Prepared for Marshall Grain by WaterWise Vistas Landscape Design
Butterflies of all types are very choosy about where they will lay their eggs. Unless their newly hatched larvae emerge on the right plant, they will be unable to feed and they will die. And each species has it's own specialized needs, so it's important to include various host plants in your garden. Here's a comprehensive list of plants you can incorporate into your landscape to attract more of our native Lepidoptera.
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor): Wooly Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia tomentosa), Virginia Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia serpentaria), Texas Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia reticulata), WhiteVeined Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia fimbriata
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes): Dill (Anethum graveolens), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), celery (Apium), carrot (Daucus), Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota), Prairieparsley (Polytaenia nuttallii), Water-Parsnip (Berula erecta), Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata), Wild Chervil (Cryptotaenia canadensis), Leaf-Less Cowbane (Oxypolis filiformis), Mock Bishop's Weed (Ptilimnium capillaceum), Water- Parsnip (Sium suave), Forked Scaleseed (Spermolepis divaricata) and other members of the family Apiaceae. Rue (Ruta graveolens) and Dutchman's-Breeches (Thamnosma texanum) in the family Rutaceae are utilized.
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes): Prickly-Ash, Hercule's Club (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis), Wild Lime (Zanthoxylum fagara), Hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata), various Citrus, including Lemon (Citrus limon), Orange (Citrus sinensis), Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium), Pummelo (Citrus maxima) and the herb Rue (Ruta graveolens).
Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus): White Ash (Fraxinus americana), Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Choke-cherry (Prunus virginiana), American Plum (Prunus americana), Plum (Prunus domestica), Carolina Basswood (Tilia americana), Birch (Betula spp.), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Apple (Malus pumila), Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) and other trees found in the above genera.
Checkered White (Pontia protodice): Brazos Rockcress (Arabis petiolaris), Sicklepod (Arabis canadensis), Black Mustard (Brassica nigra), Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae italica), Brussel Sprouts (B. o. gemmifera), Cabbage (B. o. capitata), Cauliflower (B. o. botrytis), Turnip (B. rapa), Pinnate TansyMustard (Descurainia pinnata), Flixweed Tansy-Mustard (D. sophia), Prairie Pepperweed (Lepidium densiflorum), Virginia Pepper-Grass (L. virginicum), Radish (Raphanus sativus), Tumble Mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum), Field Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense). Also, Spiderflower (Cleome spp.), and Clammyweed (Polanisia spp.).
Orange-Barred Sulphur (Phoebis philea): Bird-of-Paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii), Candlestick Tree (Senna alata), Argentine Senna (Senna corymbosa), Wild Senna (Senna marilandica), and Coffee Senna (Senna occidentalis), Pithecellobium spp.
Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus): Mistletoe (Phoradendron tomentosum).
Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus): Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), White Oak (Q. alba), Southern Red Oak (Q. falcata), Bluejack Oak (Q. incana), Shag Bark Hickory (Carya ovata), Texas Walnut (Juglans microcarpa), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra).
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus): EUPHORBIACEAE: Woolly Croton (Croton capitatus),
Doveweed (Croton monanthogynus), FABACEAE: Southern Hog-Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata), False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa), Ground Plum (Astragalus crassicarpus), Candlestick Tree (Senna alata), Tick-Clover (Desmodium spp.), Scarlet-Pea (Indigofera miniata), Round-Head Bush Clover (Lespedeza capitata), Hairy Bush-Clover (L. hirta), Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis), Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), White Sweet-Clover (Melilotus albus), Lima Bean (Phaseolus limensis), Garden Bean (P. vulgaris), Rattlebush (Sesbania drummondii), Multi-Bloom Tephrosia (Tephrosia onobrychoides), Rabbit-Clover (Trifolium arvense), Crimson Clover (T. incarnatum), White Clover (T. repens), Vetch
(Vicia spp.) MALVACEAE: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), Tall Winecup (Callirhoe leiocarpa), Little Mallow (Malva parviflora), Common Mallow (M. neglecta), Running Mallow (M. rotundifolia), Alkali Sida (Malvella leprosa), Globe-Mallow (Sphaeralcea spp.), POLYGONACEAE: Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), Willow Smart-weed (Polygonum lapathifolium), Dock (Rumex spp.), ROSACEAE: Parsley Hawthorn (Crataegus marshallii), POACEAE: Corn (Zea mays), VERBENACEAE: Lantana (Lantana spp.), ZYGOPHYLLACEAE: Soapbush (Guaiacum angustifolium).
