More Related Content Similar to Container butterfly garden 2016-notes
Similar to Container butterfly garden 2016-notes (20) Container butterfly garden 2016-notes1. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with California Native Plants in Western L.A. County
Project SOUND – 2016 (our 12th year)
© Project SOUND
The Butterfly Container:
creating a butterfly garden using
containers
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH (emeritus) & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Madrona Marsh Preserve
July 2 & 7, 2016
2016 Season ‐ Rediscovering Eden:
S. California Gardens for the 21st Century
© Project SOUND
Part of Rediscovering Eden is
rediscovering our faunal heritage
© Project SOUND
And that includes providing habitat for
local butterflies & pollinators
2. 7/4/2016
But maybe I have only limited space
© Project SOUND
http://www.houzz.com/photos/4550907/Manhattan-Roof-Garden-White-Planters-Terrace-Deck-Paver-Patio-
Container-Plan-contemporary-deck-new-york
Can I attract butterflies, with just a few planters?
© Project SOUND
http://www.houzz.com/patio-container-plants
Yes, but not as many butterflies as you could with a
larger garden – and you need to choose plants carefully
Today we’re going to design several
butterfly gardens based on containers
What it takes to attract
butterflies
Choosing and siting containers
California native plants that
attract butterflies – and
provide habitat for them
Choosing plants appropriate for
containers
© Project SOUND
https://www.crateandbarrel.com/blog/container-garden-ideas/
What we learn today is applicable to those with very limited space (e.g. a
balcony) or those who want to add accents that will attract more butterflies to
a larger garden.
Let’s start with a very small garden…
…and very big dreams of
attracting lots of interesting
butterflies
© Project SOUND
3. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
The first steps involve thinking, learning
and planning
http://www.firstredeemer.org/thinking/
© Project SOUND
Is my location really suitable for a
butterfly garden?
Best in a sunny, protected
area – check the sun/shade
patterns (need at least 4
hours sun/day)
Away from traffic -
parking strips are generally
not the best choice
Out of heavy winds.
Butterflies won't stay
where they are being blown
around.
http://www.hot100fm.com.au/lifestyle/in-outdoors/43478-getting-
the-most-out-of-your-balcony-garden
http://siteforeverything.com/can-you-make-your-own-balcony-garden/
Too windy?
© Project SOUND
Two important first questions in planning
a butterfly garden
What butterfly species do I
want to attract?
Are there particular butterflies
we really want to attract?
What butterflies occur
commonly in my area?
Do I want to just attract
adult butterflies, or do I
want to create true butterfly
habitat (provide everything
the butterflies need to live
out their lives)?
Mother Nature’s Backyard Blog has
articles on common local butterflies
© Project SOUND
4. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
The ‘S. Bay Butterflies & Their Native
Food Sources’ list is another place to start
© Project SOUND
Participating in the annual July Butterfly Count is a
great way to learn about butterflies
© Project SOUND
It helps to understand the basics of
the life cycle of butterflies
http://basrelief.org/NewFiles/lifecyc.html
If we want to provide
complete butterfly
habitat, we have to
provide for all stages
of the life cycle
That may or may not
be feasible in a small
garden – let’s see what
it takes
Elements of a butterfly habitat garden
Nectar sources (food for adult
butterflies)
Often generalist; good nectar
sources attract many species
Often the same as good pollinator
habitat plants – garden serves
many species
Often have attractive flowers
Larval (caterpillar) food sources
– may be quite specific
Water
Sunning/perching spots
Protected areas
© Project SOUND
http://www.axsoris.com/butterfly-garden-plan-with-full-sun-plants-for-a.html
Of course you’ll also want to
design some seating so you can
enjoy the butterfly visitors
5. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Caterpillars are born to eat….
It takes a huge amount of energy
(food) to grow & metamorphose
into a butterfly
Keys to successful
‘Architectural pots’
Choose pots appropriate for
architectural style
Limit the container palette: all the
same or similar size, shape or color
Choose plants that look good year
round
Choose plants that are large
and/or dramatic in some way –
‘plant divas’
Manage the plants: should always
‘look good’
© Project SOUND
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/zinc-tall-square-
planter/s391046?si=2205077&aff=cj
If you’re limited to a very small garden…
You are limited in the size and
number of plants you can
accommodate
Plants may need to ‘look tidy’
most of the year
You may want to add floral color,
in addition to interesting foliage
© Project SOUND
In this situation, it is usually
easier to focus on attracting
adult butterflies, rather than
providing year-round butterfly
habitat
© Project SOUND
If you were a butterfly, what kind of plant
would you like?
Lots of little flowers filled
with nectar
Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Buckwheat genus (Eriogonum )
Milkweed genus (Asclepias )
Fiddleneck genus (Phacelia)
Mint family (Mentha;
Monardella; Salvia)
Pea family (Fabaceae)
Monkeyflowers (Phrymaceae)
6. 7/4/2016
Why choose CA native plants, rather than
non-natives (to attract adult butterflies)?
They have exactly the right
characteristics (they are ‘butterfly
plants’)
Lots of small flowers
Sweet-smelling nectar
Most are fine-tuned to attract &
provision our local butterflies:
Scent cues
Visual cues
Qualities of the nectar:
Sugar content
Other: minerals, ‘vitamins’, ‘insect
medicinals’, other useful chemicals
© Project SOUND
In short, native plants
provide abundant, healthy
food (both for the adult
butterfly & for her offspring)
A closer look at our very small butterfly garden
Factors to consider:
What material is the container
made of? What are the
drainage characteristics
What color is the container?
What are the light
characteristics of the site?
Will you be able to move the
container with changing light
conditions?
How are you going to water the
container? How often?
© Project SOUND
Typical ‘large, architectural planter’
18-24” tall; 40-48” long; 16-18” deep
How big a pot?
Good rule of thumb: big enough
for 2-3 year’s growth (learn
enough about the plant’s
growth to judge)
Go big - the smallest (for small
plants) should be 2.5 gallon
Bigger can be better:
Allows room for plants to grow
Easier to maintain correct soil
moisture
Easier to maintain temperature
© Project SOUND
http://housetohome.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/96/000011849/e80f_orh550w550/R
ed-Mud-Hut-planter.jpg
Light-colored pots are easier to
keep cool in sunny locations
Back to our very small garden…
Site characteristics
Sunny location
Light colored pots
Hand water (or drip) – whenever
needed
Planting medium: whatever
needed – adequate drainage
Size limits:
Three containers: each 18-24”
tall; 40-48” long; 16-18” deep
© Project SOUND
What plants are suitable
butterfly nectar sources, given
our site and size constraints?
