Skip to main content

Plants that support Ceanothus Silk Moth

7 plants

Bigberry Manzanita

Arctostaphylos glauca

moderate

shrub

Larval host plant; caterpillars feed on foliage in late spring-early summer

Bay Area nativeKeystone species

Birch-leaf Mountain-mahogany

Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides

high

tree

Important larval host; caterpillars feed on new growth

Bay Area native

Cascara Sagrada

Frangula purshiana

moderate

shrub

Larval host plant; caterpillar feeding period spring months

Bay Area native

Coyote Willow

Salix exigua var. hindsiana

moderate

tree

Caterpillars feed on willow foliage in spring

Bay Area nativeKeystone species

Deerbrush

Ceanothus integerrimus

critical

perennial herb

Caterpillars feed on new spring foliage; pupate in early summer

Bay Area nativeKeystone species

Hollyleaf Buckthorn

Rhamnus crocea

high

shrub

Larval food plant; overwinters as pupa in leaf litter

Bay Area native

Red Alder

Alnus rubra

moderate

tree

Larvae feed on alder foliage; overwinter as pupae

Bay Area nativeKeystone species