GOING WILD WITH NATIVES: Pollinator Food And Host Plants For Butterflies And More!
- k-england
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
By Susan Lewitt, for Let’s Talk Plants! February 2026.
Pollinator Food and Host Plants for Butterflies and More!
Native plants in our gardens create a sanctuary for nature that supports the local biodiversity by supporting native pollinators. Some pollinators are generalists and go to many different species of flowers, while others, known as specialists, only go to a single species or genus of their preferred native plants. If their essential plants are not available, the dependent pollinator may not survive. Besides enhancing biodiversity, there are other benefits to having these native plants and animals in your garden. Nature is so interconnected that there are many relationships that are not immediately obvious or understood.
“Embracing native insects and birds in your landscape can effectively manage mosquito and plant-eating pest populations while boosting fruit production in your garden. Extensive research underscores the preference of native wildlife for indigenous plant species, emphasizing their crucial role in maintaining a balanced and healthy ecosystem. Additionally, the inclusion of pollen, wasp, and bee friendly plants can further bolster butterfly populations.” (CNPSSD.ORG)
Bush Monkey flower color variations. Left photo courtesy of Calscape. Middle photo by Keir Morse. Right photo by Jean Pawek.
BUSH MONKEY FLOWER species in the Diplacus genus are one of the many natives that attract and support a wide variety of pollinators. The three that occur naturally in San Diego are Bush Monkey flower (Diplacus aurantiacus), Southern Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus longiflorus), and Red Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus puniceus). Some occur in forests and woodlands, and Coastal Sage Scrub, and all three may be found in Chaparral habitats. While Bush Monkey Flower will grow alongside any local native species, both it, and Red Monkeyflower will do well with California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), Black Sage (Salvia mellifera), California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California Encelia (Encelia californica), Wild Hyacinth (Dichelostemma capitatum), Chamise (Adenostoma spp.), Penstemon spp., Yucca spp., various cactus species, and numerous native annual wildflowers. Pollinators supported by these Diplacus species include birds and hummingbirds, bats and bees, plus butterflies and moths. Three pollinators that you might find visiting these Monkey Flowers are the Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona), the Annaphila lithosina, and the Orange Tortrix Moth (Argyrotaenia franciscana).
Two possible visitors to Monkey Flowers are the Variable Checkerspot and Annaphila decia. Left: Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) Photo by Christopher Christie, used with permission. Right: "Annaphila decia" by J. Maughn is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Bush Monkeyflower is the largest of the three species, up to 5 feet wide by 5 feet tall, while the other two stay at about 2 to 3 feet tall by a couple of feet wide. These species will be fine with low, to very low water in the summer once established. Southern Bush Monkeyflower actually prefers no summer water. All three do well in full sun to partial shade, with soil that has adequate medium drainage. These shrubs will bless you with flowers from winter through summer, in colors of yellow, white, red, or orange. Red Bush Monkeyflower is semi summer deciduous, while Bush Monkey Flower is evergreen.
Red Bush Monkeyflower. Photos courtesy of Calscape.
NARROWLEAF MILKWEED (Asclepias fascicularis) is an important plant for Monarch butterfly survival and also supports other pollinators such as the Queen butterfly, and the Clio Tiger Moth, if the Monarch caterpillars don’t devour all the flowers first. If you are lucky enough to see it bloom, you will see tiny pink and white flowers during the summer and fall. This plant will disappear in the winter, and you will see new growth in the early spring. It occurs throughout much of California in Chaparral and several forest communities.
Not just Monarchs, but Tiger Moths (left) and Queen Butterflies (middle and right) are also visitors to Narrowleaf Milkweed. Left: "Tiger Moth" by azmichelle is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. Middle and right photos by Christopher Christie, used with permission.
Grow this native in containers, or in the ground, with full sun, in slow, medium, or fast draining soil of just about any type. I usually give these plants just a little extra summer water. According to Calscape, it may need water twice a month in the summer once it is established. My Narrowleaf Milkweed is in a small space in my curb strip and has had the company of Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Purple Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), and currently Clarkia species and Great Valley Gumweed (Grindelia camporum). Many other nectar rich species that work as companions to Narrowleaf Milkweed, also support Monarchs and other pollinators, such as Indian Mallow (Abutilon palmeri), Ceanothus species, Western Thistle (Cersium occidentale), California Aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia), California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum), Buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), Mint (Monardella spp.), Monkeyflower (Diplacus spp.), Penstemon spp., Sages (Salvia spp.), and Apricot Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua).
The hungry caterpillars have not eaten these Narrowleaf Milkweed flowers yet, but the caterpillar in the middle photo may try to eat them. Left photo by Neal Kramer. Middle and right photo by Jean Pawek.
CHAPARRAL MALLOW (Malacothamnus fasciculatus) is another species known to support pollinators, and it occurs mostly in Southern California in plant communities of Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, and Foothill Woodlands. Its varied locations include slopes and canyons, and it is a fire follower. In its typical sites you might find it with Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), California Encelia (Encelia californica), Buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), Hollyleaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), Sage (Salvia spp.), Ceanothus species, Yucca species, Dudleya species, and cactus species. Chaparral Mallow supports birds and hummingbirds, plus butterflies, and caterpillars. Two pollinators known to visit this plant are the Northern White-Skipper and the West Coast lady.
Visitors to the Chaparral Mallow include Northern White-Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum) on the left, and the West Coast Lady (Vanessa Annabella) on the right. Left photo: Creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/. Right photo by Christopher Christie, used with permission.
The Chaparral Mallow is a fast-growing shrub that does well in full sun with low to very low water requirements. Once established, it will need a once-a-month summer watering. It will thrive in just about any type of soil that is slow, medium, or fast draining. This plant, that requires moderate care, will give you pink flowers in the spring and summer. It may reach from 3 feet to 16 feet tall, by around 10 feet wide. It is deer resistant and may be used to stabilize banks. To get more from your own plant, you may start new ones from seeds or cuttings.
Chaparral Mallow. Left and right photo by Keir Morse. Middle photo by Steve Matson.
There is a certain charm associated with raising exotic plants in your garden, but if you really want to make a difference, and support the health, and biodiversity of your community, please plant native species in at least 30% of your garden. By the way, having your garden with 60%, or more, native species qualifies you for the CNPS native garden tour. More native plants mean more native pollinators, which means more biodiversity!
“Where Native Plants Thrive, We Thrive.” Graphics by Artefact Design.
Garden Tour info: Where Native Plants Thrive, We Thrive: When native plants flourish, they create gardens full of life where everything is connected. Songbirds return, butterflies flutter by, and the landscape feels alive in a way that ordinary gardens do not. Surrounded by this living richness, all garden dwellers find calmer, greener spaces, and neighborhoods become cooler, healthier, and more resilient. That liveliness engages our senses, restores our well-being, and deepens our connection to the natural world. Come enjoy over 30 native gardens, mostly private, plus a few public ones over a two-day weekend in the south part of San Diego. Sponsorships may be submitted through February 21st.
For more information go to: https://cnpssd.org/2026-garden-tour/
For tour tickets go to: fhmhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/cnps-san-diego-2026-native-garden-tour-tickets-1977458509634?aff=oddtdtcreator
Susan Lewitt is a member of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS), participating in their Native Gardening Committee, and their Conservation Committee.
Susan uses Wildhero - email that plants trees, and she can be reached at nativebutterflies213@gmail.com.
