"Just because you hear a buzzing-noise coming from a tree
doesn't mean you're going to get any honey."
From "Eeyore's Gloomy Little Instruction Book"
Butterfly-Repellent and -Attractive Plants
Specific Dietary Requirements for Specific Butterflies
and Catepillars
Click on the plant links for valuable information from The
Plant Advisor or Time
Life Virtual Garden Encyclopedia
Click on butterfly links for Lepidoptera information from US
Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
These xeriscape web pages have been constructed out of my own research into what I had to do to support hummingbirds and bees naturally without lots of maintenance and water, and to provide food to support an entire life-cycle for certain butterflies based on the established trees and shrubs in my garden. Therefore, worthy butterflies have been left off the list who turn up their proboscises at my trees and shrubs; flora and fauna that perish in my zone are not included; only the most tempting plants that need water are included; and the menus I've provided for particular butterflies reflect all this. Check out the detailed information provided from Geyata Ajilvsgi's Butterfly Gardening for the South for more comprehensive information on particular butterfly personalities and preferred menus.
This color indicates a plant may not necessarily be drought-tolerant; that in my research there were conflicting reports about water requirements — some resources say it's drought-tolerant, some say it requires average moisture. Average isn't bad. Who doesn't need a drink? Group these plants next to another established or desired landscape element that also needs average moisture. They can be social drinkers.
This color indicates a plant has definite water requirements. Hey! We're all supposed to get eight glasses a day! They are included within these pages for two reasons: 1) They are powerful hummingbird and/or butterfly enticements, and, 2) perhaps there are others like me who have a certain spot in their garden that tends to be a tad swampy that they would like to utilize for the better good. Others could group these plants next to another established or desired landscape element that also needs moist soil.
It is not enough to provide a nectar plant, for if one attracts butterflies to lay eggs in one's garden but does not provide food for the butterfly larvae to eat, the butterfly "babes" will starve. For every nectar plant that attracts a particular butterfly, one must plant a larval food:
Garlic (Allium sativum) repels pests from one's garden, but attracts butterflies.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) attracts Whites and Sulphurs (and children!) and is simply the most trouble free, cheerful flower anywhere. Planted among tomatos, dandelions prevent a particular rot-type plague. Delicious in salad, too!
Four -o' clocks (Mirabilis jalapa), milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), borage (Borago officinalis), parsley (Petroselinum crispum) (Petroselinum crispum), dill (anethum graveolens), rue (Ruta graveolens) (Ruta graveolens), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) (Foeniculum vulgare), and anise (Pimpinella anisum) are poisonous to many pests but their nectar attracts butterflies.
All swallowtails prefer butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), bergamot (Monarda), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Lantana (Lantana camara), verbena, bee balm (Monarda didyma) and moss phlox (Phlox sublata) for nectar. Larval requirements are more diverse.
If one finds a caterpillar eating milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
passionflowers or Dutchman's Pipe (aristolochia), they are probably butterfly larvae.
The following are the particular Nectar and Larval Plant needs for particular butterflies (check which species you can reasonably expect to attract in your area):
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) -- mud, fruit juice, manure, butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), Lantana (Lantana camara) + citrus, rue (Ruta graveolens)
Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus)
-- mud, butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) + peach, Mexican plum, catalpa, lilac (Syringa vulgaris), black cherry (Prunus serotina)
Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) -- mud, Indian blanket, moss phlox (Phlox sublata), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), dill (anethum graveolens), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), peach, Lantana (Lantana camara), butterfly weed, thistle, zinnia + fennel, dill, parsley, rue
Red-Spotted Purple -- "over-ripe fruit", manure, any "good nectar sources", Lantana (Lantana camara)/a> globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)black and white poplars (Populus), eastern and swamp cottonwoods (populus), common pear (Pyrus communis), black cherry (prunus serotina)
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)--
milkweed (Asclepias speciosa),
goldenrod + white and black poplars (Populus), eastern cottonwood (populus), common pear (Pyrus communis), (American, Siberian, slippery) elm (Ulmus)
Monarch (Danaus plexippus), -- Lantana (Lantana camara), milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), goldenrod (Solidago), verbena + most Asclepias (especially Antelope-horns (Asclepias asperula), Green Milkweed (A. viridis) and Mexican Milkweed (A. cuassavica).
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) -- coneflower (Echinacea), annual sunflower (Helianthus annus), single zinnia + various thistles, annual sunflower (Helianthus annus)
Lilac-banded longtail (Urbanus dorantes) -- Lantana (Lantana camara), , morning glory (ipomoea purpurea), lemon-mint (monarda citriodra, thistle + garden bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), purple bean (Phaseolus atropurpureus)
Plants to repel pests but attract butterflies; Nectar/Larval combos for particular butterflies
Oscar the Grouch's Worst Mung Recipe -- Yum! Yum! Spew!
To bee, or not to bee...what was the question?
Pinetree Garden
Seeds' Bird, Bat, Bee and Butterfly Attractions
My absolute favorite garden supply. Reasonable prices, quantities,
and shipping.
Garden
Escape
My absolute favorite website for plant information and supply. Each
plant has statistics on plant needs, care, companion plants, and attributes,
and most have a photo.
'Flight
of the Bumble Bee'
Imperiled Pollinators: National Wildlife Federation's "What You Can Do About the Pollination Crisis" and "Create a Pollinator Garden"
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