10 Best Butterfly Host Plants
Cover Image: Periwinkle Popsicle False Indigo (Baptisia australis Decadence® Deluxe ‘Periwinkle Popsicle’) courtesy of Ball Horticultural
Create A Butterfly Garden and Caterpillar Haven
This Butterfly Host Plant List Will Help You Turn Your Yard Into a Butterfly Habitat
Many butterfly species are facing habitat loss and population decline due to factors such as urbanization and agricultural practices.
Through the simple act of planting and growing butterfly host plants, you can contribute to the conservation of these species by providing a suitable habitat and food source for butterfly caterpillars.
Butterflies, as well as their caterpillars, are an important part of the food chain and serve as a critical food source for numerous predators. Birds, bats, insects, and spiders are among the many creatures that include butterflies and caterpillars in their diets.
Butterfly conservation holds significant importance for the environment due to its far-reaching impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. Learn more at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
What is a Butterfly Host Plant?
A butterfly host plant is a type of plant that serves as both a place to live and a food source for caterpillars (butterfly larvae). Butterflies lay their eggs on host plants, and when the eggs hatch, the tiny caterpillars feed on the host plant’s leaves. This relationship between host plants, caterpillars, and butterflies is essential to the lifecycle of butterflies.
Different butterfly species have different host plant preferences. For example, the monarch butterfly's primary host plant is the milkweed plant, while the spicebush swallowtail butterfly prefers the Northern spicebush shrub.
Creating a butterfly garden with a variety of host plants will attract and support a diverse range of butterfly species. Let’s take a look at some design strategies for attracting butterflies to your yard…
Design Strategies
Attracting butterflies to your garden involves creating a welcoming environment that provides them with the resources they need for feeding, shelter, mating, and laying eggs. Here are some steps you can take to attract butterflies to your garden:
Plant butterfly nectar plants. Plant a variety of flowering plants that are known to attract butterflies and provide nectar. Aim for diversity in color, shape, and bloom time. Read “10 Best Butterfly Nectar Plants” for some ideas.
Avoid pesticides. Pesticides harm not only the pests they target but also butterflies and other beneficial garden insects. Avoiding the use of chemicals in your garden has several other benefits as well - for your health and the health of your pets, for the environment, and for the overall well-being of your garden ecosystem. Learn more about pesticides and their risks from the Xerces Society.
Include shelter. Provide sheltered areas in your garden, such as shrubs, tall grasses, and small trees, where butterflies can rest, hide from predators, and take refuge from strong winds.
Plant in mass. Instead of planting single plants, plant larger groups of the same type of plant in a concentrated area or pattern. This technique is often used by landscape designers to create visual impact, and will make it easier for butterflies to locate your garden’s food sources and host plants.
Be patient. Attracting butterflies can take time, as it may take a while for local butterfly populations to discover and visit your garden.
Now, let’s discover 10 of the best butterfly host plants for supporting butterflies in your garden…
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Blue False Indigo
Baptisia australis
Type: Perennial (returns every year)
Zones: 3 - 9
Light requirements: Full sun to part shade (plants tend to flop over in part shade)
Size: 3-4 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring through summer
Larval host plant for: Wild Indigo Duskywing Skipper, Orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Eastern Tailed Blue, and Frosted Elfin butterflies
Periwinkle Popsicle Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis Decadence® Deluxe ‘Periwinkle Popsicle’) Image courtesy of Ball Horticultural
Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) is a fantastic butterfly host plant that adds both beauty and functionality to your garden. This tall, bushy, shrublike perennial is a magnet for several different types of butterfly caterpillars, making it a vital addition to a butterfly-friendly landscape.
Its dense foliage and striking presence make it an excellent filler plant in garden beds. Blue false indigo thrives in full sun and tends to flop over in shadier conditions. Blue false indigo gets off to a slow start, focusing its energy on root development rather than flowering during the first couple of years after planting.
Though flowering may take some time, the wait is well worth it—this resilient perennial rewards patience with gorgeous blooms. A wide range of different cultivars are available, offering an array of flower colors in shades of purple, yellow, violet, and even deep chocolate brown.
2. Hardy Hibiscus
Hibiscus moscheutos
Type: Perennial (returns every year)
Zones: 4 - 9
Light requirements: Full sun to part shade
Size: 2-6 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Midsummer through early fall
Larval host plant for: Painted Lady, Common Checkered-skipper, and Gray Hairstreak butterflies
Honeymoon™ Light Rose Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos Honeymoon™ ‘Light Rose’) Image courtesy of Ball Horticultural
Hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) is an exceptional choice for a butterfly host plant, attracting not only butterflies but also hummingbirds and other pollinators with its stunning, large blooms.
