Robert M. Pyles
Elementary
PROJECT: BUTTERFLY GARDEN
SPONSORED BY: NEIGHBORHOOD OASIS GARDENS
These plants are Native to California they
feed both adults and caterpillars
COMMON NAME
N: California Buckwheat
FLOWER PERIOD
CULTIVATION
CATERPILLARS FED
May - Oct
Full sun, no water once
established. A little water inland
in summer. Resents overhead
watering.
Gray Hairstreak, Acmon Blue,*
Square-spotted Blue*
Full sun, little water once
Orange Sulfur, Gray Hairstreak,
established. Short-lived,
Funereal Duskywing, Acmon,*
especially if watered too much Silvery* & Marine Blues, Bramble
after established.
Hairstreak*
N: Deerweed
All Year
N: Dune Buckwheat
June -Dec
See California Buckwheat.
More tolerant of water.
Gray Hairstreak, Acmon Blue,* El
Segundo Blue*
N: Narrow-leafed Milkweed
June - Sept
Full sun, no water once
established. Cut back to near
ground after flowering.
Monarch, Queen
N: Woolly Aster and variety
Silver Carpet
June -Dec
Sun. Tolerates summer water.
Gabb's Checkerspot.*
Strictly Caterpillar Plants
COMMON NAME
PLANT TYPE
CULTIVATION
CATERPILLARS FED
N: Arroyo Willow
Small, branching tree 10' - 18' tall. Very fast
growing.
Needs ground water but
tolerates summer drought.
Mourning Cloak, Western Tiger
Swallowtail, Lorquin's Admiral,*
Sylvan Hairstreak*
N: Checkerbloom
Perennial, branched herb, 1/2' - 2' high, with Full sun or part shade. Water Painted Lady, West Coast Lady,
rounded basal leaves and deeply cleft upper
once a week after
Gray Hairstreak, Common
leaves. Showy, 1 1/2,” rose-pink flowers
established.
Checkered-skipper
N: Fragrant Everlasting
Herbaceous perennial with silvery leaves to 1
1/2' x 2', white chaffy flowers in compact
heads
Full sun to part shade.
Infrequent water. Excellent
drainage.
American Lady
N: Southern California
Locoweed
Bushy subshrub 8" to 2' 'high x 2' wide.
Full sun, excellent drainage,
no water once established.
Marine Blue (one of the original
native plants for this species).
Sun. Moderate water. Cut
back hard after flowering
and reduce water.
Common Buckeye, Variable
Checkerspot*
Bushy subshrub 2' high x 2’ wide with orange or
N: Sticky Monkeyflower
red, showy flowers almost all year.
Nectar Plants Native to California
COMMON NAME
N: Cleveland Sage
N: Common Sunflower
FLOWER
PERIOD
Apr - July
May - Dec
N: Coyote Brush, Dwarf Aug - Nov or
Coyote Brush
Dec
N: Coyote Mint
All Year
PLANT TYPE
CULTIVATION
Full sun, excellent drainage,
Spreading shrub 3' to 6' high. Many
needs no water once
nectar-rich, blue or lavender
established but tolerates
flowers. Foliage highly aromatic.
some summer water. Cut
Allow to go to seed for small birds
back to 1' after seeds have
to enjoy.
ripened.
Annual. To 5’ tall. 3 in blooms.
Large butterflies like this. Leave
seeds on plant for goldfinches.
Full sun. Moderate water.
Best grown from seed in
place.
Evergreen shrub. Height and width
Full sun. No water along
depend on variety selected. 3' coast once established;
12' high. Leafy with many small monthly watering inland. Thin
flower heads.
and cut back in early spring.
Perennial evergreen herb 1’ - 2’
tall with 1.5 in lavender flowers.
Long bloom period. Rabbits and
other mammals don’t eat this.
Full sun. Little water along
coast once established; biweekly watering inland. Cut
back to control legginess.
AVAILABLE AT
Native Plant Nurseries
Theodore Payne
Native Plant Nurseries
Total Cost of Plants

Organic Buckwheat – 1 ½ lb. $12.95 gardensalive.com

Deer weed – 2 @ $7.99 - laspilitas.com

Dune Buckwheat – 5 for $8.99 - laspilitas.com

Narrow-Leafed Milkweed – 14 for $9.99 laspilitas.com

Silver carpet – 141 for $8.99 - laspilitas.com

Arroyo Willow – 1 gallon for 7.99 - laspilitas.com

Checkerbloom – 1 gallon for $9.99 – laspilitas.com

California Buckeye – 1 gallon for $8.99 – laspilitas.com

Southern California Locoweed – $24.99 – laspilitas.com

Sticky Monkey Flower – 1 gallon – 27 - $7.99 – laspilitas.com

Cleveland Sage – 1 gallon for 8.99

Common Wolly Sunflower - 1 gallon - $8.99

Coyote Brush – 48 for $7.99

Coyote Mint – 15 for $9.99

TOTAL COST – $152.81 ***Gallons don’t always specify how many
plants fit in a gallon bucket.
Optional: Simple Water Feature
Optional: Cost of Water Feature

Wire Brush – 2 @ $7.00 – Home Depot

Whiskey Barrel Planters – 2 @ $34.98 – Home Depot

Solar Powered Water Fountain Kit – 2 @ 29.98 – Home Depot

Submersible Pump – 2 @ 75.00 – Home Depot

Roof Paint - $65.00 – Home Depot

Waterproofing (sealant and membrane) – $55.00

River Sand – 5 lbs. for $15.00 - ebay

2 Paint Brushes (Stain Block Brush for Waterproofing) - $20.00

2 Paint Trays - $8.00 – Home Depot

Gardening Tools - $150.00

Total Cost - $ 606.92
Step by Step we will:
1. Till the area - $130.00 per day.
2. Clear out all grass.
3. Lay down landscape fabric. ( I will
need to know the square footage to
price this accurately.) Necessary to keep
grass from coming back.
4. Order Plants & Plant our garden.
5. Make the water features.
6. Get caterpillars.
7. Watch ‘em grow!
Total Cost to Complete Garden:
Plants - $200.00
Gardening Tools - $150.00
Till – $130.00
Landscape Fabric - $500.00
(approx.)
(Optional) Water Feature - $506.00
Estimated Total Cost $ 1,486.00
Lets turn this…
Into this…
For them….
To inspire them..
To teach them…
To watch them grow