butterfly host plants - native wildflowers, shrubs, & vines

a-MOR-fa  ca-NES-ens

Host Plant for Dogface sulfur Butterfly Zerene cesonia Gray Hairstreak Butterfly Hypaurotis crysalus (official state insect of Colorado)

 Deciduous shrub
Native to North America
Zone: 2 to 9
2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 2.5 feet wide
Showy Purple, blue flowers July to September
Full sun
Low Maintenance, dry to medium moisture
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Tolerate Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil 

a-ris-toh-LOH-kee-uh   toh-men-TOH-suh

Butterfly Host Plant for  Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly Battus philenor   

Native to Southeastern and south-central U.S.

Zone 5 to 8 

Climb 20 to 30 feet, 5 to 10 feet wide Cut back in late winter to control growth

Small greenish yellow pipe shaped flowers May - June 

Full sun to part shade and medium moisture

Attracts: Butterflies

average, medium, well-drained soil full sun to part shade

shade for sun porches, verandas, or on trellises, arbors, fences & walls 

uh-RUN-kuss  die-OH-ih-kuss

Host Plant for Dusky Azure Butterfly Celastrina nigra

Native Herbaceous perennial 

Zone: 4 to 8 

4 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide

Showy plumes of Cream White Flowers April to May  and attractive plumes of seeds

Full sun to part shade (prefers shade in South)

Water: Medium to wet 

Maintenance: Low 

Tolerate: Rabbit 

Grow in moist, fertile, organically rich soils in full sun to part shade 

Preferred Host Plant for Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus

uh-SKLEE-pea-us in-car-NAH-tuh 

PrefHost plant for Monarch Butterfly

Sun to Lt. Shade

Herbaceous perennial 

Native to Northeastern and southeastern U.S.

Zone: 3 to 6 

Height: 4 to 5 feet 

Spread: 2. to 3 feet 

Bloom Time: July to August 

Showy Fragrant flowers White, pink, mauve 

Sun: Full sun 

Water: Medium to wet 

Maintenance: Low 

Attracts: Butterflies

Tolerate: Deer, Clay Soil, Wet Soil

favorite host plant for the Monarch butterfly caterpillar

ass-KLE-pee-us spee-see-OH-suh

Host Plant for  Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippu

Asclepias = Named for Asklepios, the god of healing speciosa = Showy - Spectacular 

Monarch butterfly host plant

Herbaceous perennial 

Family: Apocynaceae 

Native Range: Western North America 

Zone: 3 to 9 

1 to 3 feet tall, 12 to 24 inches wide

Bloom Time: May to June 

Bloom Description: Purplish rose 

Sun: Full sun 

Water: Dry to medium 

Maintenance: Low 

Flower: Showy

Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies

Tolerate: Deer, Drought

uh-SKLEE-pea-us  SIR-i-a-ca

Host Plant for  Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus   

Herbaceous perennial

Native to: Eastern North America 

Zone 3 to 9 

2. to 3 feet tall and 12 inches wide 

Bloom Time: June to August 

Bloom Description: Pink, mauve, white 

Sun: Full sun 

Water: Dry to medium 

Maintenance: Low 

Suggested Use: Naturalize

Flower: Showy, Fragrant

Attracts: Butterflies

Fruit: Showy

Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil

hybridizes with showy milkweed Asclepias

uh-SKLEE-pea-us  too-ber-ROW-suh

Host Plant for  Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus   

Herbaceous perennial 

Family: Apocynaceae 

Native Range: Eastern and southern United States 

Zone: 3 to 9 

Height: 1.00 to 2.50 feet 

Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet 

Bloom Time: June to August 

Bloom Description: Yellow/orange 

Sun: Full sun 

Water: Dry to medium 

Maintenance: Low 

Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden

Flower: Showy

Attracts: Butterflies

Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil

uh-SIM-min-nuh  try-LO-buh

Native fruit tree and host plant for Zebra Swallowtail Butterflies Eurytides marcellus and

