Plant Texas native Milkweed to attract the Monarch butterflies.
There are several varieties, here we will talk about the Texas Milkweed and the Antelope Milkweed.
The Texas native Milkweeds thrive in full sun and well drained soil. Both the Antelope and the Texas Milkweed are host plants for the Monarch butterflies.
The Texas Milkweed, shown here to the right, have white flowers that form bloom clusters. They have a light sweet fragrance. An excellent drought tolerant choice for your butterfly garden.
Texas Milkweed , Asclepias texana, blooms in the late spring thru summer here in Texas. It grows about 2 feet tall and wide.
The Antelope Milkweed is drought tolerant as well and as with the Texas Milkweed.
Not only do the Monarch butterflies like the native Milkweeds, but bees and other butterflies do as well.
The photo to the left shows the Grey Hairstreak Butterfly and a bee on the bloom of an Antelope Milkweed. The flowers of the Antelope are a pale yellow/ cream/ green with purple streaks in the centers. They have a mounding habit and thrive with little care.
The Antelope Milkweed, Asclepias asperula, grows 1-2 feet and blooms spring thru fall.
If you have a butterfly garden and/or are trying to attract pollinators to your yard, you simply must plant Milkweed. The fact that it is a host plant for the Monarch butterflies is certainly a added bonus.
In short, both the Texas Milkweed and the Antelope Milkweed are fantastic Texas native plants to have in your garden. Keep in mind when planting the Milkweed that it needs good drainage and a hot sunny spot. If you need help you can for example plant it mounded up, this will encourage drainage. Whichever Milkweed you plant, enjoy and sit back and watch the bees and butterflies on your blooms!
