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Native Plant Society of Texas

Monarch garden grants announced for 2015

NPSOT Archive

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Our Bring Back the Monarch to Texas program awarded over $11,000 in small grants this spring to 56 community gardens around the state to fund planting of Monarch butterfly habitat. The Native Plant Society of Texas announced the grants April 18 during their quarterly meeting in Nacogdoches.

“When the Monarchs are flying north in the Spring it is crucial for them to have the native milkweeds,” according to Cathy Downs, director of the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas program.

Cathy Downs
Cathy Downs

Texas provides critical habitat on the primary migration pathway of Monarchs to and from their wintering grounds in Mexico, according to Cathy.  The availability of native milkweed host plants, which is necessary to assure successive generations continuing north, has declined in Texas. Herbicide-tolerant crops, mowing of roadsides, parks and open areas and continued drought have all had an impact on the number of Monarchs surviving the journey.

The grants go to schools, nature centers and other organizations in order to create demonstration gardens with Monarch habitat. Grants may only be used to pay for native milkweeds or native butterfly nectar plants. A complete list of gardens receiving grants and more information about the program is available here.

The Bring Back the Monarch to Texas project was established three years ago by the Native Plant Society of Texas  in order to raise public awareness for Monarch Butterfly conservation, to produce and distribute milkweeds that support reproduction by Monarch butterflies and to restore Monarch habitat throughout the Texas migration flyway. Since its inception the program has awarded over $23,000 to 113 different garden projects.

Cathy Downs and other volunteers are available for presentations about Monarch and milkweed at schools, garden clubs and other organizations. Contact our State Office for more information.

Funds to support the Bring Back the Monarch to Texas program come from grants and individual donations. If you would like to help support the project please donate online or contact our office.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: Bill Hopkins

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