Thursday, June 30, 2011

Must Have More!

Every year there's a plant or two that grabs my attention.  Sometimes I just love it for what it is.  But sometimes I want more!  This is one of those plants:

Echinacea 'Fragrant Angel'
'Fragrant Angel' has been the best butterfly attractor in my garden.  There was a time period that I could not go outside without finding a butterfly (and most of the time more than one) on the blooms of this plant.  'Fragrant Angel' is obviously quite fragrant to butterflies!


'Fragrant Angel' is also the hardest working echinacea in my garden.  When the blooms became brown from the heat and drought stress, I cut most of them off.  'Fragrant Angel' reacted by sending up new blooms.  At about 3 ft. tall, it tends to leans a bit, but I think that just gives my garden a bit more character.


And I could use a little more white in my multi-color garden.

A repeat blooming, butterfly-attracting workhorse of a beauty!  Oh, yes, I want more!

27 comments:

  1. I have a pink variety and yes, you're right the butterflies do love it. Mine is especially pretty this year because I protected it from the ground hog early on. I had two photos on my Wednesday post of it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Butterflies love my Echinacea also and since I love both it's an easy decision to have them. They look lovely.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have the same inclination...to favor a different plant each year. This echinacea is definitely one to savor...stunning. I keep telling myself to plant more echinacea...their beauty is such an attraction.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My Echinacea are white and do not seem to be pulling their weight in the butterfly department. I always blamed them because they were white. I find it hard to favor a plant because as the season progresses, the newest to bloom always is a brief favorite. It is easier to say which ones I like the least.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'll have to check out 'Fragrant Angel'. I always have room for echinacea!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Marcia - Thankfully I don't have any ground hogs! Although I do have armadillos that root around, destroying things!

    Cher - I didn't realize what a butterfly magnet this would be! These are the favorite butterfly plant in my garden, with scabiosa second.

    Sage Butterfly - This one really does stand out in my garden, as it's just one of very few whites I have in a sea of hot colors. I'm drawn to it as much as the butterflies!

    GWGT - Interesting that your white echinaceas are not attracting many butterflies. They must have something else in your garden they love more! I generally try to ignore the plants I like least. I've been trying to decide if I have the courage to get rid of some that I don't particularly care for. Maybe I need to find a 'temporarily discarded' bed to place them in!

    Cynthia - lol-I hope you get it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sherry - I can't seem to notice a scent to it, but my nose is not the most sensitive. Obviously, though, the butterflies like it! I hope you get one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the white Echinacea! I didn't realize they had a scent. Beautiful! My purple ones are about to bloom, too. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very pretty, it is great to find a plant that performs so well for you. I went to a nursery today for some potting soil (my pot ghetto needed attention) and got four new penstemons on impulse. Four! I have been trying to figure out where I can possibly put them...

    ReplyDelete
  10. It certainly is a beauty... in book an Echinacea in any color is always a winner!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a beautiful flower and lovely butterfly! Are the Echinacea flowers the kind you use for tea to relieve colds? Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  12. The white echinacea is beautiful!
    Have a great week-end!
    Monica

    ReplyDelete
  13. I want one let alone more! Stunning images - no wonder the butterflies love it.
    Have a good weekend and Happy 4th
    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  14. I want the echinacea and butterflies too. It seems that all the activities and attention have shifted to the Northern Hemisphere and I am so jealous!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Pretty flowers with pretty names. I should plant some echinacea and other butterfly attractors. Great pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  16. PlantPostings - The purple ones are gorgeous, too. I have some yellow and some pink ones, but these are the biggest attractor - this year!

    Masha - I do the same thing - pick up something that's calling my name then wonder where I'll put it. It always seems to get squeezed in somewhere! Have fun planting your new loves.

    Carol- I agree. A great form, a cheerful bloom. What's not to love?

    Priscilla - I believe it is, although I've never done that. But if you had a herb garden, echinaceas could definitely be included!

    letricivette - It has exceeded my expectations!

    Laura - I'm so glad I got these. Another impulse purchase, but a successful one!

    Autumn Belle - Yes, almost everyone's garden in the Northern Hemisphere is blooming with something right now. It's what we all wait for.

    Bumble Lush - Oh, you should! Seeing the butterflies has been such a joy this year to me.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love Echinacea and am always trying new cultivars. Most are disappointing or even dangerous because they carry a nasty virus (flowers turn green and double). I will have to look out for this cultivar because you recommend it so highly.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh great. Another plant I have to buy now. :) :) :P

    ReplyDelete
  19. Piękna Echinacea -jeżówka ,ja mam różową ,już dość wielką rozrośniętą roślinę .Warto ja mieć w swoim ogrodzie ,uwielbiają ją motyle ...pozdrawiam Bogusia....

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jennifer@threedosginagarden
    I can see why you want more. So pretty! Congratulations on your well. I sure your garden is thrilled.
    P.S. I loved your bee/efficiency expert post!

    ReplyDelete
  21. How do you keep scabiosa from rotting in your neck of the woods?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Holleygarden,

    What a beauty!I have not seen this Echinacea before. One to definitely add to my want list!

    glimpsesofglory-karen.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. carolyn - I had not heard of this virus before you mentioned it, but looking it up, it seems to be fairly widespread. Thanks for mentioning it, I'll be on the lookout for it, though so far mine are fine. I hope you can find some non-virused echinaceas. They are a lovely plant, and I'd hate to not have them in my garden.

    Hanni - I know how you feel. I see plants that I want and always think "Oh, I need that! But where to put it?????"

    Bogusia - The pink ones are pretty, too. I'm not sure why my butterflies seem to prefer this one. Perhaps its fragrance is stronger to them.

    Jennifer - We finally hit water and now we're just waiting to get the pump in, electrical, etc. But, yes, my garden doesn't know how happy will be soon!

    Greggo - Probably because it's so dry here! That may change once I get ample water, but for now everything in my garden lives on very little additional water. I hope it doesn't start rotting on me - I love that plant!

    Karen - This one is a keeper, for sure. Tall, beautiful, and attractive to butterflies! I hope you get it and love it as much as I do.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love echinacea and have several kinds but have never been around Fragrant Angel.That is good information to know and may add it to my garden for the pollinators. Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Lona - I think you'll be happy with this one! I was amazed how many butterflies it attracted! It was hard to take a picture without a butterfly on it!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I haven't heard of 'Fragrant Angel' but it looks and sounds terrific. I never notice many butterflies on my echinaceas?? That makes what you are describing sound even more attractive. I'll have to check our nursery and see if they have any. Happy 4th!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...