Host Plants for Butterflies

Host Plants to Butterflies

Live in harmony with your backyard!

Invite butterflies to your yard.

Each species of butterfly has evolved by using a particular “host” plant to lay its eggs.  The caterpillars which hatch from the eggs feed on the leaves of these specific host plants.  You will have many more butterflies in your garden if you provide host plants for them. And, you will be contributing to a healthy, growing population of beautiful butterflies.

TREES

The Pawpaw tree:
pawpaw tree
is host to the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly.

Zebra Swallowtail

 
The Tulip Poplar tree:
poplar tree
is host to the Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly.

Tiger Swallowtail

 
The River Birch tree:
Riverbirch
is host to the Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly.

Tiger Swallowtail

 

VINES

The Purple Passion vine:
Purple Passion Flower
is host to the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly.

Gulf Fritillary

 

SHRUBS

The Spicebush:
Spicebush
is host to the Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly.

Spicebush Swallowtail

 
The Blue Muffin Arrowwood Viburnum:
Blue Muffin Arrowwood Viburnum
is host to the Spring Azure Butterfly.

Spring Azure

 

 

The Meadowsweet Spiraea:
Meadowsweet Spirea
is host to the Spring Azure Butterfly.

Spring Azure

 

 

PERENNIALS

The Milkweed plant:
milkweed
is host to the Monarch Butterfly.

Monarch Butterflies

Monarch butterflies are endangered because the “host” plant on which they lay their eggs (milkweed) is seen less in nature.  The Monarch’s eggs hatch into caterpillars, which eat the milkweed, before spinning a cocoon and later becoming a butterfly.

To learn more about how you can Save the Flutter of Orange & Black” in your garden click here.

The Fennel plant:
 
fennel
is host to the Black Swallowtail Butterfly.

Black Swallowtail

 

 

ANNUALS

The Parsley plant:
parsley
is host to the Black Swallowtail Butterfly.

Black Swallowtail