Host Plants Enhance Butterfly Gardening

Gardening for nature, especially butterflies, can be very rewarding.   Planting zinnias, a butterfly bush or tall verbena to attract butterflies will result in beautiful photo opportunities. But, if you want an even closer look at nature, take butterfly gardening to the next level by adding a few host plants for butterflies.  Each species of butterfly requires a very specific plant to lay its eggs on, plants that will provide a food source for hungry caterpillars once those eggs hatch. 

Host plants for raising and feeding caterpillars:

Milkweed  (Asclepias spp.) is the host plant for Monarchs.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Dill (Antheum graveolens) and Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) are the host plants for Eastern Black Swallowtails.

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) is the host for Common Buckeyes.

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is the host for Spicebush Swallowtails.

Aster (Aster spp.) is the host for Pearl Cresents.

Artemisia  (Artemisia stelleriana) is the host for American Ladies.

Coneflower (Echinacea spp.) is the host for Silvery Checkerspots.

Elm trees (Ulmus spp.) are the host for Eastern Commas and Question Marks.

PawPaw trees (Asimina triloba) are the host for Zebra Swallowtails.

Tulip Poplar (Liriodentron tulipifera) and Sweet Bay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) trees are the hosts for Tiger Swallowtails.

            Hungry caterpillars eat a lot.  If you plan to plant milkweed for Monarchs, or parsley as a host plant for Eastern Black Swallowtails, plant extra.  Avoid using pesticides or herbicides in areas where you have butterflies or caterpillars.