Featured wildlife: Lantana and butterflies
If you are thinking of replacing your lawn with drought-tolerant plantings, consider Lantana. Lantana is a popular drought-tolerant plant that can thrive with little moisture and in full sun. Lantana produces an abundance of brightly colored flowers all summer and fall, and is a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds. While hard frosts can cause problems for Lantana, plants from local nurseries seem to do OK here once established.

Lantana (one of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family) and a Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) butterfly. Photo courtesy of Teresa Higgins, used by permission.