Pawpaw sphinx Dolba hyloeus  Tree native to Southeastern United States 

Zone: 5 to 9 

Height: 15 to 30 feet & 10 to 20 feet wide

Attractive fragrant purple flowers April to May 

Sun: Full sun to part shade 

Water: Medium to wet 

Maintenance: Low 

Suggested Use: Rain Garden

Leaf: Good Fall

Fruit: Showy, Edible

Tolerate: Wet Soil, Black Walnut

Fruits are eaten raw or in breads, ice cream, pies,

Symphyotrichum  novae-angliae

sim-fy-oh-TRY-kum

AS-ter  NO-vay  ANG-lee-eye

Host Plant for Pearl Crescent Butterfly  

mounds of pink to royal purple flowers 

Herbaceous perennial 

Family: Asteraceae 

Native Range: Eastern North America 

Zone: 4 to 8 

Height: 3.00 to 6.00 feet 

Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet 

Bloom Time: August to September 

Bloom Description: Deep pink-purple Grow in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Prefers moist, rich soil 

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
sim-fy-toh-TRY-kum ob-long-ee-FOH-lee-um
AS-ter  ob-LON-ji-foe-lee-us
host plant for Pearl Crescent Butterfly Phyciodes tharos  

Herbaceous perennial 

Native to Northeastern and central United States 

Zone: 3 to 8 

Height: 1 to 3 feet 

Spread: 1 to 3 feet 

Showy blue-purple flowers August to September 

Full sun 

Dry to medium 

Maintenance: Medium 

Flower: Showy

Leaf: Fragrant

Attracts: Birds, Butterflies

Tolerate: Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil

Symphyotrichum  laeve
sim-fy-toh-TRY LEE-vey
AS-ter LEE-viss  
host plant for Pearl Crescent Butterfly Phyciodes tharos  

Herbaceous perennial 

Native to Eastern North America 

Zone 3 to 8 

2 to 3 feet tall, 12 to 18 inches wide

Bloom September to October 

Showy Flower, Blue rays with yellow center disks.  smooth leaves 

Full sun to light shade

Water: Dry to medium 

Low Maintenance Showy Flowers

Attracts: Butterflies

Tolerate: Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil

bap-TEEZ-ee-uh  AL-buh
Herbaceous perennial 

Native to Southeastern United States 

Zone: 5 to 8 

Height: 2 to 4 feet 

Spread: 2 to 2 feet 

Bloom  April to May 

Showy Creamy white flowers, occasionally streaked with darker patches. 

Full sun to part shade 

Water: Dry to medium 

Maintenance: Low 

Attractive spikes of seed pods for flower  arraignments

Flower: Showy, Good Dried

Attracts: Butterflies

Fruit: Showy

Tolerate Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil

bap-TEEZ-ee-uh   aw-STRAH-lis
Butterfly host plant for
Wild Indigo Duskywing
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Orange Sulphur
Clouded Sulphur
Frosted Elfin
Hoary Edge
Dusky Azure Butterfly Celastrina nigra 

Herbaceous perennial  

Native to Eastern United States 

Zone 3 to 9

2 to 3 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet wide
Showy Indigo blue Flowers May to June

Attractive seed spikes for flower  arraignments

Full sun to part shade 

Dry to medium 

Attracts Butterflies

Tolerate Rabbit, Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Shallow-Rocky SoilL

se-a-NO-thus  a-MER-i-kan-us
Host Plant for Spring Azure  Butterfly   Celastrina "ladon"  

and Summer Azure Celastrina neglecta
Deciduous shrub
Native to Eastern and central North America 

Zone: 4 to 8 

Height: 3 to 4 feet & 2 to 3 feet wide

Showy Fragrant White flowers May to July 

Full sun to part shade 

Water: Dry to medium 

Low Maintenance 

Attracts Hummingbirds, Butterflies Dried leaves are used as a caffeine free tea substitute,