7. 7/4/2016
Where can we find plants that meet our
basic requirements?
Attract butterflies
Are sun-loving
Some heat tolerance (in a container)
Any water and drainage
requirement, as long as those in an
individual container are compatible
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
Consult ‘Butterfly Nectar Sources’ list (on
the Native Plants for Butterflies list,
Mother Nature’s Backyard Blog)
Characteristics of our plants: reality check
Root depth: less than 2 ft.
(unless we increase the
container depth)
Overall size:
Height: probably less than 3
ft.; taller if a vine (need to have
space; support)
Diameter: less than 2 ft.
(larger if will drape or slightly
larger if space allows)
Nice appearance much of the
year
© Project SOUND
Fortunately size and other traits
can be found on the list
More information and pictures in the
Gallery of Native Plants
© Project SOUND
8. 7/4/2016
What if we like a plant, but it doesn’t look
good all year long?
© Project SOUND
One easy trick: the ‘Cache pot’ solution
(double potting)
© Project SOUND
http://www.fabdwell.com/home/mid-century-modern-planters-
addressing-beauty-function/
http://www.calendariodojardim.com.br/anterior
es/Dica0412.html
http://www.canberraorchids.org/tips.html
Pot stand made from a cheap plastic pot
Allows you to
switch out plants for
seasonal color
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/
bronze-26.5-tall-tapered-
planter/s595512?si=2205077&
aff=cj
8” wide/11” deep insert
Back to our very small garden…
Site characteristics
Sunny location
Light colored pots
Hand water (or drip) – whenever
needed
Planting medium: whatever
needed
Size limits:
Three containers: each 18-24”
tall; 40-48” long; 16-18” deep
© Project SOUND
Let’s go for a yellow & purple theme
that will attract adult butterflies in
summer and fall. We’ll start by
considering the Sunflowers.
A few tips for plants grown in containers
Consider final size carefully;
some plants are just too large for
most containers
Much easier to grow plants that
like water than those that don’t
Most container-grown plants
need more/more frequent water
than they would in the ground
(except those grown in plastic
pots or with poor drainage).
Plants that do well in sun/part-
shade may do best with morning
or late-day sun in summer
© Project SOUND
Check your pots often in
dry, windy weather
9. 7/4/2016
Sunflower options – yellow & white
Name Blooms Size Water+ Soil
Achillea millefolia (Yarrow) White
Spr-Su
< 2 ft
spreads
2 to 3 Any
Baileya multiradiata (Desert
marigold)
Yellow
Spr-Su
1-2 ft t
1-2 ft w
2
Well-
drained
Coreopsis/Leptosyne maritima
(Sea dahlia)
Yellow
Spr
1-2 ft t
3-4 ft w
2
Well-
drained
Grindelia hirsutula
(Coastal gum plant)
Yellow
Su
1-2+ ft t
2-3 ft w
2, 2-3 Any
* Grindelia stricta
(Spreading gum plant)
Yellow
Su
1 ft t
3+ ft w
2, 2-3 Any
Senecio flaccidus var. douglasii
(Butterweed)
Yellow
Su-F
2-3 ft t
2-3 ft w
1-2 to 2 Any
Solidago californica (CA
goldenrod)
Yellow
Su-F
2-3 ft t
spreads
2 to 3 Any
© Project SOUND
+: Water Zone in containers: 1 = dry; 2 = occasional (1-2 times/wk); 3= regular/moist
© Project SOUND
*Desert marigold – Baileya multiradiata
©2010 Neal Kramer
© Project SOUND
*Desert marigold – Baileya multiradiata
©2010 Neal Kramer
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-
bin/get_cpn.pl?BAMU
Mojave and Sonoran Deserts [Anza-Borrego] in CA,
to Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, n Mexico
Desert roadsides, flats, washes, hillsides to ~ 6000
ft. in Creosote Bush Scrub, Joshua Tree Woodland
Collected 1902 by TS Brandegee; "Baileya" honors
Jacob Whitman Bailey (1811-1857), a chemist and
botanist known for microscopic studies of diatoms
© Project SOUND
Desert marigold looks like a garden plant
Size:
1-2 ft tall
1-2 ft wide
Growth form:
Mounded, short-lived perennial
Herbaceous; drought deciduous
(dies way back)
Foliage:
Gray-green & very hairy (good
desert plant)
Leaves lacy, mostly in tidy basal
rosette
Pretty accent color; larval food
for desert marigold moth
(Schinia minima)
©2010 James M. Andre
©2010 Barry Breckling
10. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Sunny, yellow flowers
Blooms:
On & off with moisture from
Mar-Nov
Flowers:
Sunflower heads with lots of
overlapping ray flowers (like a
marigold)
Both ray & disk flowers and
intense, golden yellow
Very attractive; good cut
flowers
Attract wide range of
pollinators: native bees, flies,
butterflies, moths
Seeds: reseeds well on bare soil or
gravel mulch
©2010 Neal Kramer
©2013 Jean Pawek
© Project SOUND
Desert wash plant
Soils:
Texture: any well drained; ‘cactus
mix’ in containers
pH: any local (7.0-9.0); takes alkali
and salty soils
Light: full sun to part-shade; can take
reflected heat
Water:
Winter: needs good moisture to
get it though flowering
Summer: your choice; best
flowering with occasional water
(Zone 1-2 to 2; Zone 2 in pots).
Taper off in Sept.
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils.
Yearly ½ strength in containers
Other: inorganic or no mulch; prune
off old flower heads
Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences
© Project SOUND
Use like a marigold
As an accent plant in desert-
themed garden; rock garden
In foreground of water-wise beds;
along walkways
On dry margins of vegetable
garden (attracts pollinators)
Does well in containers
©2015 Richard Spellenberg
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/119--baileya-multiradiata
https://www.snwa.com/apps/plant/detail.cfml?type=87&id=14752
© Project SOUND
Include Gumplants in your garden
because of..
