
IN GOOD COMPANY
BIRDS OF A FEATHER MAY FLOCK TOGETHER, but what about other collectives of critters-and what do you call them when they do?
YOUR OWN Perfect Prairie
Learn how to cultivate an oasis of grassland flora in your backyard
ON THE MOVE
Birds approach the challenges of migration in surprising ways. Learn about how they walk, swim or take the scenic route during their travels.
Autumn Wonders
Fall colors offer befitting backdrops for these stunning reader photos
Sparrow Look-Alikes
Distinct sounds help separate these similar species
Embracing the Darkness
From black plants to moody decor, Gothic garden elements can offer a unique outlet to express your dark side
Red-Hot Plants
Scarlet-hued berries add a pop of color to any garden
