Pale Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
Large butterfly with black wings, white band across forewings, and blue-spotted cream hindwings. Males perch on hilltops or patrolling low. Caterpillars feed on sycamore, willow, and other native trees.
Plants that support Pale Swallowtail
45 plants
Hollyleaf Buckthorn
Rhamnus crocea
shrub
Larval Host
Anderson's Thistle
Cirsium andersonii
perennial herb
Larval Host
Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
shrub
Larval Host
California Buckeye
Aesculus californica
tree
Nectar
California Coffeeberry
Frangula californica
shrub
Larval Host
California Live-oak
Quercus chrysolepis
tree
Foliage
California Manroot
Marah fabacea
vine
Larval Host
California Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
tree
Larval Host
Covelo Mock Orange
Philadelphus lewisii 'Covelo'
perennial herb
Larval Host
Coyote Mint
Monardella villosa
shrub
Nectar
Coyote Willow
Salix exigua var. hindsiana
tree
Larval Host
Newleaze Coral Mallow
Sphaeralcea 'NewLeaze Coral'
perennial herb
Nectar
Ninebark
Physocarpus capitatus
shrub
Larval Host
Pacific Willow
Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra
shrub
Larval Host
Royal Larkspur
Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum
perennial herb
Larval Host
American Cow-parsnip
Heracleum maximum
perennial herb
Larval Host
Bitter Cherry
Prunus emarginata
tree
Larval Host
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
shrub
Nectar
Bog Lupine
Lupinus polyphyllus
perennial herb
Nectar
Bog Orchid
Platanthera dilatata
perennial herb
Nectar
California Alder
Alnus rhombifolia
tree
Larval Host
Chaparral Mallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
shrub
Nectar
Cleveland Sage
Salvia clevelandii
shrub
Nectar
Coast Larkspur
Delphinium decorum subsp. decorum
annual
Nectar
Creamsicle Monkeyflower
Diplacus 'Creamsicle'
perennial herb
Nectar
De la Mina Verbena
Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina'
perennial herb
Nectar
Douglas's False Willow
Baccharis glutinosa
perennial herb
Nectar
Golden Currant
Ribes aureum
shrub
Nectar
Hollyleaf cherry
Prunus ilicifolia
tree
Larval Host
Leopard Lily
Lilium pardalinum subsp. pardalinum
geophyte
Larval Host
Matillija Poppy
Romneya coulteri
perennial herb
Nectar
Monkeyflower (Scarlet)
Erythranthe cardinalis
perennial herb
Nectar
Mountain Coyote Mint
Monardella odoratissima
perennial herb
Nectar
Mulefat
Baccharis salicifolia
shrub
Nectar
Nootka Rose
Rosa nutkana
perennial herb
Nectar
Pacific Pea
Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus
vine
Larval Host
Scarlet Bugler
Penstemon centranthifolius
perennial herb
Nectar
Scouler's Willow
Salix scouleriana
shrub
Nectar
Showy milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
perennial herb
Nectar
Sierra False Bindweed
Calystegia malacophylla subsp. Pedicellata
perennial herb
Nectar
Western Azalea
Rhododendron occidentale
shrub
Larval Host
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
perennial herb
Nectar
Whitehead Mule-ears
Wyethia helenioides
perennial herb
Larval Host
Wild Farewell to Spring
Clarkia amoena 'The Real'
annual
Nectar
Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon californicum
shrub
Nectar