Attractive flowers Mar-Oct
Balsamic aroma
Tolerates any soil – well-
drained is best
Drought tolerance
Easy to grow
Highly attractive for
Bees
Butterflies
Other insects (beetles; other
unusual insects)
Birds (seeds)
11. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
* Saltmarsh gumplant – Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla
Beatrice F. Howitt © California Academy of Sciences
© Project SOUND
Saltmarsh gumplant – pretty, but too short
Brother Alfred Brousseau @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND
Coastal Groundcover Gum Plant
- Grindelia stricta venulosa
A.K.A Grindelia arenicola, G.a.
pachyphylla, G.s. procumbens
Coastal bluff plant from the
bay area.
Low growing - < 1 ft.
Spreads nicely as a ground
cover
Mix with Baccharis Pigeon
Point and Penstemon
Margarita BOP on coastal
slopes
Likes some summer water –
Zone 2 to 2-3
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/grindelia-stricta-venulosa
© Project SOUND
Hairy (Coastal) Gumplant – Grindelia hirsutula
Grindelia hirsutula var. maritima
© 2008 Jorg Fleige
http://www.coestatepark.com/grindelia_hirsutula.htm
© 2008 Jorg Fleige
12. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Hairy (Coastal) Gumplant – Grindelia hirsutula
Var. hisutula – coastal, including
western L.A. Co., coast near Santa
Monica Mtns.
Var. maritima – north & central CA
coast
Both:
Coastal areas; sea bluffs and
slopes
Sandy soils
var. hirsutula
var. maritima
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?609,1255,1260,1264
http://www.coestatepark.com/grindelia_hirsutula.htm
© Project SOUND
Hairy Gumplant - an herbaceous perennial
Size:
1-3 ft tall (v.maritima 1-2 ft)
1-3 ft wide
Growth form:
Herbaceous perennial; dies back
in fall
Many slender stems from woody
rootstock
May be upright or more leaning
(maritima)
Foliage:
Blue-green, tinged with red,
purple or yellow
More refined-looking than other
Grindelia species© 2000 Joseph Dougherty/ecology.org
© Project SOUND
Flowers are pure gold
Blooms: spring-summer – usually
June-Aug in S. Bay
Flowers:
Typical sunflower heads with
well-developed ray flowers
(maritima has more ray flowers)
Bright golden yellow
Profuse bloomer – even with
little summer water
Pollinator magnets!!
Seeds:
Small, but edible
Birds love them!
Vegetative reproduction: not a
real spreader
© 2008 Jorg Fleige
https://www.anniesannuals.com/signs/d%20-%20g/grindelia_hirsutula.htm
© Project SOUND
Hairy Gumplant – a natural
for the perennial bed
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/grindella-hirsutula
At back of mixed flowers
beds; along walls, fences
Fine on slopes
Easy, adaptable & hardy
Do fine in containers
http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/2009/06/mmmmm-food.html
13. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
California Goldenrod – Solidago californica
http://plants.montara.com/ListPages/FamPages/Astera7.html#solcan
© Project SOUND
California Goldenrod – Solidago californica
Good example of the
Sunflower family
Western coast from OR to
Baja, east to NV
In CA, mostly in north &
coastal S. CA (including
mountains)
In both dry and moist
environments
In the open (including
grasslands) and in shaded
woods, from coastal sage
scrub to yellow pine forest
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?609,1838,1840
© Project SOUND
CA Goldenrod: an adaptable perennial
Size:
1-3 ft tall (flowering stalk may be
taller)
2+ ft wide; spreading
Growth form:
Bunching perennial
Fast growing; more so with regular
summer water
Dies back (to the ground) in
fall/winter
Foliage:
Leaves dark green to gray-green;
typical of Sunflower family
Roots: Spreads via rhizomes
© Project SOUND
Great nectar plants – true
butterfly magnets
Important nectar source in
summer/fall in the wild.
Provides nectar for wide range of
butterflies & hummingbirds:
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta)
Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon)
Skippers
Others
Seed-eaters eat the seeds
http://www.wildscaping.com/plants/plantprofiles/Solidago_californica.htm
http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/flowers/index.php?action=show_
item&id=27&search=
14. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Goldenrods are easy to grow if you follow
a few tips
Give them plenty of sun
Water them (regularly to
occasionally) in summer – at
least until they start to bloom
Cut them back in winter dormant
period
Remove unwanted stems; or
divide and give some away
Will spread more quickly in
lighter soils – may want to
contain, or limit summer waterhttp://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/californiagoldenrod.html
Which is closest to our vision?
© Project SOUND
Now to the other containers in our very small
garden…
Site characteristics
Sunny location
Light colored pots
Hand water (or drip) – whenever
needed
Planting medium: whatever
needed
Size limits:
Three containers: each 18-24”
tall; 40-48” long; 16-18” deep
© Project SOUND
We need something purple – or possibly
pink – in order to complete our design
Sunflower options – purple
Name Blooms Size Water
Zone+
Soil
Corethrogyne filaginifolia
(Common sand aster)
Violet/Y
Spr-Su
1-3+ ft t
spreads
2 Most
Erigeron foliosus
(Fleabane daisy)
Violet/Y
Spr-Su
2-3 ft t
2-3 ft w
2 to 3 Most
*Erigeron glaucus
(Seaside daisy)
Violet/Y
Spr-F
< 1 ft tall
spreads
2 to 3 Most
Pluchea odorata
(Sweetscent)
Pink
Su-F
2-3 ft tall
2-3 ft w
2 to 3 Most
* Symphyotrichum chilense
[Aster chilensis]
(Coast aster)
Violet/Y
Spr-F
2-3 ft tall
spreads
2 to 3 Most
© Project SOUND
+: Water Zone in containers: 1 = dry; 2 = occasional (1-2 times/wk); 3= regular/moist
15. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Two California Erigeron Daisys
Erigeron foliosus
Erigeron glaucus
E. foliosus (Leafy):
Mountain ranges & hills of C.
& western S. CA
Dry, sunny, rocky, brushy or
wooded or grassy slopes
coastal sage scrub, chaparral
and southern oak woodland
E. glaucus (Seaside)
Central to N. Coast (into OR)
Coastal bluffs, dunes,
beaches
Coastal Strand, Coastal Sage
Scrub, Northern Coastal
Scrub
© Project SOUND
What differences in
gardening practices?
Soils: both do well in any
well-drained soil
Light: both do well in full
sun or part-shade
Water:
Leafy: little/no summer
water
Seaside: takes regular
watering; doesn’t like to be
dusty
Seaside Daisy tolerates seaside
conditions
© Project SOUND
Horticultural cultivars of
Seaside Daisy
Variable in size (but all are short) and
number of flowers per plant
Choose the one you like best
‘Cape Sebastian’ cultivar
http://www.mostlynatives.com/notes/erigeronglaucuscs.jpg
http://www.callutheran.edu/Academic_Programs/Departments/
Biology/Wildflowers/gf/plants/category/gar-1670.htm
‘Olga’ cultivar ‘Bountiful’ cultivar
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=2213
‘Sea Breeze’ cultivar
http://www.elnativogrowers.com/Photographs_page/eriglasb.htm
Seaside daisy
Erigeron glaucus
© Project SOUND
http://nativeson.com/annotated_catalog/ecatalog.htm
http://garden-photos-com.photoshelter.com/image/I0000zpquFw1K.bA
Great butterfly accent plant -
if we had more space!
16. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Pacific Aster – Symphyotrichum chilense var. chilense
(Aster chilensis)
© 2007 Neal Kramer
© Project SOUND
A plant of many
habitats
Grasslands
Salt marshes
Coastal dunes and
bluffs
Coastal grasslands and
scrub,
Even open disturbed
habitats in evergreen
and Pacific coast
coniferous forest© 2004, Ben Legler
Not surprisingly, there are phenotypic variants
© Project SOUND
Flowers are dainty
Blooms:
Summer into fall: usually Jul-Sep
in Western L.A. Co.
Flowers:
Typical sunflower head – but
dainty; ~ 1 inch head
White to purple (even pink) ray
flowers; yellow disc flowers
Many flowers blooming at one
time; very showy
Excellent nectar source for
native moths and butterflies
Seeds:
With fluffy tail to aid wind
distribution; birds love them!
Can reseed on bare ground© 2007 Neal Kramer
© 2004, Ben Legler
© Project SOUND
Soils:
Texture: any – sand to clay
pH: any local
Light:
Full sun to light shade;
Probably best color in light
shade
Water:
Winter: adequate
Summer: wide range (Zone 1-2
to 3); probably best as Zone 2 –
too aggressive with more water.
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: can be heavily pruned, even
mowed, occasionally. Cut back in
fall after flowering.
© 2004, Ben Legler
Pacific Aster can thrive
in a container
17. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Pacific Aster: not for
everywhere…
Best contained, as it is an
aggressive competitor:
Pots & planters
Areas bounded by walks, or other
boundries
Parking strips – if managed
Usually used in combination with
native grasses, bulbs, sub-shrubs
(Epilobium canum; Goldenrods) in
native meadows; can be mowed
back in fall
Appropriate for Cottage Gardens
Good for stabilizing slopes
© 2005 Andrea Jesse
Excellent choice for butterfly gardens
© Project SOUND
Saltmarsh Fleabane – Pluchea odorata
http://www.kenbowles.net/SDWildflowers/FamilyIndexes/AsteraceaeDisciform/AsteraceaeDisciformKey.htm
© Project SOUND
Saltmarsh Fleabane –
typical for genus
© 2003 BonTerra Consulting
Size:
2-4 ft. tall
2-3 ft. wide
Growth form: sub-shrub
Woody base; ends of stems are
herbaceous
Upright growth habit
Annual in colder climates;
perennial in ours
Dies back in winter
Foliage:
Pretty color; like
Arrow-shaped leaves
Roots: fibrous; good soil-binding
http://www.kenbowles.net/SDWildflowers/FamilyIndexes/AsteraceaeDisciform/Aste
raceaeDisciformKey.htm
© Project SOUND
Saltmarsh Fleabane does well in gardens…
Soils:
Texture: any local – does very well in
fine-textured soils (clays)
pH: any local, including alkali, salty
Light:
Best in full sun with some water
Fine with partial shade; not too
particular
Water:
Winter: likes it’s water; plant in moist
areas of garden, rainswale, etc.
Summer: quite flexible; looks better
with some to regular summer water
(Zone 2/3 probably optimal; takes 3)
Fertilizer: fine with none; organic mulches
work well (leaf mulch)
© 2003 BonTerra Consulting
18. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Pretty little flowers
Blooms: summer-fall; usually
in June to Oct. in western L.A.
County
Flowers:
Similar to Mule Fat – but
prettier; no separate
male/female plants
Color: pink to lavender
Many small flowers in dense
flat bunches – very showy
Great fall butterfly and
other pollinator plant!
Vegetative reproduction:
Slowly spreading; more with
regular water
http://www.kenbowles.net/SDWildflowers/FamilyIndexes/AsteraceaeDisciform/AsteraceaeDisciformKey.htm
© Project SOUND
Versatile in the garden
Excellent choice for moist
places in garden:
Stream or pond banks/edges
Rain gardens/swales
Areas with sprinkler drift
Fine with other natives
needing similar water
requirements – remember,
dies back in winter
Showy choice for habitat/
butterfly garden; great with
yellow fall-flowering plants
Does great in pots; give it an
occasional dose of fertilizer
or top-dress each spring
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=13929
http://www.sibleynaturecenter.org/daytrips/naturetrail0709/index.html
Another pink-purple option: the Milkweeds
© Project SOUND
Indian milkweed – Asclepias eriocarpa Showy milkweed – Asclepias speciosa
Milkweeds are also larval food – so they are ‘two-for-one’ plants
Milkweeds make
great insect habitat
Bees – many kinds including
bumblebees
Lepidoptera (Moths &
Butterflies)
Other insects:
Flies
Milkweed bugs
Milkweed long-horned
beetle
Yellow oleander aphids
Many, many more
© Project SOUND
http://www.plantsofthesouthwest.com/Showy-
Milkweedbri-Asclepias-
speciosa/productinfo/P1180/
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-
california/plants/asclepias-speciosa
19. 7/4/2016
Indian Milkweed is a food source for
butterflies and other insects
Photo by Gabi McLean
http://www.natureathand.com/Gallery/Asclepias_eriocarpa
_29025.htm
Variable checkerspot butterfly
(Euphydryas chalcedona)
http://www.californiagardens.com/Plant_Pag
es/Tarantula_Hawk.htm
Tarantula Hawk
(Pepsis mildei)
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Asclepias%20eriocarpa
© Project SOUND
Showy Milkweed – Asclepias speciosa
© 2004 George W. Hartwell
© Project SOUND
Showy Milkweed – Asclepias speciosa
Western N. America from Canada to
Baja; throughout N. Ca, the Sierra
foothills
Open areas at low elevations in dry
to moist, loamy to sandy soil
Often in areas that are seasonally
flooded or quite damp
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?583,586,599
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/floramw/species/asclspec.htm
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=14422
© Project SOUND
Showy Milkweed: a stout perennial
Size:
2-5+ ft tall
Spreading by rhizomes; often
forms a clump
Growth form:
Drought/winter deciduous
perennial
Stems stout, succulent, erect or
nearly so
Foliage:
Leaves large 96-8 inches long),
gray-green, velvety
Milky sap typical of Milkweeds
Larval food, Monarch Butterflies
Roots: stout taproot; don’t move once
established.
