Butterfly Caterpillar Host Plants

Large clusters of white late spring flowers produce green berries that ripen to a blue-black. The flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators and the edible fruits attract a variety of wildlife, especially birds. Arrowwood Viburnum is a vigorous growing, naturally rounded, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with rich green foliage and is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions. Fall color includes yellows, orange, reds, and near purple. Arrowwood Viburnum makes an easy hedge, background specimen, or screen. Easy and reliable. Item# 10320.

4-5" wide flowers with white petals and sepals are topped by a crown of white filaments with a light purple halo surrounding the central portion of these exotic looking flowers. Bahama Blue Passion Flower is a beautiful and vigorous free flowering selection of the Blue Crown Passion Flower, Passiflora caerulea, with all its hardiness and reliability. The nectar rich flowers are adored by larger bees and the foliage is a host to a variety of butterflies. Item# 11222

An unusual conversation starting Milkweed that is eagerly consumed by caterpillars of Monarchs, Queens, and possibly Soldier butterflies. Balloon Milkweed is a vigorous heat and sun loving tropical African shrub that is grown as a dieback perennial except in areas with mild winter climates. It produces clusters of 1/2" wide cream to white star shaped flowers with a purplish 'eye' and the flowers attract butterflies along with a variety of other pollinators. Balloon Milkweed is adaptable to a wind range of soil types as long as they are well-drained and is moderately drought resistant once well established. Item# 10974.

The dark colored purplish-bronze finely textured foliage makes a beautiful addition to the perennial border or the butterfly garden. Mix it with Golden Delicious Pineapple Sage or other yellow foliaged and flowering plants for a great combination. Item #9121.

Tall spikes of dark golden yellow 1" blooms are born in summer and fall on an upright growing shrub. Called Popcorn Cassia because when brushed or crushed the foliage emits the wonderful fragrance of freshly buttered popcorn. Item# 9018.

A beautiful and durable native perennial that produces 2-6" clusters of orange-yellow, orange, to orange-red flowers. This taprooted clump-forming, perennial may be found in flower from mid-spring to early fall. Butterflyweed is a durable, drought tolerant native that is considered by many to be an important Monarch and Queen butterfly host even though is does not have the milky sap of most milkweeds. Item# 9714.

Tall candles to 18" high that are composed of golden yellow blossoms and buds rise well above the foliage of this popular pass along plant from mid to late summer well into fall for an outstanding show. The Candlestick plant is a moderately fast growing and vigorous sun loving tropical that is excellent for the back of the border. Attracts butterflies as well as serves as a host to Sulphur butterfly caterpillars. Reseeds readily. Item# 10017.

Climbing Milkweed is a vigorous vine easily reaching 15' under good conditions. It produces large clusters of white flowers sometimes tinged with pink or purple that attract a variety of pollinators. This is a taprooted perennial and is sometimes considered a pest that is difficult to eradicate once established. Item# 10673.

Large clusters of star-shaped of purplish pink flowers are borne in summer among the large, tropical looking, somewhat gray-green foliage. This root hardy native perennial will often develop into a colony of plants spreading by underground rhizomes as well as reseeding. Common Milkweed is native to the eastern 2/3's of the US as well as occurring in WA, MT, and Canada and is considered by many to be one of the most important milkweed species for the regal Monarch butterfly. Item# 10162.

This native perennial Hibiscus boasts 6-8" wide white to pink flowers with a dark burgundy eye. Common to moist and wet areas as the name implies but is quite happy in average moist garden soils. A vigorous and hardy native perennial that can reach 7' but is more commonly found at 4'. The foliage may be used as a butterfly larval host by Hairstreaks, Blues, Coppers, and others. Item# 9399.

The dwarf form of it's much larger cousin and native to the sandy and sandy loam soils of much of the southeast US. The Dwarf Pawpaw produces 3-5" green-yellow elongated fruit that eventually turn brown to nearly black when ripe. It is reported to have a banana custard-like flavor, some say that fully ripe fruit of the Dwarf Pawpaw is equal to the Pawpaw, while others firmly disagree. Produces small maroon to greenish flowers flowers in spring. A small to medium-sized, spreading to upright, moderately slow growing, native deciduous shrub. A caterpillar host plant of the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly. Seedling grown. Plant two for pollination. Item# 10232.

Glowing clear red 10" widely flaring flowers are born from summer to fall on this beautiful perennial Hibiscus. A compact habit and free flowering perennial Hibiscus with fine textured red or purple tinged foliage. A showstopper! Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 9914.

White petals alternate with lavender sepals that are topped by a wide corona of frilly white filaments that darken to purple. Frederick Passion Fruit is self-pollinating and the flowers are followed by large purple fruit with a sweet tangy flavor once fully ripe that can be eaten fresh or juiced. This is also considered to be one of the most reliably cold hardy Passionfruit varieties surviving well into zone 9. A vigorous dense and free flowering selection. Can be grown as a container plant where not hardy. Item# 11253

1" wide dark maroon pipe-like flowers are edged and veined in soft yellow and are edged in a loose yellow fringe and are borne from spring to fall. The 2-3" wide rounded to heart shaped foliage is accented by white veins and is used by the Pipevine Swallowtail as a host plant. Use Fringed Dutchman's Pipevine as a hardy deciduous groundcover, allow it to spill from containers, or in hanging baskets to better display the unusual flowers. Item# 9681.

A beautiful and durable native perennial that produces 2-6" wide clusters of flowers that are excellent for pollinators. This is a brightly colored mix and the plants produce flowers that are either sunny yellow, birght orange, or deep red. This taprooted clump-forming perennial may be found in flower from mid-spring to early fall. Butterflyweed is a durable, drought tolerant native that is considered by many to be an important Monarch and Queen butterfly host even though is does not have the milky sap of most milkweeds. Item#10715.

Clusters of white to lilac, up to 1" wide, star-shaped, lightly fragrant flowers are produced nearly continuously throughout the warmer months of the year. The large velvety, white to gray green, large rounded tropical foliage of the Giant Milkweed make excellent fodder for Monarch caterpillars and one leaf can provide a substantial amount of food. A large growing shrub in tropical climates where it can be trained into a tree form, grown as a shrub, or hedge. The Giant Milkweed can easily be maintained as a large container plant. Item# 11038

Large clusters of deep golden yellow flowers are produced over an extended period in spring and summer on this naturally evergreen shrub to die-back perennial. The flowers of the Golden Cassia attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. In all regards this plant looks very similar to Cassia (or Senna) corymbosa but flowers in summer. The foliage may be used as a caterpillar food source for Yellows and Sulphur butterflies. Item# 11512

Each of the large green flowers are centered with five purple and white hoods, which is where the nectar is located, and are born in large clusters that can be up to 6" across. Green Milkweed is a taprooted native perennial with a generally compact habit. The generously long lanceolate, dark green, foliage makes excellent fodder for caterpillars of the Monarch and Queen butterflies. May be found in flower anytime between late spring and fall. Item# 10492.

This native perennial Hibiscus produces 5-6" wide white, cream, or pink flowers with a deep burgundy eye over a long period in summer. Native to moist acidic soils but will perform nicely in average garden soils in full sun. The perennial native Hibiscus are hosts to a wide variety of butterfly species. Item# 9744.