People who garden in different areas of the country will find the butterflies are interested in different plants at various times and in different plants from one year to another. I also think it takes a year or more for the butterflies to find your garden and learn that it is a reliable spot to visit in their quest for food and egg-laying/host plants. I've had my best luck with A. Incarnata, especially the new seedlings and young sprouts. I think the smaller plants are safer from predators due to the lack of blooms. But, my sister lives about 70 miles from me and I found her A. Tuberosa covered in Monarch caterpillars. Now, she didn't have other milkweeds for the Monarchs to choose from, while I had lots of both those two. My garden, with milkweed and lots of nectar plants, had also been established for two or three years, while hers was just getting started. I've found the best thing to do is to provide as great a diversity of plants as possible. Hopefully, if there is something available that they need whenever they show up, they'll return often and have a greater chance at survival. If the weather one year offers some plants an advantage over others, a diverse garden is more likely to have at least something that has survived than a garden with fewer choices. And remember, nature is not in a hurry. It may take several years to put together a really richly varied and constantly blooming butterfly garden. So, be patient and know that every single plant you add will provide benefit to some creature. Happy gardening. Martha

Bronze fennel seems to be very good host plant for the black swallowtails. I had them lay eggs two years in a row on this. Raised some of them up in the house. My favorite hummingbird plants are Salvia lady in red, Monarda Jacob cline, Fuchsia gartenmeister, red petunia and million bells, zinnia, Mexican sunflower, canna lily, coral honeysuckle, agastache, Firecracker penstemon, and red cypress vine.

My husband & I have not caught them at the Lantana bushes yet. But they do love our Sages & Salvia's. I am growing a Trumpet Vine (not the Invasive Type) Training it into a Tree (Topiary) Form but it will be another 3-4 yr.s before it will be blooming. They really love our Love & Wishes Salvia & our Cherry Chief (Autumn Sage greggii)-it is a red color that gets their attention & it must have great nectar. It is taking the Texas heat & humidity well. I am going to add more as the Black-Chin's visit it every day 3 times a day. The Hot Lips Sage/Salvia was a Huge hit this Spring. I have just cut 1/3 of it back & fed it so it will be ready to re-bloom again when it starts cooling off. I have Turk's Cap growing but have not seen any go to it. Trumpet Creeper is growing but not blooming yet & our Mexican Sunflowers are always a hit with the Ruby's. Always looking for more plant's that they love! _ Thanks for the input! Appreciate it!

The number one plant the hummers go to in my small garden is the old fashioned red Pentas. Your weather is much like mine so this plant will not survive your winter but if you want to draw in the hummers and keep them coming back, I feel this plant will do it. I grow many more of the plants mentioned throughout this thread but if I only had to choose one plant from all mentioned "that works the best for me", it would be Pentas lanceolata (Ruby Red). They bloom continuously and while the plant gets 24-30 inches tall and as wide by years end, it always has open blooms on it, once it begins to bloom. Even the butterflies nectar from it. There is a smaller variety of Pentas sold in many big box stores and nurseries but I tried them one year and the hummers ignored them. I suspect they don't produce much nectar. The suggestion to maintain a feeder is also a good idea. I keep one, cleaned often, hanging from a shepherds hook and the little guys will go to it after they nectar on the flowers. While your garden space seems big right now, a few plants will fill the space quickly. So my suggestion is to choose two or three plants that will give you the most bang for your buck. Another idea is to put a big pot on your patio if you have the room. That will add a bit more growing space. Ruby Red Pentas info Good luck with whatever you choose to plant and have fun planning your new garden. Mary