Plants to Attract Butterflies to your Garden Botanical Name
Common Name
Growth Information
Food Source
Butterflies Attracted
Abelia X grandiflora Achillea millefolium Aesculus californica Agastache foeniculum Alcea rosea
Glossy abelia Yarrow Horse chestnut Licorice mint Hollyhock
Shrub, 6’, Su/Sh Perennial, 6”, Su/PSh, DT Small tree, 15’, Su, DT Perennial, 2 – 4’, Su/PSh Biennial, 6-8’, Su
Nectar Nectar Nectar Nectar Nectar
Western tiger swallowtail Skippers, admirals Western tiger swallowtail Skippers Painted lady
Alnus rhombifolia Althaea officinalis Amorpha species
Alder Marsh mallow Indigo bush
Tree, 40’, Su/Sh, moist places Shrub, 12’, Su, moist places Perennials, 2 – 3’, Su, DT
Host Host Host Nectar
Painted lady, west coast lady Western tiger swallowtail Northern white-skipper Gray hairstreak
Annuals, varies, Su Perennials, shrubs Perennials, shrubs, varies, Su, DT
Host Host Nectar Nectar
Marine blue buckeyes Monarch Western tiger swallowtail, monarch, fiery skipper Painted lady Monarch, common buckeye, gray hairstreak, mourning cloak, cloudless sulfur Monarch, queen Cabbage white, orange sulfur, fiery skipper, painted lady, common buckeye, red admiral Acmon blue Fatal metalmark California dogface Gray hairstreak, brown elfin
Antirrhinum species, cultivars Apocynum species Artemisia species, cultivars
Snapdragon dogbane Wormwood, dusty miller
Asclepias species, cultivars
Milkweed
Perennials, 2’, Su/PSh
Host Nectar
Aster species, cultivars
Aster
Perennials, varies, Su
Host Nectar
Astragalus species Baccharis glutinosa Baptisia tinctoria & others Barbarea orthoceras
Milkvetch, locoweed Sleepwillow Wild Indigo Winter cress
Perennials, varies, Su, DT Shrub, 10’, Su, moist places Perennials, 3’ Su Annual, 2 – 3’, Su
Host Host Host Nectar
Bidens species, cultivars
Tickseed
Perennials, varies, Su
Nectar
Borago officinalis Bougainvillea cultivars Brassica campestris, B. napus Brassica species
Borage Bougainvillea Canola, Rapeseed Mustard
Annual, 3’, Su Shrubs, vines, Su Annuals, 3’, Su Annuals, Su/PSh
Nectar Nectar Host Host
Buddleia species, cultivars Calamagrostis, Festuca, Glyceria, Helictotrichon, Leymus, Miscanthus, Muhlenbergia, Nassella, Panicum, Pennisetum, Phalaris, Sesleria, Stipa Calendula officinalis Callistephus chinensis
Butterfly bush Grasses
Shrubs, 4 – 8’, Su, DT Perennials, varies, Su, some DT
Nectar Host
Calendula, pot marigold China aster
Annual, 3’, Su Annual, 2’, Su
Nectar Nectar
Capparis spinosa Cassia & Senna species, cultivars Centaurea cyanus Ceanothus species, cultivars
Caper Senna
Shrub, 3’, Su Shrubs, varies, Su, DT
Host Host
Cornflower Ceanothus
Perennial, 2 – 3’, Su Shrubs, varies, Su, DT
Nectar Host
Centranthus rubber Cephalanthus occidentalis
Red valerian Buttonbush
Annual, 2 – 3’, Su, DT Perennial, 2 – 3’, Sh, wet places
Nectar Nectar
Cichorium intybus Citrus species, cultivars Cleome hassleriana Clethra alnifolia Cordia species Coreopsis species, cultivars
Chickory Citrus Spider flower Summersweet Coreopsis
Perennial, Su, DT Trees, varies, Su Annual, 5’, Su Shrub, 10’, Su, wet places Trees, shrubs Annuals, perennials, varies, Su
Nectar Host Host Nectar Nectar Nectar
Cosmos bipinnatus
Cosmos
Annual, 3’, Su
Nectar
Desmodium species
Tick trefoil
Perennials, varies
Nectar
Fiery skipper, queen gulf fritillary Painted lady Cloudless sulfur Painted lady Cabbage white, checkered white, painted lady Western tiger swallowtail Fiery skipper, common ringlet
