Butterfly Caterpillar Host Plants

Rich purple, 1" wide daisies with a nicely contrasting sunny yellow eye are produced in mass in fall attracting bees and other smaller pollinators with a late season burst of color just in time for LSU Football! Geaux Tigers! Ezo Murasaki Japanese Woods Aster or Asian Aster, a selection of Aster ageratoides var. ageratoides, is a vigorous rhizomatous perennial adorned with deep green ovate foliage that makes an easy warm season groundcover topping out at about 24" high. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soils. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Item# 13049

A branch sport of Chicago Hardy with very short internodes producing a very compact, well-branched plant that is a good producer and is ideal for container culture. Expect Fignomenal to produce 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. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and fruit production. Protect young trees for the first few years especially in zones 8A and colder while they become established. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Item# 13249

Large dark mauve starry flowers with a deep eggplant center are born freely on this vigorous and large growing, and much sought after, rare Hibiscus. Fiji Island Hibiscus is a vigorous and free flowering Tropical Hibiscus producing a nearly continuous display of the rare purple Hibiscus flowers throughout the year making this a wonderful addition to the tropical garden or as a container plant. A must have for any Hibiscus lover! Deep glossy green foliage on an upright to spreading, vigorous shrub that could easily be trained into small tree standards. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 9519.

Spikes of deep red upward facing funnel-shaped flowers are produced non-stop from mid to late spring to fall atop the rich glossy deep green foliage attracting hummingbirds, occasional butterflies, and long-tongued bees. Flame Red Hummingbird Bush, a selection of Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii, is a small decidous native shrub from South Texas with excellent flower power. This easy and reliable heirloom has an upright to spreading busny habit rarely exceeding 3-4' in height (3'x3' is fairly typical in our zone 8B gardens) and it revels in the heat and sun of summer and is undaunted by the high humidity and high rainfall of the southeastern US. In the northernmost portion of its hardiness range, zones 7A-8A, the Hummingbird Bush may freeze back to near groundlevel in the hardest winters but readily returns to flowering by mid to late spring. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Small and tough enough for container culture but it also makes a low-maintenance addition the garden and landscape. Item# 13176

Florea is an early ripening type said to be  a cold hardy fig,  a great choice for colder climates with short seasons. It is a brown to purple fig with an amber interior. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Item# 12691

Fragrant, flattened clusters of fuzzy white, nectar rich flowers are produced in late summer and fall just as the Monarch butterflies are migrating southward and attracting a variety of late season pollinators like bees, butterflies, flower flies, and hummingbirds. The Fragrant White Mistflower, Ageratina havanensis, is a small to medium-sized, native, rounded shrub to shrub-like perennial cloaked in very dark green, semi-glossy, evergreen to semi-deciduous foliage and growing to 3-6' high and wide. This tough hombre is a native of the Edwards Plateau and is moderately drought resistant once well-estalblished. It is reported to flower best after a hard late winter or early spring pruning that promotes new growth and will also help to keep the plants more compact. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist to dryish, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 11358

1" wide dark maroon pipe-like flowers are edged and veined in soft yellow and are bordered in a loose yellow fringe produced 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, Aristolochia fimbriata, as a hardy deciduous groundcover, allow it to spill from containers, or in hanging baskets to better display the unusual flowers. Item# 9681.

The upright, drum-shaped flower heads are composed of tiny, nectar rich, white to light purple flowers that are produced from spring until frost attracting a variety of smaller pollinators. Frog Fruit-LA, a Louisiana selection of Phyla nodiflora, is a stoloniferous, mat-forming, evergreen to deciduous, native perennial groundcover adorned in deep green, narrow foliage. It seems to thrive in moist sites but is moderately tolerant to short-term drought once well-established. Frog Fruit has become one of the top recommendations for a lawn replacement due to its naturally low, dense growing habit reaching about 2-4" high and up to 6" high at flowering. A food source for the Common Buckeye, Phaon Crescent, and White Peacock butterfly caterpillars as well as a nectar source for a host of pollinators. Provide a moist to average moist site in sunny sites and plants are adaptable to soil types. Item# 12521

