Plants for Support Butterflies
355 plants
Broad-leaved Lupine
Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius
perennial herb
Specialist on lupine hosts, larvae feed on flower buds and foliage
California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
shrub
Host plant for multiple broods Mar-Oct
California Coffeeberry
Frangula californica
shrub
Primary larval host plant for pale swallowtail in California, eggs laid Apr-May
California Milkweed
Asclepias californica
perennial herb
Critical larval food plant for multiple generations; essential for spring and fall migration populations
California goldfields
Lasthenia californica
annual
Primary larval host plant for this Bay Area endemic subspecies during early spring emergence
Coast Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja affinis subsp. affinis + Diplacus aurantiacus
shrub
Larval host plant; caterpillars feed on foliage April-June
Deerbrush
Ceanothus integerrimus
perennial herb
Early-season caterpillar host plant in California foothills
Douglas' Thistle
Cirsium douglasii var. douglasii
perennial herb
Preferred host plant; multiple generations Mar-Oct; can be irruptive
Hairy Thorn-apple
Datura wrightii
perennial herb
non-native species occasionally utilizing Datura
Indian Warrior
Pedicularis densiflora
perennial herb
Important larval host; caterpillars feed on foliage during spring development
Naked Buckwheat
Eriogonum nudum var. auriculatum
perennial herb
Larvae feed on inflorescences; key host plant for population persistence
Narrow-leaf Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
perennial herb
Critical larval host plant throughout CA growing season Jun-Sep; spring/fall migration staging resource
Pipevine
Aristolochia californica
vine
Sole larval host plant; caterpillars feed exclusively on pipevine foliage Mar-May, critical for species reproduction and conservation
Puget Balsamroot
Balsamorhiza deltoidea
perennial herb
Larval host plant for caterpillars
Showy milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
perennial herb
Essential larval food plant for multiple generations; critical during spring northward migration (Feb-Apr) and fall southward migration (Aug-Oct)
Silver bush lupine
Lupinus albifrons
shrub
Critical larval food plant for caterpillars
Sulfur Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum var. bahiiforme
perennial herb
Primary larval host plant; caterpillars feed on flower buds and developing inflorescences
Woolypod milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa
perennial herb
Critical larval foodplant for multiple generations; adults also nectar on flowers
Yellow Bush Penstemon
Keckiella antirrhinoides
perennial herb
Nominal subspecies; primary host plant in coastal California populations
Alameda County Thistle
Cirsium quercetorum
perennial herb
Primary larval host plant for caterpillars; critical food source for larvae
Bog Orchid
Platanthera dilatata
perennial herb
Critical larval host in early season
British Columbia Wild Ginger
Asarum caudatum
perennial herb
Primary larval host plant for this specialized swallowtail butterfly
Buckbrush
Ceanothus cuneatus var. cuneatus
shrub
larval host plant, caterpillars feed on young leaves May-June
California Figwort
Scrophularia californica
perennial herb
Larval hostplant; caterpillars feed on foliage Apr-May; adult nectar source
California Juniper
Juniperus californica
tree
Larvae feed on juniper foliage; primary host plant for this species
California Manroot
Marah fabacea
vine
Larvae feed on vine foliage in spring through early summer
California Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
tree
Larval host; caterpillars utilize sycamore foliage in riparian corridors
Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
shrub
Caterpillars feed on chamise leaves; adults emerge mid-summer
Chick lupine
Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus
annual
Larval host plant for multiple broods in California grasslands and scrubland
Chinese Houses
Collinsia heterophylla
annual
Primary larval host plant; caterpillars feed on foliage in spring
Coast Larkspur
Delphinium hesperium subsp. hesperium
perennial herb
Larval host plant for caterpillar development
Coast Range Mule-ears
Wyethia glabra
perennial herb
Larvae feed on foliage in early spring; critical host plant for this subspecies in California
Coast Wallflower
Erysimum capitatum
perennial herb
Critical host plant for early season larvae development
Cobwebby Thistle
Cirsium occidentale var. venustum
annual
Multiple generations use thistle as primary larval host plant; critical during population irruptions
Common Fiddleneck
Amsinckia menziesii
annual
Early-season larval host plant, critical for first brood
Coyote Brush
Baccharis pilularis
shrub
Critical fall migration staging nectar Sep-Nov
Coyote Willow
Salix exigua var. hindsiana
tree
