For several years, I’ve been working on an easy to maintain garden that attracts wildlife. Native perennial plants with low water needs have been carefully selected and have replaced non-natives that need more water or don’t appeal to pollinators. I’ve kept a few favorite non-native plants, like my annual zinnias.
The zinnia is a member of the Asteraceae family and is a popular garden plant in much of the world. Most varieties are native to Mexico and surrounding areas, mainly in North America. They are easy to grow, bloom in a variety of bright colors, and, even though they are not native, provide nectar to adult butterflies including painted ladies and swallowtails. (See CSU Extension Fact Sheet #5.504 Attracting Butterflies to the Garden.)
There is a perennial zinnia native to Colorado called the Golden paperflower or Plains zinnia (Zinnia grandiflora). It grows up to 8 inches tall in a clump, with long lasting golden flowers, and is found growing on the plains, d
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