A low growing member of the Verbena family, Frogfruit makes a beautiful, easy groundcover that is covered by tiny heads of dainty, nectar filled white flowers from late spring to fall. They enjoy moist soils but are moderately drought resistant once well established. A food source for the Common Buckeye, Phaon Crescent, and White Peacock butterfly caterpillars as well as a nectar source for a host of pollinators. This species, Phyla nodiflora var. nodiflora, is native to every continent except Antarctica. It is important not to mow/prune until flowering is complete. Frogfruit is being more widely used as a lawn grass replacement option. Note: This selection is from central Florida and has more rounded foliage than what we have normally offered and is shown in the main image. Item# 10524

The red to pinkish-red and white tubular flowers emerge from between the spikes of chartreuse bracts from spring to fall to year-round under warm tropical conditiosn. The Fruit Cocktail Shrimp Plant, one the newest selections of Justicia brandegeeana, has a naturally more compact, better branching habit than the typical Red Shrimp Plant but in all other regards it is nearly identical. It is quite tolerant of light conditions ranging from full sun to light shade but may have the densest habit in sunnier conditions. The flowers attract hummingbirds, larger butterflies, and other pollinators. Use Shrimp Plants to add color in containers, as a specimen plant or in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. Provide an average to well-drained, moderately fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Cuban Crescent, Texan Crescent, White Peacock, and Malachite. Item# 12724

The fragrant very large 5" wide cupped flowers, when pollinated, produce the largest fruit of any of the Passion Fruits and mature to be 5-6" wide and 8-12" long (wow!). The Giant Granadilla, Passiflora quadrangularis, is a vigorous tropical vine with winged square stems and large oval leaves. It prefers a deep, well-drained, moist to average moist, fertile soil and a full to partly sunny position. High humidity and temperatures of 60^oF or more are required for fruit set and pollination. The Giant Granadilla is considered to be self-sterile and so it requires another species or a different clone (ours are clonally propagated), like Passiflora phoenicia 'Ruby Glow', for cross pollination. Caterpillar host: Gulf Fritillary, Julia Butterfly, Variegated Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing. Item# 11818

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

The large, flowering spikes can be up to 8" high and are composed of numerous, nearly 2" long, deep scarlet tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Flowering typically occurs in summer. The Giant Red Justicia, a.k.a. Cardinal's Guard, Pachystachys coccinea, is a naturally evergreen tropical shrub growing to about 3-5' high and is cloaked in large, deep green, tropical looking foliage. It will grow and flower best in a partly shaded to partly sunny site in a good quality, acidic potting soil with average moisture and moderate fertility. Provide high light if overwintering plants indoors. It is reported to be a caterpillar host for the White Peacock and Malachite butterflies. Item# 907

Flat topped clusters composed of numerous tiny, golden yellow flowers atop sturdy stems in mid to late spring to summer attracting a host of smaller pollinators. Golden Alexanders, Zizea aurea, is a native, clump forming, herbaceous perennial with deep green foliage growing to about 2-3' high. The deep green, glossy, lobed foliage is utilized by the Eastern Black and Ozark Swallowtail caterpillars and the ripened seed heads are utilized by songbirds. It is native throughout much of the central and eastern US in moist woodlands, roadsides, meadows, and prairies. Provide a full sun to partially shaded site in a moist to average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 11774

Flat topped clusters of bluish-purple Ageratum-like flowers are borne atop short sturdy stems that are adorned with finely cut and softly textured, medium green foliage. The flowers attract loads of butterflies as well as other pollinators and Gregg's Mistflower flowers most heavily beginning in late summer and lasting through fall. Its rhizomatous though non-aggressive nature makes this durable and drought resistant perennial an excellent addition to the garden where it can be utilized as a groundcover as well as in naturalistic settings. It does seem to prefer a little midday and afternoon shade, especially in the hottest summer climates and in dryer settings. Selected as a 2024 Texas Superstar® plant thanks to its flowerpower, toughness, and reliability. Caterpillar host: Rawson's Metalmark. Item# 10811.

