Butterfly Caterpillar Host Plants

Huge deep scarlet red, 10" wide, widely flaring flowers with overlapping petals are borne from summer to fall on this beautiful perennial Hibiscus cloaked in rich apple green foliage. Red Flare Hardy Hibiscus is a showstopper with its continuous display of massive cranberry red flowers thanks in no small part to being nearly sterile and rarely producing seed. The Flare Hibiscus series have been selected as Texas Superstar© Plants due to their toughness, reliability, and performance in the garden and landscape throughout the state. These root hardy, 4-5' high and 4-6' wide herbaceous perennials will die-back to the ground in fall returning from the crown the following spring. Provide a richly fertile, moist, wet, to average moist soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and to maximize flowering. Easy and reliable! Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 13129

This new variety of variegated Hibiscus is absolutely Red Hot with it's burgundy, red, pink, green, and white foliage. The new growth starts out nearly maroon and lightens to a hot pink that sticks with it all season long adding its color to the landscape in broad strokes. 3-4" wide glowing red flowers add to its elegance in spring and summer and are sure to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 9348

The Red Shrimp Plant produces a continuous display of upright to arching spikes composed of large showy maroon bracts from which the individual maroonish-red and white tubular flowers emerge in spring and summer to year round under warm tropical conditions. This plant has exceptional flower power and makes a beautiful display as a container plant specimen and in mixed container gardens as well as in the garden and landscape. The common Shrimp Plant, Justicia brandegeeana, is a heat loving, naturally evergreen, bushy, tropical plant with dark olive green foliage and grows to about 24" high by about 18" wide. It is both full sun and bright shade tolerant but tends to have the densest branching habit where it receives at least 4 hours or more of direct sunlight. Provide an average to well-drained, moderately fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Attracts hummingbirds and the occasional larger butterfly and is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Caterpillar host: Cuban Crescent, Texan Crescent, White Peacock, and Malachite. Item# 620

Giant 6" scarlet pinwheels are produced throughout summer and often well into fall on sturdy stems with finely cut darkly tinged foliage. The Red Texas Star or Scarlet Swamp Mallow is a vigorous sun loving perennial which is native to the swampy soils of the southeastern US but is somewhat drought resistant once well-established in the garden. The brilliant red flowers attract a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, bees, and the occasional butterfly. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 672.

A multitude of upward facing, sleepy, scarlet blooms are born among the soft, dark green foliage from late spring to frost. A hardy and long-lived, spreading to upright perennial, Turk's Cap is an easy to grow heirloom that will flower in sun or light shade. An excellent nectar plant for hummingbirds as well as butterflies. Caterpillar host: Glassy Winged Skipper. Resistant to browsing by deer and moderately drought resistant once well-established. The ripe fruits are readily consumed by birds and other wildlife, along with the occasional curious human. Item# 691.

Similar to Black and Blue Salvia or Anise Sage but with contrasting lighter blue lips that open from 1" long indigo tubes that emerge from dark tubular calyxes that adorn the black flower spikes. Rockin'® Blue Suede Shoes™ Salvia, a hybrid selection of Salvia guaranitica now S. coerulea, flowers from spring to fall attracting hummingbirds and larger butterflies atop the rich deep green foliage on a compact well-branched plant that slowly spreads into a clump of flowering stems. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained fertile soil. Rockin'® Blue Suede Shoes™ is compact enough for medium to large containers and it is sure to make a statement in the garden and landscape. It has received high marks in trials across the US. Item# 11984

A continuous summer long display of short deep blue tubular flowers emerge from dark calyxes on dense tall dark spikes. A seedling of Mystic Spires Salvia, Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® Salvia is similar to the ever popular Indigo Spires Salvia with the same reliable flower power and slightly lighter blue flowers on a somewhat more compact upright growing plant. The nectar rich flowers are especially attractive to larger bees as well as butterflies and hummingbirds. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained fertile soil. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 11983

The large deep purplish red petals of Ruby Glow Passionflower are topped with a halo of deep bluish purple filaments. A heady sweet fragrance fills the air when this beautiful passionvine is in flower and it may produce very large, up to 3"W x 5"L, yellow tropical fruit if the flowers are cross pollinated by another species, cultivar, or seedling passionflower. Ruby Glow is a vigorous growing, heat loving tropical vine that can reach 20'H under good conditions. Caterpillar host: Gulf Fritillary, Julia Butterfly, Variegated Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing. Item# 631.

