COSMOS
Cosmos spp., ANNUAL
Throughout the growing season, bees and butterflies can’t resist these colorful pinwheel-shaped blossoms with feathery foliage. Grow single or double cultivars of this easygoing bloomer in full sun, and you’ll have flowers and seeds for the birds from summer through late fall. Plants stand from 1 to 6 feet high, so no matter how large your space, there’s a type of cosmos that will fit right in.
BLACK-EYED SUSAN
Rudbeckia spp., ZONES 3 TO 9
Lovely as a background planting or in a wildflower garden, black-eyed Susan also shines when grouped with other daisy-shaped flowers. Plants range from 1 to 6 feet in height, offering a big visual impact in any size yard. Butterflies appreciate the landing pad the blooms provide, bees flock to the bright yellow color, and birds love the late-fall seed heads.
AGASTACHE
Agastache spp., ZONES 4 TO 11
Bushy and studded with blooms from mid- to late summer, agastache is a favorite of hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Flower spires in pink, orange, yellow, blue or violet reach 2 to 6 feet high. Agastache thrives in full sun and in well-draining, fertile soil.
This story is from the June/July 2020 edition of Birds & Blooms.
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This story is from the June/July 2020 edition of Birds & Blooms.
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