Please post both larval and adult attracting plants, preferably with the type of BF that it attracts. We will update and edit the first post to contain the list, so feel free to chatter and question in your posts.
Want to attract a specific type of Butterfly?
Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) Sweet Fennel, Lomatium, Citrus
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) - Parsley, Green Fennel, Dill and Rue.
Buckeye (Junonia coenia) - Plantain, Snapdragon, Toadflax, and false loosestrifes
Cabbage Whites (Pieris rapae) -Cabbage, Radish, Mustard, Peppergrass, and related plants
Checkered skipper (Pyrgus communis) Mallow, hollyhock
Checkered white (Pontia protodice) Mustard family
Clouded sulfur (Colias philodice) Alfalfa, clover
Common Hairstreak (Hypolycaena philippus) Mallow family , hollyhock , rose and marsh mallows
Common Snout Butterfly (Libytheana bachmanii or carinenta) Hackberry
Dogface Butterfly ((Zerene eurydice) Lead plant, false indigo, prairie clover
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) Sycamore, willow
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) Rue, Prickly Ash, Hop Tree, Seville Orange Citrus tree
Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus centaureae) Agrimonia eupatoria (also for the snout moth Endotricha flammealis)
Monarch (Danaus plexippus) Milkweed sp.
Mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) Willow, aspen, cottonwood, elm
Olive Skipper (Pyrgus serratulae) C nninquefoils
Orange sulfur (Colias eurytheme) Alfalfa, vetch, pea
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Thistle, hollyhock, sunflower
Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) Redberry, California Coffeeberry, California Lilac, Holly-leafed Cherry
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis) Nettle, elm, hackberry, hops, false nettles
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) Nettle, false nettle, pellitory
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax )Wild cherry, oak, poplar, hawthorn, willow
Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus) Wild licorice, locust
Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) Spice bush, sassafrass
Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) Tree sap, Rotting fruit, Dung, Carrion
Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) Green ash, chokecherry
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) Passifloras, pansy
Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus) Willow, poplar, apple
Weidemeyer's Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii) Willow, aspen, cottonwood
Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) Willow, cottonwood, chokecherry
Wood nymph (Cercyonis pegala) Grasses: beard grasses, Poverty Oatgrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Schizachyrium sp. – bluestems, Purple top
Zebra Swallowtail (Protographium marcellus) Pawpaw tree (Younger plants preferred)
Larval or Host Plants (meaning plants that BFs lay eggs on and that feed the catepillars until time to mature into a BF - sometimes the only plant a particular BF will use)
- Aristolochia sp.(Pipevine) for Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly
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Asclepias sp. (Milkweed, butterfly weed, etc.) for Monarch & Queens
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Asimina species (Pawpaws) host for the Zebra Swallowtail
- Lindera benzoin (Spicebush) for spicebush swallowtail Papilio troilus, and the promethea silkmoth, Callosamia promethea
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Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip tree or yellow poplar) Tiger Swallowtails
- Magnolia virginiana, (Sweet Bay Magnolias) Tiger Swallowtails
- Passiflora sp. (Passionflower) for Zebra Heliconian (Heliconius charitronius,) Julia Heliconius (Dryas iulia,) Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae,) and Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
- Ptelea trifoliata (Hop Tree/Wafer Ash) for Giant Swallowtails and Tiger Swallowtails
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Senna (or Cassia) alata for Sleepy Orange, Cloudless Sulphur, and Orange-barred Sulphur.
Adult Plants (meaning nectar sources for the BFs)
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Asclepias sp. (Milkweed, butterfly weed, etc.) for Swallowtails, Monarchs, American Ladies, Hairstreaks and more.
- Aster sp.
- Buddleja sp (Butterfly bush)
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Echinacea sp. (Coneflower)
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Conoclinium or Eupatorium greggii (West Texas Mist Flower) for Queen Butterfly (Danaus gillipus) or Monarchs
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Lantana sp.
- Verbena sp.
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Zinnia sp.
Thanks to contributers: kqrna, SongofJoy, stephGtx, LindaTX8, Shelia FW, Sandnsea2.
