I live in Dallas and planted Milkweed a few years ago to attract the monarchs but I would like to get a few other kinds to fly in this year. Any suggestions as to what plants to try? What butterflies match with the plants?

 Thanks in advance

What zone is Dallas? Here in Florida, just east of Tampa, we have had good luck with several plants. Pentas, especially the dark red flowered species that tends to grow larger than the purple/pink/white hybrids, attract many kinds of butterflies. Hammelia (sp. not popping into mind at the moment) or commonly called fire bush here attracts butterflies, humming birds, and other birds, very easy to grow. Porter weed attracts small brown butterflies and moths. Small tree/bush Cassia/ Senna spp. attract sulphur wings when they bloom and the yellows blend well enough that it can be hard to tell if it's a bloom or butterfly. I could go on and on, hope this was helpful.

Zinnias

tithonia -mexican sunflower

Cosmos

Species canna

black& blue salvia

monarda

roses 

 

Those stay in bloom over a period of time and are heavily visited.some morning glorys attract& i have a mimosa tree thats covered in butterflys.They like parsely& basil also.

host plants

Dill,fennel,carrots will attract black swallowtail

viburnuim will attract hummingbird moth.

verbena will attract buckeye .

 

I'm southeast Tx.I' ve got yellow sulphers now.They seem content with the daffs,hycaniths& panseys .I grow firebush too,I do see monarchs on it when its blooming,or never would have noticed the blooms.If it gets enough sun.....its foliage will turn red/purple in fall & makes the berrys stand out more that the birds eat. black swallowtail will flock to beautybush& has purple berrys till birds eat them.Lantana is a another plant that will get loaded with butterflys.I cut mine back yearly so its pretty full and grows out to 5x6. Hibiscus and rose of sharon attract also.spice bush(though not good near walkways due to the bees)

Dallas is a zone 7,or may have shifted to 7b as they re did the climate charts. I'm 8b(but shifted to a 9) 

In my butterfly garden, I have the following plants:

HOST Plants - sweet fennell, bronze fennell, dill, nettle, parsley, sedum, yarrow, asters, tropical milkweed

Host plants weeds in my yard - wild violets, clover

Necter Plants - Butterfly bush, Lantana, Gailardia, Summer Phlox, Sedum - autumn joy, Speedwell, Asters, dandelion, black-eyed susan, tickseed, verbena, purple coneflower, yarrow, bee balm

 Host plants that I want to add to my garden next year are:

passion flower vine - it is supposed to attract several species of butterflies. 

Thanks for the great list of plants. Nice that you list both host and nectar plants because I myself tend to just think about the beautiful butterflies around the yard and forget the caterpillars. Very important though.

We're heading back down to Texas this summer and plan to have a garden for the butterflies. This will certainly help us in our planning!

 Patrick