...The Butterfly WebSite Planting Guide

• Nectar Plants
• Nectar and Larval Plants
• Larval Plants
• Trees
• Other Desirables
• Proper Use of Planting Guide

Larger images of the plants shown can be seen by clicking on the image.

E - Early Varieties ... L - Late Varieties

• Nectar Plants

  Buddleia (E)

  Swallowtails, Monarchs, many others

  Primrose (E)

  Large assortment

  Heliotrope (E)

  Excellent for drying

  Lilac (E)

  Tiger swallowtail, Fritillaries

  Lantana (E)

  Kept in pots, winters indoors

  Phlox (E)

  Large assortment

  Aster (L)

  Baltimores, Painted Lady, Crescents, Black Swallowtails

  Butterfly Weed (L)

  Swallowtails, Sulphurs, Hairstreaks

  Chives (L)

  All types

  Joe Pye Weed (L)

  Swallowtails, Fritillaries, many others

  Lavendar (L)

  Excellent for drying and nectar

  Loosestrife (L)

  Fritillaries and others

  Sedum (L)

  Blues, Coppers, Sulphurs, and Hairstreaks

  Wisteria (L)

  On a trellis with a seat is excellent for watching activities of butterflies

• Nectar and Larval Plants

  Spicebush (E)

  All Swallowtails, Monarchs, and others

  Thistle (L)

  Fritillaries, Admirals, Painted Lady, Crescents

  Milkweed (L)

  Monarchs, Viceroys, Mourning Cloaks, Fritillaries

  Goldenrod (L)

  Checkerspot larvae, all types for nectar

  Marigold (L)

  Sulphurs as larvae, all Fall butterflies

• Larval Plants

  Clovers (E)

  Sulphurs, Blues, Hairstreaks

  Hollyhock (E)

  Painted Lady, Skippers

  Lupines (E)

  Blues

  Pearly Everlasting (E)

  Painted Lady, great for drying

  Parsley (E)

  Black Swallowtails, Painted Lady, Crescents

  Plantain (E)

  Buckeyes

  Violets (E)

  Fritillaries, Dianas, Aphrodites, Snouts

  Garden Carrots (L)

  Black Swallowtail

  Indian Paintbrush (L)

  Checkerspots

  Nettle (L)

  Anglewing, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Tortiises

  Queen Annes Lace (L)

  Black Swallowtail, others for nectar

  Trefoil (L)

  Eastern Tailed Blue

  Turtle Head (L)

  Baltimore, Checkerspot

• Trees

  Willow

  Tiger Swallowtails, Red Spotted Purples, Hairstreaks, Viceroys, Mourning Cloaks, Fritillaries

  Wild Cherry

  Tiger Swallowtail, East&West, Viceroy, Red Spotted Purple, Silk Moths

  Poplar

  Mourning Cloak, Viceroy, Admirals, Tortoiseshell

  Apple

  Red Spotted Purple, Viceroy, Silk Moths

  Elm

  Mourning Cloak, Question Mark, Anglewings

  Hawthorn

  Hairstreaks, Banded Purple

  Hackberry

  Hackberry, Snouts, Metalmarks, most of above

• Other desirables

  Alyssum

  Bergamot

  Monarda

  Candytuft

  Catnip

  Nepeta cataria

  Common Stock

  Matthiola incana

  Cone Flower

  Echinacea purpurea

  Coreopsis

  Grandifloa, lanceolata

  Corn

  Any variety

  Dame's Rocket

  Hesperris matronalis

  Daisies

  Dandelion

  Day Lily

  False Indigo

  Baptisia australis

  Fleabane

  Erigeron

  Gas Plant

  Dictamnus albus

  Lantana

  Camara, montevidensis, sellowiana

  Nasturtium

  Petunia

  Sage

  Salvia

  Scabiosa

  Scabiosa caucasia

  Snake Root

  Cimicifuga racemosa

  Snapdragons

  Sunflowers

  Helianthus

  Sage

  Valerian

  Valeriana

  Verbina

  Zinnia

Proper Use of Planting Guide

1. Choose species you wish to attract.
2. Select plants which these butterflies find favorable.
3. Both larval and nectar plants should be used. At least one early and one late variety of each is ideal.
4. Nectar plants will attract butterflies by providing a feeding station at which to rest.
5. Larval plants will keep them there by furnishing the proper habitat to deposit eggs. Newly hatched caterpillars must have a ready food supply.
6. A source of water will always increase your success. Either a small pan, dish or bird bath may work well. However a goldfish type pond with some flat rocks along the edge is the best.
7. An old stone foundation, or a gentle leeward slope will complete the habitat by serving as a natural wind break.

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