Annual and Perennial Butterfly Garden Plants of the Greater Houston Area
The following table lists the growing group of plants that have been suggested and reviewed by butterfly gardeners in the greater Houston area. 
Don't see your favorite butterfly garden plant listed? Let us know by clicking here. Input from experienced butterfly gardeners is welcome.
Check back often, the Houston Garden Guide is currently under construction. More annuals and perennials will be added to the table below in the coming months.
- Sort by English Name
- Sort by Scientific Name
- Sort by Plant Type
English Name |
Scientific Name |
Plant Type |
Caterpillar Food Plant For: |
Asclepias tuberosa |
perennial |
Monarch, Queen, Soldier |
|
Chromolaena odorata |
perennial |
Not a caterpillar food plant |
|
Gaillarida pulchella |
annual |
Not a caterpillar food plant |
|
Croton capitatis |
perennial |
Goatweed Leafwing |
|
Asclepias viridis |
perennial |
Monarch, Queen, Soldier |
|
Conoclinium coelestinum |
perennial |
Not a caterpillar food plant |
|
Chamaecrista fasciculata |
annual |
Cloudless Sulphur, Sleepy Orange, Little Yellow, Ceraunus Blue, Gray Hairstreak |
|
Nuttallanthus texanus |
perennial |
Common Buckeye |
|
Asclepias curassavica |
perennial or annual |
Monarch, Queen, Soldier |
|
Phyla nodiflora |
perennial |
Common Buckeye, Phaon Crescent |
| English Name | Scientific Name |
Plant Type | Caterpillar Food Plant For: |
Asclepias curassavica |
perennial or annual | Monarch, Queen, Soldier | |
Asclepias tuberosa |
perennial | Monarch, Queen, Soldier | |
Asclepias viridis |
perennial | Monarch, Queen, Soldier | |
Chamaecrista fasciculata |
annual | Cloudless Sulphur, Sleepy Orange, Little Yellow, Ceraunus Blue, Gray Hairstreak | |
Chromolaena odorata |
perennial |
Not a caterpillar food plant |
|
Conoclinium coelestinum |
perennial |
Not a caterpillar food plant |
|
Croton capitatis |
perennial |
Goatweed Leafwing |
|
Gaillarida pulchella |
annual |
Not a caterpillar food plant |
|
Nuttallanthus texanus |
perennial |
Common Buckeye |
|
Phyla nodiflora |
perennial | Common Buckeye, Phaon Crescent |
| English Name | Scientific Name | Plant Type | Caterpillar Food Plant For: |
Chamaecrista fasciculata |
annual | Cloudless Sulphur, Sleepy Orange, Little Yellow, Ceraunus Blue, Gray Hairstreak | |
Gaillarida pulchella |
annual |
Not a caterpillar food plant |
|
Asclepias tuberosa |
perennial | Monarch, Queen, Soldier | |
Chromolaena odorata |
perennial |
Not a caterpillar food plant |
|
Asclepias curassivica |
perennial or annual | Monarch, Queen, Soldier | |
Asclepias viridis |
perennial | Monarch, Queen, Soldier | |
Conoclinium coelestinum |
perennial |
Not a caterpillar food plant |
|
Croton capitatis |
perennial |
Goatweed Leafwing |
|
Nuttallanthus texanus |
perennial |
Common Buckeye |
|
Phyla nodiflora |
perennial | Common Buckeye, Phaon Crescent |