[Arid_gardener] Re: Plants That Attract Butterflies and Hummingbrds

[Olin Miller]

The article "Butterfly Gardening in the Low Desert" at
http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/youth/btrfly.htm
lists 33 common nectar plants and 28 larval plants for butterflies.  You
will need to determine which will grow in your region.  Ask at your local
Master Gardener Office at Bullhead City:   Contact details at
http://cals.arizona.edu/mohave/master_gardeners/bullhead/index.html

Experiments with bird feeders at the University of Mexico (
http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Wilson/v092n01/p0053-p0062.html
) have shown hummingbirds are initially attracted by colors at the longer
wavelengths of the visible spectrum (red & orange).  But once the birds
become familiar with the location the color becomes less important than
sugar content.  With the long beaks and the ability to hover, it is also
easier for the birds to feed from pendant to horizontal tubular flowers.
Some common plants with such flowers in the low desert include chaperons,
most of the pentstemons,  AZ yellow bells, orange bells (orange jubilee),
and desert willow. Many of the nectar plants for butterflies also attract
hummingbirds.  The Bullhead City Master Gardener office should also be able
to help you with humming bird plants for the high desert.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <AVBELSR at YAHOO.COM>
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2007 9:15 PM
> ALLAN,  86442
> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT FRAGRANT PLANTS AND SHRUBS THAT ALSO MAY ATTRACT
> BUTTERFLIES AND HUMMINGBIRDS CAN POSSIBLY GROW IN BULLHEAD CITY ALONG THE
> RIVER. THANK YOU