A repeat flowering Banana Magnolia with a more intense sweet banana fragrance! Hagiwara Everblooming Banana Magnolia produces sweetly fragrant cupped soft yellow flowers for much of summer on this large evergreen shrub to small tree. Easy to grow and enjoy in most well-drained acidic soils. Caterpillar host: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Western Tiger Swallowtail. Item# 11481

4-6" wide, white to pale pink flowers with a contrasting burgundy eye and showy staminal column are produced in summer along the 4-6' high stems attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Halberdleaved Rosemallow, Hibiscus laevis, is a root hardy herbaceous native perennial Hibiscus producing multiple stems at maturity. It is typically found growing along freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams where it has an ample moisture supply and will likely prefer a similar, consistently moist, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum growth and vigor. This will be a good choice for bogs and rain gardens. The Halberdleaved Rosemallow is native to much of the central and eastern US and gets its name from its halberd shaped foliage. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 12975

3-5" wide primrose yellow flowers with a burgundy eye that quickly fade to orange and near red are produced in summer on this vigorous large shrub to small tree-like Hibiscus with glossy rounded foliage. The Hamabo Hibiscus is an unusual species from China that is salt tolerant and provides beautiful fall colors ranging from yellows to near reds before dropping its deciduous foliage for the winter. In zone 8, plant young plants out early in the growing season so that they will be reliably hardy for their first winter. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moderately fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 11303

In early spring, rich pink cherry blossoms cover the bare stems attracting an array of pollinators with pollinated flowers producing 3/8-1/2" diameter, tart fruit that ripen to a deep purplish red in mid to late spring to early summer. The Hiromi Dwarf Afghan Cherry, a selection of Prunus jacquemontii, is a small deciduous shrub growing to about 3-5'H and 4-5'W with an upright to spreading, bushy habit. The plants are self-fertile and have proven to fruit reliably even in the Deep South with minimal chill hours. The weight of ripening fruit can give the plants a semi-weeping habit. The small cherries are semi-sweet and tart when fully ripe and have a fairly large pit. The fruit, which doesn't all ripen at once, can be eaten fresh or made into preserves or jelly, if you have several plants, or left for the songbirds to enjoy. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and growth. The Hiromi Cherry has moderate drought resistance once fully established in the garden or landscape. It is reported to be a butterfly host plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Item# 10641

Considered by many to be one of the most fragrant Passionvines with a strong gardenia-like perfume emanating from the 2" white flowers that have a purple stripe centered on the frilly corona. May produce delicious passionfruit under good conditions and with cross-pollination. The beautiful silvery-green delicate trilobed foliage makes it a great contrast for darker colored trellises and backdrops. A vigorous growing vine that is adaptive to containers as well. Can be successfully grown indoors.Caterpillar host: Gulf Fritillary, Julia Butterfly, Variegated Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing. Item # 9229.

Clusters of 2" deep reddish orange upward facing tubular blooms are born from summer to fall, making this a choice plant for fall migrating Hummingbirds. The bright nectar rich flowers are held on sturdy stems above the beautiful bluish gray velvety foliage on this tough little heat and sun loving perennial. Typically freezes to the ground in winter but readily returns in spring. Drought tolerant once well established and does best in well drained soils. Caterpillar host: White Peacock and Malachite. Item# 9563.

The deep purple 3-4", richly fragrant, exotic looking flowers are produced throughout the growing season on this vigorous Passionvine with medium to deep green, large, 3-lobed, palmate, foliage. Incense is considered to be one of the more reliably perennial passionvines for zone 8 gardens, along with the native Maypop Passionvine, Passiflora incarnata, one of its parents. In our experience Incense rarely produces any viable fruit. Like the native Maypop Passionflower, Incense readily spreads by long rhizomes, and with the individual perennial vines growing to about 20' high or long. Caterpillar host: Gulf Fritillary, Julia Butterfly, Variegated Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing. Item# 464.