Most every gardener loves color, and many want to use plants that attract birds, butterflies and bees. Not too long ago, plants that met those requirements often were too large or too finnicky to be in our flower beds.
But plant breeders have developed new plants that not only are better behaved than their parents, they can take more heat, become drought tolerant when established and fit into our smaller gardens and containers.
First up are some new salvias, penstemons, agastaches and mimulus. These long blooming, colorful and reliable plants attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies in the larvae or adult stage.
A new series of salvias called 'Heatwave' were bred in Australia. These plants — salmon pink, cream, lilac, hot pink or red — grow up to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Growing more compact, dense and less brittle than other Salvia greggiis, these plants are more useful in that they can move from a background position in the flower bed to a place of prominence.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Oakland Tribune