Plants for Butterflies and their Caterpillars
Perennials
Botanical | Common |
Achillea | Yarrow |
Actaea | Bugbane/Cimicifuga |
Alcea (singles) | Hollyhock |
Amorpha | Leadplant |
Antennaria | Pussytoes |
Aquilegia | Columbine |
Arabis | Rockcress |
Arctostaphylos | Kinnikinnick |
Artemisia tridentata | Sage |
Asclepias (many) | Butterfly Weed |
Aster | Michaelmas Daisy |
Astragalus | Milkvetch |
Atriplex | Saltbrush |
Baptisia | False Indigo |
Chrysothamnus | Rabbitbrush |
Coreopsis | Tickseed |
Dalea | Purple Prairie Clover |
Dicentra formosa | Western Bleeding Heart |
Echinops | Globe Thistle |
Echinacea | Coneflower |
Epilobium | Fireweed |
Erigeron | Fleabane |
Eriogomun | Buckwheat |
Eupatorium | Joe Pye Weed |
Gailardia | Blanket Flower |
Helenium | Helen’s Flower |
Helianthus | False Sunflower |
Hespersis | Dame’s Rocket |
Indigofera | Indigo Bush |
Lathyrus | Sweet Pea |
Linaria | Toadflax |
Liatris | Gayfeather |
Lupinus | Lupine |
Mimulus | Monkey Flower |
Mirabilis | Desert Four O’Clock |
Monarda | Bee Balm |
Penstemon | Beardtongue |
Phlox | Garden Phlox |
Prunella | Loveliness |
Oenothera | Evening Primrose |
Rumex | Dock |
Sedum | Stonecrop |
Solidago | Goldenrod |
Sphaeralcea | Globemallow |
Thermopsis | Gold Banner |
Trifolium | Clover |
Viola | Violet |
Grasses
Botanical | Common |
Andropogon | Big Bluestem |
Bouteloua | Blue Grama Grass |
Elymus | Wild Rye |
Festuca | Fescue |
Panicum | Switch Grass |
Stipa | Feather Grass |
Annuals
Botanical | Common |
Lobularia | Sweet Alyssum |
Amaranthus | Amaranth |
Bidens | Bidens |
Celosia | Cockscomb |
Cleome | Spider Flower |
Cosmos | Cosmos |
Tagetes | Marigold |
Tropaeolum | Nasturtium |
Nicotiana | Flowering Tobacco |
Petunia | Petunia |
Antirrhinum | Snapdragon |
Verbena | Verbena |
Zinnia | Zinnia |
Shrubs and Vines
Botanical | Common |
Amelanchier | Serviceberry |
Azalea | Azalea |
Buddlejia | Butterfly Bush |
Cercocarpus | Mountain Mahogany |
Holodiscus | Mountain Spray |
Juniperus osteosperma | Utah Juniper |
Juniperus scopulorum | Rocky Mountain Juniper |
Lespedeza | Bush Clover |
Lonicera | Honeysuckle |
Passiflora incarnata | Maypop Passion Flower |
Purshia | Cliffrose |
Ribes | Currant |
Rosea | Rose |
Shepherdia | Buffaloberry |
Symphocarpos | Snowberry |
Syringa | Lilac |
Wisteria | Wisteria |
Trees
Botanical | Common |
Betula | Birch |
Gleditsia | Honeylocust |
Populus | Poplar |
Prunus | Cherry Family |
Quercus gambellii | Scrub Oak |
Robinia | Locust |
Salix | Willow |
Vegetables and Herbs
Allium
Borage
Cabbage
Carrot
Cucumber
Dill
Grapes
Legumes (Especially Beans and Peas)
Melon
Mint
Parsley
Potato
Tomato
Miscellaneous
Alfalfa
Amaranth
Clover
Dandelion
Dogbane
Mallow
Mustard
Nettle
Purslane
Queen Ann’s Lace
Thistle
Vetch
General Tips
- Plant in groups. Several of one species en mass is more effective.
- Include a range of bloom times, spring to fall, to ensure a consistent supply of nectar.
- Include plants for caterpillars. Host plants are intended for the caterpillars to eat. You’ll need to tolerate some holes.
- Never use pesticides.
- Provide a basking spot such as a rock in full sun.
- Provide drinking spots. butterflies cannot drink from open water. Mud puddles, wet sand, or sponges can all provide a place to drink. Include perches such as pebbles and sticks.
- Tolerate some untidiness and leave some preferred weeds.
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