Gray hairstreak butterfly
Strymon melinus
Tiny butterfly with gray underside, orange hindwing spots, and hair-like tail extensions. Caterpillars feed on legumes and other plants. Widespread generalist that benefits from diverse Bay Area plant palettes.
Plants that support Gray hairstreak butterfly
38 plants
American Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
perennial herb
Polyphagous species with larvae feeding on foliage; multiple broods
American birdsfoot trefoil
Acmispon americanus
annual
Polyphagous species; uses trefoil as supplemental host plant; multiple generations
Big Deervetch
Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia
perennial herb
Polyphagous legume specialist; multiple generations spring through fall
Bladder Desert-parsley
Lomatium utriculatum
perennial herb
Generalist nectar visitor; multiple generations throughout growing season
Blue Witch
Solanum umbelliferum
shrub
Larval host plant; multiple generations spring-summer
Brewer's Ragwort
Packera breweri
perennial herb
Larvae utilize plant as host for multiple broods; generalist species
Bright Green Dudleya
Dudleya virens
perennial herb
Spring emergence; early season nectar source
California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
shrub
Generalist host plant supporting multiple broods
California Coffeeberry
Frangula californica
shrub
Polyphagous, uses coffeeberry as larval host in spring generation
California Golden Violet
Viola pedunculata
perennial herb
Polyphagous species using viola as secondary larval host
California Goldenrod
Solidago velutina ssp. californica
perennial herb
Fall generations use as nectar source Jul-Oct
California Milkweed
Asclepias californica
perennial herb
Larval host plant; supports multiple broods throughout warm season
California Phacelia
Phacelia californica
perennial herb
Multiple generations utilize blooms
California Wild Rose
Rosa californica
shrub
Host plant for larvae; multiple generations May-Sep
Chaparral Pea
Pickeringia montana var. montana
shrub
Summer generation larvae feed on developing seed pods
Douglas's False Willow
Baccharis glutinosa
perennial herb
summer adult nectaring
Golden aster
Heterotheca sessiliflora
perennial herb
generalist host plant for multiple broods Apr-Oct
Hooker's Evening Primrose
Oenothera elata subsp. hookeri
annual
Multi-brooded species using flowers throughout growing season
Imbricate Phacelia
Phacelia imbricata var. imbricata
perennial herb
Multi-brooded species uses Phacelia as nectar source across season
Jepson's Woolly Sunflower
Eriophyllum jepsonii
shrub
Multiple generations utilize foliage for caterpillar development Mar-Oct in California
Large Leather-root
Hoita macrostachya
perennial herb
Larval host plant for spring brood
Lippia
Phyla nodiflora
perennial herb
Secondary host plant; supports multiple broods Apr-Oct
Pacific stonecrop
Sedum spathulifolium
perennial herb
Multi-generational host plant; larvae feed on succulent tissues
Popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus
annual
Spring and summer larval host for multiple broods
Red-flowering buckwheat
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens
perennial herb
Larval host plant for multiple generations
Rough-leaved Aster
Eurybia radulina
perennial herb
caterpillar host plant, multiple generations May-September
Scarlet Bugler
Penstemon centranthifolius
perennial herb
spring through summer adult nectar source
Seaside Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum
perennial herb
Multiple broods use as larval host throughout growing season
Shade Phacelia
Phacelia nemoralis var. nemoralis
perennial herb
Multiple generations use phacelia as larval food plant throughout growing season
St. Catherine's Lace
Eriogonum giganteum
perennial herb
Multiple generations utilize plant for nectar throughout growing season
Summer Lupine
Lupinus formosus var. formosus
perennial herb
Multiple generations utilize lupine as larval host plant
Vervain
Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida
perennial herb
Generalist larval host plant; multiple generations per season
Western Virgin's Bower
Clematis ligusticifolia
vine
Butterfly visitor during bloom season
Willdenow's Clover
Trifolium willdenovii
annual
Polyphagous but utilizes Trifolium as larval food source multiple generations
Willow-leaved Dock
Rumex salicifolius
perennial herb
Generalist host plant; multiple broods utilize Rumex foliage
Woolypod milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa
perennial herb
Larval host plant for multiple generations in California