Tolerate Drought, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Black Walnut

sef-uh-LAN-thus  ok-si-DEN-tal-us
Host plant for Titan sphinx Aellopos titan 

Hydrangea sphinx Darapsa versicolor

Deciduous shrub native to North America
Zone 5 to 9

5 to 12 feet tall, 4 to 8 feet wide

Balls of showy fragrant tiny white flowers in June attractive to bees, butterflies

Full sun, part shade Medium to wet soil 

Use in Rain Garden and for erosion control

Showy seed clusters

Easily grown in moist, humusy soils full sun to part shade. Grows very well in wet soils and shallow standing water

kay-LOH-nee  GLAY-bruh  GLAB-ruh
Host Plant for 

Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly Euphydryas phaeton

Herbaceous perennial 

Native to United States 

Zone: 3 to 8 

3 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2.5 feet wide

Showy White flowers August to October attract Butterflies

Part shade 

Water: Medium to wet 

Low Maintenance

Naturalize, Rain Garden

Tolerate Erosion, Wet Soil 

Pinch back the stem ends in spring to reduce mature plant height 

sim-iss-SIFF-yew-ga  ray-see-MO-suh
Host Plant for Appalachian Azure Butterfly Celastrina neglecta

Herbaceous perennial 

Native to North America 

Zone: 3 to 8 

Attractive plant grows 2 to 4 feet wide with Flower spikes 4 to 6 feet high,

Showy Spires of Fragrant fluffy White Flowers June to July 

Part shade to full shade 

Water: Medium 

Maintenance: Low 

Tolerate Rabbit

 DAY-lee-uh   pur-PURR-ee-uh
host plant by the Dogface sulfur  Butterfly, Striped Blue  Butterfly, Mexican Blue  Butterfly   (Hemiargus isola).    

Herbaceous perennial 

Native to: North America 

Zone: 3 to 8 

1 to 3 feet & 1 to 1.5 feet wide

Showy Rose/Purple flowers June to August attract butterflies

Full sun 

Water: Medium 

Maintenance: Low 

grow in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun Thick and deep taproot enables this plant to tolerate drought  

hee-lee-AN-thus  an-gus-tee-FOH-lee-us
Butterfly Host Plant
Silvery Checkerspot   Chlosyne nycteis (Streamside Checkerspot)
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia  Gorgone Checkerspot Chlosyne gorgone     

Herbaceous perennial 

Native to Central & Eastern U.S.

Zone 4 to 8
4 to 7 feet tall, 2 to 4 feet wide

Very showy Flowers with orange-yellow rays, yellow disks August to September 

Full sun 

medium to moist

Good for cut flowers

Attracts Birds, Butterflies

Tolerate Deer, Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil

hee-lee-AN-thus  ok-si-DEN-tal-us
Herbaceous perennial 

Host Plant for Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Streamside Checkerspot)
Bordered Patch Butterfly Chlosyne lacinia
Gorgone Checkerspot Chlosyne gorgone
Native to Central and eastern U.S. 

Zone 4 to 8 

2 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

Showy Yellow Flowers August to September 

Full sun

Attracts Birds, Butterflies

Tolerate Deer

Spreads over time by creeping rhizomes to form colonies
Grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil

hy-DRAIN-juh  or  hy-DRAN-jee-uh  ar-bo-RES-senz
Caterpillar hosts - Hydrangea sphinx Darapsa versicolor  
Deciduous shrub
Native to Eastern United States 

Zone 3 to 9 

3 to 5 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide

Showy White Flowers June to September 

Part shade 

Best inaverage, medium moisture, well-drained soils  

Rain Garden

Tolerate Rabbit, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Wet Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Black Walnut
Prune back close to the ground in late winter to revitalize and encourage vigorous stem growth 

lin-DEER-ruh  ben-ZOH-in
Host plant for Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly Papilio Troilus

Deciduous shrub
Native to Eastern U.S. 