Cabbage whites, skippers Cabbage white, orange sulfur, fiery skipper Cabbage white Cloudless sulfur Painted lady Hedgerow hairstreak, pale swallowtail many Silver-spotted skipper, painted lady, brown elfin many Anise swallowtail Checkered white Fiery skipper Cloudless sulfur, gulf fritillary Common buckeye, cloudless sulfur, monarch Painted lady, west coast lady, red admiral, fiery skipper Gray hairstreak,
Perennial, 3’, Su
Nectar
Monarch, buckeyes
Echinops species, cultivars
Echinacea, purple coneflower thistle
Perennials, 3’, Su, DT
Nectar
Eriodictyon californicum
Yerba santa
Perennial, 5’, Su, DT
Nectar
Eriogonum fasciculatum & others
Buckwheat
Perennials, varies, Su, DT
Nectar
Fiery skipper, painted lady, California dogface Western tiger swallowtail, pale swallowtail, Lourquin’s admiral Western tiger swallowtail, gray hairstreak, painted lady, common buckeye, fiery skipper, marine blue
Echinacea purpurea
Euthamia species
Goldenrod
Perennials, many conditions
Nectar
Foeniculum vulgare Fraxinus species
Fennel Ash
Perennial, 5’, Su, DT Trees, to 80’, Su
Host Host
Gleditsia species Glycyrrhiza glabra Grindelia species Helenium autumnale
Honey locust licorice Grindelia Sneezeweed
Host Host Nectar Nectar
Helianthus cultivars Heliotropium arborescens Hibiscus species, cultivars
Sunflower Heliotrope Hibiscus
Tree, 30 – 50’, Su, DT Perennial, 3 – 4’, Su Perennials, 1 – 2’ Su, DT Perennial, 3 – 5’, Su, damp places Annuals, 3 – 10’, Su Perennial, 2 – 3’, Su/PSh, DT Perennials, shrubs
Gray hairstreak, hedgerow hairstreak, Mormon metalmark Orange sulfur, gray hairstreak, painted lady, red admiral Anise swallowtail Western tiger swallowtail, pale swallowtail Silver-spotted skipper Silver-spotted skipper buckeye Fiery skipper
Nectar Nectar Nectar
Western tiger swallowtail Orange sulfur Cloudless sulfur
Humulus lupulus Ipomoea species, cultivars
Hops Morning glory
Host Host Nectar
Gray hairstreak Red admiral Cloudless sulfur
Lantana species, cultivars
Lantana
Nectar
Gulf fritillary, Western tiger swallowtail, cabbage white, fiery skipper cloudless sulfur
Host
Perennial vine, Su Shrub, vines, varies, Su, some DT Shrubs, Su, DT
Lathyrus species, cultivars
Sweet pea
Annuals, perennials
Nectar
Silver-spotted skipper, gray hairstreak
Host
Marine blue, funereal duskywing Silver-spotted skipper Painted lady, Lourquin’s admiral Cloudless sulfur Cabbage white, checkered white, painted lady, fiery skipper
Liatris species, cultivars Ligustrum japonicum, & others
Blazing star Privet
Perennials, 2 – 4’ Su, DT Shrub, to 12’, Su/PSh
Nectar Nectar
Lobelia cardinalis Lotus scoparius
Cardinal flower Deerweed
Perennial, 2’, Su Shrubby perennial, 1 – 2 ½’, Su, DT
Nectar Nectar
Host
Lupinus species
Lupine
Annuals, perennials, varies, Su, DT
Nectar
Acmon blue, marine blue, funereal duskywing, bramble hairstreak, orange sulfur, silverspotted skipper, brown elfin Many
Malva species, cultivars
Mallow
Perennials, shrubs, varies
Host Host
Medicago sativa
Alfalfa
Perennial, 3’, Su
Host
Mentha species, cultivars
Mint
Perennials, Su/PSh
Nectar
Mimulus aurantiacus
Monkeyflower
Shrub, 3 – 5’, Su, DT
Host
Nerium oleander
Oleander
Shrub, 5 – 15’, Su, DT
Nectar
