Native Plants

Showy Milkweed

Asclepias speciosa
Location

Native to

80113 Change
Type
Annuals/Per.
Attributes
Butterflies, Caterpillars, Fruit, Nectar, Nuts

Showy Milkweed is a stout, hairy perennial with large, blue-green leaves and showy, spherical clusters of pinkish flowers that bloom from May to September. It grows up to 3 feet tall in full sun and moist soils, and attracts hummingbirds and insect pollinators, serving as a larval host for Monarch Butterflies. This milkweed is one of the least poisonous to humans, but be sure when identifying them, as some milkweeds are highly toxic if eaten.

May Attract

Showy Milkweed is thought to attract these families of birds
Family
Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Buntings
Family
Chickadees and Titmice
Family
Crows, Magpies, Jays
Family
Finches
Family
Hummingbirds
Family
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Family
Nuthatches
Family
Blackbirds and Orioles
Family
New World Sparrows
Family
Thrushes
Family
Vireos
Family
Waxwings
Family
Wood Warblers
Family
Woodpeckers
Family
Wrens

Audubon Centers, State Offices & Chapters

These Audubon locations near you offer native plant services

In some parts of the country you may not have a "local" Audubon that is able to provide help with native plants for birds, but we will still show you the closest Audubon that can help.

Local & Regional Resources

Local and regional native plant societies, databases, and other resources may have expertise on exactly what plants are best for your particular area and climate.

Tamarisk Coalition

PO Box 1907, Grand Junction, CO 81502

Where to Buy

Find in-person and online vendors for your home or wholesale project. It's a good idea to call ahead to verify native stocks, and find out what services they offer.

Seeds Trust

5870 South Long Lane, Littleton, CO 80121

(720) 335-3436

Arkansas Valley Seed

4300 Monaco Street, Denver, CO 80216

(303) 320-7500

Applewood Seed Company

5380 Vivian Street, Arvada, CO 80002

(303) 431-7333

Little Valley Wholesale Nursery

13022 East 136th Avenue, Brighton, CO 80601

(303) 659-6708

Beauty Beyond Belief

6595 Odell Place, Boulder, CO 80301

(303) 530-1222

My Saved Plants: 0

More native plants for your area

Showing 20 results
 
American Plum

SHRUBS / TREES

American Plum

Prunus americana

Thrushes
Mockingbirds & Thrashers
Wood Warblers
+10

May attract

Thrushes
Mockingbirds & Thrashers
Wood Warblers
Cardinals & Grosbeaks
Orioles

Provides

Butterflies

Caterpillars

Fruit

 
Blue Grama

GRASSES

Blue Grama

Bouteloua gracilis

Finches
Nuthatches
Sparrows
+4

May attract

Finches
Nuthatches
Sparrows
Chickadees & Titmice
Woodpeckers

Provides

Fruit

Nuts

Seeds

 
Bluebell-of-Scotland

ANNUALS/PER.

Bluebell-of-Scotland

Campanula rotundifolia

Orioles
Sparrows
Wood Warblers
+4

May attract

Orioles
Sparrows
Wood Warblers
Mockingbirds & Thrashers
Hummingbirds

Provides

Nectar

Local resources
Your local Audubon offering native plant services is Audubon Society of Greater Denver.
9308 S Wadsworth Blvd, Littleton, CO 80128
| info@denveraudubon.org
Visit site
 
Choke Cherry

SHRUBS / TREES

Choke Cherry

Prunus virginiana

Thrushes
Chickadees & Titmice
Vireos
+10

May attract

Thrushes
Chickadees & Titmice
Vireos
Crows & Jays
Waxwings

Provides

Butterflies

Caterpillars

Fruit

 
Dotted Gayfeather

ANNUALS/PER.

Dotted Gayfeather

Liatris punctata

Vireos
Hummingbirds
Sparrows
+4

May attract

Vireos
Hummingbirds
Sparrows
Orioles
Mockingbirds & Thrashers

Provides

Nectar

 
Fragrant Sumac

SHRUBS / VINES

Fragrant Sumac

Rhus aromatica

Mockingbirds & Thrashers
Thrushes
Vireos
+10

May attract

Mockingbirds & Thrashers
Thrushes
Vireos
Nuthatches
Woodpeckers

Provides

Butterflies

Caterpillars

Fruit

 
Freshwater Cord Grass

GRASSES

Freshwater Cord Grass

Spartina pectinata

Cardinals & Grosbeaks
Crows & Jays
Sparrows
+4

May attract

Cardinals & Grosbeaks
Crows & Jays
Sparrows
Chickadees & Titmice
Woodpeckers

Provides

Fruit

Nuts

Seeds

 
Golden Currant

SHRUBS

Golden Currant

Ribes aureum

Nuthatches
Cardinals & Grosbeaks
Sparrows
+10

May attract

Nuthatches
Cardinals & Grosbeaks
Sparrows
Crows & Jays
Vireos

Provides

Butterflies

Caterpillars

Fruit

 
New England American-Aster

ANNUALS/PER.

New England American-Aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Vireos
Nuthatches
Mockingbirds & Thrashers
+11

May attract

Vireos
Nuthatches
Mockingbirds & Thrashers
Sparrows
Wrens

Provides

Butterflies

Caterpillars

Seeds

 
Nootka Rose

SHRUBS

Nootka Rose

Rosa nutkana

Nuthatches
Wood Warblers
Woodpeckers
+10

May attract

Nuthatches
Wood Warblers
Woodpeckers
Thrushes
Waxwings

Provides

Butterflies

Caterpillars

Fruit

My Saved Plants: 0

Learn more about
Native Plants
Native plants help support our birds throughout the year.
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Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a butterflyweed. Photo: Dave Maslowski
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