© 2005, Ben Legler
20. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Flowers are…showy!
Blooms:
In summer: May-Sept
usually July-Aug in our area
Flowers:
Large compared to other
milkweeds ; sweet scent
Pale pink or purple – in
dense, ball-like clusters
Very showy in bloom – among
our prettiest perennials
Seeds:
Relatively large, with silky
parachute (typical of
milkweeds)
Seed pods are 3-5" long and
are either spiny or smooth.
© 2005, Ben Legler
© Project SOUND
Plant Requirements
Soils:
Texture: any, including clays
pH: any local, including alkali
Light:
Full sun to light shade
Water:
Winter: good winter/spring
moisture; supplement if
needed
Summer: variable once
established; probably best as
Zone 2 or 2-3 once established
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils;
light or no mulch (or inorganic)
Other:
Spreads via rhizomes & seeds
(on bare ground).
Protect from slugs & snails
http://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=125&account=none
Cut back to the ground in late fall
(native Californians would burn)
© Project SOUND
Showy Milkweed Shines
In large pots, planters
Mid- or back-bed in perennial
gardens
Near birdbaths or water features
Lovely massed
Scented gardens
http://back40feet.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
http://plantlust.com/plants/asclepias-speciosa/
Which is closest to our vision?
© Project SOUND
21. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
What do we think about this combo?
What butterflies will our plants attract?
The smaller butterflies like:
• Skippers
• Gray hairstreak
Larger butterflies like:
• Whites
• Ladies
• Red Admirals
• Monarchs
• Swallowtails
© Project SOUND
What do we think? We like it!
But what if our 3-6 containers are in an
area that is part-shade?
© Project SOUND
http://www.fireangels.org/container-gardening-vegetable-spaces-rustic-with-black-
bowl-planter-container/container-gardening-vegetable-spaces-rustic-with-black-bowl-
planter-container/
Site characteristics
Part-shade location
Darker colored pots
Hand water (or drip) –
whenever needed
Planting medium:
whatever needed
Size limits:
Six containers: each 18-
24” tall; 18-24” long; 18-
24” deep
22. 7/4/2016
Characteristics of the plants for garden 2
Attracts butterflies
Part-shade adapted
Some heat tolerance (in a container)
Any water and drainage
requirement, as long as those in an
individual container are compatible
© Project SOUND
Characteristics of our plants: reality check
Root depth: less than 2 ft.
(unless we increase the
container depth)
Overall size:
Height: probably less than 2
ft.; windows limit height to 1 ft.
for some pots
Diameter: less than 2 ft.
(larger if will drape or slightly
larger if space allows)
Nice appearance much of the
year
© Project SOUND
Butterfly plants that take part-sun
© Project SOUND
The Mint family
Mentha (true mints)
Monardella
Stachys (Woodmints)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolia)
Diplacus/Mimulus/Erythranthe
– the Monkeyflowers
Several others
Some butterfly choices for part-sun - mints
© Project SOUND
Name Blooms Size Water+ Soil
Mentha arvensis
(Wild mint)
White
Su
1-2 ft tall
spreads
2 to 3 Any
Monardella linioides
(Willowy monardella)
Lavender
Su-F
1-2 ft tall
1-3 ft w
2-3 to 3
Well-
drained
Monardella macrantha
(Red monardella) Red
1-2 ft tall
1-2 ft w
2-3 to 3 Most
Monardella odoratissima
(Mountain/Desert monardella)
Lavender
Sp-Su
1-3 ft tall
1-3 ft w
2 Most
Monardella villosa
(Coyote mint)
Magenta
Sp-Su
1-3 ft tall
1-3 ft w
2
Well-
drained
Stachys bullata
(CA Woodmint)
Pink
Sp-Su
1-2 ft tall
spreads
2 to 3 Any
23. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
The genus Monardella
20 species native to western North
America.
Commonly known as wildmints, coyote
mints or monardellas.
Highly aromatic foliage; some species
used for herbal teas.
Two-lipped, tubular flowers in terminal
clusters; usually red, pink, or purple.
Caterpillar (moth and butterfly)
foodplants; also nectar sources
Special needs: excellent drainage; cannot
take excess winter dampness
http://www.laspilitas.com/butterfl_files/pale_swallowtail_butterfly_
on_a_monardella.jpg
© Project SOUND
*Willow Mint – Monardella linoides ssp. viminea
© 2005 Jasmine J. Watts
© Project SOUND
Willow Mint: a dainty perennial
Size:
1-2 ft tall
2-3 ft wide; sprawling
Growth form:
Herbaceous perennial
Sprawling/draping
Semi-deciduous;
evergreen with more
water
Foliage:
Narrow leaves
Light green; very aromatic
Makes a nice tea
Roots: taproot
© Project SOUND
Mountain/Desert Monardella – Monardella odoratissima
J. E.(Jed) and Bonnie McClellan © California Academy of Sciences
24. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
The name (odoratissima) says it all
Size:
1-2 (sometimes 3) ft tall
2-3 ft wide
Growth form:
Herbaceous perennial from stout
woody taproot
Many upright stems; sprawly when
young, then mounded
Foliage:
Color: green to gray-green (hairy)
Simple leaves
Strong minty scent – great tea
(medicinal or ‘sipping tea’)
Make a ‘kitchen extract’ for use in
baking, etc., etc.