Spikes of deep red upward facing funnel-shaped flowers are produced non-stop from mid to late spring to fall atop the rich glossy deep green foliage attracting hummingbirds, occasional butterflies, and long-tongued bees. San Antonio Red Hummingbird Bush, a selection of Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii, is a small decidous native shrub from South Texas with excellent flower power. This easy and reliable heirloom has an upright to spreading busny habit rarely exceeding 3-4' in height (3'x3' is fairly typical in our zone 8B gardens) and it revels in the heat and sun of summer and is undaunted by the high humidity and high rainfall of the southeastern US. In the northernmost portion of its hardiness range, zones 7A-8A, the Hummingbird Bush may freeze back to near groundlevel in the hardest winters but readily returns to flowering by mid to late spring. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Small and tough enough for container culture but it also makes a low-maintenance addition the garden and landscape. Caterpillar host: Crimson Patch Item# 10034

In spring, tiny greenish-white flowers are produced in the leaf axils attracting a variety of bees and those that are pollinated will produce large 3/8" diameter shiny black berries. Beyond its value to wildlife, the Shamrock Dwarf Inkberry Holly, a selection of Ilex glabra, was selected for its compact 3-4' size, its adaptability to a variety of soil and sun conditions, and for the fact that it suckers less than the species. Its main requirement is acidic soils ranging from average moist to wet. Inkberry Holly is native to all states along the eastern seaboard and the Gulf Coast. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moist soil for optimum vigor and the densest growth habit. Caterpillar host: Holly Blue. Item# 13287

Possibly the most exciting native grass introduction on the market to date! In spring the narrow blades emerge heavily variegated with green and cream and are accented by pink tones, especially when weather is cooler. By summer it has grown into a 12-18" by 12-18" mass of arching boldly variegated white and green foliage. In late summer the flowering stalks begin to elongate showing off their variegated form and as summer temperatures begin to cool the white portions of the foliage and flowering stems deepens into pink and rose tones and finally into burgundy. Shining Star™ Little Bluestem, a beautifully variegated selection of our native Schizachyrium scoparium, is a widely distributed, clump forming, herbaceous perennial grass that is native to all but 2 of the lower 48 US states and is a major component of the Tall Grass Prairies of the midwest. Provide this lovely little grass with a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and growth. Images courtesy of Emerald Coast Growers, who discovered this new nativar, all rights reserved. Item# 13138

Forget those brittle old fall mums that need pinching and special treatment! Deep indigo, dense, fully double flowers are produced over an extended period in late summer and fall atop neat compact naturally rounded plants with deep green foliage. Forget about the throw away garden mums for fall, find an aster instead! Showmakers® Blue Bayou Dwarf New York Aster or Michaelmas Daisy, a selection of Aster novi-belgii or now Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, is a dense dwarf, hardy, clump-forming, native herbaceous perennial that develops into a neat rounded mass of flowers and foliage to about 12" high and wide with no pinching required. These were developed with container culture in mind but are sure to make statement in the garden or landscape as well. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Midday shade may be desirable in hot summer climates. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, all rights reserved. Item# 13165

Vibrant yellow and red flowers are borne from Spring to frost on an upright to spreading perennial. Raise Monarch Butterflies in your own backyard! The Monarchs migrate through our area just as the Asclepias begin to awaken in spring, just in time for the females to lay their eggs on the new growth. Caterpillar host: Queen and Monarch. Item # 3078.

Solid yellow blooms are borne from spring to fall on this vigorous and fast growing upright perennial. Raise Monarch Butterflies in your own backyard! The Monarchs migrate through our area just as the Asclepias begin to awaken in spring, just in time for the females to lay their eggs on the new growth. Caterpillar host: Queen and Monarch. item # 643.

