best Butterfly plants for north texas
Here are plants that I have seen in many North Texas butterfly gardens. There are many plants to choose from and the list can be organized alphabetically in each column. There are multiple pages of the table so make sure you click the next button to find more plants. These are some of the best butterfly plants for North Texas. Click here to find places to buy butterfly plants in North Texas.
| Plant Name | Size | Sun/Shade | Annual/Perennial Blooming Season | Color(s) | What life cycle stage eats this plant | Hosts | Other Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anise Hyssop | 2-3 ft. tall Spread 2 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer | Blue/purple flower spikes | Adults | Monarchs | Also hosts hummingbirds Herb |
| Bee balm-Purple | 2-3 ft. tall Spread 1.5 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer | Scarlet red flowers | Larvae and adults | Swallowtails | Also hosts hummingbirds and bees |
| Bee balm-Rose | 2-3 ft. tall Spread 1.5 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer | Pink flower | Larvae and adults | Swallowtails | Also hosts hummingbirds and bees |
| Black-Eyed Susan | Up to 2 ft. tall Spreads 2 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer | Yellow petals with a dark brown/black center | Eggs, larvae, and adults | Monarchs and Swallowtails | Native to Texas Also hosts birds |
| Butterfly Bush-Miss Molly (Buddleia) | 4-5 ft. tall Spread 4-5 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer, Fall | Bright pink flower spikes | Adults | Monarchs and tiger swallowtails, giant swallowtails, and gulf fritillary | Also hosts hummingbirds and birds |
| Butterfly Bush-Pink Microchip (Buddleia) | 2-3 ft. tall Spread 3-4 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer, Fall | Pink flower spikes | Adults | Monarchs, tiger swallowtails, giant swallowtails, and gulf fritillary | Also hosts hummingbirds and birds |
| Butterfly Weed | 2-3 ft. tall Spread to 2 ft. | Full sun | Perennial Summer, Fall | Orange flowers | Larvae | Monarchs | Native to Texas |
| Calylophus | 1 ft. tall Spread 1 ft. | Full sun/part sun | Perennial Spring, Summer, Fall | Yellow flowers | Adults | Many types | Native to Texas |
| Columbine | 1-3 ft. tall Spread 1.5 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Spring | Yellow or red flowers | Eggs and larvae | Duskywings | Native to Texas Also hosts hummingbirds and birds |
| Coneflower/Echinacea | 2 ft. tall Spread to 2 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer, Fall | Purple, white or yellow flowers | Adults | Monarchs, Painted ladies, and Swallowtails | Native to Texas Also hosts birds and bees |
| Dill | 2-4 ft. tall Spread 1-2 ft. | Full sun | Annual Spring, Summer | Green foliage | Eggs and larvae | Swallowtails | Herb |
| Fall Aster | 3 ft. tall Spread 4 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Fall | Lavender flowers | Eggs and larvae | Pearl Crescent | Native to Texas |
| Fall Obedient Plant | 1-2 ft. tall Spread 1.5 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Fall | Pink flower spikes | Adults | Many types | Native to Texas Also hosts hummingbirds |
| Frogfruit | 3-4 in. tall Spread 8-10 in. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer | Small white flowers | Buckeye eggs and larvae Others adults | Buckeye, queen | Native to Texas Groundcover |
| Gaura | 2-4 ft. tall Spread 2-3 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer, Fall | White or pink blooms | Eggs and larvae | White-sphinx moth | Native to Texas Drought tolerant |
| Hummingbird Bush | 3-4 ft. tall Spread 3 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Deciduous Summer, Fall | Red-orange blooms | Adults | Monarchs | Native to Texas Also hosts hummingbirds |
| Hummingbird Mint | 2 ft. tall Spread 2 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer, Fall | Blue/purple flower spikes | Adults | Monarchs | Also hosts birds and bees |
| Illinois Bundleflower | 5 ft. tall Spread 2 ft. | Full sun | Perennial Spring, Summer | White flowers and then seed pods | Adults | Reakirt's blue butterfly | Also hosts birds |
| Indian Blanket | 1-2 ft. tall Spread 1 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Spring, Summer | Yellow center and bright pink petals | Eggs, larvae, and adults | Buckeye for eggs and larvae and many other types for adults | Also hosts bees |
| Kidneywood | 7-12 ft. tall Spread 6-8 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer, Fall | White or Purple flowers | Adults | Southern dogface butterfly | Also hosts bees Drought tolerant |
