Adding anything new to the home landscape this year requires serious thought for any gardener. Even though water is dear, butterfly lovers are hoping North Texans will take time to plan and plant with Monarchs in mind.
Having only recently completed their journey to Northern states from their winter habitat in Mexico, experts say Monarch butterflies, some of the area’s most beloved seasonal visitors, are under man-made and environmental pressures.
“Development is reducing Mexican habitat, and their food sources have definitely been impacted by drought,” said Jennica Howes, of River Bend Nature Center. “We haven’t seen many from the spring migration north because cool weather and late freezes have pushed back emergence of many of the flowers and plants they feed on.”
Studies indicate Monarch populations have dropped as much as 59 percent in the last several years.
During their migration, Monarchs stop to feed and breed another generation. Eggs are laid exclusively on milkweed plants; the resulting caterpillars grow fat on milkweed leaves.
“It’s a remarkable cycle of reproduction and survival,” said James Estes, former professor of botany and microbiology at the University of Oklahoma. “Milkweed is poisonous to everything but Monarchs, and when the caterpillars eat it, they become poisonous. Animals or insects that would ordinarily eat caterpillars know to leave them alone.”
Estes emphasized pets and people are not at risk from milkweed’s toxic nature.
“It tastes so awful no one could eat enough of it to be harmed. Besides, it has an emetic quality; you’d throw it up pretty quick.”
Home gardeners may prefer the beauties of butterfly nectar plants like pentas, lantana, purple coneflowers, goldenrod or butterfly bush, most of which are perennial and drought-hearty. Developing strong stands of perennials takes a few seasons.
Paul Dowlern, owner of Wichita Valley Nursery, said growing milkweed, most varieties of which are wild, may be more of a challenge.
“Green milkweed and antelope horn will grow in this red-clay soil, but very few sources have them for sale,” said Dowlern. “Some nurseries will have annual forms like blood flower or Mexican milkweed. The most common and popular butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is drought tolerant but requires very sandy and well-drained soil, a bed prepared especially for it.
“Even if you can find a source for milkweed — I only get a few — the stuff’s not easy to grow.”
Dowlern refers ambitious gardeners to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and a book by famous naturalist Douglas Tallamy titled “Bringing Nature Home.”