AUGUST I SEPTEMBER 2020 birdsandblooms.com 13
4 Butterf ly Rainbow Marcella conef lower
ECHINACEA, ZONES 4 TO 9
Butterfly Rainbow Marcella makes choosing a
coneflower variety easy with bicolor raspberry pink
flowers that melt into orange and yellow hues—the
blooms look as if they’re glowing. It grows just 15 to
18 inches tall, so it doesn’t need staking.
Why we love it: It’s an easy-care butterfly favorite
for hot, sunny conditions.
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3 Lucky Peach lantana
LANTANA CAMARA, ZONES 10 TO 12, ANNUAL ELSEWHERE
Lucky Peach lantana attracts butterflies and
hummingbirds but not deer. And with beautiful
peach blooms, it’s bound to attract lots of people, too!
Growing just 12 to 16 inches tall, it has a compact
mounded shape ideal for containers. Grow it as a
perennial in warm climates or as an annual elsewhere.
Why we love it: Typical of lantana, it loves sun and
stands up well to heat and humidity.
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2 Cabana
Banana dahlia
DAHLIA, ZONES 3 TO 10
This 4-foot-tall
dahlia has exquisite
quill-shaped petals
in a beautiful pink-
tinged cream hue.
The large blooms
attract butterflies and
hummingbirds and grow
even bigger if excess buds
are removed. If you live
in Zones 3 to 8, dig up the
tuberous roots in fall and
overwinter.
Why we love it: It
is easy to grow, blooms
from summer to frost
and has lightly fragrant
flowers that work well in
arrangements.
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TAKING CARE OF DAHLIAS To overwinter dahlias, dig up the bulblike root structures
and allow them to air-dry out of sunlight and protected from freezing. After a few days,
shake off soil and pack roots in sawdust or peat moss. Store in a cool, dry, dark place.
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Y 1 Superbells
Tropical Sunrise
calibrachoa
CALIBRACHOA, ANNUAL
Growing 6 to 12 inches
tall, Tropical Sunrise
has a trailing habit that
makes it ideal for filling
in pots, window boxes or
hanging baskets. Streaks
of yellow, pink and red
on each flower mean this
hummingbird favorite
can be planted alone or be
paired with similar hues.
Why we love it: Some
of its many perks include
gorgeous color and
continuous blooms that
last into fall. Plus there’s
no need to deadhead—a
gardener’s dream!