Butterflies are desirable additions to our landscapes. They are colorful and interesting. In South and Central Texas, we have a large number of butterfly species to enjoy. Our moderate climate allows some species to be active all year.

Nectar-producing Plants
As adults, butterflies feed by collecting nectar from blooming plants. The most obvious way to increase the variety and number of butterflies that visit gardens and the landscape is to offer nectar-producing blooms all year long.

Here is a list of plants, by calendar quarter, that will produce blooms to meet the needs of butterflies.

butterflies like fall aster
Fall aster. Courtesy photo.

May, June, July
zinnia, plumbago, blue mistflower, milkweed, pavonia, cosmos

August, September, October
coneflower, vitex, penta, lantana, sunflower, mealy blue sage

November, December, January
fall aster, lavender, lantana, calendula, alyssum, dianthus

February, March, April
verbena, coreopsis, Salvia greggii, Fanick’s phlox, rain lily

Egg-laying Sites
Another way to increase butterfly numbers and diversity is to provide egg-laying sites.

For monarchs and queen butterflies, include one or more species of milkweed (Asclepias). The tropical milkweed has attractive orange or yellow flowers and is the easiest transplant to find, but there are several native milkweeds that are desirable. Plant native milkweeds if they are available, otherwise plant the tropical species. Milkweed has chemicals in its foliage that, when ingested by the butterflies, makes them taste bitter thereby discouraging predation. It’s ironic the most common native milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), called “butterfly weed,” is the least chemically potent egg-laying site.

Citrus in the landscape provides an egg-laying site for giant swallowtails. The caterpillars look like bird droppings.

Dill and/or parsley, even if the plants are growing in containers, attract black swallowtails in search of an egg-laying site. Male black swallowtails are black, and the females are yellow.

Passion vine is a vigorous plant that produces showy blooms in several color choices. They are also known for being the favorite egg-laying site of Gulf fritillary butterflies. It’s not unusual for the feeding caterpillars to strip the vine nearly bare of foliage and leave the blooms on bare stems.

The “Gold Star” selection of Texas yellow bells is one of the best hot weather blooming plants in our area. The attractive and drought-tolerant plant is a favorite egg-laying site of the gray hair-streak butterfly.

Other favorite caterpillar food plants include: flame acanthus for Janais patch and Texas crescent spot butterflies; cudweed for the American painted lady butterfly; Ruellia species for Buckeye butterflies, and cannas for Brazilian skippers.

Limit Insecticide Use
The third strategy for increasing butterfly numbers in your landscape is adopting a reasonable insecticide policy.

  • It’s possible to eliminate all insecticide use, but it can be tough to do—especially if you have a large garden.
  • Be prepared to tolerate some level of damage or “sharing” of your plantings with insects, especially caterpillars.
  • If you need to apply insecticide, choose one that targets the species of concern and has short-term potency. Avoid widespread spraying of general insecticides such as a landscape wide mosquito spray, which can be hard on butterflies and caterpillars.
  • Granular applications may be more controlled and cause fewer accidental caterpillar or butterfly kills than sprays.

Both organic and manufactured insecticides can kill butterflies.

by Calvin Finch, Ph.D.
Horticulturist

For more information and strategies for attracting butterflies, visit the Internet and the library. My favorite source of information is Butterfly Gardening for the South by Geyata Ajilvsgi.