Antirrhinum
Q. A friend in Murree is seeking guidance regarding plants to grow which attract butterflies, moths and bees. Buddleia is, of course, one plant that does well and attracts many such insects but what are other plants that are easy to grow? We also suggested pitcher plants as these are also said to capture small insects such as mosquitoes. Can you please recommend more?
A. Buddleia is, as you say, an excellent plant for attracting butterflies, moths and bees and so too is the berberis (small yellow flowers followed by oval-shaped purple fruits which are edible) which grows wild in a few locations up there. Berberis fruit is much loved by various birds and people, too. Honeysuckle and wisteria are excellent for attracting bees and night-flying moths when in bloom — and honeysuckle is in bloom on and off all summer long in the hills. Zinnia flowers, along with marigolds, tagetes, cornflowers, pinks, antirrhinums, Sweet Williams, sunflowers, sweet alyssum, stocks and scented petunias are good seasonal flowers for butterflies, moths and bees as well. Other flowers, such as gaillardia and rudbekia, margarites, bellis, hollyhocks and wallflowers are also recommended. Herbs, including echinacea, thyme, borage, comfrey, lemon balm, oregano/marjoram, mints, monardia (bee balm), sage, aniseed and chives/garlic chives are good too and do very well in the Murree climate.
I do not recommend pitcher plants as they are ultra-expensive and difficult to care for. Growing them from seed is difficult. If plants are available, many of the species must be accompanied by a special licence as they have almost been wiped out in the wild and this goes for some other carnivorous plants, too. Having a pitcher plant or other carnivorous plants will not make any discernible difference for mosquitoes, as you would need many plants to make an impact. Pitcher plants would need to be indoors, in a heated room, during the Murree winter, which can be extremely cold.
All your gardening queries answered here
Q. Can liquorice be grown in Faisalabad and, if so, where can I get plants or seeds?
A. With proper soil preparation, shade provision and plenty of water, liquorice should grow reasonably well in your location. Plants, however, are not (to the best of my knowledge) available. To find a seed source, I suggest you search on the internet for a reputable seed supplier based somewhere in Pakistan.
Q. You advise not to let grapes fruit for the first three to four years so that the vine becomes strong. Does this also apply to pomegranates and other fruit trees?
A. No. Only to grape vines.
Q. A few years back, I planted a pomegranate sapling in my house. It has now grown into a thin forked tree approximately 18 feet tall. The tree is at the foot of the boundary wall of the house and perhaps that is why it is so tall. It flowers and sets fruit but the fruit drops when it is egg-sized. Kindly advise.