Definitely a favorite plant for hummingbirds. Each flower contains a lot of nectar.  This plant is sold as an annual here in Westchester. After many years of purchasing it, one planting turned out to be hardy and returned each year. I recall one time tying the above plant to the trellis behind when a humming bird came to feed, she came so close to me I could feel the breeze from her wings on my hand.  Grows to about four feet tall. Starts blooming in July and continues until late fall. Best in full sun.

This sinningia can be planted in the garden late spring as a tuber (bulb) or started indoor earlier. It starts blooming in July and continues flowering until late August. The tuber can be lifted in the fall and saved for the winter much like dahlia tubers. I have grown this in my garden for the past three years in full sun and semi shade. One inch flowers held about six inches high with a purple throat.

Heavenly Blue morning glory is the gauge to set all other blue flowers against. An easy annual vine to grow from seed. Thrives in our hot humid sunny summers here in Westchester. Even grows well in small pots provided its watered well. Full sun. A scrambling vine to six feet, it needs a trellis, fence or shrub to scramble through. Starts blooming in August until late fall, flowers about three inches in diameter. Deer resistant.

Colchium ‘Waterlily’ flowers in October here in Westchester. I have found that it only lives for about two years in gardens here. 

Common name ‘Chinese Dunce Cap’.  A tough long lived succulent. Full sun. Happy growing in a rock crevice.  Blooms in the fall.

Common name ‘Heavenly Bamboo’. Not belonging to the bamboo family. Narrow upright evergreen shrub to about six feet in height. New foilage in spring is a rosy red color. Large bunches of small white flowers in early summer which produce the beautiful bunches of red berries in the fall. Some of the older lacy foilage will turn red in the fall. Tough, long lived shub. Best in full sun, more flowers, berries and color.

This tropical vine is a favorite nectar source for Hummingbirds here in Westchester wherever it is grown. Hence is common name is ‘Hummingbird Vine’.  An annual, it is easily grown from seed and once you have it in the garden it will reseed every year. Like most morning glories its rapid growth starts when the summer heat kicks in. Fern like foliage, flowers all summer into fall. There is also a pink and white flowered variety.

Common name ‘Lords and Ladies’. This arum starts growth in the fall when all other plants are waning. A tough slowly spreading perennial that is deer resistant. Grows to about fifteen inches high. Does equally well in shade or sun. Large jack-in-the-pulpit flowers in spring followed by stems of bright red berries. Disappears below ground at the beginning of summer.

Yes, we can grown oranges in Westchester. Well, a close relative. A hardy deciduous shrub/small tree, grows to about twelve feet high. Two inch scented white flowers in spring. Will grow in semi shade but will have a lot more fruit in full sun. The oranges are very bitter but can be used to make marmalade. In late fall when the fruit are starting to ferment they release a strong citrus scent which is very pleasant. With its large dense wicked thorns it makes a good barrier plant to keep deer at bay.

Mazus is a ground cover plant for light shade to full sun. Fast growing but not invasive. Covered in flowers during April/May. Works well planted in between patio/path, bluestone or granite pavers.