© 2009 Terry Dye
Al Schneider @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Databasehttp://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/Pacific_Southwest/McGee/index.shtml
© Project SOUND
A showy Monardella
Blooms:
Summer in the wilds
Likely June-July in our area
Flowers:
Pale pink to light magenta –
good colors for garden
Flowers small – typical for
Monardellas
Flowers in ball-like clusters
at ends of flowering stems
Really showy
Attracts many butterflies,
hummingbirds, many others
Seeds: small, typical for Mint
family
© 2009 Terry Dye © 2011 Wynn Anderson
© Project SOUND
Likes a little shade
Soils:
Texture: well-drained; sandy
or rocky are fine
pH: any local
Light:
Part-shade (morning sun)
works well
Dappled shade under trees is
ideal
Water:
Winter: good soakings
Summer: happy with
occasional summer water
(Zone 2, even 2-3 in well-
drained soils)
Fertilizer: fine with organic
amendments, mulches
© 2010 Julie Kierstead Nelson
Does fine at higher elevations;
also thrives in Mother Nature’s
Garden of Health (elevation <
100 ft. – Gardena CA)
© Project SOUND
Mountain Monardella:
lovely
Under trees, as a groundcover
Along partly shady walkways
Shady edges of the vegetable
garden
As an accent in large
containers
In a rock or butterfly garden
© 2010 Steven Thorsted
Ssp. pallida
http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Monardella_odoratissim
a_ssp._pallida&redirect=no
25. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Coyote Mint – Monardella villosa
© Project SOUND
Coyote Mint – Monardella villosa
Distributed from the
central coast,
throughout the San
Francisco Bay Area
and into the north
coast ranges.
Typically associated
with dry, rocky
locations in coastal
scrub and woodland
habitats near the
coast.
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?4745,4789,4835,4839
© Project SOUND
Several ssp. of Coyote Mint
San Luis Obispo Coyote Mint (M. villosa var.
obispoensis). It has round, gray leaves
covered in soft white fuzz.
Mountain Coyote Mint (M. villosa var. villosa)
most commonly available here
© 2001 Dean Wm. Taylor
ssp. franciscana
© 2006 Tom Cochrane ssp. globosa
ssp. villosa
© 2005 California Academy of Sciencesssp. obispoensis
© Project SOUND
Coyote Mint is quite
variable
Size:
1-2 ft tall
2-4 ft wide, spreading
Growth form: evergreen
perennial with many upright
square stems, growing in
colonies
Foliage:
Bright green or gray green
Leaves rounded or more
elongated
Crushed foliage has minty
‘toothpaste-like’ fragrance
26. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Showy mint flowers
Blooms: May-Aug. in S. Bay
Flowers:
Dense heads of small
flowers; showy
Color ranges from
lavender, rose-purple, to
white
Long-blooming
Attract a wide range of
butterflies, bees, other
pollinators
Vegetative
reproduction: natural
layering
© Project SOUND
Coyote Mint
Soils:
Texture: any well-drained
Light: full sun to part shade
Water:
Winter: don’t let it get too wet
Summer: best with slightly damp to
slightly dry sandy soil; don’t over-
water – will make it leggy and decrease
it’s lifespan – Water Zone 2 in pots
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other:
Pinch tips to promote fuller growth
Shear back to about 1/3 of it’s volume in
fall/winter
If the plant loses its leaves
to drought during the hot
months, it will leaf out
again with rain and cooler
weather.
© Project SOUND
http://idoradesign.blogspot.com/2010/05/afternoon-in-anns-garden.html http://ocparkswildflowers.blogspot.com/
http://drystonegarden.com/index.php/2010/08/august-bloom-day/
California woodmint - Stachys bullata
27. 7/4/2016
California woodmint (Hedgenettle) -
Stachys bullata
CA coast from San
Francisco to Orange Co.
Grows on:
dry slopes and canyons in
chaparral and coastal sage
scrub
partially-shaded canyons
coast live oak riparian
forest
sycamore riparian
woodlandhttp://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Stachys+bullata
Characteristics of CA Woodmint
Drought deciduous perennial
herb; but does like water
Size: 2-4 ft high, 3-4 ft wide
(spreading)
Foliage:
Dark green, softly hairy,
“wrinkled”
Scented: lemon-mint
Flowers:
Pink to lavender-red, with white
markings on the lower lips
Blooms Mar-May/June
Attract bees, hummingbirds,
butterflies
Succeeding with Stachys bullata
Does best in part-shade
Plant in well-drained soils
While drought tolerant, does
better with moderate water,
and tolerates seasonal flooding
useful in north- and east-facing
banks, rockwalls
Use it in woodland gardens or
perennial gardens
Remember that it suckers
freely – will spread moderately
especially if watered – makes a
good groundcover
http://biology.fullerton.edu/biol317/im/s03/ft2/ft20-47.html
Woodmints make good shady ground
cover plants
28. 7/4/2016
Like all mints, Stachys species also do
fine in containers
© Project SOUND
What butterflies will our mints attract?
The smaller butterflies like:
• Skippers
• Gray hairstreak
• Funereal Duskywing
Larger butterflies like:
• Whites
• Gulf Fritillary
• Ladies
• Monarchs
• Swallowtails
Some butterfly choices for part-sun – non-mint
© Project SOUND
Name Blooms Size Water+ Soil
Achillea millefolia
Yarrow
White
Spr-Su
< 2 ft
spreads
2 to 3 Any
Diplacus/Mimulus species
Shrubby monkeyflowers
Many colors
Sp-Su
2-3 ft tall
2-3 ft w.
2 Any
Glandularia gooddingii
*Southwest mock verbena
Lilac
Spr-Su
< 18 inches
spreads
2 to 3
Well-
drained
Sidalcea calycosa ssp.
rhizomata
*Pt. Reyes checkerbloom Magenta
Spr-Su
1-3 ft tall
1-3 ft w. 2-3 to 3 Any
© Project SOUND
*Southwest mock verbena – Glandularia gooddingii
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GLGO
29. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Flower-garden flowers
Blooms:
in spring – usually Apr-June
Flowering season depends on
moisture
Flowers:
Violet or pale pink-purple
In dense clusters at tops of stalks
Very attractive – and also attract
hummingbirds and butterflies
Seeds:
Plant untreated seeds in winter
Needs light to germinate
Best seeded in place
Will reseed if happy
http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/1163/glandularia-gooddingii-southwestern-mock-vervain/
© Project SOUND
Desert arroyo plant
Soils:
Texture: well-drained a must
pH: any local
Light:
Full sun to part-shade; good heat
tolerance
Water:
Winter: needs adequate;
supplement if needed
Summer: best with occasional
summer water – Water Zone 2 (2-
3 in pots) to keep green, blooming
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other:
No/inorganic mulch for reseeding
Light pruning (deadheading)
after flowering
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GLGO
© Project SOUND
©2010 James M. Andre
http://www.amwua.org/pictures/gc-v-gooddingii-1.jpg
http://www.landscape-resources.com/portfolio/groundcoversx/pages/Verbena%20gooddingii-
1.htm
© Project SOUND
*Pt. Reyes Checkerbloom – Sidalcea calycosa ssp. rhizomata
©2011 Vernon Smith
30. 7/4/2016
N. CA coast - Mendocino, Marin, Sonoma
Counties
Coastal Salt Marsh, wetland-riparian,
freshwater marsh
Collected by M. K. Curran [1886 – Marin
Co.], Alice Eastwood & Lester Rowntree
© Project SOUND
*Pt. Reyes Checkerbloom – Sidalcea calycosa ssp. rhizomata
©2013 Aaron Arthur
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/draw_tiny2.pl?0104000000
http://www.theheartofthehouse.com/2016/05/hwy-1-to-mendocino/
© Project SOUND
The showiest of the Calif. Checkerblooms
Size:
1-3 ft tall
1-3 ft wide, sprawling
Growth form:
Mostly evergreen, herbaceous
perennial
Sprawling/creeping habit
Foliage:
Bright to darker green; red-tinged
if drought/salt stressed
Geranium-like leaves; rounded,
somewhat fleshy
Young leaves edible – raw or cooked
Larval food for Lady butterflies
Roots: spreads via rhizomes; ground
cover potential
©2013 Aaron Arthur
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Sidalcea-calycosa-rhizomata/
© Project SOUND
Enchanting flowers
Blooms: spring & summer (Apr-
Sep); water prolongs bloom period
Flowers:
Typical, open Mallow shape
with 5, slightly-overlapping,
translucent petals
Color: pastel pink-purple with
white center
Flowers clustered along a
flowering stalk – open serially
Attract hummingbirds, native
bees and butterflies
Seeds: easy to grow from seed
http://www.answers.com/topic/dudleya
©2011 Vernon Smith
© Project SOUND
Loves moist soils Soils:
Texture: any - adaptable
pH: any local
Light: best with afternoon shade
or dappled sun in our area.
Water:
Winter: moist ground;
supplement if needed
Summer: best with regular
water – Water Zone 2-3 to 3;
check pots regularly
Fertilizer: occasional light
fertilizer is fine
Other: cut back when flowering
ceases; vigorous grower in moist
conditions
©2013 Aaron Arthur
This plant might do best in a
glazed ceramic pot (with good
drainage) in S. CA
31. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Garden uses for
In N. CA often used as shady
groundcover or around edible garden
In S. CA, best treated as a container
plant, where moisture conditions can
be met – lovely accent plant!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/7201649744
Your butterfly garden as your ‘green oasis’
© Project SOUND
So many choices – so little space
© Project SOUND
Yarrow
Monkeyflowers
Western Yarrow – Achilla millefolia
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
32. 7/4/2016
The Yarrows – horticultural plants extraordinaire
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower
family)
Cultivated in Europe ??thousands
of years
About half a dozen species are
commonly grown as garden plants
Natural variation in color has been
exploited – many named cultivars –
yellow, pink, red, purple
Attract many different
pollinators, including butterflies
http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/Cornell_Herbaceous
/plant_pages/Achilleamillefolium.html
© Project SOUND
Monkeyflowers:
Fantastic flower colors
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
Sticky monkeyflower – Diplacus/Mimulus aurantiacus
© Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36386822@N07/3458022529
© Project SOUND
Sticky monkeyflower: seasonal sub-shrub
Size:
2-4 ft tall
2-5 ft wide
Growth form:
Mounded to sprawling (with
age) sub-shrub
Drought-deciduous
Often short-lived (5-10 years)
Foliage:
Bright to dark-green, glossy
Leaves lance-shaped, sticky
Young leaves are edible (cook)
Important larval food for
Checkerspot butterflies
Roots: net-like; bind soil
33. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Lovely flowers
Blooms:
Spring-summer; usually Mar-Aug.
in western L.A. County
Judicious summer water for
summer blooms
Flowers:
Typical monkeyflower shape,
with long, tubular neck
Most commonly buff-colored;
some include those with other
colors as sub-species
Attracts hummingbirds, large
bee and long-tongued
butterflies (esp. Checkerspots
& Buckeyes)
© Project SOUND
Soils:
Texture: most local; likes well-
drained soils, but adaptable
pH: any local, including alkali
Light:
Afternoon shade is best in most
gardens;
full sun only along immediate
coast
Water:
Winter: needs adequate;
supplement as needed
Summer: occasional (1-2 times
per month – 2-3 per month in
containers) OK; taper off in
Aug.
Succeeding with Shrubby Monkeyflowers
Fertilizer: time-released in pots
Pruning the shrubby monkeyflowers
Prune back each fall to 18
inches or so; or prune back
to ground every third year.
Can also tip-prune after
spring bloom to encourage
fall blooms
Propagate new plants from
cuttings to replace old
plants
© Project SOUND
Great u-tube video on pruning
monkeyflowers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=u6b1whxy3h8
Butterflies that might come to the part-shade garden?
The smaller butterflies like:
• Skippers
• Gray hairstreak
• Funereal Duskywing
• Blues
Larger butterflies like:
• Whites
• Gulf Fritillary
• Ladies
• Monarchs
• Swallowtails
• ?others
34. 7/4/2016
Perhaps you have a more space – but still
want to use containers to attract butterflies
© Project SOUND
https://www.crateandbarrel.com/blog/container-garden-ideas/
Crate & Barrel and other
companies offer a wide range of
wonderful containers
Achieving adequate floral coverage in each
season: it takes some thought if space is limited
Flower patches: at least 3 ft x 3 ft
per species – the bigger the better
A few well-chosen plant species
might be better than many
Most bang for buck: shrubs vs. annual
wildflowers (depends on situation)
Likely will need to use vertical space
Some shrubs and trees are quite
adaptable to small/narrow spaces
Lots of ‘flowering area’ with a small
footprint
One yard/garden can’t do it all -
“it takes a neighborhood”
© Project SOUND
Garden 3: Containers but larger, more
© Project SOUND
Allow you to grow more flowering plants – plus some
larval food plants (if desired)
© Project SOUND
If you were a caterpillar what would you
like to eat?
