Page 24 - BRN April 2021

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Hummingbirds and bees come to these mints. Mints need a moist, shady, protected area.
blooming flowers. Flowers open in evening and early morning. Other primrose species include: Oenothera biennis, common evening primrose, host for a number of caterpillars, and Oenothera speciosa, pink evening primrose.
Four-o-Clocks: Mirabilis longiflora, M. multiflora and M. albida and others. Flowers of these plants are visited by white-lined sphinx moths on summer evenings. These moths hover like hummingbirds and sip nectar through their long soda-straw-like proboscis. Their interesting
• Golden Current (Ribes aureus). This deciduous shrub has fragrant, tubular yellow flowers in the spring; they are followed by dark edible fruits.
Vines
Note: also for locations where you can provide more water.
• Virgin’s Bower, Western Clematis (Clematis ligustifolia). A delicate vining species with special value to native bees. Plants create dense masses.
• Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica). Vitis flowers are fragrant and attractive to nectaring insects; it is host to species of sphinx moths. Fruits are relished by a variety of birds.
• Woodvine (Parthenocissus vitacea). A vigorous climbing and sprawling woody vine with deciduous fall colors of stunning red. Fruits are very poisonous, not good for children’s gardens. Host for a variety of sphinx moths.
Night Blooming Perennials
Note: Many bloom early evening and morning also.
• * Sacred Datura
(Datura wrightii).
This plant is not
available
commercially. But if it is present on your property it is beautiful and is nectar source for large hawkmoths and for bees. It is host for some species of hawkmoth caterpillars, which are excellent food for young birds. This is a poisonous plant, so it is not recommended for areas where children play.
• Hooker’s Evening Primrose (Oenothera hookeri). Hawkmoths and hummingbirds visit these summer-
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caterpillars, which are hornworms, are found on the plants.
• * Mistletoe. Although poisonous to humans, this plant provides food and nectar for the great blue hairstreak butterfly. Fruits are consumed by a number of birds. It is the only host for the great purple hairstreak butterfly (photo following page).
Native Grasses
Native grasses offer a range of ecological values on your property. Grasses provide excellent soil shading to reduce evaporation, generate significant organic matter each year, and are critical in erosion control. With shallow but dense fibrous root systems, grasses slow down the movement of water so it can infiltrate, rather than rapidly running off, taking your topsoil and the life that water and soil support along with it.
It may be surprising to learn that the grass family is a key group of
plants that serve as host species for the Lepidoptera. And of these native grasses, the
grama grasses (the genus Bouteloua) are at the top. Grasses are host-plants for the caterpillars of a number of beautiful skipper and satyr butterflies. Some, such as our red satyr, lay their eggs on dead, fallen materials, making it difficult to determine host species. In addition to retaining moisture, this is one more good reason to retain organic materials on your soil surface. Grass seeds are also important food source for birds.
Vitis arizonica, Canyon Grape, is a great accent plant. (Barnes)
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