Acmon blue butterfly
Icaricia acmon
Tiny blue butterfly with orange hindwing spots and silvery underside. Caterpillars feed on native buckwheat and lupines. Abundant in open sunny gardens; essential microhabitat in Bay Area landscapes.
Plants that support Acmon blue butterfly
39 plants
American birdsfoot trefoil
Acmispon americanus
annual
Host plant for larval development; multiple broods during growing season
Bigelow's Sneezeweed
Helenium bigelovii
perennial herb
Larval foodplant for multiple broods; active March-October
California Aster
Corethrogyne filaginifolia
perennial herb
Multiple broods; important nectar source during flight periods
California Buttercup
Ranunculus californicus var. californicus
perennial herb
Spring and early summer nectar
California Chia
Salvia columbariae
annual
Spring and summer larval host for blue butterfly
California Coffeeberry
Frangula californica
shrub
Spring generation larval host plant
California Golden Violet
Viola pedunculata
perennial herb
Larval food plant utilized in spring
California Goldenrod
Solidago velutina ssp. californica
perennial herb
Multiple generations utilize as nectar source Jun-Oct
California Phacelia
Phacelia californica
perennial herb
Multi-brooded species utilizing blooms throughout season
California pearly everlasting
Pseudognaphalium californicum
perennial herb
larvae feed on host plant foliage during spring and early summer generations
Cascade Canada Goldenrod
Solidago elongata
perennial herb
adult nectar resource in multiple broods Jul-Sep
Chick lupine
Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus
annual
Larval host plant for multiple broods in California grasslands and scrubland
Chilean Bird's-foot Trefoil
Acmispon wrangelianus
annual
Host plant for caterpillar development; multiple generations Apr-Sep in California
Coastal Tidy-tips
Layia platyglossa
annual
Spring and early summer nectar source
Dotseed Plantain
Plantago erecta
annual
Caterpillars utilize Plantago erecta as alternative host plant in spring
Douglas' Drymocallis
Drymocallis glandulosa
perennial herb
Caterpillar food plant for spring/early summer broods
Dove Weed
Croton setiger
annual
Early season larval host plant in desert and semi-arid regions
Glandular Layia
Layia glandulosa
perennial herb
Multi-generational host plant for spring through summer broods
Golden aster
Heterotheca sessiliflora
perennial herb
larval host plant Mar-Jul with multiple generations
Goldencarpet Buckwheat
Eriogonum luteolum var. caninum
perennial herb
Multiple generations spring through early fall; caterpillars feed on developing flower buds and seeds
Goldenfleece
Ericameria arborescens
shrub
Larval host; multiple broods in California
June Centaury
Zeltnera muehlenbergii
annual
larvae feed on plant tissues during spring emergence and early summer development
Kellogg's Yampah
Perideridia kelloggii
perennial herb
Multiple broods use various plant species; phenology varies by region
Naked Buckwheat
Eriogonum nudum var. auriculatum
perennial herb
Multiple broods use plant; important secondary host in California foothills
Pink Spineflower
Chorizanthe membranacea
annual
Larvae feed on plant tissues; multiple generations spring through early fall
Popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus
annual
Spring and early summer adult feeding on foliage and nectar
Red Maids*
Calandrinia menziesii
annual
critical larval host plant for spring broods in California deserts and semi-arid regions
Red-flowering buckwheat
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens
perennial herb
Primary larval host plant
Rosilla
Helenium puberulum
perennial herb
larvae feed on foliage; multiple generations May-September
Rough-leaved Aster
Eurybia radulina
perennial herb
larval host plant, multiple broods March-October in California
Sky Lupine
Lupinus nanus
annual
Secondary host plant for caterpillar development
Slender Sunflower
Helianthus gracilentus
perennial herb
Host plant for larvae; multiple broods per year in suitable California habitats
Tufted Poppy
Eschscholzia caespitosa
perennial herb
Multiple broods; caterpillars feed on plant tissues, especially flowers and developing seed pods
Vervain
Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida
perennial herb
Multiple generations; important native host plant in California
Winecup clarkia
Clarkia purpurea
annual
Larval host plant for early spring generation
Woollyfruit Desertparsley
Lomatium dasycarpum subsp. dasycarpum
perennial herb
Multiple broods utilize Lomatium as larval host Mar-Oct