A mainstay of southern and western Texas and New Mexico butterfly gardens! Bright yellow daisies are produced from late spring into fall and are held against a foil of dark green, deeply lobed, fragrant, narrow foliage with the heaviest flowering occurring in fall. The flowers are highly attractive to a variety of butterflies, bees, and other garden beneficials. Skeleton-Leaf Goldeneye, Viguiera stenoloba and now Sidneya tenuifolia, is a native, naturally evergreen, small shrub with fine-textured, very dark green, deeply lobed, strongly resiny fragrant foliage that is resistant to being browsed by deer and rabbits. It is tough as nails and is highly drought resistant once well-established. Use it as a low maintenance formal or informal hedge, back drop, or groundcover. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained soils. A caterpillar host plant for the Bordered Patch Butterfly. Item# 13084

The most vigorous growing of the Banana Magnolias or Banana Shrubs, Skinner's Banana Magnolia produces 1" long, sweetly banana scented, creamy yellow, cupped, miniature Magnolia flowers in spring and may produce some flowers until fall once mature. Still somewhat uncommon in the nursery trade, this small but vigorous evergreen tree or large shrub has a naturally upright to pyramidal habit with dark green glossy foliage. Skinner's Banana Magnolia makes a wonderful specimen, hedge, screen, or can easily be trained into a tree form. Caterpillar host: Western Tiger Swallowtail. Item# 646.

The Smith Fig is an heirloom Louisiana variety that was introduced by Becnel Nursery near New Orleans, Louisiana. It produces large yellow fruit with a sweet red flesh. A drop of honeydew exudes from the eye which minimizes spoiling and makes Becnel's Smith Fig a choice variety for southeastern gardens. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Image courtesy of F. Carter. Item# 9910.

This low growing, mat forming perennial covers up in 1/2" wide white daisies with yellow eyes in late summer and fall attracting bees and smaller pollinators. Snow Flurry White Heath Aster, a selection ofSymphyotrichum ericoides , is a 4-8" high, sprawling, groundcovering selection of this normally 3' high native perennial with dark green narrow heath or juniper like foliage. This species is found most commonly throughout much of the central US as well as into the northeastern and northwestern regions. Provide this easy perennial with a full to mostly sunny site and well-drained, semi-dry soils. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12246

Vibrant red, single, tropical Hibiscus flowers bring elegance and poise to the chaos of color brought on by the brilliantly variegated foliage which is randomly splashed in shades of rosy pink, white, and green. The tropical effect created by Snow Queen's foliage and flowers is sure to bring a cool fire to any tropical setting while the red flowers attract Hummingbirds, Sulphur butterflies, and other pollinators. Snow Queen Hibiscus is a vigorous and easy to grow Tropical Hibiscus with an upright to spreading habit and easy enough to train into standards. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 9392

A low growing, clump forming to slowly spreading perennial the Southern Prairie Aster produces 1" wide, medium purple to lighter pinkish purple daisies with a yellow eye atop sturdy upright to arching stems beginning in late summer and lasting into fall. This is another Aster that is native to sandy dryer upland soils and so is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Excellent for native pollinators.Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady.  Item# 10694.

The large maple-like foliage is broadly edged in bright creamy white and provide a nice backdrop to the orange veined Chinese lantern-like, 2" long flowers. Souvenir de Bonn Variegated Abutilon is a vigorous upright growing Flowering Maple that makes an easy to grow addition to tropical settings or as an indoor plant (this is a type of heirloom Abutilon that was once called a Parlor Maple).  Easily reaches 6-8' high if allowed to.Item# 11318

A freely flowering summer blooming Snapdragon, this easy to grow perennial produces dense spikes of soft rosy pink flowers with primrose yellow and peachy orange nectar guides that sit atop a compact mound of handsome fuzzy gray-green foliage. The Spanish Snapdragon, a native of the drier Meditteranean region of Europe, is a suprisingly winter hardy species growing about twice as wide as it is high and may trail somewhat when grown as a container plant. It is best suited to soils with excellent drainage in a full to mostly sunny location and makes a forgiving container specimen that will dazzle for weeks. Even with its preferences for drier conditions it has been quite tolerant of growing in average moist well-drainedsoils in our hot and humid southern zone 8B climate. Moderately drought resistant once well-established and considered to be deer and rabbit resistant. Caterpillar host: Common Buckeye. Item# 11695

Clusters of 1" orange tubular blooms are born throughout much of the year where protected from frost and freezes or it acts as a die-back perennial in the northern portions of its range. Shade and drought tolerant, deer resistant, and a favorite of Hummingbirds, how can you go wrong with Spicy Justicia? It flowers in sun or shade, though plants may be healthiest and most floriferous when grown with afternoon or midday shade, in well-drained, average moist, moderately fertile soils. Caterpillar host: White Peacock and Malachite. Item# 654.