Interesting observation. I have this plant as well (also known as West Texas grass sage I think). Mine blooms too late for use by hummingbirds darn it, but will look to see if birds use it for seed. My goldfinches flock to the purple coneflowers and Rudbeckia I let naturalize on the side of my house. Of course, I don't have Lesser Goldfinches in my area but will look to see if other birds use it. Of interest also is I have seen Song Sparrows eating the seeds of Hyssop, actually plucking the seeds right out of the capsules.

Jeff Kozma

Yakima

j c r underscore 5105 at charter dot net.
----- Original Message -----
From: washingtonbirder.Ken Knittle
To: TWEETERS
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 5:44 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Salvia reptans brings Lesser Goldfinches into yard



For those who attract birds to their yards, this was a surprise for me. We have full size sunflower seeds shelled at the feeder, but the Lesser Goldfinches have been ignoring this for seeds in the Blue Willow Salvias (Salvia reptans 'Blue Willow'. This is a 4 ft tall plant with multiple branches coming from the base. Flowers are small blue salvias, which the hummingbirds liked all summer. It's the seeds that theses guys the lessers are after. Haven't seen the American Goldfinches eating on them. They actually prefer the sunflower seeds as do most other birds. Just thought I'd pass this along for other backyard bird feeders.



Ken Knittle
Vancouver WA 98665

mailto:washingtonbirder.com
Washington Birder online


http://www.wabirder.com/



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