Butterfly Gardening -- Larval Food

The following is a list of common butterflies and their source food. It's divided into larval or caterpillar food and butterfly sources. Scientific names of both are included to make plant location easier and more exact.

LARVAL FOOD

BUTTERFLIES LARVAL FOOD PLANTS

1. Pipevine Swallowtail Pipevine (Battus philenor) (Arstolochia tomentosa)

2. Black Swallowtail Carrots, parsley, dill (Papilio polyxenes asterius)

3. Giant Swallowtail prickly ash, citrus trees (Papilio cresphontes) (Zanthoxylum americanum)

4. Spicebush Swallowtail Spicebush, sassafras (Papilio troilus) (Lindera benzoin)

5. Tiger Swallowtail Wild cherry, birch, ash (Papilia glaucus) poplar, apple, tulip tree

6. Zebra Swallowtail pawpaw (Papilio marcellus) (Asimina triloba)

7. Monarch Milkweeds (Danaus plexippus) (Asclepias)

8. Great Spangled Fritillary Violets (Speyeria cybele)

9. Painted Lady Thistles, bachelor's (Vanessa cardut) buttons

10. Viceroy Pussy willow, plums, (Limenitis archippus) cherries

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Other plants that attract butterfly larva include leadplant (Amorpha canescens), clover, hackberry, elm, plantain, snapdragon, nettles and willows.

See: Butterfly Gardening--Nectar Sources

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