Butterfly Gardens
Thank you for joining us for our Butterfly Garden Event on Earth Day, April 22nd! If you missed the event, see the plants below so you can build your very own butterfly garden. Without pollinators, we do not have a food supply. Let's help build up the ecosystem for a positive impact in our area!
Information on this page is gathered from several sources including Sunscape Landscaping, the Monarch Sanctuary Project and National Wildlife Federation. All information is subject to change. Please contact management if a link breaks.
Zizotes Milkweed (Asclepias oenotheroides)
Plant Size: 1-3 feet tall and 18 inches wide
Larval Host: Monarch and Queen butterflies
Planting Depth: Dig a hole as deep as the pot and twice as wide.
Soil, Light, Water: Well-drained, sand, loan, clay soil. Full to partial/dappled sun. Low to medium water requirements once established.
Growing Habits: Year 1 - it sleeps. Year 2 - it creeps. Year 3 - it leaps!
Bloom Season: March - September
Pests: Milkweed bugs and aphids. Neither are a concern for the plant unless the plant looks unhealthy. Use a stream of water or a Qtip to remove. Pesticides are not encouraged as they affect the caterpillars.
Zemenia (Wedelia acapulcensis)
Plant Size: 3 feet tall, 3 feet wide
Larval Host: Bordered Patch, Sierran Metalmark, Lacinia Patch Butterfly
Planting Depth: Dig a hole as deep as the pot and twice as wide.
Soil, Light, Water: Dry, well-drained soils. Sun to Partial Shade. Low once established.
Growing Habits: Shrub-like
Larval Host: Bordered Patch, Sierran Metalmark, Lacinia Patch Butterfly
Planting Depth: Dig a hole as deep as the pot and twice as wide.
Soil, Light, Water: Dry, well-drained soils. Sun to Partial Shade. Low once established.
Growing Habits: Shrub-like
Bloom Season: May - November
Pests: sometimes aphids or spider mites
Pests: sometimes aphids or spider mites
Gregg Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii)
Plant Size: 1-2 feet tall, 18 inches wide
Larval Host: Rawson's Metalmark
Planting Depth: Dig a hole as deep as the pot, and twice as wide.
Soil, Light, Water: Well-drained, sand, loan, clay, limestone soil. Full to partial sun. Low water requirements once established.
Growing Habits: Year 1 - it sleeps. Year 2 - it creeps. Year 3 - it leaps!
Bloom Season: March - November
Larval Host: Rawson's Metalmark
Planting Depth: Dig a hole as deep as the pot, and twice as wide.
Soil, Light, Water: Well-drained, sand, loan, clay, limestone soil. Full to partial sun. Low water requirements once established.
Growing Habits: Year 1 - it sleeps. Year 2 - it creeps. Year 3 - it leaps!
Bloom Season: March - November
Pests: aphids, spider mites, whiteflies
Lantana (Lantana Dallas Red)
Plant Size: 6 feet tall, 6 feet wide
Larval Host: Grey Hairstreak, Texan Crescent, Sphinx moth.
Planting Depth: Dig a hole as deep as the pot and twice as wide.
Soil, Light, Water: Well-drained, sand, loam, clay, caliche. Full sun. Low once established.
Growing Habits: Year 1 - it sleeps. Year 2 - it creeps. Year 3 - it leaps!
Bloom Season: April - November
Larval Host: Grey Hairstreak, Texan Crescent, Sphinx moth.
Planting Depth: Dig a hole as deep as the pot and twice as wide.
Soil, Light, Water: Well-drained, sand, loam, clay, caliche. Full sun. Low once established.
Growing Habits: Year 1 - it sleeps. Year 2 - it creeps. Year 3 - it leaps!
Bloom Season: April - November
Pests: whiteflies, spider mites
Pests
Whiteflies - neem oil (read and follow instructions exactly).
Spider Mites - neem oil (read and follow instructions exactly).
Aphids - q-tip to remove, but generally are ok on Milkweed plants.
Milkweed Bugs - pick off, but generally are ok on Milkweed plants.
 Whiteflies
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Spider Mites
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 Aphids
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 Milkweed Bugs
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Beneficial Insects
Ladybirds (Lady Bugs/Lady Beetles) - eats aphids, mites, mealy bugs, scale.
Lacewing - eats aphids, whiteflies, mites, thrips.
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.png) Monarch Butterfly
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.png/_Queen%20Butterfly_(1)__199x144.png) Queen Butterfly
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.png) Painted Lady Butterfly
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.png) Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly
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.png) Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly
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.png) Gulf Fritillary Butterfly
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Monarch Caterpillar
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Queen Caterpillar
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Painted Lady Caterpillar
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Spicebush Caterpillars
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Pipevine Caterpillar
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Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
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.png) Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
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 Grey Hairstreak Butterfly
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 Sphinx Moth
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 Texas Crescent Butterfly
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 Rawson's Metalmark Butterfly
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 Sierran Metalmark Butterfly
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Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
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Grey Hairstreak Caterpillar
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Sphinx Moth Caterpillar
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Texas Crescent Caterpillar
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Rawson's Metalmark Caterpillar
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Sierran Metalmark Caterpillar
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