7 Native Plants That Attract Butterflies in South Texas

Why Native Plants Matter for Butterflies

Butterflies are not just attracted to any flowering plant — many species have evolved over millions of years in direct partnership with specific native plants. A butterfly that relies on a particular host plant for its caterpillars will not survive in a landscape filled with ornamental exotics, no matter how colorful those flowers may be. To support butterflies, you need to grow the plants that butterflies and their caterpillars actually need.

The Rio Grande Valley is exceptionally rich in native butterfly-supporting plants, many of which are also beautiful, drought-tolerant, and easy to grow. Valley Nature Center maintains native plantings throughout its butterfly garden and woodland trail that demonstrate exactly what a butterfly-friendly South Texas landscape looks like.

1. Turk's Cap (Malvastrum drummondii)

Drummond's Turk's-cap is a "sticky mallow" that does well in nearly every soil type. It has leggy, upright stems that produce solitary, whorled blooms that barely open. Butterflies and hummingbirds love the true red version of this turban-shaped flower, but it comes in white too. It is a host plant for the Turk's-cap White-Skipper and a nectar source for dozens of butterfly species. Shade tolerant and drought resistant — one of the most versatile native plants for South Texas gardens.

2. Texas Torchwood (Amyris texana)

Texas Torchwood, or Chapotillo, is an understory shrub with oily, citrus-scented leaves. Because it can grow in sun or shade, stays relatively small, and produces long-blooming, fragrant flowers in the fall, it is gaining popularity as a sensible addition to residential landscapes in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. It is the primary larval host plant for the Giant Swallowtail butterfly — the largest butterfly in North America — whose caterpillars are disguised as bird droppings on the leaves.

3. Anacua (Ehretia anacua)

The Sandpaper tree is a major nectar plant for butterflies when it blooms in late winter and early spring. Its dense clusters of white flowers attract Queens, Monarchs, Pipevine Swallowtails, and dozens of other species during a period when few other plants are in bloom. A mature Anacua in full flower is one of the most productive butterfly plants in the South Texas landscape.

4. Huisache (Acacia farnesiana)

The host plant for the Mexican Yellow butterfly, huisache also provides critical early-season nectar when most other plants are still dormant. Its blooms in January through March bridge the gap between winter and spring for overwintering butterflies. Plant huisache in a sunny spot with well-drained alkaline soil and it will reward you with golden blooms and the fragrance of natural perfume every late winter.

5. Mexican Wild Olive (Cordia boissieri)

Mexican Wild Olive, commonly called Anacahuita, produces lovely, thin, white blossoms that entice bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It produces grape-sized fruit that insects and birds enjoy. A year-round bloomer in the Valley, it provides consistent nectar through summer and fall when many other plants have finished blooming. Plant it in full sun — it is one of the showiest native trees for the South Texas landscape.

6. Cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens)

The Cenizo, or Barometer Bush, earns its common name by blooming explosively after rainfall — the silver-leaved shrub erupts in purple flowers within 24 to 48 hours of significant rain. These bloom events attract enormous numbers of butterflies and bees in a synchronized feeding frenzy. Cenizo is extremely drought tolerant, requires almost no maintenance, and provides consistent nectar through the entire warm season.

7. Brasil (Condalia hookeri)

The Brasil is spiny shrub that should be considered armed and dangerous. In fact, when collecting its sweet, small, black berries, indigenous peoples reportedly beat it with a stick in order to gather the fallen fruit, rather than fight the thorns in any attempt to pluck it. Despite its defensive character, Brasil is an outstanding nectar and larval plant for butterflies, and its dense thorny structure provides unsurpassed nesting cover for birds. Plant it along a fence line or property edge where its thorns become an asset.

Visit VNC's Butterfly Garden

All seven of these plants and many more are growing at Valley Nature Center in Weslaco. The butterfly garden and woodland trail provide a living demonstration of how native plantings support the extraordinary butterfly diversity of the Rio Grande Valley. Visit between May and October for peak butterfly activity. VNC is open Tuesday through Friday 9am–4pm, Saturday 9am–5pm, and Sunday noon–5pm.