How to Plant
Provide a variety of plants that feed larval and adult butterflies. Food plants need to provide for two different stages of the butterfly’s life. Emphasize massing of plants. Adult butterflies are attracted more to masses of plants rather than single flowering plants. Provide sunny, wind-protected locations. Butterflies are cold-blooded and need sunlight to warm themselves and the protection from the wind to feed.
Provide a puddle. Butterflies require moist soil or a shallow puddle for water.
| Species |
Common Name |
Plant Type |
Use |
| Acacia angustissima |
Fern Acacia |
Shrub |
Larval Food |
| Acacia greggii |
Catclaw Acacia |
Tree/Shrub |
Adult Food |
| Ageratum corymbosum |
Butterfly Mist |
Shrub |
Adult Food |
| Aloysia gratissima |
Bee Bush |
Shrub |
Adult Food |
| Asclepia linaria |
Pineleaf Milkweed |
Shrub |
Larval/Adult Food |
| Buddleia davidii |
Butterfly Bush |
Shrub |
Adult Food |
| Caecalpinia pulcherrima |
Red Bird of Paradise |
Large Shrub |
Adult Food |
| Calliandra californica |
Baja Fairy Duster |
Shrub |
Larval Food |
| Celtis pallida |
Desert Hackberry |
Large Shrub |
Larval Food |
| Chrysothammus nauseous |
Rabbitbush |
Shrub |
Adult Food |
| Dyssodia pentachaeta |
Golden Dyssodia |
Small Perennial |
Adult Food |
| Eupatorium greggii |
Eupatorium |
Small Shrub |
Adult Food |
| Lantana montevidensis |
Trailing Lantana |
Groundcover |
Adult Food |
| Lycium sp. |
Wolfberry |
Large Shrub |
Adult Food |
| Lysiloma thornberi |
Feather Bush |
Tree/Shrub |
Adult Food |
| Passiflora foetida |
Passion Flower |
Vine |
Larval Food |
| Salvia Spp. |
Salvias |
Sm Shrub |
Adult Food |
| Scabiosa atropurpurea |
Pincushion Flower |
Sm Perennial |
Adult Food |
| Annuals | |||
| Species |
Commmon Name |
Plant Type |
Use |
| Tagetes spp. |
Marigolds |
Annuals |
Adult Food |
| Zinnia Spp. |
Zinnias |
Annuals |
Adult Food |
| Helianthus annuus |
Common Sunflower |
Annuals |
Adult Food |
| Vinca spp. |
Periwinkle |
Annuals |
Adult Food |
