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Native Plant Society of Texas

Houston Chapter

Butterfly Gardening with Elizabeth White Olsen

7pm on June 15, 2023 at the Houston Arboretum
Free and open to the public

Along with many species of wildlife in our country, populations of Texas Gulf Coast butterflies are increasingly threatened by habitat loss and other factors. In this presentation, we will learn what butterflies need to survive and complete their life cycle, as well as ways we can help them in our own yards. Join us for an inspiring and illuminating journey into the magical lives of one of nature’s most wondrous creatures, the butterfly.

Elizabeth White Olsen is the co-founder of GO Native Landscaping, LLC, along with her husband, Glenn Olsen. Through GO Native’s on-site consultations, custom landscape designs, presentations, and classes, she and her husband have supported hundreds of homeowners, business owners, and municipal and nonprofit staff choose sustainable, bird-and-butterfly-friendly landscapes.  She is a certified Texas Master Naturalist and has achieved Native Plant Society of Texas Landscape Certification Levels 1 and 2. Elizabeth holds two Master’s of Fine Arts in Writing degrees. She has published articles on habitat restoration for Houston Chronicle and is the author of the poetry collection, Given Words.

For more details on attending via Zoom and the location:

Chapter Meetings

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason