Download Plants of the Butterfly Garden (part 2)

Lyreleaf Sage
Salvia lyrata
Not a host plant for any
butterflies in this area.
A native plant.
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Mid-green foliage is patterned with burgundy veins; some of the leaves have a scalloped "lyre" shape.
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Pretty blue flowers on stalks rising above the foliage in mid-spring.
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It self-seeds abundantly.
Spiked Speedwell
Veronica spicata “Sunny Border Blue”
Not a host plant for any butterflies in this area.
A cultivar of the native
plant of southern Canada
and northern U.S.
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A full sun, clumping perennial with lance-shaped, crinkled, and toothed, glossy
green leaves.
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Speedwell bears an erect, sturdy flower spikes up to 7 inches long.
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The flowers are tubular, dark violet-blue and occur from early summer to late fall.
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These flowers are great as cut flowers and also will attract butterflies into the garden.
Common Blue Violet
Viola papilionacea
Violets are host plants for
the fritillary butterflies.
A native plant.
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Flowers occurs in mid-May.
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Wild violet is a low-growing clumping perennial with a dense, fibrous root system
and heart-shaped leaves.
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Is often considered difficult-to-control due to its aggressive growth.
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Wild violet is most often found in shaded, fertile sites and prefers moist soils.
Northern Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Host plant for the Spicebush
Swallowtail butterfly.
A native plant.
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Light green, aromatic shrub having yellow flowers in April.
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Yellow fall color.
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Red berries in winter.
Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Pawpaw is the host plant
for the Zebra Swallowtail
butterfly.
A native plant.
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The flavors these fruits produce are a combination of pineapple, banana and papaya and have a soft texture and consistency.
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Its dark green, oblong leaves can grow up to 12 inches long, which droop giving
the pawpaw a cascading leafy appearance.
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Maroon flowers grow upside down. They will bloom for about six to eight weeks
usually about early March to late May.
Black Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium fuscatum
Blueberries are the host
plants for the Brown Elfin
butterfly.
A native plant.
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Flowers come out in early spring, before the leaves emerge.
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This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies, and/or birds.
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Requires consistently moist soil.
Pussy Willow
Salix discolor
Pussy Willows and other native willows are host plants for
butterflies such as the Eastern
Comma, Tiger Swallowtail,
Red-spoted Purple, Mourning
Cloak, Viceroy, and Dreamy
Duskywing.
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Provides pollen for native bees.
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Food source for game and song birds.
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Host plant for a large variety of butterflies.
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Provides cover and nest sites for a variety of birds.
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Butterflies use for nectar.
A non-native plant. A native only to California, this
plant has spread throughout
most of North America.
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Early in the year the tender feathery leaves appear low on the ground, by the wayside, in meadows, pastures, and waste grounds.
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As the year progresses the shoots appear and the soft leaves become tougher, almost prickly.
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In June the first flower heads develop; grayish white to pink.
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium 'Coronation Gold'
Butterflies use for nectar.
A non-native plant.
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Although the yarrow is known as a troublesome and sometimes invasive weed,
horticulturists have bred many outstanding selections in a range of colors.
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In general, yarrows are strong and vigorous growers that are adaptable to a variety
of growing conditions.
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They do well in poor soils and their longevity and flowering can actually be disturbed by the use of fertilizers.
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Many cultivars are drought resistant once established.
Coastal Sweetpepperbush
Clethra alnifolia
Also called
Summersweet
Used by butterflies for
nectar. Not a host plant.
A native plant.
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Handsome foliage, compact upright habit, and fuzzy spikes of fragrant midsummer flowers.
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The flowers attract butterflies and bees.
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Peppercorn-like seedheads follow the flowers, providing winter interest.
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The leaves turn butter-yellow in fall.
Coastal Sweetpepperbush
Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'
Used by butterflies for
nectar. Not a host plant.
A cultivar of the native
plant.
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The cultivar ‘Ruby Spice’ bears rose-pink flowers, opening from rose-red buds.
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‘Ruby Spice’ prefers moist, well drained, acid soil and full.
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Fragrant, fine-textured flowers occur in mid-Summer and attract many butterflies.
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Also called Beard Grass
in some states
A host plant for many
of the grass skipper
butterflies.
A native plant.
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The fine foliage and distinctive upright flowers pass through an array of color
changes in the autumn after frost.
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Little Bluestem retires to shades of red or purple and remains showy into winter.
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
A host plant for many of
the grass skipper butterflies.
A native plant.
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A summer perennial grass that is native to North America.
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It is a natural component of the tall-grass prairie.
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Because it is native, switchgrass is resistant to many pests and plant diseases.
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Switchgrass is also very tolerant of poor soils, flooding and drought,
Purple Lovegrass
Eragrostis spectabilis
A host plant for many of
the grass skipper butterflies.
A native plant.
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This native perennial grass is 1-2' tall and tufted at the base with erect to widely spreading culms.
Each culm has 3-4 alternate leaves; it is unbranched, light green to light tan, glabrous, and mostly hidden by the sheaths.
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Preferred growing conditions are full sun and dry barren soil containing sand or gravel. Because of a
C4 metabolism, most vegetative growth occurs during the summer when the weather is warm. This
low-growing grass is resistant to drought.
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The large inflorescence is attractive, forming a purple haze in the distance.
Short-toothed Mountainmint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Now called Clustered Mountainmint
by USDA
Used by butterflies for
nectar. Not a host plant.
A native plant.
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Excellent nectar and pollen source for butterflies and other pollinators. Particularly
attractive to the Ailanthus Webworm moth and Buckeye butterflies.
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Stem clumps make dense ground cover for wildlife.
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Seed heads provide winter cover for insects.
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Deer resistant.
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Vigorous, easy-to-grow plant that thrives in a wide variety of condition.
Talus Slope Penstemon
Penstemon digitalis
Also called:
White Foxglove Beardtongue
Not a host plant for
butterflies in this area.
A native plant.
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Blooms April through June.
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A very tough perennial.
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Leaves turn scarlet in fall.
False Sunflower
Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Summer Sun’
Not a host plant for
butterflies in this
area.
A hybrid or cultivar.
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During June, July and part of August, 'Summer Sun' blooms at about 3' .
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Loving the heat and loaded with butterflies.
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Finches will nibble the seed on this tough and reliable standby.
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Not a host plant for
butterflies in this area.
A native plant.
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The most common visitors to the flowers are long-tongued and short-tongued bees.
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Other kinds of insect visitors include wasps, butterflies, moths, and flies.
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The blooming period usually occurs from early to mid-summer, and lasts about a
month.
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The flowers have no scent.
Smallspike False Nettle
Boehmeria cylindrica
Host plant for Red
Admiral, Eastern
Comma, and Question Mark butterflies
A native plant.
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This unique plant is similar to the stinging nettles but lacks the stinging bulbs at the base
of the hairs.
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It has small green/white flowers that bloom spike-like through summer until October.
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Although there is little nectar for the butterflies to enjoy, this plant is extremely important for the Commas, Question Marks, and Red Admirals as a host plant.
Lyrate Rockcress
Arabis lyrata
Also called
Lyre-leaved
Rockcress
Host plant for the
Falcate Orange-tip
butterfly.
A native plant.
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Lyre-leaved rock cress is food for larva of the falcate orange-tip butterfly.
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The butterflies tend to visit the plants around the time of flowering (April-May).
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At Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary it is primarily found growing along the Railroad
Bed Trail.
Carolina Wild Petunia
Ruellia caroliniensis
Host plant for Buckeye
butterfly.
A native plant.
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Flowering: May - September
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Habitat: Dry woods, sandy fields, rock crevices, flatwoods, hammocks.
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This species can be found essentially throughout Maryland.
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The plant is easy to identify because of its opposite, petiolate (having a stalk)
leaves, big blue flowers, and long, thin calyx lobes.
Pussytoes
Antennaria species
Host plant for American
Lady butterfly.
A native plant.
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Blooms April-June
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There are about a dozen species in our area, very similar in appearance and difficult to identify.
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Low plants of woods, fields, and banks.
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Not a host plant for any
butterflies in this area.
A native plant.
