Host Plants for Butterflies & Moths

NEW! We've added a new HOST PLANTS category to our website.

Native plants are tied to the successful lifecycle of numerous butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera). Important not only for their nectar, many natives play the critical role of "larval host plant." Host plants provide food during the caterpillar phase that is part of the butterfly/moth lifecycle.

While trees tend to "host the most," numerous Lepidoptera rely on wildflowers, ferns, grasses or shrubs as host for their larval phase. Some deposit their eggs on one plant species, to the exclusion of others, as is the case with Monarch butterflies and milkweed plants (Asclepias sp.). Other butterflies might be less exclusive when it comes to which plants will host their caterpillars, but they do have preferences.

Caterpillar Friendly Gardening

Last year's leaves, grasses and "yard waste" play an important role in the bio-community of the garden and landscape. Many butterflies and moths over-winter in fallen leaves and spent plant material from the previous season. A light-handed approach to “cleaning up” the garden allows more butterflies and moths to thrive. Avoid raking the ground clean around shrubs, trees, and garden beds, as it can destroy the hibernation environment for the very life that you are trying to support.

A Few Butterflies & their Host Plants

Monarch 
Host Plants: Any plant of the Asclepias genus, including Red Milkweed, Common Milkweed, Showy Milkweed, Sullivant's Milkweed, Butterflyweed

American Lady, Painted Lady 
Host Plants: Pussytoes, Pearly Everlasting, Poppy Mallow, Thistles, Burdock and more.

Fritillaries 
Host Plants: Various violets, Bird's Foot Violet 

Tiger Swallowtails
Host Plants: Trees such as Ash, Birch, Chokecherry, Basswood, Poplar, Willow 

Black Swallowtail
Host Plants: Members of the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Golden Alexanders

Pearl Crescent, Tawny Crescent 
Host Plants: Smooth Aster, Sky Blue Aster … Asters are hosts plants for Crescent butterflies.

Karner Blue, Melissa Blue 
Host Plants: Lupine 

Eastern Tailed Blue, Hoary Edge
Host Plants: Lupine, Leadplant, Canada Tick Trefoil, Roundheaded Bushclover

Gray Hairstreak 
Host Plants: Purple Poppy Mallow, Roundheaded Bushclover, Rose Mallows, Sweet Fern

Baltimore Checkerspot 
Host Plants: White Turtlehead, Hairy Penstemon

Columbine Duskywing 
Host Plants: Columbine

Common Buckeye 
Host Plants: Wild Petunia, Paleseed Plantain, Violet Ruellia

Frosted Elfin 
Host Plants: Lupine, Blue False Indigo, White False Indigo, Yellow False Indigo, Cream False Indigo

Spring Azure, Summer Azure 
Host Plants: New Jersey Tea, Steeplebush, Red Twig Dogwood, Boneset