Acmon blue West coast lady, gray hairstreak, northern whiteskipper Orange sulfur, California dogface, marine blue Western tiger swallowtail, cabbage white, common buckeye, gray hairstreak, painted lady, red admiral, monarch Common buckeye variable checkerspot Marine blue
Vines, Su/PSh Perennials, varies, Su
Host Host Host
Queen Gulf fritillary Variable checkerspot
Passiflora species, cultivars Penstemon species, cultivars
Passion flower Penstemon
Petroselinum crispum Phyla nodiflora Plantago species Platanus racemosa Plumbago auriculata Populus species
Parsley Lippia Plantain Sycamore Plumbago Poplar
Annual, 6”, Su Perennial, groundcover, Su Annuals, perennials, low, Su/Sh Tree, 80’, Su, DT Shrub, 3 – 5’, Su, DT Trees, to 50’, Su
Host Nectar Host Host Host Host
Prosopis species Prunus species
Mesquite Cherry
Small tree, 20’, Su, DT Trees, varies
Host Host
Quercus agrifolia
California live oak
Tree, to 40’, Su, DT
Sap
Rhamnus californica
Cofeeberry, buckthorn
Shrub, 8 – 15’, Su, DT
Host Host
Robinia pseudoacacia Ruellia species Salix species
Black locust Ruellia Willow
Tree, 40 – 50’, Su, DT Perennials, shrubs, varies Trees, shrubs
Host Nectar Host
Salvia spathacea Salvia mellifera
Hummingbird sage Black sage
Nectar Nectar
Scabiosa species, cultivars Sphaeralcea species
Globe mallow
Spirea species, cultivars Tagetes lemonii Taraxacum officinale Tithonia rotundifolia Trifolium species
Spirea Mexican marigold Dandelion Mexican sunflower Clover
Perennial, 1’, Su/Sh, DT Shrubby perennial, 2 – 3’, Su, DT Perennials, to 1’, Su, DT Shrubby perennials, varies, Su, DT Shrubs, 1 – 3’ Shrub, 3 – 4’, Su, DT Annual, Su/PSh Annual, 3 – 5’, Su, DT Annuals, Su/PSh
Nectar Host
Anise swallowtail queen Common buckeye Western tiger swallowtail Marine blue Western tiger swallowtail, mourning cloak, Lourqin’s admiral Marine blue Western tiger swallowtail, pale swallowtail, mourning cloeak, Lourquin’s admiral Mourning cloak California sister Gray hairstreak, pale swallowtail Silver-spotted skipper Common buckeye Western tiger swallowtail, mourning cloak, Lourquin’s admiral Western tiger swallowtail Funereal duskywing, gray hairstreak Cabbage white Northern white-skipper
Host Nectar Nectar Nectar Nectar
Lourquin’s admiral Painted lady Cabbage white, orange sulfur, Fiery skipper Cabbage white, California dogface, painted lady, (red admiral), gray hairstreak, silver-spotted skipper
Host
Orange sulfur, Acmon blue
Tropaeolium majus Ulmus americana Urtica species
Nasturtium American elm Nettle
Annual, 1’, Su/PSh, DT Tree, to 80’, Su Perennials (stinging nettle not recommended for gardens)
Vernonia fasciculata
Ironweed
Viola species, cultivars
Viola, Johnny jump-up
Perennial, 4 – 5’, Su, damp places Annuals, 6”, Su
Zinnia cultivars
zinnia
Annuals, 6 – 36”, Su
Various Various
Tree sap Bird droppings, dung
Various
Host Host Nectar
Cabbage white Mourning cloak western tiger swallowtail
Host Nectar
Mourning cloak, red admiral, Fiery skipper, western tiger swallowtail, monarch Whites
Nectar Host Nectar Sap (adult)
Gulf fritillary Western tiger swallowtail, painted lady Red admiral Lourquin’s admiral, red admiral
Keys: Growth Information: plant type; typical height of plant; Su = Full Sun, PSh = Partial Shade, Sh = Shade; regular water is implied unless noted, DT = Drought Tolerant Food Source: Host = larval food source; nectar, sap = adult food source Compiled from various books, and internet sources by Virginia Hayes, Curator, Ganna Walska Lotusland A
