Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Monday - March 21, 2005
From: LITTLE ROCK, AR
Region: Southeast
Topic: Wildlife Gardens
Title: Little birds for Little Rock
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I would like to plant flowers that hummingbirds and butterflies like. I live in Little Rock, Arkansas. What do you suggest?ANSWER:
First, you should check the Native Plant Library on the Wildflower Center web page for our 2-page PDF article "Butterfly Gardening Resources". From this article you will learn that butterflies prefer yellow, blue, and purple flowers with flat surfaces and dense flower heads. One obvious choice would be butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and its cousin green milkweed, or antelope horns (A. viridis). Both are host plants for the monarch butterfly. Another possibility is Engelmann daisy (Engelmannia peristenia). Not only does it attract butterflies but it also blooms well in drought conditions.You can find your own flowers to attract butterflies by searching in the Native Plants Database on our web page. For instance, if you select Combination Search from the options, and then select "Yellow" from Bloom Color under Bloom Characteristics, "Herb" under Growth Form and "Arkansas" under Select State you will get a list of yellow wildflowers (most with pictures) that are native to Arkansas. Using the criteria for flower shape that attracts butterflies, you can choose flowers from the list and learn more about them. At the top of page for each plant there is a menu. By choosing "Benefits" from the menu, you will be able to see if the flower attracts butterflies.
You can visit our Suppliers Directory to find a source for native plants in your area.
More Wildlife Gardens Questions
Native trees that host moths and butterflies for birds in Houston Texas
April 05, 2010 - I have learned that non-native or alien plants do not attract the insects that the birds need to live on. I would like to know which native trees for central Texas have the greatest hosting capacity ...
view the full question and answer
Hummingbird Attracting Plants for Shade in Smithville, TX
March 28, 2012 - I want hummingbird plants for shade.
view the full question and answer
Importance of native plants for wildlife.
March 04, 2008 - I just read Donald Tellamy's new book,Bringing Nature Home. He documents how native plants provide more nourishment for wildlife than introduced plants. The definition of native plants that I use is ...
view the full question and answer
Replacing Nandina with natives for a schoolyard in Washington DC
May 11, 2011 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
Our schoolyard now has some invasive plants in the landscaping that we would like to replace with native plants. We have four clumps of Nandina planted at each pillar along a...
view the full question and answer
Native plants for butterflies and birds in a park in Lampasas, Texas
May 19, 2009 - There is an area along a creek in Lampasas, Texas that I want to establish as a butterfly and bird park. There are various native plants there now, but I want to add plants that are hosts for butterf...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