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae): Maypop (Passiflora incarnata), Yellow Passionvine (Passiflora lutea), and the more uncommon Bird Wing Passionvine (Passiflora tenuiloba), as well as imported passionvines, particularly Blue Passionvine (Passiflora caerulea), and to varying degrees Purple Passionvine (Passiflora incarnata x "incense"), Red Passionvine (Passiflora foetida) and many others.
Theona Checkerspot (Thessalia theona): Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens), Ceniza Blanca (L. texanum). Certain species of paintbrush (Castilleja spp.) in parts of its range, but none of the species in our area have been recorded as hosts.
Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia): Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Blood Ragweed (A. trifida var. texana), Prostrate Lawnflower (Calyptocarpus vialis), Boneset (Eupatorium spp.), IndianBlanket (Gaillardia pulchella), Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Blue-Weed Sunflower (H. ciliaris), Maximilian Sunflower (H. maximiliani), Jerusalem-Artichoke (H. tuberosus), Cucumber-Leaf Sunflower (H. debilis cucumerifolius), False Ragweed (Parthenium hysterophorus), Awnless BushSunflower (Simsia calva), Cowpen Daisy (Verbesina encelioides), Frostweed (V. virginica), Sunflower Golden-Eye (Viguiera dentata), and Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium var. candense).
Crimson Patch (Chlosyne janais): Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii).
Smallflower Wrightwort (Carlowrightia parvifolia) is a recorded host, but is not found in north Texas, but possibly our native Texas Carlowrightia (Carlowrightia texana) might also be utilized.
Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis): Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), JerusalemArtichoke (H. tuberosus), Gravel Weed Crownbeard (Verbesina helianthoides), Frostweed (V. virginica), and Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.).
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis): American Elm (Ulmus americana), Winged Elm (Ulmus alata), Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra), Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila), Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia), Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia), Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), Sugar Hackberry (Celtis laevigata var. reticulata), Hops (Humulus lupulus), False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica).
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa): Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica), Sandbar Willow (Salix exigua), Black Willow (Salix nigra), White Poplar (Populus alba), Cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Black Poplar (Populus nigra), Alder (Alnus serrulata), Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana), various Maple (Acer spp.), Sugar Hackberry (Celtis laevigata var. reticulata), Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), American Elm (Ulmus americana), Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila), Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra), Hops (Humulus lupulus), Red Mulberry (Morus rubra), White Ash (Fraxinus americana), Common Pear (Pyrus communis), Carolina Basswood (Tilia americana), Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella).
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui): An incredibly wide range of host plants from many different families. ASTERACEAE: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), Western Sagewort (Artemisia campestris), Mexican Sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), Musk-Thistle (Carduus nutans), Basket-Flower (Centaurea spp.), Tall Thistle (Cirsium altissimum), Texas Thistle (Cirsium texanum), Wavy-Leaf Thistle (Cirsium undulatum), Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Milk-Thistle (Silybum marianum). BORAGINACEAE: Borage (Borago officinalis), Blueweed (Echium vulgare).CHENOPODIACEAE: Beet (Beta vulgaris), Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium album).FABACEAE: Soy Bean (Glycine max).MALVACEAE: Hollyhock
(Alcea rosea), Common Mallow (Malva neglecta), Little Mallow (Malva parviflora), Running Mallow (Malva rotundifolia), High Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Globe-Mallow (Sphaeralcea spp.).PLANTAGINACEAE: English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), Dooryard Plantain (Plantago major).URTICACEAE: Nettle (Urtica spp.).
