Butterfly Host Plants

Butterfly Host Plants

Want to help out the butterflies?  Here is a list of host plants for different butterflies. A=annual P=Perennial T=Tree or Shrub
Information from: https://www.midwestgardentips.com

Arrowood Viburnum (T): Hummingbird Moth, Spring Azure

Birch(T): Tiger Swallowtail, Morning Cloak, Compton Tortoiseshell 

Black-Eyed Susan(P): Silvery Checkerspot

Bogloss(A): Buckeye

Butterfly Weed(P): Monarch

Black Walnut(T):  Banded Hairstreak 

Coriander, Dill and Parsley(P): Swallowtails

Cornflower(A): American Painted Lady

Cockspur Hawthorn(T):Striped Hairstreak, Red-Spotted Purple

Cleome(A): Checkered White

Crabapple(T):Crabapple Spring Azure, Viceroy Red-Spotted Purple, ant the Tiger Swallowtail 

Cottonwood, Poplar and Quaken Aspen(T): Viceroy, Red-Spotted Purple, Mourning Cloak, White Admiral and Striped Hairstreak

Cherry, Plum and Wild Black Cherry(T):Tiger Swallowtail, Coral Hairstreak, Striped Hairstreak, Spring Azure, White Admiral, Red Spotted Purple, Viceroy

Dogwood(T): Spring/Summer Azure

Elm(T): Mourning Cloak, Question Mark and Comma 

Frikart's Aster(P): Dog Face Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Eastern Tailed-Blue

False Indigo and White Indigo(P): Dog Face Sulphur, orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Eastern Tailed-Blue

Goldenrod(P): Baltimore and Slivery Checkerspot

Hornbeam(T): Red-Spotted Purple

Hickory(T): Banded Hairstreak

Hackberry(T): Hackberry Butterfly, Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, Snout Butterfly and Tawny Emperor

Honey Locust(T):Silver Spotted Skipper

Lead Plant(P): Dog Face Sulphur

Milkweed(P): Monarch 

Nasturtium(A): Cabbage White

Oak(T):Striped Hairstreak, Edward’s Hairstreak, Banded Hairstreak

Prickly Ash(T): Giant Swallowtail

Snapdragon(A): Buckeye

Sunflower(A): Silvery Checkerspot, Gorgone Checkerspot

Serviceberry(T): Striped Hairstreak

Spicebush(T): Spicebush Swallowtail

Tulip Tree(T): Tiger Swallowtail 

Tickseed(P): Silvery Checkerspot Buckeye, 'Karner" Melissa Blue

Violets(P): Great Spangled, Variegated and Aphrodite Fritillary

Willow(T): Striped Hairstreak, Red-Spotted Purple, Viceroy, Morning Cloak, Tiger Swallowtail, Compton Tortoiseshell

Witch-Hazel(T):Spring Azure

 Click here to get your free PDF of this list. 

Back to blog

Leave a comment