Zone 4 to 9

6 to 12 feet tall, 5 to 10 feet wide

Fragrant Greenish Yellow Flowers in March

Full sun to part shade 

Water: Medium  

Fragrant Leaves and Showy Red Fruits

Provide Good Fall Color

Attracts Birds, Butterflies

Tolerate Deer, Drought, Heavy Shade, Clay Soil, Wet Soil, Black Walnut

male and female flowers on separate plants, with the male flowers being larger and showier

luh-NIS-er-a  FLA-vuh  or  FLAY-vuh
Host Plant for Snowberry clearwing Hemaris diffinis and Hummingbird clearwing Hemaris thysbe 

Native to Southeast United States Kansas East to Ohio, Georgia and south Carolina

Zone: 5 to 8 

Height: 10 to 15 feet and 3 to 6 feet wide

Attractive orange-yellow Flowers April to May, showy red fruits in late summer 

Full sun to part shade and medium moisture

Maintenance: Low 

Attracts Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies

Tolerate Deer, Black Walnut

luh-NIS-er-a  sem-per-VY-ren
Host Plant for Snowberry clearwing Hemaris diffinis
Hummingbird clearwing Hemaris thysbe
Native to Southeast United States Kansas East to Ohio, Georgia and south Carolina

Zone 4 to 9

Climbing 10 to 15 feet, 3 to 6 feet wide

Attractive Scarlet/orange with yellow inside tubular Flowers April to May, showy red fruits in late summer

Full sun to part shade and medium moisture

Maintenance: Low 

Attracts Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies

Tolerate Deer, clay soil, Black Walnut   

loo-PIE-nus   or   lup-een-uss    per-EN-is

Butterfly Host Plant for

Silvery Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus 

Melissa Blue  Karner Blue Plebejus melissa 

Herbaceous perennial 

Zone 4 to 8 

1-2½' tall, 1 to 1.5 feet wide

Showy blue flowers May to July 

Full sun 

Water: Medium
Grow  in organically rich, moderately fertile, slightly acidic, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Best flowering is in full sun, but plants appreciate some light afternoon shade in hot summer
Annual-short lived perennial

 Host Plant for Virginia creeper sphinx Darapsa myron and  Pandorus sphinx Eumorpha pandorus

Native to Eastern United States to Mexico 

Zone: 3 to 9 

Climbing vine 30 to 50 feet 

Spread 5 to 10 feet 

Bloom May to August 

Showy blue black berries in fall
Attractive Leaves turn purple and crimson red in Fall

Sun: Full sun to part shade 

Water: Medium 

Maintenance: Medium 

Leaf: Good Fall

Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Heavy Shade, Erosion, Clay Soil, Black Walnut

pass-eh-FLOOR-ah  in-car-NAH-tuh

Butterfly Host Plant for Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae

Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudi
Julia Heliconian Dryas iulia
Zebra Heliconian Heliconius charithonia

Native to Eastern U.S. 

Zone 5 to 9 (annual farther North)

Climbing vine 6 to 12 feet long 

Showy flowers,  July to September 

Full sun to part shade 

Water: Medium 

Attracts Butterflies

Showy, Edible Fruits

Spreads by roots and seeds

Tendril-climbing herbaceous vine

Grow on trellises, arbors, walls or fences

PEN-steh-mon   koh-BE-uh

Butterfly Host Plant for

Arachne Checkerspot Poladryas arachne  

Native to South-central United States
P. cobaea var purpureus is only native to the Ozarks

Zone 5 to 8 

12 to 24 inches tall, 9 to 15 inches wide

Very showy violet to deep purple, 2" long, tubular flowers in May 

Full sun to light shade, medium soil

Attracts Butterflies

Tolerate Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Avoid wet, poorly-drained soils 

PEN-steh-mon  dij-ih-TAL-iss

Host Plant for Arachne Checkerspot Butterfly Poladryas arachne  

Penstemon digitalis Foxglove Beardtongue Potted Plants

Clump forming Herbaceous perennial 

Native Range to Eastern and southeastern U.S. 

