The Roots & Wings Festival is Austin’s annual combined celebration of Arbor Day and Monarch Appreciation Day. We use this time to celebrate trees, butterflies, bees, and all pollinators! Nature is soothing and healing in so many ways. We are as much a part of nature as it is a part of our lives. Nature is and has always been, here for you.
As you explore the Garden, be on the lookout for markers that indicate the pollinators and creatures that inhabit, pollinate, and coexist with specific plants.
Well-planned pollinator gardens benefit pollinators such as bees, moths, and hummingbirds, as well as attract beneficial insects which can help balance and support your backyard ecosystem. The plants listed here are just a few examples to help you design your own pollinator garden. All plants on this list are easily sourced from local nurseries or native seed catalogs and are easy to grow for beginner gardeners. The plants on this list are broken down as either native or non-native and are listed based on each of the 4 gardens included in this temporary interpretive education exhibit. None of the non-native plants on this list are invasive species and we encourage you to plant native and adapted plants in your home gardens. The Plants for Pollinators educational exhibit includes the Butterfly Trail, the Green Garden, the Hummingbird Garden, and the Herb Garden.
General Pollinator Favorite
Bee shaped yellow icons indicate that the flowers of that plant are a favorite for many species of pollinators, including Honey Bees and native bees.
Butterfly Trail Texas Native General Pollinator Favorites
- Barbados Cherry- Malpighia glabra
- Black-eyed Susan- Rudbeckia hirta
- Frostweed- Verbesina virginica
- Goldeneye- Viguiera dentata
- Kidneywood- Eysenhardtia texana
- Purple Coneflower- Echinacea purpurea
- Rock Rose- Pavonia lasiopetala
- White Mistflower- Ageratina havanensis
- Cowpen Daisy- Verbesina encelioides
- Rough Stem Rosinweed- Silphium radula
- Fall Aster- Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
- Butterfly Milkweed- Asclepias tuberosa
- Chocolate Daisy- Berlandiera lyrata
- Maypop- Passiflora incarnata
- Mealy Blue Sage- Salvia farinacea
- Crucita- Chromolaena odorat
- Wooly Bee-brush- Aloysia macrostachya
- Texas Green Eyes- Berlandiera betonicifolia
- Turks Cap- Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Butterfly Trail Non-Native General Pollinator Favorites
- Coral Vine- Antigonon leptopus
- Cosmos- Cosmos bipinnantus
- Common Rue- Ruta graveolens
- Fennel- Foeniculum vulgare
- Mex. Marigold Mint- Tagetes lucida
- Mexican Sunflower- Tithonia rotundifolia
- Tropical Milkweed- Asclepias curassavica
- Sky Flower- Duranta erecta
- Garden Phlox- Phlox paniculata
- Sweet Almond Verbena- Aloysia virgata
- Anise Hyssop- Agastache foeniculum
- Indigo Spires- Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’
Hummingbird Garden Texas Native General Pollinator Favorites
- Pink Skullcap- Scutellaria suffrutescens
- Rock Rose- Pavonia lasiopetala
- Dwarf Lantana- Lantana sp.
- Purple Bindweed- Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. cordatotriloba
- Snapdragon Vine- Maurandya antirrhiniflora
- Pink Guara- Oenothera lindheimeri
- Wooly Stemodia- Stemodia lanata
Hummingbird Garden Non-Native General Pollinator Favorites
- African Blue Basil – Ocimum ‘Dark Opal’
- Penta – Pentas lanceolata
Green Garden Texas Native General Pollinator Favorites
- Barbados Cherry – Malpighia glabra
- Goldeneye – Viguiera dentata
- Mealy Blue Sage – Salvia farinacea
- Pink Skullcap – Scutellaria suffrutescens
- Purple Coneflower – Echinacea purpurea
- Rock Rose – Pavonia lasiopetala
- Texas Lantana – Lantana urticoides
- White Gaura – Oenothera lindheimeri
- Zexmenia – Wedelia acapulcensis
Green Garden Non-Native General Pollinator Favorites
- Sky Flower – Duranta erecta
Herb Garden Texas Native General Pollinator Favorites
- Feverfew- Tanacetum parthenium
- Fleabane- Pulicaria dysenterica
- Fragrant White Mistflower- Ageratina havanensis
- Frogfruit- Phyla incisa
- Joe Pye Weed, Spotted- Eutrochium maculatum
- Mexican Oregano- Lippia graveolens
- Soapwort- Saponaria officinalis
Herb Garden Non-Native General Pollinator Favorites
- Borage- Salvia uliginosa
- Byzantine Gladiolus- Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus
- Cat’s Whiskers- Orthosiphon aristatus
- Chives- Allium schoenoprasum
- Cosmos – Cosmos sulphureus
- Cowpen Daisy- Verbesina encelioides
- Germander, Silver- Teucrium fruticans (Judith, is this actually the one we have? Or is it Tree Germander?)
