What “Drought Resistant” Means for Butterfly Plants
Most plants described as drought resistant or drought tolerant still need regular water while their roots establish, often for the first one or two growing seasons. After that, many native species can get by on rainfall alone in a typical year. How dry is “dry” depends on your region, soil, and rainfall pattern, so treat any plant list as a starting point and check with a local native plant society or extension office.
Native plants from prairies, meadows, and western scrublands are often good candidates. They evolved with seasonal dry spells, and many have deep roots, narrow or silvery leaves, or other traits that reduce water loss.
Host Plants and Nectar Plants: You Need Both
Butterflies use plants in two different ways:
- Nectar plants feed adult butterflies. Flat-topped or clustered blooms are easy for them to land on.
- Host plants feed caterpillars. Many butterflies lay eggs only on particular plants, so the caterpillars can eat the leaves. Expect some chewed foliage.
A garden with only nectar plants will attract visitors, but a garden with both can support the full life cycle. Several drought-tolerant plant lists, including ones from Plant Select and Missouri Botanical Garden, are organized this way.
Drought-Tolerant Nectar Plants
These are commonly recommended for sunny, well-drained sites. Hardiness and suitability vary by species and region.
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): a sturdy prairie native that blooms through summer. Goldfinches may eat the seed heads in fall.
- Blazing star (Liatris species): tall spikes of purple flowers that butterflies and bees visit.
- Anise hyssop and other native hyssops (Agastache species): long-blooming and aromatic. Some are native to the Great Plains and Southwest, others are garden selections, so check the species.
- Beebalm / wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): tolerates drier soil than some other beebalms.
- Penstemon (Penstemon species): many western and prairie species are well suited to dry, lean soil.
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): a short-lived perennial that often self-seeds.
- Native sages (Salvia species): some southwestern and Texas natives are very drought tolerant.
- Rabbitbrush (Ericameria / Chrysothamnus species): a late-season shrub for western gardens that blooms when little else does.
- Native buckwheats (Eriogonum species): an important group in the West, with many species suited to dry sites.
Drought-Tolerant Host Plants
- Milkweeds (Asclepias species): host plants for monarch caterpillars. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is often chosen for dry, sunny, well-drained sites. Pick milkweeds native to your area.
- Wild indigo (Baptisia species): deep-rooted perennials that host caterpillars of several butterflies and skippers.
- Goldenrod (Solidago species): supports many insects, and some species, such as Rocky Mountain goldenrod in the West, do well in dry conditions.
- Native grasses: little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a widely used host for some skipper caterpillars and tolerates dry soil.
- Penstemon and lupines: host plants for some checkerspots and blues in parts of North America.
Alternatives to Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) is popular, but it is not native, and in some regions, including parts of the Pacific Northwest and the Eastern states, it has been listed as invasive or regulated. It provides nectar but does not serve as a host plant for most native caterpillars.
Native substitutes that bloom in a similar season include purple coneflower, blazing star, beebalm, and native hyssops. For a shrub, consider native options for your region, such as buttonbush where there is moisture, or rabbitbrush in dry western sites. If you want a plant that blooms into autumn, our guide to fall blooming native perennials has more choices.
Establishing and Maintaining a Dry Butterfly Garden
- Aim for sun. Most of these plants prefer at least six hours of direct sun.
- Check drainage. Many drought-tolerant natives struggle in heavy, constantly wet soil. Overwatering and rich fertilizer are common reasons they fail.
- Water deeply but not often during the first season, then taper off.
- Plant in groups. Clumps of the same plant are easier for butterflies to find than single plants.
- Skip pesticides. They can harm caterpillars and other pollinators.
- Leave some stems and leaves in fall. Many insects overwinter in them.
Regional Notes
A plant that is drought tolerant in Colorado may not suit Florida, and a native in one state may be non-native in another. Prairie plants like coneflower and blazing star do well across much of the central and eastern U.S., while rabbitbrush and buckwheat belong mostly in the West. A local native plant nursery can help you narrow the list.
FAQ
What is the best plant for a butterfly habitat? No single plant works everywhere. Milkweeds are valued for monarchs, and coneflowers and blazing stars are popular nectar plants. A mix of host and nectar plants native to your area is a better approach.
What are some drought-resistant pollinator plants? Besides those above, many native bees visit coneflowers, penstemons, and goldenrods, so the same plants often serve butterflies and bees.
Which drought-resistant plants tolerate full sun? Most of the plants listed here prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
Can I grow these in containers? Some, such as smaller penstemons, can do well in containers with a gritty potting mix, but deep-rooted species such as wild indigo prefer the ground.