Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
Striking black swallowtail with metallic green hindwings and red body spots. Caterpillars feed exclusively on Dutchman's pipe vine. Iridescent coloring warns predators of toxins accumulated from host plant.
Plants that support Pipevine Swallowtail
26 plants
Bleeding-heart
Dicentra formosa
perennial herb
Occasional larval host plant; caterpillars feed on foliage
California Live-oak
Quercus chrysolepis
tree
Larval host plant; caterpillars feed on oak foliage
Cobwebby Thistle
Cirsium occidentale var. venustum
annual
Adult nectar foraging on thistle flowers
Common Fiddleneck
Amsinckia menziesii
annual
Secondary larval host plant, multiple broods
Douglas Iris
Iris douglasiana
perennial herb
Adult nectar foraging during spring bloom Mar-May
Douglas' Thistle
Cirsium douglasii var. douglasii
perennial herb
Host plant for caterpillars; multiple generations Mar-Sep
Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum
shrub
Spring nectar source for adult butterflies emerging from overwintering
Giant Figwort*
Adelinia grandis
perennial herb
Host plant for larvae; multiple broods March-October
Ithuriel's Spear
Triteleia laxa
geophyte
Early season nectar resource during spring emergence
Menzies' fiddleneck
Amsinckia intermedia
annual
Larvae feed on plant tissues during spring and summer development
Mt. Diablo Helianthella
Helianthella castanea
perennial herb
Larval host plant; caterpillars feed on foliage April-June
Pacific False Bindweed
Calystegia purpurata subsp. Purpurata
perennial herb
Generalist nectar forager during adult flight periods
Pacific Pea
Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus
vine
Secondary host plant for larvae
Pipevine
Aristolochia californica
vine
Sole larval host plant; caterpillars feed exclusively on pipevine foliage Mar-May, critical for species reproduction and conservation
Red Larkspur
Delphinium nudicaule
perennial herb
Larvae feed on Delphinium species as secondary host plant when primary pipevine hosts unavailable; multiple generations Mar-Oct in California
Red Maids*
Calandrinia menziesii
annual
adult nectar source during spring blooming
Showy milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
perennial herb
Adult nectar source supporting multiple broods; important for maintaining populations in California habitats
Sticky Monkey Flower
Diplacus aurantiacus
shrub
Adult nectar foraging during bloom season
Vetch
Vicia gigantea
vine
Larvae feed on Vicia species; multiple generations Apr-Sep in California
Vinegar-weed
Trichostema lanceolatum
annual
Adult butterfly foraging during blooming
Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
tree
Spring adults forage on early blooms March-May
Whitehead Mule-ears
Wyethia helenioides
perennial herb
Larval host plant; caterpillars feed on foliage in spring through early summer
Whiteleaf Manzanita
Arctostaphylos viscida
perennial herb
Larval host for early spring broods
Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon californicum
shrub
Spring/early summer nectar foraging; supports multiple generations