- Lavender, Provence- Lavandula intermedia ‘Provence’
- Purslane- Portulaca oleracea
- Red False Mallow- Malvastrum coccineum
- Rosemary – Salvia rosmarinus
- St. John’s Wort- Hypericum perforatum
Hummingbird Friendly
The long tubular flowers of these plants are a hummingbird favorite. Although other colors will work, red, pink, and purple are preferred.
Butterfly Trail Texas Native Hummingbird Favorites
- Flame Acanthus- Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
- Jimson Weed- Datura wrightii
- Tropical Sage- Salvia coccinea
- Coral Honeysuckle– Lonicera sempervirens
- Autumn Sage- Salvia greggi
- Mountain Sage- Salvia regla
- Turks Cap- Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Butterfly Trail Non-Native Hummingbird Favorites
- Blue Plumbago- Plumbago auriculata
- Fire Bush- Hamelia patens
- Mexican Honeysuckle– Justicia spicigera
- Pride of Barbados- Caesalpinia pulcherrima
- Penta- Penta lanceolata
- Garden Phlox- Phlox paniculata
- Orange Shrimp Plant- Justicia fulvicoma
- Indigo Spires- Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’
Hummingbird Garden Texas Native Hummingbird Favorites
- Dwarf Lantana – Lantana sp.
- Flame Acanthus – Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
- Purple Bindweed – Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. cordatotriloba
- Texas Star Hibiscus – Hibiscus coccineus
- Tropical Sage – Salvia coccinea
- Yellow Bells – Tecoma stans
Hummingbird Garden Non-Native Hummingbird Favorites
- African Blue Basil – Ocimum ‘Dark Opal’
- Dwarf Oleander – Nerium oleander
- Firebush – Hamelia patens
- Firecracker Flower – Dicliptera sericea
- Firecracker Plant – Russelia equisetiformis
- Majestic Sage – Salvia guaranitica
- Mexican Honeysuckle – Justicia spicigera
- Mexican Oregano – Poliomintha longiflora
- Orange Shrimp Plant – Justicia fulvicoma
- Penta – Pentas lanceolata
- Pride of Barbados – Caesalpinia pulcherrima
- Purple & Bloom Salvia – Salvia hybrid
Green Garden Texas Native Hummingbird Favorites
- Flame Acanthus – Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
- Gregg’s Mist Flower – Conoclinium greggii
- Texas Lantana – Lantana urticoides
- Turk’s Cap – Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Green Garden Non-Native Hummingbird Favorites
- Blue Plumbago – Plumbago auriculata
- Mexican Shrimp Plant – Justicia brandegeeana
- Sky Flower – Duranta erecta
Herb Garden Texas Native Hummingbird Favorites
- Beebalm/Bergamot- Monarda fistulosa
- Chocolate Daisy- Berlandiera lyrata
- Feverfew- Chrysanthemum parthenium
- Firebrush- Hamelia patens
- Germander, Small Coastal- Teucrium cubense
- Lyreleaf Sage- Salvia lyrata
- Mexican Oregano- Lippia graveolens
- Snake Herb- Dyschoriste lorfinearis
- Soapwort- Saponaria officinalis
- Giant Texas Hibiscus- Hibiscus ‘Moy Grande’
Herb Garden Non-Native Hummingbird Favorites
- Byzantine Gladiolus- Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus
- Cat’s Whiskers- Orthosiphon aristatus
- Cosmos- Cosmos sulphureus
- David Verity Cuphea- Cuphea ‘David Verity’
- Dianthus- Dianthus plumarius
- Gladiolus- Gladiolus dalenii
- Purslane- Portulaca oleracea
- Sculpit- Silene vulgaris
Butterfly Nectar Source
Butterflies and other pollinators use the nectar from these flowers as food.