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Cardinalis is especially valuable for wet, boggy soils where few plants will grow.
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The other advantage of this easy-to-grow perennial is its bloomtime. Late summer
and early fall can be a very bleak time in the garden, with the annuals and perennials mostly passed and the fall color not yet underway. This Lobelia radiates hot
color like a fire in the subdued late-season garden!
Hybrid Cardinal Flower
Lobelia speciosa ‘Fan Scarlet’
New York Aster
Symphyotrichum novi-belgii
Host plant for Pearl
Crescent butterfly.
A native plant.
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Flowering time: August to October
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Habitat: moist meadows, thickets, and shores
Coastal Plain Joe Pye Weed
Eupatoriadelphus dubius
Also called
Eastern Joe-Pye-weed
Not a host plant for any
butterflies in this area.
A native plant.
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Flowering time: July to September
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Habitat: swamps, shores, wet meadows
Monkey Flower
Mimulus alatus
A host plant for buckeye
butterflies
A native plant.
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The flowers are irregular in shape.
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They are lavender sometimes white.
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Blooms first appear in mid-summer and continue into mid-fall.
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Possible host plant for
several skippers.
A native plant.
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With its tough disposition and spreading habit, this native grass makes an excellent
shade groundcover.
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Fine texture and fountaining habit give this sedge a soft appearance.
Tussock Sedge
Carex stricta
Also called Upright Sedge
Possible host plant for
several skippers.
A native plant.
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Plants are great nest and perching sites for birds, including ducks, small herons,
swamp and song sparrows, geese, and others.
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Other birds use leaves and stems to build nests and a number of birds and small
mammals such as mallard, wood duck, wild turkey, cardinal, junco, squirrels feed
on the seeds.
Canada Wild Rye Grass
Elymus canadensis
Possible host plant for several skippers.
A native plant.
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Cool season, native bunchgrass.
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Grows 4-6 feet tall.
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Has wide blades and coarse seed heads similar to nodding wheat.
Winged Sumac
Rhus copallinum
Host plant for Red-banded
Hairstreak butterflies.
A native plant.
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Winged Sumac is a common shrub or small tree, also called Shining Sumac (from
the glossy leaves) or Dwarf Sumac (from its small stature).
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Easy to recognize because of the distinctive wings on the rachis (leaf stem) between
the leaflets.
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Used as a host plant for Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops).
Spotted Joe Pye Weed
Eupatorium maculatum (Eupatoriadelphus maculatus)
Not a host plant for any
butterflies in this area.
A native plant.
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Habitat: wet thickets, meadows
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Flowering time: July to September
Bushy St. Johnswort
Hypericum densiflorum
Not a host plant for any
butterflies in this area.
A native plant.
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Dense Hypericum is the tallest of our St. Johnsworts growing 4 to 6 feet tall and 3
to 4 feet wide.
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Yet it is very compact and densely branched, with 2 inch long very narrow, almost
needle-like leaves.
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It has golden yellow 1 inch flowers on and off all summer.
Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica
Not a host plant for any
butterflies in this area.
A native plant.
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Flowers appearing in late spring to early summer.
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Prefers moist, rich, slightly acidic soils in partial sun to partial shade.
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In its native habitat, Itea virginica is found in wetlands and swamps and along
stream banks and lake edges.
(Wild) Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Not a host plant for any
butterflies in this area.
A native plant.
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The spurs of the petals contain nectaries and are very attractive to insects equipped
with long proboscises and hummingbirds
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Flowering: April - July.
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Habitat: Rocky ledges, rocky slopes, low woods
Red Chokeberry
Photinia pyrifolia (was Aronia arbutifolia)
Not a host plant for any
butterflies in this area.
A native plant.
Located along the barn.
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Flowers: March-May; white, purple-tinged
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Fruit: September-December; red berry
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Fall color: orange to red
(Western) Pearly Everlasting
Anaphalis margaritacea
Host plant for American
Lady.
Food plant for Painted Lady
butterflies.
A native plant.
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Pearly Everlasting is a rather weedy perennial.
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The dried stalks with their pearly-white heads are attractive in floral arrangements.
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In folk medicine, it is used as a salve for burns.