With 28 species of butterflies and moths using it as a caterpillar host plant, it’s a vital addition to any pollinator-friendly garden. This heat, humidity, salt, and wet soil-tolerant perennial thrives in challenging conditions.
Hardy hibiscus goes by several different names, including rose mallow, marshmallow hibiscus, and swamp rose. It’s a large, shrubby plant that can look somewhat coarse, but pinching back the growing tips encourages a more compact and dense appearance.
Flower colors vary from white to pink to deep red, with compact dwarf varieties like the Luna™ series being well-suited for containers and small gardens.
3. Redtwig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Type: Shrub
Zones: 2 - 7
Light requirements: Full sun to part shade (protect from hot afternoon sun)
Size: 5 -9 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Late spring - early summer
Larval host plant for: Spring Azure butterfly and Cecropia silk moth.
Redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea) Image courtesy of Ball Horticultural
The redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea) is an outstanding butterfly host plant and a versatile shrub for your garden. Unlike its tree relatives, this dogwood is a shrub that thrives in cool, moist soil and can handle partial shade, making it perfect for a woodland’s edge planting.
As a host plant for over 120 species of butterflies and moths, it plays a critical role in supporting pollinator populations. Beyond its value to butterflies, it produces attractive berries that serve as a vital food source for birds.
The red twig dogwood also shines in the landscape with its vibrant red fall foliage and striking red stems that stand out even during winter. When happy, this adaptable shrub forms a dense thicket, spreading beautifully to create a natural screen or fill in a partially shaded side yard.
4. Northern Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Type: Shrub
Zones: 5 - 9
Light requirements: Part shade
Size: 8 - 15 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Spring
Larval host plant for: Spicebush Swallowtail and Palamedes Swallowtail butterflies
Northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Image credit @db_beyer via Canva.com.
The Northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a deciduous native shrub found in the central and eastern U.S. and parts of Canada, making it an excellent choice for naturalistic and wildlife-friendly gardens.
This plant is particularly important as the host for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly, which produces two generations annually. Perfectly suited to woodland gardens, it thrives in partial shade and moist, rich soil, blooming with fragrant yellow flowers in early spring before its leaves emerge.
Northern spicebush grows large, so be sure to give it plenty of room to spread. Its size and beauty make it ideal for understory plantings, woodland edges, or a partly shaded side yard.
When male and female plants are planted near each other for cross-pollination, female plants will produce bright red fruits called drupes, a favorite food for birds. Fall color is excellent, with leaves turning a rich, deep, golden yellow.
5. Serviceberry
Amelanchier species
Type: Small tree to large shrub
Zones: 4 - 9
Light requirements: Full sun - part shade
Size: 15-25 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Spring
Larval host plant for: Viceroy, Red-Spotted Purple, and Striped Hairstreak butterflies
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry(Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance') Image courtesy of Bailey Nurseries
The different species of Amelanchier, commonly known as serviceberry or shadbush, support 120 different types of butterfly and moth caterpillars.
These versatile plants, ranging in size from large multi-stemmed shrubs to small trees, feature delicate spring flowers that give way to dark berries - a favorite food source for song birds.
Canadian serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis), and the hybrid cultivar ‘Autumn Brilliance’ (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’) are the most widely available types for home gardeners to purchase.
Serviceberries thrive in a wide range of environments, from small urban yards and front lawns to larger park settings. They also work well when planted as a patio tree or street tree.
With vibrant bright red autumn foliage, their adaptability and multi-season appeal make them an excellent choice for any garden or landscape.
6. White Turtlehead
Chelone glabra
Type: Perennial (returns every year)
Zones: 3 - 8
Light requirements: Full sun - part shade
Size: 1-3 feet high and 1-2 feet wide
Bloom time: Late summer - fall
Larval host plant for: Baltimore Checkerspot and Common Buckeye butterflies
White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) Image credit @ErikAgar via Canva.com
Chelone glabra, commonly known as white turtlehead, is an excellent butterfly host plant for full sun to partial shade.
This upright perennial flourishes in moist, rich soil, making it a great choice for partly shaded woodland gardens. White turtlehead is highly adaptable and also grows well in full sun, provided the soil stays consistently moist.
In late summer, white flowers tinged with pink attract pollinators, including bees and butterflies, and it also serves as a critical host plant for the caterpillars of the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly.
If you have a low, wet, boggy area with 6+ hours of sunlight, pair white turtlehead with swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), a monarch butterfly host plant. Together, they create a caterpillar-friendly feast with the added bonus of being deer resistant.
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7. Butterflyweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Type: Perennial (returns every year)
Zones: 3 - 9
Light requirements: Full sun
Size: 1-2 feet high and 1-1.5 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to summer
Larval host plant for: Monarch, Queen, and Gray Hairstreak butterflies and the Milkweed Tussock Moth
Hello Yellow Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa ‘Hello Yellow’) Image courtesy of Walters Gardens Inc.
Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is an important host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. This tough plant is native to the Eastern and Southern United States and was selected as the Perennial Plant Association’s 2017 plant of the year.
To grow this upright perennial, pick a sunny, well-drained location in full sun. Once plants are established, they prefer drier conditions and minimal care.
In addition to the orange-flowered straight species, several cultivars have come to the market recently: ‘Hello Yellow’ has bright yellow flowers; ‘Gay Butterflies’ has a mix of yellow, orange and red flowers; and ‘Western Gold’ thrives in the sandy soils of the Western United States.
If native plants are important to you and you would like to go a step further in sourcing milkweed, use the Xerces Society’s Milkweed Finder to search for local plants.
8. New England Aster
Aster novae-angliae
Type: Perennial (returns every year)
Zones: 4 - 8
Light requirements: Full sun
Size: 2-6 feet high and 2-3 feet wide
Bloom time: Late summer to fall
Larval host plant for: Pearl and Northern Crescent butterflies
Grape Crush New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae ‘Grape Crush’) Image courtesy of Walters Gardens Inc.
The New England aster (Aster novae-angliae) is a versatile plant that blooms from summer through early fall. It’s a favorite amongst butterflies and all types of pollinators, performing double duty as both a host plant and nectar source.
New England asters like full sun and rich, evenly moist soil. They are easy to integrate into the landscape and work well in border gardens, mass plantings, and containers.
Readily available in nurseries and online, these fall bloomers come in a stunning range of colors from deep purple to lavender and pink. Varieties like ‘Purple Dome’, ‘Grape Crush’ and ‘Pink Crush’ are compact and make an excellent choice for smaller garden spaces.
Asters are easy to propagate by division—just ask a fellow gardener for a cutting—or grow them from seed by carefully following the instructions on the seed packet.
9. Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Type: Perennial (returns every year)
Zones: 3 - 8
Light requirements: Full sun - part shade
Size: 2-4 feet high and 1-2 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer
Larval host plant for: Silvery Checkerspot butterfly and Wavy-lined Emerald Moth
A mass planting of Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) in a suburban community.
The straight species of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a versatile native plant that serves as a host plant for pollinators as well as a nectar source for butterflies and bees.
Thriving in full sun but also capable of flowering in part shade, purple coneflower makes a vibrant addition to borders, mass plantings, and naturalistic gardens, where it’s spiky upright flowers stand out in the landscape. It makes an excellent, long-lasting cut flower too.
In fall and winter, let the flowers dry naturally on the plant. The giant cones contain seeds that provide food for the birds, and they also add visual interest to the winter garden, especially when they are covered with snow.
According to Rutgers University’s “Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance” list, purple coneflower is seldom severely damaged by deer (though, sadly, no plant is 100% deer proof).
10. Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Type: Tree
Zones: 4 - 9
Light requirements: Full sun - part shade
Size: 20-30 feet high and 25-35 feet wide
Bloom time: Spring
Larval host plant for: Henry’s Elfin butterfly and 12 species of moths
The Eastern redbud tree (Cercis canadensis)
The Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a small, low-maintenance, deciduous tree with early spring flowers that emerge before the tree leafs out. It is one of the primary host plants for the diminutive early season Henry's Elfin butterfly.
The lavender-purple spring flowers of the redbud tree are also a nectar source, attracting hoards of honey bees, native bees, and other pollinators. In autumn, birds eagerly gobble up the ripe elongated seed pods dangling from the branches.
Eastern redbud trees are easy to grow in full sun to part shade and moist, well-draining soil. Their small stature makes them a great choice for a front lawn, small backyard, or woodland understory planting. They look great when planted in groups of 3 or more along with spring-flowering dogwood trees and serviceberries.
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What is the Butterfly Life Cycle?
There are four stages in the life cycle of a butterfly: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult.
Egg: it begins with the egg stage, where a female butterfly lays her tiny eggs on a host plant. These eggs hatch into tiny caterpillars (larvae).
Larva: butterfly larvae (caterpillars) hatch from the eggs. Each caterpillar voraciously feeds on the host plant and undergoes a period of rapid growth and molting (shedding skin), until they are ready to pupate and form a chrysalis.
Pupa: the caterpillar creates a protective shell around itself, called a chrysalis, and undergoes metamorphosis. During metamorphosis, the caterpillar's body undergoes complex changes.
Adult: Emerging from the chrysalis, the butterfly enters the final stage of its life cycle, known as the adult stage. It spreads its wings, allowing them to dry and harden before taking its first flight. As an adult butterfly, it seeks out nectar-rich flowers to feed on, while also seeking a mate to continue the cycle of life.
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