Butterfly Trail Texas Native Butterfly Nectar Source Plants
- Black-eyed Susan- Rudbeckia hirta
- Frostweed- Verbesina virginica
- Goldeneye- Viguiera dentata
- Jimson Weed- Datura wrightii
- Kidneywood- Eysenhardtia texana
- Purple Coneflower- Echinacea purpurea
- Tropical Sage- Salvia coccinea
- White Mistflower- Ageratina havanensis
- Cowpen Daisy- Verbesina encelioides
- Rough Stem Rosinweed- Silphium radula
- Texas Lantana- Lantana urticoides
- Autumn Sage- Salvia greggi
- Mealy Blue Sage- Salvia farinacea
- Crucita- Chromolaena odorata
Butterfly Trail Non-Native Butterfly Nectar Source Plants
- Blue Plumbago- Plumbago auriculata
- Cosmos- Cosmos bipinnatus
- Mexican Sunflower- Tithonia rotundifolia
- Penta- Pentas lanceolata
Herb Garden Texas Native Butterfly Nectar Source Plants
- Anacacho Orchid- Bauhinia mexicana
- Beebalm/Bergamot- Monarda fistulosa
- Blackfoot Daisy- Melampodium leucanthum
- Bluebonnet- Lupinus texensis
- Chocolate Daisy- Berlandiera lyrata
- Feverfew- Tanacetum parthenium
- Firebush- Hamelia patens
- Fleabane- Pulicaria dysenterica
- Germander, Small Coastal- Teucrium cubense var. cubense
- Goldenrod- Solidago altissima
- Joe Pye Weed, Spotted- Eutrochium maculatum
- Lyreleaf Sage- Salvia lyrata
- Mealy Blue Sage- Salvia farinacea
- Mexican Mint Marigold- Tagetes lucida
- Jimson Weed/Datura- Datura wrightii
- Rock Rose- Pavonia lasiopetala
- Snake Herb- Dyschoriste linearis
- Soapwort- Saponaria officinalis
- Yarrow- Achillea collina (Judith? Is this the wild planted one, or the one you buy at Home Depot Achillea Millefolium?)
Herb Garden Non-Native Butterfly Nectar Source Plants
- Autumn Sage- Salvia greggii
- Bougainvillea/Paper Flower- Bougainvillea glabra
- Byzantine Gladiolus- Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus
- Calendula- Calendula officinalis
- Cat’s Whiskers- Orthosiphon aristatus
- Chives- Allium schoenoprasum
- Chrysanthemums- Chrysanthemum indicum
- Cilantro/Coriander- Coriandrum sativum
- Common Sorrel- Rumex acetosa
- Orange Cosmos- Cosmos sulphureus
- Cowpen Daisy- Verbesina encelioides
- Creeping Jenny- Lysimachia nummularia
- David Verity Cuphea- Cuphea ‘David Verity’
- Daylily- Hemerocallis fulva
- Dianthus- Dianthus plumarius
- Echinacea/ Eastern Purple Coneflower- Echinacea purpurea
- Fennel- Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce
- Germander, Silver- Teucrium fruticans
- Gladiolus- Gladiolus dalenii
- Giant Texas Hibiscus- Hibiscus ‘Moy Grande’ (Hibiscus moscheutos x grandiflorus)
- Kent Beauty Oregano- Origanum ‘Kent Beauty’
- Lemon Balm- Melissa officinalis
- May Night- Salvia nemorosa
- Mexican Bush Sage- Salvia leucantha
- Red Dahlia- Dahlia coccinea
- Rosemary- Salvia rosmarinus
- Sculpit- Silene inflata
- Texas Aster- Symphyotrichum drummondii var. texanum
- Texas Star Hibiscus- Hibiscus coccineus
Butterfly/Moth Larva Food Source
This is a host plant. A host plant is a particular plant on which a moth or butterfly lay their eggs on so that their caterpillar larvae can get food and nourishment before forming its chrysalis or pupa.
Butterfly Trail Texas Native Butterfly/Moth Larva Food Source Plants
- Frostweed- Verbesina virginica
- Goldeneye- Viguiera dentata
- Jimsonweed/Sacred Datura- Datura wrightii
- Cowpen Daisy- Verbesina encelioides
- Rough Stem Rosinweed- Silphium radula
- Butterfly Milkweed- Asclepias tuberosa
- Maypop Vine- Passiflora incarnata
- Plateau Live Oak- Quercus fusiformis
Butterfly Trail Non-Native Butterfly/Moth Larva Food Source Plants
- Common Rue- Ruta graveolens
- Fennel- Foeniculum vulgare
- White Veined Pipevine- Aristolochia fimbriata
- Tropical Milkweed- Asclepias curassavica
Green Garden Texas Native Butterfly/Moth Larva Food Source Plants
- Goldeneye- Viguiera dentata
Herb Garden Texas Native Butterfly/Moth Larva Food Source Plants
- Anacacho Orchid- Bauhinia mexicana
- Frogfruit- Phyla nodiflora
- Milkweed, Rose- Asclepias incarnata
- Jimsom Weed/Sacred Datura- Datura wrightii
Herb Garden Non-Native Butterfly/Moth Larva Food Source Plants
- Bougainvillea- Bougainvillea glabra
- Byzantine Gladiolus- Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus
- Chamomile, Roman- Chamaemelum nobile
- Common Sorrel- Rumex acetosa
- Lovage- Levisticum officinale
- Geranium- Pelargonium graveolens
- Purslane- Portulaca oleracea
- Snapdragon- Antirrhinum majus
- Viola- Viola cornuta
- Wood Violet- Viola odorata