Butterfly Species And Their Favorite Plants

Can you believe that different butterfly species have their favorite nectar plants? As if it isn’t hard enough planning a butterfly garden, you also have to figure out which plants will attract what butterflies. And not only that but, if you want to include host plants as well, that’s a whole different list!

Be that as it may, there are actually plenty of plants that will attract many different types of butterflies. The butterfly bush, for example, is one that attracts several different species and is a great plant to have in any garden. Buddleia is another plant that will attract a variety of butterflies. However, if you have a specific type of butterfly you want to attract, you might want to research his favorite plants so you can be sure to have plenty of them to offer in your home butterfly garden.

Here are some popular butterflies along with their favorite nectar and host plants:

The Monarch butterfly is perhaps the most popular and most recognizable butterfly of all. Its host plant is the milkweed and its favorite nectar plants are buddleia and dogbane.

The Black Swallowtail is another popular and striking butterfly. Its host plants are parsley, Dylan Fennell and its preferred nectar plants include alfalfa, Joe Pye weed, Astor and Buddleia.

The Common Buckeye butterfly prefers the snapdragon and loosestrife as its host plants and loves to dine on carpet weed.

The American Painted Lady prefers DZ burdock and everlasting when it is a caterpillar but as a butterfly that loves the nectar of Astor, Dogbane and Goldenrod.

The giant Swallowtail prefers citrus as a host plant and likes Buddleia and Joe Pye Weed for its nectar source.

The Zebra Lonwing’s preferred host plant this passion vine and its favorite nectar plants include verbena, Shepard’s needle and Lantana.