Zone: 3 to 8 

2 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide

Showy spikes of white flowers April to June 

Full sun to part shade

Dry to moist 

Attracts Birds, Butterflies

Tolerate Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil
Grow in average, dry to moist, well-drained soil in full sun 

ruhd-BECK-ee-uh   FUL-jih-duh

Butterfly Host Plant for Silvery Checkerspot Chlosyne nycteis  (Streamside Checkerspot)

Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia

Gorgone Checkerspot Chlosyne gorgone

Colony forming Herbaceous perennial 

Native to Southeastern U.S. 

Zone 3 to 9 

1 to 2.5 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide

Showy Orange / yellow flowers June to October 

Full sun 

Medium to Moist

Attracts Butterflies

Tolerate Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Air Pollution
Prefer consistent moisture 

ruhd-BECK-ee-uh  miss-oor-ee-EN-sis

Butterfly Host Plant for Silvery Checkerspot Chlosyne nycteis  (Streamside Checkerspot)

Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia

Gorgone Checkerspot Chlosyne gorgone     

Colony Forming Perennial 

Native to  Southern and central U.S. 

Zone 5 to 8 

1.5 to 2.50 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

Showy orange-yellow daisy like flowers June to October 

Tolerate Deer, Drought
Grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates hot and humid summers and some drought

ruhd-BECK-ee-uh   sub-toh-men-TOH-suh

Butterfly Host Plant for Silvery Checkerspot Chlosyne nycteis  (Streamside Checkerspot)

Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia

Gorgone Checkerspot Chlosyne gorgone   

Herbaceous perennial 

Zone 4 to 8 

3 to 5 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide

Large showy flowers July to September

Full sun to part shade

Good cut flowers

Fragrant leaves have mild sweet aroma

Tolerate Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil

grow in medium moisture well-drained soil in full sun to part shade

SASS-uh-frass   AL-bi-dum

Host Plant for Spicebush Swallowtail  Butterfly  Papilio troilus Linnaeus  

Native to Eastern North America 

Zone: 4 to 9 

Height: 20 to 50 feet 

Spread: 15 to 30 feet 

Showy Greenish-yellow Flowers April to May and Showy edible Orange Fruits in Fall

Full sun to part shade 

Water: Medium 

Maintenance: Medium 

Tolerate Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Black Walnut

Prefers moist, acidic, loamy soils. Tolerates dry, sandy soils 

SEN-nuh  mar-i-LAND-ih-kuh

Butterfly host plant for

Orange/Common Sulfur,  

Cloudless Sulfur &

Little Sulfur Butterfly  

Herbaceous perennial 

Native Midwestern and southeastern U.S.

Zone: 4 to 9 

3 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide

Showy Yellow flowers July to August
Attractive pendant, pea-like 3” to 4” long seed pods turn black in fall & persist into winter

Full sun 

Water: Medium 

Maintenance: Low 

Tolerate: Clay Soil

Grow in medium, well-drained, average soils in full sun. Tolerates heat and humidity

vy-OH-luh  peh-DAH-tah

Butterfly host for

Regal Fritillary Speyeria idalia

Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria Cybele

Aphrodite Fritillary Speyeria Aphrodite

Zerene Fritillary Speyeria zerene,

Silver-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene

Meadow Fritillary Boloria Bellona

Arctic Fritillary Boloria chariclea

Diana Fritillary Speyeria diana

Eastern U.S. Zone: 4 to 8 

3 – 6” tall, 3 - 6” wide

Showy Lilac/purple Flowers March - May 

Full sun to part shade

Grow in well-drained soil, good soil drainage is necessary

ZIZ-ee-uh  or  zi-ZEE-uh  AP-ter-uh

Butterfly Host Plant for Ozark Swallowtail Butterfly Papilio joanae

Herbaceous perennial 

Native to North America 

Zone: 3 to 8 

1 to 2.5 feet tall

1 to 1.5 feet wide

Yellow flowers in May 

Full sun to part shade 

Water: Medium 

Maintenance: Medium
Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade