All butterflies are attracted by certain, specific plants. The plants they look for are the“ host plants” they lay eggs on, and the nectar-producing plants that the adult butterflies need for food.
In a period of just a week or two, a female butterfly can lay hundreds of eggs on a host plant. Yet only a few of them will become adult butterflies. On average, out of 500 eggs, only five survive the typical backyard living conditions in Texas. Butterflies-to-be are most vulnerable to predators and disease during this period – the caterpillar( larval) stage in the spring. During this time they’ re still totally flightless, clinging to the host plants where they were born.
Throughout our hot, dry summer( when must butterflies grow up) and into the fall, nectar plants are vital to an adult butterfly’ s survival, particularly for migrating butterflies such as Monarchs, as they“ bulk up” for a long flight. They also need a water source – and they prefer one that’ s very shallow. Some even prefer mud.
All plants produce nectar, but some more than others. Butterflies know instinctively which ones to look for. The“ right kinds of plants” for attracting butterflies here include mistflower, verbena, lantana, Turk’ s cap, milkweed, butterfly weed, scarlet sage / salvia, alyssum and yarrow.
Other recommendations include passion vine, Mexican plum, hop ash, clover, sunflower and sumac. Most tall, native grasses( like bluestem, switchgrass, muhly, indiangrass etc.) are good too. Most are native to Texas, and those that are not are native to an adjoining state.
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