Readily accessible
Succulent
Easy to digest
Non-toxic
Not too
protected: hairs,
secretions, etc.
Larval (caterpillar) food plants are often very
specific – you need to plant the larval food plants
for the species you want to attract
35. 7/4/2016
Dwarf citrus trees are a good habitat choice
© Project SOUND
Giant Swallowtail
Anise Swallowtail
© Project SOUND
Swallowtails are wonderful garden
inhabitants
Anise Swallowtail larva
Cruciferous vegetables: larval food for White Butterflies
© Project SOUND
Cabbage White
Common Checkered White
But there are other larval/adult plants to
try in larger containers
Asclepias (Milkweeds)
Atriplex (Saltbushes)
Chenopodia (Goosefeet)
Diplacus/Mimulus (Monkeyflowers)
Some Eriogonum (Buckwheats)
Galium (Bedstraws)
Grasses (most native species)
Pseudognaphalium (Everlastings)
Sphaeralcea (Desert Mallow)
Sidalcea (Checkerblooms)
Annuals/perennials like Urtica
(nettles), Thistle (Cirsium
occidentale), Plantains (Plantago)
36. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
*Allscale (Cattle) saltbush – Atriplex polycarpa
©2005 Steve Matson
Desert and other hot, dry areas of the
American Southwest down into N. Mexico.
In CA, in San Joaquin Valley and margins
and desert mountains/foothills
Alkaline flats, dry lakes, often in clays
Warm desert shrub communities (creosote
bush, ambrosia, shadscale, mesquite,
saltgrass, etc.)
© Project SOUND
*Allscale (Cattle) saltbush – Atriplex polycarpa
©2009 California State University, Stanislaus ©2013 Jean Pawek
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415595
© Project SOUND
Allscale saltbush: desert sub-shrub
Size:
3-5 ft tall
3-5 ft wide
Growth form:
Mounded sub-shrub; can be kept
somewhat rounded by pruning
Evergreen except in extreme
drought
Foliage:
Color: pale to blue-green
Leaves small, oblong; excrete
salt
Larval food for Pygmy and
other Blue butterflies
Roots: net-like; some may be deep
©2013 Jean Pawek
© Project SOUND
Flowers: under-stated
Blooms:
Mostly in summer
Rain/irrigation can extend
flowering season (spring to
fall)
Flowers:
Small, mostly golden – typical
of saltbushes
Nothing to write home about
Seeds:
Eaten by birds and wildlife
Were roasted, ground and
eaten as famine food
©2013 Jean Pawek
©2009 Neal Kramer
37. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Desert wash plant
Soils:
Texture: sandy to clay, well-
drained soils in nature. Adaptable
in garden
pH: any local (7.0-9.0); alkali, salty
soils are fine
Light: full sun
Water:
Winter: needs adequate
Summer: very drought tolerant,
but looks best with occasional
water (Water Zone 1-2 to 2; Zone
2 in containers)
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils; in
containers, ½ strength dose, spring
Other:
Inorganic mulch
Trim back up to ½ late fall
© Project SOUND
Garden uses Atriplex
polycarpa
As a background to mid-ground habitat
shrub: insects, Blue Butterflies, birds
eating seeds, insects
As a hedge (formal to informal)
In large containers©2009 Neal Kramer
https://www.pinterest.com/asilvertoca/plants-with-favorable-fire-performance-rating/ http://snowbirdpix.com/sonoran_desert_plant_page.php?id=1352
So what’s the deal about Western Pygmy
Blue butterflies?
Brephidium exilis
The smallest N. American
butterfly (often ~ ½ inch wingspan)
Adults feed on many flowers
Larvae feed on pigweed, goosefoot,
Russian thistle (‘Tumbleweed’) or
saltbush (Atriplex spp.)
Most of these are either weeds or
too large (Coast Quailbush)
Plant the larval food plants and
they will come
© Project SOUND
http://cdn.playbuzz.com/cdn/2647263a-583c-4119-8738-
09a6f9aff255/7fba1ed2-69e4-472e-994d-8b5690b652e6.jpg
http://blog.growingwithscience.com/2014/11/bug-of-the-week-western-pygmy-blue-
butterfly/
And what do these larvae look like?
© Project SOUND
http://bugguide.net/node/view/25198/bgimage
38. 7/4/2016
Native buckwheats attract tons of
pollinators, including butterflies
© Project SOUND
Marine Blue Butterfly
Can I really grow buckwheats in large containers?
© Project SOUND
Probably yes, if the pots are large and you choose carefully
Three Eriogonums I’d try
(in large sunny pots)
Red buckwheat – E. grande rubescens
California buckwheat – E. fasciculatum
Ashyleaf buckwheat – E. cinerium
Native Buckwheats are such
good pollinator habitat that it’s
probably worth the gamble
And now we’ve come to the end…
© Project SOUND
39. 7/4/2016
© Project SOUND
Summary suggestions for creating a
butterfly-friendly garden
Include important nectar and
larval food plants; when possible
from local sources
Mass/group plants
Include plants that bloom at
different times
Consider including some good non-
native food plants
Use safe methods of insect
control – no pesticides
Several things to do in July for butterflies
Attend butterfly events at
Madrona, El Dorado, Gardena
Willows and other places
Learn more about local butterflies;
review past ‘Out of the Wilds’
butterfly talks
Watch butterflies in your garden;
draw, paint or photograph them
Evaluate your garden for it’s
butterfly habitat potential;
supplement as appropriate
Talk to your friends and neighbors
about butterflies
© Project SOUND
Buy a butterfly plant and
plant it in a pot (I’ve got a
few today)
Next month: Designing a Garden Pond
© Project SOUNDhttp://lagunadirt.com/2011/01/visit-mermaids-garden-backyard-stream.html