Early-season caterpillar host; overwinters as adult butterfly
Dense-flower Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja densiflora subsp. Densiflora
annual
Larval food plant for early spring broods
Dotseed Plantain
Plantago erecta
annual
Critical spring host plant; caterpillars develop on young Plantago erecta foliage
Exserted Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja exserta subsp. exserta
annual
primary host plant for larval development
False Babystars
Leptosiphon androsaceus
annual
critical larval host plant; caterpillars feed on foliage in spring
Glandular Layia
Layia glandulosa
perennial herb
Critical larval host plant for spring-emerging butterflies
Hollyleaf Buckthorn
Rhamnus crocea
shrub
Primary larval host plant in California chaparral and oak woodlands
Imbricate Phacelia
Phacelia imbricata var. imbricata
perennial herb
Key host plant for larval development in California populations
Inland Saltgrass
Distichlis spicata
grass
Primary larval host in alkali wetlands and saline habitats of California interior valleys
Interior Goldenbush
Ericameria linearifolia
shrub
Critical larval food plant; caterpillars feed on foliage in spring
Lesser Water-parsnip
Berula erecta
perennial herb
Larvae feed on Apiaceae family plants including Berula erecta; multiple generations Apr-Sep
Lippia
Phyla nodiflora
perennial herb
Primary host plant; supports multiple generations Apr-Oct
Milkmaids
Cardamine californica
perennial herb
Primary larval host plant in California; critical for spring emergence
Mountain Coyote Mint
Monardella odoratissima
perennial herb
Northbound migrants April-May; critical refueling nectar
Napa False Indigo
Amorpha californica var. napensis
perennial herb
larval food plant for spring brood development
Pacific Black-snakeroot
Sanicula crassicaulis
perennial herb
Host plant for larvae, species-specific relationship
Pacific Willow
Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra
shrub
Preferred larval host plant for multiple generations May-September
Pacific stonecrop
Sedum spathulifolium
perennial herb
Host plant for butterfly larvae; early spring caterpillar development
Popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus
annual
Larval host plant during spring development
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
Larval host plant for multiple generations
Seaside Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum
perennial herb
Critical host plant for monarch caterpillars during spring-fall migration periods; essential for population maintenance
Sky Lupine
Lupinus nanus
annual
Caterpillar host plant; critical for population persistence in coastal areas
Sonoma Mountain Pride
Penstemon newberryi var. sonomensis
perennial herb
Caterpillars feed on plant foliage in spring, critical host plant for population persistence
Sticky Chinese Houses
Collinsia tinctoria
annual
Caterpillars feed on foliage in spring before pupation; critical early season host plant
Telegraph weed
Heterotheca grandiflora
annual
Primary larval host plant; caterpillars feed on foliage in spring
Texas Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja foliolosa
perennial herb
Larvae feed on plant foliage in spring after host plant emergence
Vervain
Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida
perennial herb
Early season larval host; caterpillars feed on foliage in spring months
Yellow Coastal Bush Lupine
Lupinus arboreus
perennial herb
Critical larval host plant in coastal populations
Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon californicum
shrub
Obligate host plant; regional populations depend on plant availability
American Cow-parsnip
Heracleum maximum
perennial herb
Important nectar source for migration fuel; used during spring northward migration Mar-May
American Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
perennial herb
Larvae feed on legume foliage; multiple generations in California
American birdsfoot trefoil
Acmispon americanus
annual
Host plant for larval development; critical for population maintenance in California
American-hemp
Apocynum cannabinum
perennial herb
Critical larval host plant for California populations; caterpillars feed on milkweed family plants including A. cannabinum
Amphibious Bistort
Persicaria amphibia
perennial herb
Primary larval host plant; critical for wetland populations
Angelica
Angelica tomentosa
perennial herb
caterpillars feed on Angelica foliage April-August; multiple generations per year in California
Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
shrub
Primary host plant for larval development; multiple broods spring-summer
Beach Saltbush
Atriplex leucophylla
perennial herb
Multiple generations per year; larvae feed on plant foliage
Bearberry Honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii
shrub
Larval host plant, critical for caterpillar development
Big Deervetch
Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia
perennial herb
Early season flight; larvae develop on host plant foliage
Bigelow's Sneezeweed
Helenium bigelovii
perennial herb
Multiple generations use as larval foodplant; spring through fall activity
Bitter Cherry
Prunus emarginata
tree
Larval host plant in spring; supports early broods
Bleeding-heart
Dicentra formosa
perennial herb
Larvae feed on Dicentra formosa leaves in spring; single generation per year
Blue Flax
Linum lewisii
perennial herb
Larval food plant for multiple generations; critical during spring/fall migration corridors
Blue Witch
Solanum umbelliferum
shrub
Host plant for caterpillar development spring-early summer
Bog Lupine
Lupinus polyphyllus
perennial herb
spring nesting and foraging season
Bottlebrush Squirreltail
Elymus elymoides var. elymoides
grass
Larval food plant during active growing season
Brewer's Rockcress
Boechera breweri subsp. breweri
perennial herb
host plant for caterpillar development, multiple generations Apr-Jun
Bush Seepweed
Suaeda nigra
perennial herb
Multiple generations; larvae feed on halophytic plants including Suaeda species in alkaline habitats
California Black Oak
Quercus kelloggii
tree
Adult butterfly visits flowers and fermenting oak galls; possible larval host relationship
California Brickellbush
Brickellia californica
shrub
Larval host plant for skipper butterfly; caterpillars feed on foliage spring through summer
California Chia
Salvia columbariae
annual
Larval host plant for caterpillar development in spring
California Live-oak
Quercus chrysolepis
tree
Larval host plant; caterpillars feed on new oak leaves Apr-Jul
California Prickly Phlox
Linanthus californicus
perennial herb
caterpillars feed on plant foliage in spring after overwinter diapause
California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
shrub
Multi-generational host plant; larvae feed on foliage Mar-Nov with peak populations Aug-Oct
California Tea
Rupertia physodes
perennial herb
larvae feed on young foliage during spring growth period
Californica Goldenrod
Solidago californica
perennial herb
primary larval host in California populations
Chaparral Clarkia
Clarkia affinis
annual
Primary larval host plant for spring/early summer broods in California
Chaparral Sunflower
Helianthella californica
perennial herb
caterpillars feed on foliage in spring after emergence from diapause
Chilean Bird's-foot Trefoil
Acmispon wrangelianus
annual
Host plant for caterpillar development; multiple generations Apr-Sep in California
Collared Annual Lupine
Lupinus truncatus
annual
caterpillar host plant for larval development
Common Muilla
Muilla maritima
geophyte
Caterpillars feed on emerging foliage in early spring after winter dormancy
Common Woolly Sunflower
Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides
perennial herb
Early spring larval development, critical host plant
Deerweed*
Acmispon brachycarpus
annual
Larval development on Lotus/Acmispon host plants, multiple generations spring-fall
Delta Tule Pea
Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus
perennial herb
Caterpillars develop on plant foliage; key larval host for this specialist butterfly
Distant Phacelia
Phacelia distans
annual
Host plant for caterpillars in spring through early summer
Douglas Iris
Iris douglasiana
perennial herb
Larval host plant; evergreen foliage supports multiple generations
Giant Figwort*
Adelinia grandis
perennial herb
Host plant for larvae; multiple broods March-October
Golden Currant
Ribes aureum
shrub
Multi-generational larval host; overwinters as adult
Golden aster
Heterotheca sessiliflora
perennial herb
larval food plant for multiple generations Mar-Sep
Goldencarpet Buckwheat
Eriogonum luteolum var. caninum
perennial herb
Multiple generations spring through early fall; caterpillars feed on developing flower buds and seeds
Hairy gumplant
Grindelia hirsutula
perennial herb
Critical fall migration fuel source during southbound migration (Aug-Oct)
Idaho fescue
Festuca idahoensis
grass
larval food plant for early season generations
Interior Live Oak
Quercus wislizeni
tree
Caterpillar host plant for larval development
Large Saltmarsh Dodder
Cuscuta pacifica var. pacifica
annual
larvae develop on host plant as food source
Leather Oak
Quercus durata
shrub
Caterpillars feed on oak foliage during growing season
Mock Heather
Ericameria ericoides
perennial herb
Caterpillars utilize foliage during summer breeding season
Montara Manzanita
Arctostaphylos montaraensis
perennial herb
Occasional nectar visitor when manzanita flowers present
Narrowleaf mule ears
Wyethia angustifolia
perennial herb
Migratory species uses as nectar source; critical for fueling migration movements
Oregon Bigroot
Marah oregana
vine
Important larval host plant for checkerspot populations
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