Monarch butterfly
Danaus plexippus
CA Special Concern
California Species of Special Concern; monarch populations declining
Large orange butterfly with bold black veins and white spots. Famous multi-generational migrant; critical stopover habitat needed for Bay Area populations. Milkweed caterpillars sequester plant toxins for predator protection.
Plants that support Monarch butterfly
71 plants
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
perennial herb
Nectar
California Aster
Symphyotrichum chilense
perennial herb
Nectar
California Goldenrod
Solidago velutina ssp. californica
perennial herb
Nectar
California Milkweed
Asclepias californica
perennial herb
Larval Host
California sunflower
Helianthus californicus
perennial herb
Nectar
Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus
annual
Nectar
Coyote Brush
Baccharis pilularis
shrub
Nectar
Coyote Mint
Monardella villosa
shrub
Nectar
Graceful Cinquefoil
Potentilla gracilis
perennial herb
Nectar
Hairy gumplant
Grindelia hirsutula
perennial herb
Nectar
Mulefat
Baccharis salicifolia
shrub
Nectar
Narrow-leaf Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
perennial herb
Larval Host
Purple Haze California Aster
Aster chilensis 'Purple Haze'
perennial herb
Nectar
Purple sage
Salvia leucophylla
shrub
Nectar
Seaside Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum
perennial herb
Larval Host
Showy milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
perennial herb
Larval Host
Western goldenrod
Euthamia occidentalis
perennial herb
Nectar
Woolypod milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa
perennial herb
Larval Host
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
perennial herb
Nectar
American Cow-parsnip
Heracleum maximum
perennial herb
Nectar
American-hemp
Apocynum cannabinum
perennial herb
Larval Host
Bearbind
Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila
vine
Nectar
Bladderpod
Cleomella arborea
perennial herb
Nectar
Blue Field Gilia
Gilia capitata
annual
Nectar
Blue Flax
Linum lewisii
perennial herb
Larval Host
Brewer's Ragwort
Packera breweri
perennial herb
Nectar
Bush Anemone
Carpenteria californica
shrub
Nectar
California Aster
Corethrogyne filaginifolia
perennial herb
Nectar
California Buckeye
Aesculus californica
tree
Nectar
California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
shrub
Nectar
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
annual
Nectar
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
perennial herb
Nectar
Chaparral Currant
Ribes malvaceum
shrub
Nectar
Cleveland Sage
Salvia clevelandii
shrub
Nectar
Coastal Moonshine
Deinandra corymbosa
annual
Nectar
Common Pearlyeverlasting
Anaphalis margaritacea
perennial herb
Nectar
De la Mina Verbena
Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina'
perennial herb
Nectar
Desert Lavendar
Condea emoryi
perennial herb
Larval Host
Douglas's False Willow
Baccharis glutinosa
perennial herb
Nectar
El Dorado Coast Sunflower
Encelia californica
perennial herb
Nectar
Facelia
Phacelia tanacetifolia
annual
Nectar
Mountain Coyote Mint
Monardella odoratissima
perennial herb
Nectar
Nevin's Barberry
Berberis nevinii
perennial herb
Larval Host
Newleaze Coral Mallow
Sphaeralcea 'NewLeaze Coral'
perennial herb
Nectar
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
perennial herb
Nectar
Seacliff buckwheat
Eriogonum parvifolium
shrub
Nectar
Seaside Daisy
Erigeron glaucus
perennial herb
Nectar
Suisun Marsh Aster
Symphyotrichum lentum
perennial herb
Nectar
Tarweed
Madia elegans
annual
Nectar
Western Azalea
Rhododendron occidentale
shrub
Nectar
Whiteleaf Manzanita
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. laevigata
shrub
Nectar
Amphibious Bistort
Persicaria amphibia
perennial herb
Larval Host
Branching Phacelia
Phacelia ramosissima
perennial herb
Nectar
California Seathrift
Armeria maritima ssp. californica
perennial herb
Nectar
Conejo Buckwheat
Eriogonum crocatum
perennial herb
Nectar
Creeping Sage
Salvia sonomensis
shrub
Larval Host
Distant Phacelia
Phacelia distans
annual
Nectar
Hummingbird Sage
Salvia spathacea
perennial herb
Nectar
Island mallow
Malva assurgentiflora
shrub
Nectar
Lemonade Berry
Rhus integrifolia
shrub
Nectar
Madrone
Arbutus menziesii
tree
Nectar
Manzanita (Vine Hill)
Arctostaphylos densiflora
shrub
Larval Host
Nootka Rose
Rosa nutkana
perennial herb
Nectar
Ranger's Buttons
Angelica capitellata
perennial herb
Nectar
Red Willow
Salix laevigata
shrub
Foliage
Red-Osier Dogwood*
Cornus sericea subsp. sericea
shrub
Nectar
Rodeo Rose Arroyo Lupine
Lupinus succulentus 'Rodeo Rose'
annual
Nectar
Sierra Tidy Tips
Layia pentachaeta ssp. albida
perennial herb
Nectar
Sugarbush
Rhus ovata
perennial herb
Nectar
Sulfur Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum var. bahiiforme
perennial herb
Nectar
Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
tree
Nectar