Butterfly Caterpillar Host Plants

The large, 3-4'' wide, blue to lavender, Hibiscus-like flowers are produced throughout the warmer months of the year to year-round under warm frost free conditions. The Blue Hibiscus, Alyogyne huegelii, is an upright to rounded, naturally evergreen, Australian native shrub that is heat and sunloving and is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. It is fairly adaptable to soil types and moisture as long as they are provided with excellent drainage, otherwise it tends to be fairly short-lived. Full sun is optimal and it can be enjoyed both as a container plant as well as making a nice specimen or informal hedge in the garden and landscape. It is sometimes trained as a tree standard to good effect. Plants tend to be somewhat open and if foliage becomes too sparse or the plants too larger they can be pruned back fairly hard and will put out vigorous new growth and some sources suggest that it flowers best after a good pruning. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 12881

2022 Missouri Botanic Garden Plants of Merit selection! One of the most amazingly blue colored flowers in the plant world! This small growing but vigorous annual or tender perennial vine produces loads of brilliant deep blue flowers with recurving and overlapping petals with a white to creamy yellow throat. It can be successfully overwintered but it's easier just to save a few seeds to plant in spring. Caterpillar host: Longtail Skipper. Item# 9114

Blue dye can be extracted from the blossoms!!

Light blue to blue-purple 1/4" wide nectar-rich flowers adorn the tall narrow indeterminate flower spikes from spring to frost to year round under warm tropical conditions. Native to Florida and much of the tropical Americas, Blue Porterweed, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, has smoother lighter green foliage and generally grows wider than tall whereas the other Blue Porterweed, Stachytarpheta cayennensis or S. urticifolia, has more rugose or quilted deeper green glossier foliage with a typically upright habit. Porterweeds are excellent pollinator plants where they attract a continuous menagerie of aerial acrobats from spring until frost. This a heat and sunloving tropical to tender perennial that can be added to gardens and landscapes or plant them in containers to draw the pollinators in for upclose viewing. Blue Porterweed is also a caterpillar host plant for the Tropical Buckeye butterfly. Item# 12046

Masses of 1" wide blue to violet daisies with a yellow eye seemingly cover up this perennial in late summer and fall providing nectar for pollinators including bees and migrating Monarchs. Bluebird Smooth Blue Aster, a selection of Symphyotrichum laeve (previously Aster laevis), was the top-rated aster in trials at Mt. Cuba Center. It has a naturally upright to vase-shaped, clump-forming habit and grows to 3-4' at flowering but can be pinched in late spring or early summer to produce a fuller more compact plant. The Smooth Blue Aster is found throughout much of the US and into Canada. Provide a well-drained, average to semi-dry soil conditions in full sun to mostly sunny sites for optimum vigor and flowering, although it is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions. It is considered to be tolerant of part shade to light shade, but plants may require staking. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12247

The dark purplish-bronze, finely textured, licorice scented foliage makes a beautiful addition to the perennial border or the butterfly garden. Mix Bronze Fennel with yellow and chartreuse foliaged and flowering plants for a great combination. The foliage and stems are utilized by the Eastern Black Swallowtail, Baird's Swallowtail, and Anise Swallowtail as a caterpillar host plant. For optimum health and vigor plant Bronze Fennel in a full to mostly sunny site, in a well-drained, fertile soil. It can be grown as a reliable perennial in gardens and landscapes as well as in containers, either as a specimen plant or in mixed company. Item# 9121

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 Tree, Senna alata, is a moderately fast growing and vigorous sun loving tropical that is excellent for the back of the border, as a specimen plant singly or in mass, and even as a large container plant. Attracts butterflies. Caterpillar host: Ceraunus Blue, Barred Yellow, Mexican Yellow, Sleepy Orange, and Cloudless Sulphur.Reseeds readily or save seeds in fall to replant in spring. The Candlestick Tree is a heat and sunloving easy to grow tropical to tender perennial where winters are mild. Item# 10017.