| Lantana | 3-4 ft. tall Spread 3-4 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer, Fall | Pink and yellow flowers | Adults | Swallowtails, monarchs, gulf fritillary | Also hosts hummingbirds, birds and bees |
| Mexican Oregano | 1-2 ft. tall Spread 2 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer, Fall | Lavender flowers | Adults | Many butterflies | Adapted to Texas Herb Also attracts bees |
| Milkweed | 2-5 ft. tall Spread 6-8 in. | Full sun | Perennial Summer | Pink flowers | Monarch eggs and larvae Others adults | Monarchs and swallowtails | Also hosts bees |
| Mistflower | 1.5 ft. tall Spread 3 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer, Fall | Blue/purple flowers | Adults | Black swallowtail, monarch, gulf fritillary, red admiral, and queen | Native to Texas Also hosts hummingbirds |
| Moonbeam Coreopsis | 1.5 ft. tall Spread 1.5 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer, Fall | Yellow flowers | Adults | Many butterflies | Also hosts birds |
| Morning Glory | 6-10 ft. tall Spread 3-5 ft. | Full sun | Perennial Spring, Summer, Fall | Purple flower with white center | Eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults | Clouded skippers | Vine growing |
| Parsley | 8-12 in. tall Spread 1-2 ft. | Part shade/full sun | Biennial Summer | Leafy green foliage | Larvae | Swallowtails | Herb |
| Passion Vine | 15 ft. tall Spread 5 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Spring, Summer | Purple big flowers | Adults | Fritillary types | Also hosts hummingbirds Fragrant |
| Rosemary | 3 ft. tall Spread 3 ft. | Full sun | Perennial Summer | Light blue or white flowers | Adults | Many types | Adapted to Texas Herb Also hosts bees |
| Ruellia/Mexican Petunia | 3 ft. tall Spread 12-15 in. | Full shade/part shade/full sun | Perennial Spring, Summer, Fall | Purple flowers | Buckeye eggs and larvae and Others adults | Monarchs and Swallowtails | Also hosts hummingbirds |
| Salvia-Autumn Sage | 2-3ft. tall Spread 2ft. | Full sun/light shade | Perennial Spring, Summer, Fall | Red blooms | Adults | Tiger swallowtails | Native to Texas Also hosts hummingbirds |
| Skullcap-Pink | 12 in. tall Spread 1-2 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer | Pink flowers | Adults | Skippers | Native to Texas Also hosts hummingbirds and bees |
| Skullcap-Purple | 12 in. tall Spread 1-2 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer | Bright purple flowers | Adults | Skippers | Native to Texas Also hosts hummingbirds and bees |
| Snake Herb | 6-18 in. tall Spread 1 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Spring, Summer, Fall | Purple flowers | Adults | Buckeye | Native to Texas |
| Texas Sage | 4-5 ft. tall Spreads 4-5 ft. | Full sun | Evergreen Spring, Summer, Fall | Purple/blue flowers | Eggs and Larvae | Checkerspot | Shrub |
| Texas Thistle | 2-5 ft. tall Spread 2-3 ft. | Full sun | Perennial Spring, Summer | Purple Flowers | American lady and painted lady eggs and larvae All adults | American lady, painted lady, pipevine swallowtail | Native to Texas Drought tolerant |
| Thyme | 6-12 in. tall Spread 1 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Spring, Summer | Small white flowers | Adults | Skippers | Herb |
| Tropical Milkweed | 18-24 in. tall Spread 18-24 in. | Full sun | Perennial Summer | Orange centers with red petals | Eggs, larvae, and adults | Monarchs | Mot the best type of milkweed for monarchs, plain milkweed is the best |
| Turk's cap | 2-3 ft. tall Spread 3-5 ft. | Full sun/part shade/full shade | Perennial Summer | Red, white, or pink flowers | Eggs and larvae | White skipper | Native to Texas Also hosts hummingbirds, birds, and bees |
| Viola | 6-8 in. tall Spread to 1 ft. | Full shade/part shade | Perennial Spring | Purple, red or pink flowers | Eggs and larvae | Fritillary butterflies | Does well in dry, rocky soils |
| Winecups | 10-12 in. tall Spread 10-12 in. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Spring | Pink/red flowers | Eggs and larvae | Gray hairstreak | Native to Texas Groundcover |
| Yarrow | 2-2.5 ft. tall Spread 2-2.5 ft. | Full sun/part shade | Perennial Summer, Fall | white, yellow, red, or purple flowers | Adults | American painted lady | Native to Texas |
| Yucca | 4-6 ft. tall Spread 4-6 ft. | Full sun | Evergreen Summer | Coral flowers, green thin leaves | Adults | Yucca giant-skipper | Native to Texas Drought tolerant |
