Butterflies in Mind -- Zinnia
Susan C. Dunlap
A collection of 50 images as if seen from a butterfly’s point of view. Includes the names of native Zinnia species and the most complete list of US butterflies that will feed on Zinnia blossoms.
Butterflies in Mind -- Asclepias
Susan C. Dunlap
“Milkweed is the single most important plant for Monarch butterflies. This lavishly illustrated book contains details about the structure and cultivation of native Milkweeds, information about the 139 nectar-feeding butterflies they...
Butterflies in Mind -- Monarch
Susan C. Dunlap
This abundantly illustrated volume enables you to select from a complete list of well described perennial nectar plants that are known to attract & feed Monarch butterflies. Over 40 genera are described that are suitable to be grown...
Butterflies in Mind -- Perennials
Susan C. Dunlap
Butterflies in Mind - Perennials. This book is a definitive guide to perennial nectar plants preferred by US butterflies. It empowers you to feed, attract, support (and help identify) nectar-feeding butterflies that reside in the US....

Lantana camara
(sold as Carlos)

Family: Verbenaceae

Common name: SHRUB VERBENA

Native to: Tropical America

Sentiment: rigor

Plant

Types: annual, shrub

Forms: clumping, mounding, spreading

Leaves evergreen

Max height: 1.75 feet

Max width: 1.75 feet

Flower

orange, pink, red, secondary color present, yellow

Leaf

green

Horticulture

Attracts wildlife: adult butterfly, hummingbird, specific butterfly species

Plant part consumed by birds: nectar

Plant features: evergreen, invasive

Exposure: sun

Landscape uses: container, ground cover, hedge or edging

Invasive

Propagates by: seed

flowers year round

Soil type: wide range

USDA Zone: zone 10 to +30 f

Temp. range: +30 to +40 °F

Water: moderate

Butterflies that feed on this plant

Abaeis nicippe

Achalarus toxeus

Achlyodes pallida

Agraulis vanillae

Aguna asander

Aguna claxon

Aguna metophis

Allosmaitia strophius

Amblyscirtes exoteria

Amblyscirtes fimbriata

Amblyscirtes nysa

Anartia fatima

Anartia jatrophae

Anastrus sempiternus

Anatrytone logan

Ancyloxypha numitor

Anteos clorinde

Anteos maerula

Anthanassa argentea

Anthanassa texana

Anthocharis sara

Antigonus emorsa

Aphrissa statira

Appias drusilla

Ascia monuste

Asterocampa celtis

Asterocampa clyton

Asterocampa idyja

Asterocampa leilia

Astraptes alector

Astraptes anaphus

Astraptes fulgerator

Atalopedes campestris

Autochton cincta

Battus philenor

Battus polydamas

Calephelis nemesis

Calpodes ethlius

Caria ino

Carrhenes canescens

Catasticta nimbice

Cercyonis pegala

Chioides albofasciatus

Chioides zilpa

Chlosyne janais

Chlosyne lacinia

Chlosyne theona

Codatractus arizonensis

Cogia calchas

Cogia hippalus

Colias philodice

Copaeodes aurantiaca

Cupido comyntas

Cyanophrys herodotus

Cyanophrys longula

Cymaenes trebius

Cymaenes tripunctus

Danaus eresimus

Danaus gilippus

Danaus plexippus

Dione moneta

Dircenna klugii

Doxocopa pavon

Dryadula phaetusa

Dryas iulia

Dynamine dyonis

Dynamine postverta

Eantis tamenund

Echinargus isola

Emesis tenedia

Epargyreus clarus

Epargyreus zestos

Erynnis horatius

Erynnis juvenalis

Erynnis persius

Erynnis tristis

Eueides isabella

Eumaeus atala

Euphydryas chalcedona

Euphyes bayensis

Euphyes pilatka

Euptoieta claudia

Euptoieta hegesia

Eurema mexicana

Eurytides marcellus

Ganyra josephina

Gesta invisus

Greta morgane

Hamadryas amphichloe

Heliconius charithonia

Heliconius erato

Heliopetes arsalte

Heliopetes ericetorum

Heliopetes laviana

Heliopetes macaira

Hemiargus ceraunus

Hylephila phyleus

Hypolimnas misippus

Itaballia demophile

Junonia coenia

Junonia genoveva

Kricogonia lyside

Lasaia sula

Leptotes marina

Lerema accius

Lerodea arabus

Lerodea eufala

Libytheana carinenta

Marpesia petreus

Melanis pixe

Melete lycimnia

Mestra amymone

Nastra julia

Nymphalis antiopa

Oligoria maculata

Panoquina evansi

Panoquina lucas

Panoquina ocola

Papilio anchisiades

Papilio androgeus

Papilio astyalus

Papilio cresphontes

Papilio eurymedon

Papilio indra

Papilio machaon

Papilio multicaudata

Papilio ornythion

Papilio polyxenes

Papilio rutulus

Papilio thoas

Papilio troilus

Papilio victorinus

Papilio xuthus

Papilio zelicaon

Parrhasius m album

Pellicia arina

Phocides palemon

Phocides pigmalion

Phoebis agarithe