Perennial Sage
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
Not a host plant for any
butterflies in this area.
A cultivar of the native
plant.
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This drought-tolerant perennial is noted for its vivid indigo flowers along deep
purple-black stems, which gives it a bicolor appearance.
Red Chokeberry
Photinia pyrifolia (was Aronia arbutifolia)
‘Brilliantissima’
Not a host plant for any
butterflies in this area.
A cultivar of the native
plant.
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This deciduous shrub has it all! Fruit for the birds, nectar for insects, cover for wildlife and multi-season beauty.
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Clusters of spring blooming white to pinkish flowers provide loads of nectar for
pollinators.
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Dense clusters of glossy red fruit follow the flowers.
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The fruit ripens in late summer and persists through winter.
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The glossy foliage turns brilliant red in autumn.
White Meadowsweet
Spiraea alba (was latifolia)
Not a host plant for any
butterflies in this area.
A native plant.
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Found in thickets, meadows and road side ditches.
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A short woody shrub that's on the wild side of the garden variety family.
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It has fluffy white to pink flowers in summer at the ends of its branches which
attract butterflies.
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Enjoys moist to rocky soils in full sun.
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Host plant for Spring
Azure and Summer
Azure butterflies.
A native plant.
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The dried leaves of this nitrogen-fixing shrub make an excellent
tea that was very popular during the Revolutionary War period.
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A low shrub with tiny white flowers in oval clusters rising from the leaf axils
on the new shoots. shrub usually found in colonies on dry, sunny slopes.
Indiangrass
Sorghastrum nutans
A host plant for some skipper butterflies.
A native plant.
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Indian grass is a tall, bunching sod-former, 3-8 ft. in height, with broad bluegreen blades and a large, plume-like, soft, golden-brown seed head.
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This showy perennial’s fall color is deep orange to purple.
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This is a beautiful grass with a somewhat metallic golden sheen to its flowering parts.
in colonies on dry, sunny slopes.
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
A host plant for the
Monarch butterfly.
A native plant.
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Inside the plant is a sticky white sap that contains a mild poison; its bitter taste warns
away many of the animals and insects that try to eat its tender leaves.
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Certain insects, including monarch butterfly larvae, are immune to the toxin. By feeding
almost exclusively on milkweed leaves, they are able to accumulate enough of the poison
in their bodies to make them distasteful to predators.
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During World War II, the regular material used to stuff life jackets was in short supply, so
milkweed floss was called for as a substitute—it is about six times more buoyant than
cork!
Allegheny Monkeyflower
Mimulus ringens
Also called Square-stemed
Monkeyflower
A host plant for the Common Buckeye butterfly.
A native plant.
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The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer and lasts about
1–1½ months.
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There is no floral scent.
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Each flower is replaced by a rounded seed capsule that contains numerous tiny seeds.
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The common name comes from the fancied resemblance of the flower to
a monkey's face when it is squeezed by the fingers.
Swamp Verbena
Verbena hastata
Also called Blue Vervain
A native plant.
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This is a slender, but erect, native perennial plant that is up to 5' tall, branching occasionally in the upper half.
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The flowers are often a pretty blue or violet, but they are quite small.
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It is easy to identify because it is the only vervain with elegant spikes of
flowers in this color range.
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The flowers attract many kinds of bees, wasps, butterflies, and moths.
Sweet Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
A host plant for the
Black Swallowtail
butterfly.
A widely introduced
plant.
Also called
Bronze Fennel
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Entire plant edible; seeds in sausage and baked goods; leaves used with fish,
vegetables, cheese spreads, and soups.
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A tall, erect, glabrous, herbaceous perennial with glaucous, striate branching
stems and a strong aroma of anise or licorice.
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A native of southern Europe.
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It blooms from May to September.
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Possible host plant for
several skippers.
A native plant.
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A low, clumped, grass-like perennial, 6-12 inches high, with a cluster of
brown seed capsules clinging high on the stem.
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Foliage is pale-green in spring and summer, turning sandy-tan in fall.
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Rhizomatous turf-forming with pale-green arching leaves.
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Resistant to deer grazing.