Create a Monarch Waystation
Help save the Monarch butterfly by creating a certified waystation in your Houston garden. Learn what plants to include and how to maintain your butterfly habitat.
Why Monarch Waystations Matter
Monarch butterflies undertake one of the most incredible migrations in the natural world, traveling up to 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico. However, their populations have declined by over 80% in recent decades due to habitat loss.
By creating a Monarch Waystation in your Houston garden, you provide essential resources—milkweed for breeding and nectar plants for energy—that help sustain monarchs during their epic journey.
Think of your Waystation as a rest stop for a weary traveler. Every garden counts in building a network of habitats that can help save this iconic species!
Waystation Requirements
Size
A Monarch Waystation should be at least 100 square feet, though larger is better. Even small gardens can make a difference when part of a larger network of habitats.
Recommended Plants
These plants are perfect for creating a Monarch Waystation in your Houston garden. We can help you design and install a beautiful butterfly habitat!
Host Plants (Milkweed)
Essential for Monarch reproduction. Caterpillars ONLY eat milkweed!
- •Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- •Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
- •Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis)
- •Antelope Horns (Asclepias asperula)
- •Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)
Nectar Plants
Provide energy for adult butterflies during migration.
- •Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea)
- •Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus)
- •Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides)
- •Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- •Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
- •Goldenrod (Solidago species)
- •Asters (Symphyotrichum species)
- •Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)
From Our Plant Portfolio
Ready to Create Your Monarch Waystation?
Let 2 Gals Landscaping design and install a beautiful butterfly habitat in your yard. We'll select the right plants and create a stunning garden that supports wildlife!