Attractive (easy maintenance) year round plant/shrub for Southern Jersey?

Question

I have a space that I need to fill under my windows. It is 15 feet long by 2 feet wide by 31/2 feet high. We had rhododendrons but grew tired of them, since we have planted many things that haven't worked. It is an area that gets a lot of sun.- I would like to have something that would attract butterflies and/or humming birds. Easy to maintain, beautiful all year, not just when they flower, and full.

Answer 1

I understand your wish for butterflies and humming birds however flowers that attract those also attract bees which could make a nest in your home. I would suggest you plant things like arbovita (green type bushes) and then put a planter attached to your window in which you have things like the old time petunias or geraniums. Then in the distance where you can look out and see a mass of flowers (from a side window from the kitchen or bedroom) make your flower garden (all kinds of flowers and flowering bushes) and add your humming bird hanging bowl or birdhouse with sugarwater in it.

from wikipedia: "Research should be conducted as to what species are prevalent in your area, and what plants they prefer to nectar on. Depending on your zone, some butterfly attracting plants include: purple cone flowers (echinacea purpurea), yellow cone flowers, sunflowers, marigolds, cosmos, salvias, some lillies, asters, coreopsis, daisies, verbenas, milkweed (especially for the Monarch butterfly, whose caterpillars feed solely on this plant), the butterfly bush (budleia), zinnias, and others."

also: http://www.flowerportfolio.com/butterfly-garden.html

Answer 2

Below is a website that will suggests plantings for butterfly gardens and then on the same page is a link for a songbird garden. Hopefully, you will find a plant in there that catches your fancy and will work well in a sunny location.

Answer 3

Please check out this site for what type of flowers or plants to plant if you want to have a butterfly garden here in NJ. It's an excellent site and it will give you excellent information. http://www.wildnj.com/ksbplants.htm