Phoebis neocypris

Phoebis sennae

Pieris rapae

Plebejus acmon

Poanes melane

Poanes viator

Poanes zabulon

Polites vibex

Polygonia interrogationis

Polygonus leo

Pontia protodice

Pyrgus albescens

Pyrgus communis

Pyrgus oileus

Pyrisitia lisa

Pyrisitia proterpia

Quasimellana eulogius

Siproeta epaphus

Speyeria cybele

Staphylus hayhurstii

Staphylus mazans

Strymon alea

Strymon bazochii

Strymon martialis

Synapte malitiosa

Systasea pulverulenta

Systasea zampa

Thorybes pylades

Timochares ruptifasciata

Urbanus dorantes

Urbanus doryssus

Urbanus esmeraldus

Urbanus procne

Urbanus pronus

Urbanus proteus

Urbanus simplicius

Urbanus teleus

Vanessa annabella

Vanessa atalanta

Vanessa cardui

Zerene cesonia

Lantana is a member of the Verbenaceae family that contains 133 species. Two Lantanas are commonly cultivated – L. camara and L. montevidensis. Lantana camara is invasive in fifty countries and has established itself as a toxic weed in many areas of the world. Birds and other wildlife disperse the seeds. Wikipedia has a lot to say about this. L. montevidensis is invasive as well, in two countries. Both of these plants are commonly cultivated.

It is possible, but unlikely, that cultivars of these plants are less vigorous. Perhaps growers can produce plants that are sterile, but, doing so may dilute the nectar production as well. Some plants deserve our support - perhaps this is not one of them.

Lantana attracts seventy-five butterflies for feeding. We invite you to find other plants, listed in this database, favored by the butterflies listed here.

Plants for container - flowering annuals

This annual plant is suitable for container gardening. Container plants generally have a smaller root-ball and most thrive with regular watering. Most will perk up if watered when they have drooped a bit.

There are over 300 plants in this category that can be further sorted for shady spots or as attractive to wildlife. Most of these annuals an be grown from seed and prefer being grown in a sunny locale. Nearly 200 entries in this category are plants that appeal to adult butterflies, 75 plants attract bees, and 47 plants attract hummingbirds.

Annual plants suitable for containers can be found in every color imaginable – yellow flowers and white flowers are the most common, but they can also be found in orange, purple, violet, red, pink, and blue. Several of these plants are grown for their cut flowers, some have fragrant flowers, three produce dried flowers, and a few are useful arbor plants. Most of them flower in summer, but annual plants suitable for growing in containers can be found that flower in every season.

Some of these container plants can be grown as perennials in Zone 8, Zone 9, and Zone 10. A small number can be grown as perennials in colder Zones (Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, and Zone 7).

Some of these can be grown as container vegetable garden plants. Please see the "edible annuals for containers" category to see 177 vegetable plants suitable for growing in containers.

Container plants that attract adult butterflies - shrubs

This plant is one of 52 shrubs suitable to grow in a container that will attract adult butterflies. 17 of these plants attract birds and 29 attract specific butterfly species. They can be found in large, medium-large and tiny heights - from less than a foot high to over 10 feet tall. 10 of these shrubs are drought tolerant, the others prefer either dry, moderate, or regular watering. 2 are deciduous, while 43 are evergreen. One can grow in Zone 3 while the others grow in Zones 4-11. 39 shrubs that attract butterflies and can be grown in containers in Zone 9. 6 are known to be used as cut flowers. They are available in every flower color.

You are free to use any filter, including those listed above, to reduce the plant list further to better match your planting needs.

There are 1230 shrubs in this database - 52 of these shrubs can attract adult butterflies and be grown in a container. The size of many shrubs can be manipulated without harm to the plant. The shrub may in fact respond favorable to being pruned.

We have found that, when given a choice, butterflies and bees seem to frequent named species more often than cultivars. You may want to keep this in mind when you select plants for your garden if your goal is to attract and support these insects.