Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.

rate this answer

Sunday - June 14, 2015
From: New Egypt, NJ
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Butterfly Gardens, Shrubs
Title: Butterfly Bush Alternatives in New Egypt NJ
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
I have a Non Native Butterfly Bush near my house. I heard that it could be invasive. What alternative plants could replace this bush as it is a butterfly magnet in late summer. Swallowtales and monarchs in particular.ANSWER:
Wow, you have a Buddleja marrubiifolia (Woolly butterflybush) ?? Those are only native to the Rio Grande Valley, so I would think it wouldn’t do well in New Jersey at all!
For suggestions of other plants - Mr Smarty Plants approach is to search the Special Collections for appropriate candidates. “Butterfly Magnets” are listed under "Wildlife use" as a "Benefit" in the plant records, so we can read the records for New Jersey wildflowers for that. Another option is to explore the collection for “Butterflies and Moths of North America” and then look for those that are good for New Jersey. As all of the collections can be searched and further reduced for special attributes, I will do the later approach as the “Butterflies” collection can be easily reduced to those that are native to New Jersey.
When I did that, it only reduced the list to 183 alternatives, so I further selected “shrubs” and “1-6 feet tall”. This reduced the list to 10 good candidates. They are:
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick)
Ceanothus americanus (New jersey tea
Ceanothus herbaceus (Redroot)
Comptonia peregrina (Sweet fern)
Epigaea repens (Trailing arbutus)
Gaultheria hispidula (Creeping snowberry
Kalmia angustifolia (Sheep laurel)
Kalmia latifolia (Mountain laurel)
Ledum groenlandicum (Bog labrador tea)
Rhododendron canadense (Rhodora)
Symphoricarpos albus (Common snowberry)
Give them a view! In configuration and flowers, Ceanothus americanus (New jersey tea) or Ceanothus herbaceus (Redroot) are probably closest to Buddleja marrubiifolia (Woolly butterflybush) (3-6 feet, deciduous shrub, ash-grey, silver to white foliage) but the choice really depends on what appeals to you!
From the Image Gallery
More Shrubs Questions
Will watering before a freeze protect an esperanza from a freeze from San Angelo, TX
November 22, 2013 - Would it help to lightly water esperanza before I cover it prior to freeze and/or sleet?
view the full question and answer
Native shrubs that can be pruned to shape in Austin, TX
March 31, 2008 - We have some shrubs in our NE facing front yard in Austin in the Steiner Ranch Area. The shrubs are native, and give good flowers in spring and summer, but are not trimmable and I want something like ...
view the full question and answer
Native Backyard for Lakewood OH
December 24, 2013 - I would like to do away with the lawn in my backyard in favor of native plants that would require minimal maintenance, including flowering plants that would encourage pollinators.
view the full question and answer
Viburnum Leaf Beetle Damage to Native Viburnums
February 02, 2016 - Dear Friends, I am an officer of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, a Staten Island, NY land conservation organization which also involves itself in forest restoration and invasive species control projects...
view the full question and answer
Small shrub for Point Richmond CA
August 19, 2013 - I'm looking for a plant that grows 4-6 feet tall, but not too wide (more than 2-3 feet). I'd like it to be flowering (any color but white and preferably not red). It will be located between a salvi...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |