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What are your experiences with Sedums and Butterflies?
Sedum spectabile is commonly listed as a good butterfly plant. Without
a doubt it can be. One flat I lived in had a garden below it that was always full of red admirals on the sedums in the Autumn. However, in butterfly circles people are commonly warned to avoid Sedum "Autumn Joy" also known by its German equivalent name of Sedum "herbstfreude". It would appear that it is of hybrid origin and produces less nectar and is therefore much less attractive. It seems there are other cultivars/hybrids that are also unattractive. I'd be interested to know of other people's experiences with named cultivars. What have your experiences been? I'd also be grateful if someone could tell me of an UK supplier of Sedum spectabile SEEDS. Chiltern Seeds used to offer them a while ago but, alas no longer. Neil Jones http://www.butterflyguy.com |
What are your experiences with Sedums and Butterflies?
" writes
Sedum spectabile is commonly listed as a good butterfly plant. Without a doubt it can be. One flat I lived in had a garden below it that was always full of red admirals on the sedums in the Autumn. However, in butterfly circles people are commonly warned to avoid Sedum "Autumn Joy" also known by its German equivalent name of Sedum "herbstfreude". It would appear that it is of hybrid origin and produces less nectar and is therefore much less attractive. It seems there are other cultivars/hybrids that are also unattractive. I'd be interested to know of other people's experiences with named cultivars. What have your experiences been? There's been discussion on here before about buddleia, IIRC to the effect that darker purple forms are less attractive. Google groups search might throw it up. -- Kay |
What are your experiences with Sedums and Butterflies?
On 28 Mar, 16:56, "
wrote: Sedum spectabile is commonly listed as a good butterfly plant. Without a doubt it can be. One flat I lived in had a garden below it that was always full of red admirals on the sedums in the Autumn. However, in butterfly circles people are commonly warned to avoid Sedum "Autumn Joy" also known by its German equivalent name of Sedum "herbstfreude". It would appear that it is of hybrid origin and produces less nectar and is therefore much less attractive. It seems there are other cultivars/hybrids that are also unattractive. I'd be interested to know of other people's experiences with named cultivars. What have your experiences been? I'd also be grateful if someone could tell me of an UK supplier of Sedum spectabile SEEDS. Chiltern Seeds used to offer them a while ago but, alas no longer. Neil Jones My chouic for a good feed plant for buterflies, as well as hoverflies and bees would be single dahlias, they will be in flower from August to the frost and will give a steady supply of food. Another interesting food plant is Helichrisum, the everlasting flower, the extra is that when feeding you will actualy hear the insects walking over the flowers. David Hill Abacus Nurseries. |
What are your experiences with Sedums and Butterflies?
On 28 Mar, 17:55, K wrote:
" writes Sedum spectabile is commonly listed as a good butterfly plant. Without a doubt it can be. One flat I lived in had a garden below it that was always full of red admirals on the sedums in the Autumn. However, in butterfly circles people are commonly warned to avoid Sedum "Autumn Joy" also known by its German equivalent name of Sedum "herbstfreude". It would appear that it is of hybrid origin and produces less nectar and is therefore much less attractive. It seems there are other cultivars/hybrids that are also unattractive. I'd be interested to know of other people's experiences with named cultivars. What have your experiences been? There's been discussion on here before about buddleia, IIRC to the effect that darker purple forms are less attractive. Google groups search might throw it up. -- Kay I think I recall that. I would expect the wild colour to be the best.Since that is what attracts the pollinators which leads to more seeds and more copies of those genes in circulation etc. Neil Jones |
What are your experiences with Sedums and Butterflies?
On 28 Mar, 18:15, "Dave Hill" wrote:
My chouic for a good feed plant for buterflies, as well as hoverflies and bees would be single dahlias, they will be in flower from August to the frost and will give a steady supply of food. Another interesting food plant is Helichrisum, the everlasting flower, the extra is that when feeding you will actualy hear the insects walking over the flowers. Really? I wouldn't have thought that since they are so ... dry! Last year I over done it with the helichrisums, sowed far too much, gave some away and planted them next to astrantia and zinia. It looked beautiful, but because I had valerian and nettles growing there, I suspected the butterflies came for these and not the helichrisums. This year I'm also growing angelica next to a self sowed teasel with nettles behind it. I'm hoping to make the best butterflies restaurant of the north west ;o) |
What are your experiences with Sedums and Butterflies?
wrote On 28 Mar, 17:55, K wrote: I'd be interested to know of other people's experiences with named cultivars. What have your experiences been? There's been discussion on here before about buddleia, IIRC to the effect that darker purple forms are less attractive. Google groups search might throw it up. I have both forms of sedum within 10 yards of each other and do find that butterflies will head for the old original and avoid Autumn Joy. I planted another variety named "Carl" last year, but as there were so few butterfies around in my garden last summer it's hard to say yet whether they like that one very much or or not. Marjoram in flower is a great attractant for many of the smaller meadow butterflies, as well as bees and many other insects, I find. -- Sue |
What are your experiences with Sedums and Butterflies?
On 29/3/07 09:34, in article
, "Sue" wrote: snip I have both forms of sedum within 10 yards of each other and do find that butterflies will head for the old original and avoid Autumn Joy. I planted another variety named "Carl" last year, but as there were so few butterfies around in my garden last summer it's hard to say yet whether they like that one very much or or not. Marjoram in flower is a great attractant for many of the smaller meadow butterflies, as well as bees and many other insects, I find. I don't think I've taken particular notice of which Sedum they like but I do know that they go really mad over Eupatorium later in the year. So if you haven't got some you might like to plant it. -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/ (remove weeds from address) |
What are your experiences with Sedums and Butterflies?
On 29 Mar, 09:53, Sacha wrote:
On 29/3/07 09:34, in article , "Sue" wrote: snip I have both forms of sedum within 10 yards of each other and do find thatbutterflieswill head for the old original and avoid Autumn Joy. I planted another variety named "Carl" last year, but as there were so few butterfies around in my garden last summer it's hard to say yet whether they like that one very much or or not. Marjoram in flower is a great attractant for many of the smaller meadow butterflies, as well as bees and many other insects, I find. I don't think I've taken particular notice of which Sedum they like but I do know that they go really mad overEupatoriumlater in the year. So if you haven't got some you might like to plant it. -- Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devonhttp://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/ (remove weeds from address) Sacha , Eupatoriums are well known particularly amongst American butterfly enthusiasts and I once grew some of our native E. cannabinum. Which one are you actually referring to here? Is it Purpureum? Neil Jones |
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