Butterflies
An Inviting Addition To Your
Landscape
By Bob Fitzsimmons
Swallowtail butterfly – larvae stage & adult
San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country are blessed with native Lantanas that never fail to entice the many summer and fall butterflies (Lepidoptera) to drink nectar as they pass through the area. Many gardeners have incorporated native plants like Lantana, Verbena, butterfly weed, passionflower, mistflower, Flame Acanthus, Cenizo, honeysuckle and Pavonia, to lure and keep butterflies in their yards.
The plants that attract adult butterflies don’t have to be native. Plant a succession of spring, summer and fall bloomers to create variety and longer blooming periods. This will attract butterflies for a longer period of time. Here are some suggestions:
| Sweet alyssum |
Impatiens |
Salvia |
| Aster |
Kalanchoe |
Sedum |
| Calendula |
Marigold |
Shrimp plant |
| Catmint |
Pentas |
Zinnias |
| Cosmos |
Petunia |
|
| Geranium |
Plumbago |
|
Most attention is given to the adult forms of butterflies. In their life cycle, butterflies go through four stages: the egg, worm (caterpillar or larva), mummy stage (chrysalis) and the adult, for a complete metamorphosis.
What a surprise it was to see your summer crop of parsley
and dill devoured by multi-colored worms (larva). Young
butterfly larva have to eat too. How foolish did you feel
when you found out that you destroyed a beautiful butterfly
disguised as an ugly worm?
No matter how destructive worms and caterpillars are, they all transform into some form of moth or butterfly. Learn to identify the desirable ones. If you’re interested in attracting specific butterflies, do some research and identify the food source for their larvae and nectar plants for the adult form.
Butterflies hate pesticides. They are extremely sensitive to “bug killers,” so don’t use them if you want these beauties to visit your yard. If you feel a need to control a certain pest, first identify it, and then apply an appropriate organic product. Soap and water sprays, and lightweight oils, can control 9 out of 10 problems in the landscape -- and they don’t harm butterflies.
Be on the lookout for Gulf fritillary, Pipevine swallowtail, Giant swallowtail, Giant sulfur, skippers and Bordered patch. They all have been spotted in my garden and could be on their way to your house.
Happy gardening!
Find out more information from the San Antonio Zoo
