It’s about the nectar and what the land offers up
- jjvanm
- 6 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Published September 5, 2026, in the McAllen Monitor
Story and photos by Anita Westervelt
Sometimes you have to go with what you’ve got. The effects of drought and the long hot sunny summer are visually noticeable. We’re heading into butterfly season and there seems to be a shortfall in blooming nectar sources to feed them.
As Texas Master Naturalists, we advocate native plants to provide important nutrients for native creatures. Often, though, the land offers up plants that may not be native to the Rio Grande Valley but have found their way onto our landscape intentionally or inadvertently.
Native plants are best, but I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth when it comes to providing nectar for butterflies.
Fortunately, a healthy patch of native scorpion's-tail, Heliotropium angiospermum, has developed in our yard. It blooms nearly year-round. Its high value nectar attracts bees, wasps and butterflies. Birds eat the seeds, helping populate the species.
A recent stroll around our yard elicited other nectar sources and while not native – and not without controversy – they proved impressive in the value of their nectar.
Lantana, Lantana strigocamara. Botanists use Lantana strigocamara to classify the widespread, weedy cultivated hybrids that have been naturalized globally, from the true L. camara, which is native to the American tropics.
A shrub in our yard identified as L. strigocamara via iNaturalist.org. It is not a recommended species because of its invasive qualities. I mowed it down several times. With the drought, and less yard maintenance, it grew into an attractive, blooming bush. Western giant and pipevine swallowtail butterflies frequent it.
Skyflower, Duranta erecta, is native from Mexico and south to Argentina. There is debate whether it is native in the southern United States. The purple blooms attract honeybees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; birds eat the fruit. It tolerates drought, sun, aggressive pruning and neglect. It blooms spring to winter.
Madagascar periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus. No doubt about this one. It is native and endemic to Madagascar, the island country in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. It loves the Rio Grande Valley climate. Our plant prospered for well over a year, blooming prolifically with bright magenta flowers all winter when nothing else was. It was busy with small butterflies and bees. The plant tolerated drought, heat, sun and wind but not my attempt to transplant it – but there were others.
The periwinkle also attracts moths and ants. It is self-seeding; ants may help disperse the seeds, according to an article from California Invasive Plant Council’s website. The plant is not on the Texas invasive list. Pop-up plants can easily be removed.
Sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum. Basil species are rich nectar sources. They attract honeybees and butterflies. Basil is worth growing, whether using it in cooking or not. Brush against the plant for its fresh, vibrant, woody, tangy, spicy aroma – scientifically, you are treating your senses to linalool and eugenol – plants with those compounds are often used in aromatherapy. Linalool may offer stress relief while eugenols may combat mental fatigue and brain fog, according to National Institutes of Health online articles.
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