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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - July 14, 2005
From: Wilmington, DE
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Wildlife Gardens
Title: Host plants to monarch butterflies in Starr County, TX
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I plant native larval and nectar plants that support the life cycle of the monarch butterfly here in the east; but, where can I find a list of native plants for my friends in the Tamaulipan Biotic Province - Rio Grande,TX - who would also like to plant natives for monarchs?ANSWER:
Plants in the Family Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family) are host plants for the monarch butterfly. Here is a list of members of that family that are native to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I have noted whether they have been identified in Starr County (where the city of Rio Grande is) or in an adjacent or nearby county.1. Hierbas de Zizotes (Asclepias oenotheroides). Starr County.
2. Slim milkweed (A. linearis). Adjacent county.
3. Emory's milkweed (A. emoryi). No photograph available. Starr County.
4. Bloodflower or Wild ipecacuanha (A. curassavica) and photograph. Adjacent county.
5. Prostrate milkweed (A. prostrata). No photograph available. Starr County.
6. Bearded swallow-wort (Cynanchum barbigerum). Starr County.
7. Talayote (C. racemosum). Starr County.
8. MacCart's swallow-wort (C. maccartii). No photograph available. Starr County.
9. Gulf coast swallow-wort (C. angustifolium) and photograph. Nearby county.
10. Climbing milkweed vine (Funastrum cynanchoides = Sarcostemma cynanchoides) and photograph. Adjacent county.
11. White twinevine. (Funastrum clausum = Sarcostemma clausum). Adjacent county.
12. Pearl milkweed (Matelea reticulata). Nearby county.
32. Smallflower milkvine (M. parviflora). No photograph available. Adjacent county.
14. Falfurrias milkvine (M. radiata) No photograph available. Starr County.
15. Shortcrown milkvine M. brevicoronata. No photo available. Starr County.
For a wealth of information about monarchs in Texas visit Texas Monarch Watch sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
More Wildlife Gardens Questions
Dutchman's pipe vine dying in Fitchburg ME
August 15, 2012 - I have 2 dutchmans pipe vines they have been growing for over 20 years. Now all of a sudden the foliage is wilting and dying. The other one is completely fine.
What would cause this?
view the full question and answer
Appropriate riverbed and quail habitat plantings for southwest OK
September 27, 2009 - Mr Smarty Pants, I have an area in extreme SW Oklahoma along the Red River. What native plants could I plant that are both appropriate for the sandy/saline soils in the vegetative area of the river b...
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
Interested in a mini food forest
February 04, 2013 - I am interested in starting a mini "food forest" in a twelve foot by twelve foot patch of earth next to my house. I'd like to put a focus on making sure that the bulk of the plants I introduce are ...
view the full question and answer
Drought tolerant plants for butterflies and hummingbirds
November 16, 2009 - I have about 150 sq ft of space in our backyard (urban OKC residence) that gets direct sun in the morning but is 100% shaded by 11-Noon from 2 large Sycamore trees. The space is on the west side of t...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |