[dropcap]T[/dropcap]hough the fortunes of the monarchs rise and fall from year to year, when you look beyond the latest statistics and look back to the numbers recorded 20 years ago, then you realize how steep the overall decline has been.
As gardeners, and as stewards of our lands, I believe we should all put aside some part of our gardens to be good hosts to our magical visitors on their epic 2,800 mile journeys back and forth between Mexico and Canada.
To do this we just have to choose the right plants to support the butterflies during their larva (caterpillar) stage.
For monarchs, try planting butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberose). This tropical milkweed grows to a height of 2 to 4 feet, and has striking orange and red flowers.
Besides being a host plant, milkweed also has an abundance of nectar. Nectar plants act as fueling stations or pit stops for many different species.
Other great nectar plants commonly found in our central Texas gardens are lantanas, butterfly bushes (Buddlea), pentas, mistflowers (Eupatoriums), mealy sages, Turk’s caps, and wild bergamot.
There are other types of butterflies that we can attract to our yard through careful choice of plants.
For black swallowtail butterflies, I offer my triple curled parsley, which will reach a height of two and a half feet in May, and will have hundreds of beautiful blooms. The caterpillars will then get busy eating the foliage.
(Other hosts for black swallowtails are dill, fennel, and rue.)
The list of host and nectar plants is lengthy and includes many native and adaptive species that thrive in our region with little care. Gulf fritillaries and zebra longwings have a passion for passionvine, for example. Red admirals like pellitory, and for tiger swallowtails, it’s Texas ash.
Many of these plants add beauty to our landscapes and are tolerant of drought. For more detailed information, a visit the Austin Butterfly Forum website (austinbutterflies.org) would be a good idea.
Why not add a few of these drought-hardy species to your garden and be a good Lepidopteral host to these marvels of nature . . . and if we can all provide more milkweed for the monarchs, we should be able to continue to support and increase the number taking part in these epic migrations.
Happy butterfly gardening everyone!
If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to [email protected]. Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme:11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748 www.itsaboutthyme.com
