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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants

See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer

2 ratings

Wednesday - May 02, 2012

From: LaRue, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Butterfly Gardens, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Groundcovers
Title: Groundcover and Butterfly attractants for LaRue Texas
Answered by: Brigid & Larry Larson

QUESTION:

LaRue, TX - Would like a native low growing plant as a groundcover. I would like it for six+ hours of sun, drought tolerant, and ones that butterflies might enjoy, while deer won't. Some winter interest. A tall order I know. Thanks

ANSWER:

Mr Smarty Plants got lucky and was able to find three separate answers in the archives for groundcover for a sunny location in LaRue Texas - - Can you believe it!!

So I’m going to get lazy and merely link those three answers to you then comment on whether the recommendations are ones the butterfies would enjoy and/or that the deer won’t go for easily! That is, as you said, a really tall order.

Anyway – First check out these three question and answer pairs:
Groundcovers for East Texas [LaRue].
Groundcover for a Sunny Location [LaRue, quite similar as they also want attractants!]
Groundcovers for East Texas.
And, while I’m at it, here is a similar question from Paris, TX and one from Nacogdoches

Butterfly gardening is covered quite well in this “How to” article. It is also listed in the plant record under “Benefit”, this place is also where you can see if they are considered deer resistant.

Groundcovers from the previous answers that are also listed as butterfly attractants are Calyptocarpus vialis (Straggler daisy), Phyla nodiflora (Texas frogfruit), Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf sage), Callirhoe involucrata (Winecup), Passiflora incarnata (Purple passionflower), Lonicera sempervirens (Coral honeysuckle) [Some of these are vines rather than classic groundcovers].

Groundcovers listed as deer resistant include: Oenothera speciosa (Pink evening primrose), Muhlenbergia capillaris (Gulf muhly), Allium canadense (Meadow garlic)

Also, Phyla nodiflora (Texas frogfruit), Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf sage), Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba (Poppy mallow), Tetraneuris scaposa var. scaposa (Four-nerve daisy), Passiflora incarnata (Purple passionflower) are listed as moderately deer resistant. As most of these are also listed as butterfly attractants, they are probably the best we can find for you in fitting your requirements! I've put some pictures of these in the photo gallery below!

From the Image Gallery

Texas frogfruit
Phyla nodiflora

White poppymallow
Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba

Four-nerve daisy
Tetraneuris scaposa var. scaposa