Clusters of small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers are produced in spring and are followed by 1/4-3/8" diameter, red berries that ripen to glossy black in fall and are prized by songbirds. Carolina Buckthorn, Frangula caroliniana and previously Rhamnus caroliniana, is a small, native, deciduous tree to large shrub with large, glossy, ovate foliage and typically grows to about 10-15' high. It is native to much of the southeastern US from central Texas to central Florida and as far north as central Missouri. It is adaptable to most soil types provided they have good drainage and is moderately drought resistant once fully established. Provide the Carolina Buckthorn with a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, fertile soil for optimum growth and vigor. Caterpillar host: American Snout Butterfly. Item# 13555

Chicago Hardy produces large crops of medium to small nearly black to brown or violet, pear shaped to turbinate figs with amber to strawberry flesh with a rich sweet flavor. Very similar to Brown Turkey. The eye is small minimizing spoilage. Hardy Chicago was found growing in the Chicago, Illinois area although it may have originated in Sicily, Italy. It has exceptional cold hardiness and is known to fruit in the same season even if frozen to the ground. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Item# 9546.

Vibrant red, single Hibiscus blooms bring elegance and poise to the chaos of color brought on by the brilliantly variegated foliage which is randomly splashed in shades of burgundy, red, pink, white, and green. A vigorous growing Tropical Hibiscus. Makes a wonderful full bushy Hibiscus or small tree standard where it provides a loud summer long splash of tropical foliage color. For the best foliage colors grow Cooper's Variegated Hibiscus in full sunlight and where it gets plenty of warmth. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item # 806.

Clusters of red to coral, 2" long, tubular flowers are produced beginning in late winter and early spring and continue cyclically through summer and into fall attracting mainly hummingbirds but potentially other pollinators. The Coral or Trumpet Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, is a native, deciduous to semi-evergreen, twining, woody vine growing to about 10' high and is cloaked in bluish-green to medium green, rounded foliage. Flowers are followed by 1/4" red berries that are a treat for songbirds. This is a mannerly and manageable Honeysuckle, unlike its white and yellow flowered Japanese cousin, and will happily twine through a 6' high chain link fence or up an 8-10' arbor, trellis, or post. Few other native woody vines can boast such a long flowering season as the Coral Honeysuckles making them our #1 pick for attracting hummingbirds. Provide a sunny, average moist, well-drained site for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Chalcedon Checkerspot. Item# 1171

This native perennial Hibiscus boasts large 6-8" wide typically white but occassionally pink flowers with a dark burgundy eye. The Crimson-Eyed Rosemallow, Hibiscus moscheutos, is common in moist and wet areas as the name implies but is tolerant of average moist garden soils but may require extra moisture during dry spells. This is a vigorous and hardy native perennial that can reach 5-7' high but is more commonly found at 4'. The foliage may be used as a butterfly caterpillar host by Hairstreaks, Blues, Coppers, and others. Hibiscus moscheutos is one of the main species used in breeding of the large dinner plate-sized Hardy or Perennial Hibiscus cultivars. Item# 9399

In late summer, fall, and winter - in tropical climates, Crucita covers up in nectar rich, flat-topped clusters composed of numerous, fuzzy, light blue to light purple flowers that make the perfect landing platforms for pollinators of all shapes and sizes. Crucita or Jack in the Bush, Chromalaena odorata, is a naturally evergreen to semi-evergreen, shrub-like to vine-like perennial, typically growing to about 4-6' high and wide in areas where freezes regularly occur. In tropical winter climates where the woody stems do not freeze back, it can become scandent, or vine-like, with plants potentially scrambling up to about 10-20'H. In late fall in South Texas, where this is one of the most common species planted for butterflies, the plants seemingly cover up with pollinators. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in, fertile, average moist, and average to well drained soils. A breathable winter mulch is recommended anywhere hard freezes occur and in drier locations. Caterpillar host: Rounded Metalmark. Item# 10670

