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The following is a list of common butterflies and their source food. It's divided into larval or caterpillar food and butterfly sources. Scientific names of both are included to make plant location easier and more exact.
Many of these plants are included in Descriptions of Plants for Butterfly Gardens
| BUTTERFLIES | LARVAL FOOD PLANTS |
| Pipevine Swallowtail | Pipevine (Battus philenor) (Arstolochia tomentosa) |
| Black Swallowtail | Carrots, parsley, dill (Papilio polyxenes asterius) |
| Giant Swallowtail | prickly ash, citrus trees (Papilio cresphontes) (Zanthoxylum americanum) |
| Spicebush Swallowtail | Spicebush, sassafras (Papilio troilus) (Lindera benzoin) |
| Tiger Swallowtail | Wild cherry, birch, ash (Papilia glaucus) poplar, apple, tulip tree |
| Zebra Swallowtail | pawpaw (Papilio marcellus) (Asimina triloba) |
| Monarch | Milkweeds (Danaus plexippus) (Asclepias) |
| Great Spangled Fritillary | Violets (Speyeria cybele) |
| Painted Lady | Thistles, bachelor's (Vanessa cardut) buttons |
| Viceroy | Pussy willow, plums, (Limenitis archippus) cherries |
Other plants that attract butterfly larva include leadplant (Amorpha canescens), clover, hackberry, elm, plantain, snapdragon, nettles and willows.
See: Butterfly Gardening--Nectar Sources
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