This is the seventh in a series of ideas for a dream wildlife deck. This week, I'll be talking about flowering container plants that attract wildlife.

I'd like to provide a few plants that provide food for as wide a variety of critters as possible. I will feed songbirds through seeds and hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees via certain flowers. Some plant leaves will offer caterpillars food.

The choices available are many (and I mean MANY), so I'm limiting this post to just a few flowering plants that I've tried or have caught my fancy.

1. Coreopsis

This member of the aster family is sometimes referred to by the less-than-glamorous name of tickseed. Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators like the long-blooming flowers, and wild birds enjoy the seeds. Although I'll deadhead most of the flowers to encourage new flower production, I'll leave the last few flowers to go to seed for the birds.

2. Marigold

Like coreopsis, marigold flowers attract butterflies, bees, and the occasional hummingbird while the seeds attract songbirds. In addition, marigold is readily available in seed or seedling forms.

Marigolds will attract such butterflies as monarchs, swallowtails, and fritillaries, as well as different skippers and sulphurs. For more information, see this article at the Windstar Institute site.

3. Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Asclepias tuberosa self-sows easily, and some consider the non-ornamental cultivars as weeds. However, I'm choosing it because it can provide not only nectar for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators but also food for butterfly larvae, as caterpillars will eat the leaves.

4. Common Chives

I love watching bees work chives, so I've got to have chives on my "dream" deck. Chives also almost absurdly easy to grow, and have the fringe benefit of being tasty on salads and baked potatoes. Butterflies and other pollinators also like chives.

5. Columbine

Since my days living and hiking in Colorado, I've liked columbines, especially the Swallowtail Columbine.

Columbines attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.

6. Monarda

Monarda 'Jacob Kline' is one of my favorites - I just like the way it looks. And, it turns out, butterflies and hummingbirds like it, too.

Of course, other kinds of monarda (like the one pictured, left) will also attract hummingbirds and pollinators.

7. Purple Coneflower

Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators also love Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). Coneflower is relatively easy to grow, too.

The Series

1. An Introduction
2. Providing Water
3. Bird Food
4. Bird Feeders
5. Shelter
6. Vines and Shrubs to Shelter Wild Birds
7. Flowering Container Plants