Crushed Coral Mamou Bean produces tall spikes of dark coral pink, 2-3" tubular flowers in late spring and early summer atop sturdy stems that are held well above the foliage of this tough native perennial. The Mamou Bean is a drought tolerant and hardy shrublet that freezes back to the ground to return in spring. The flowers are followed by dark colored bean pods that split open to display their brilliant red-orange beans that can remain on the plant all winter. Excellent for Hummingbirds. Crushed Coral Mamou Bean is an Almost Eden exclusive introduction. Caterpillar host: Holly Blue. Item# 10751

Elegant, clear pink, 3" wide hibiscus flowers are held against a foil of contrasting dark green tropical foliage. Dainty Pink Hibiscus is a non-stop bloomer that puts on a show practically throughout the year and slows down only for the shortest and coolest days of winter. This vigorous Hibiscus has an upright to spreading, at times even weeping growth habit and makes a beautiful specimen plant whether grown as a shrub, tree standard, or even an espalier. Like Dainty White, Dainty Pink is almost constantly visited by a variety of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Sometimes offered as La France Hibiscus. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 10429.

Elegant, pure white, 3" wide hibiscus flowers seemingly glow against the foil of exceptionally dark green tropical foliage. Dainty White Hibiscus is a non-stop bloomer that puts on a show practically throughout the year and barely even slows down only for the shortest and coolest days of winter. This vigorous Hibiscus has an upright to spreading growth habit and makes a beautiful specimen plant whether grown as a shrub or a small tree standard. Dainty White is almost constantly visited by a variety of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 379.

Clusters of red, 2" long, tubular flowers may be produced nearly year-round on mature plants, if they are left unpruned, and attract mainly hummingbirds but potentially other pollinators as well. Dan's Everblooming Coral Honeysuckle, an SFA selection of Lonicera sempervirens, is a deciduous to semi-evergreen, twining, native, woody vine cloaked in bluish-green to deep green rounded foliage and grows to about 10' high. Flowers are typically followed by 1/4" bright red berries that are a treat for songbirds. In 2025 we had snow in January and a few flower clusters were open even then and by mid-February it was on its way to nearly full flower. This is a mannerly and manageable Honeysuckle that will happily twine through a 6' high chain link fence or up an 8-10' arbor, trellis, or post. Few other native woody vines can boast such a long flowering season as the Coral Honeysuckles making them our #1 pick for attracting hummingbirds. Provide a sunny, average moist, well-drained site for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Chalcedon Checkerspot. Item# 9729

The huge 8-9" wide ruffled white flowers sporting darker pink veining with a dark burgundy eye shine like spotlights against the foil of dark burgundy to near black foliage and are produced throughout summer. A top performing selection, Dark Mystery Hardy Hibiscus is a vigorous and reliable clump forming perennial Hibiscus with a good branching habit. It is sure to be a star in almost any garden or landscape! Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, Dark Mystery is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating a knockout display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12060

This heirloom has long been a popular favorite among Southern gardeners! Clusters of 4-6" fully double, bright pink, peony-like flowers are born in late summer and into fall. The Double Pink Confederate Rose is a large deciduous shrub in mild climates or a vigorous perennial in the colder portions of its range. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Tough, easy, and reliable! Item #386.

The large, double, pure white, carnation-like to peony-like flowers are produced in great abundance all summer long on this easily grown deciduous shrub. The Rose of Sharon, a cold hardy shrubby Hibiscus species, has a naturally vase shaped habit when young but becomes rounded and full with age and it can also be trained into a tree form with careful pruning. These heirloom pass-along plants are quite tolerant of most well-drained, fertile soils in sunny sites and are resistant to periodic, short term drought once well-established. The flowers, even though double, attract bees, hummingbirds and the occassional butterfly. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 9586

Large 6-8" burgundy and cream, widely flaring Dutchman's Pipe shaped flowers are borne from summer to fall on this vigorous and easy to grow perennial vine. A fast growing root hardy perennial into zone 8, the Dutchman's Pipevine makes a quick summer screen and a definite conversation piece anytime it's in flower. This Pipevine is acceptable as a host plant for the Polydamas Swallowtail but not for the more common Pipevine Swallowtail. Click the image for more detailed information. Item# 394.