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia): ACANTHACEAE: Snake-herb (Dyschoriste linearis), Violet Ruellia (Ruellia nudiflora), PLANTAGINACEAE: English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), Pale-Seed Plantain (P. virginica), Buck-Horn Plantain (P. coronopus), Dooryard Plantain (P. major), Common Plantain (P. rugelii), Cedar Plantain (P. helleri), Tallow-Weed (P. hookeriana); SCROPHULARIACEAE: Beach Gerardia (Agalinis fasciculata), Flat-Flower Gerardia (Agalinis homalantha), Slender Gerardia (Agalinis tenuifolia), False Foxglove (Aureolaria grandifloria), American Bluehearts (Buchnera americana), Texas Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa), Prairie Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja purpurea), Butter and Eggs (Linaria vulgaris); Snapdragon Vine (Maurandya antirrhiniflora), Toad-Flax (Nuttallanthus canadensis), VERBENACEAE: Common Frogfruit (Lippia nodiflora), Lance-Leaf Frogfruit (Lippia lanceolata), Brazilian Verbena (Verbena bonariensis).
White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae): ACANTHACEAE: Water-Willow (Justica spp.), Wild Petunia (Ruellia spp.). LAMIACEAE: Peppermint (Mentha X piperita). SCROPHULARIACEAE: Coastal Water-Hyssop (Bacopa monieri). VERBENACEAE: Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla), Frogfruit (Lippia spp.), and at least "New Gold Lantana" (Lantana spp.).
Red-Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax): White Poplar (Populus alba), Cottonwood
(Populus deltoides), Black Poplar (Populus nigra), Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica), Black Willow (Salix nigra), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Apple (Malus pumila), Common Pear (Pyrus communis), and Willow Oak (Quercus phellos), Carolina Basswood (Tilia americana).
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus): Sandbar Willow (Salix exigua), Black Willow (Salix nigra), Coastal Plain Willow (Salix caroliniana), White Poplar (Populus alba), Cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Black Poplar (Populus nigra), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).
Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata): Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) and no doubt others.
Monarch (Danaus plexippus): Blunt-Leaf Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis), Antelope-Horns (A. asperula), Tropical Milkweed (A. curassavica), Engelmann'sMilkweed (A. engelmanniana), Swamp Milkweed (A. incarnata), Slim Milkweed (A. linearis), Side-Cluster Milkweed (A. oenotheroides),SlimLeaf Milkweed (A. stenophylla), Butterfly-Weed (A. tuberosa), White-Flower Milkweed (A. variegata), Whorled Milkweed (A.verticillata), Wand Milkweed (A. viridiflora), Green Milkweed (A. viridis), Sandvine (Cynanchum laeve), Green Milkweedvine (Matelea reticulata).
Queen (Danaus gilippus): Blunt-Leaf Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis), Antelope-Horns (A. asperula), Tropical Milkweed (A. curassavica), Slim Milkweed (A. linearis), ButterflyWeed (A. tuberosa), Green Milkweed (A. viridis), and probably other of our native Asclepias spp. Also, Climbing-Milkweed (Sarcostemma cynanchoides) and probably others.
Soldier (Danaus eresimus): Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), Talayote (Cynanchum racemosum), and possibly Pinkroot (Spigelia spp.).
Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis): White Oak (Quercus alba), Black Oak (Quercus velutina), Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), Post Oak (Quercus stellata), Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica), Water Oak (Quercus nigra).
Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius): Plateau Live Oak (Quercus fusiformis), Blackjack Oak (Q. marilandica), Water Oak (Q. nigra), Willow Oak (Q. phellos), Post Oak (Q. stellata), Live Oak (Q. virginiana), Texas Red Oak (Q. buckleyi), Chinqapin Oak (Q. muehlenbergii), Shumard's Oak (Q.shumardii), Black Oak (Q. velutina), Southern Red Oak (Q. falcata).
Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius): St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum), Corn (Zea mays), Thin Paspalum (Paspalum setaceum var. ciliatifolium), Buffel Grass (Pennisetum ciliare), Witch Grass (Panicum capillare), and Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense).
Yucca Giant Skipper (Megathymus yuccae): Arkansas Yucca (Yucca arkansana), Buckley's Yucca (Y. constricta), Glen Rose Yucca (Y. necopina), Pale Yucca (Y. pallida), Texas Yucca (Y. rupicola), Torrey's Yucca (Y. torreyi), Trecul's Yucca (Y. treculeana).