Nectar Plants and their Visitors
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Here you find a list of plants that attract Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). The list is only a sample of my own studies and research, not yet complete. Some plants are more "attractive" to a wider variety of species than others as you will see.Nectar Sources.......................Guests
| Annual Vinca
(Catharanthus roseus)  |
Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaeus) Pipe Vine or Blue Swallowtail Battus philenor philenor (Linnaeus) Parsnip or Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes asterius Stoll Spicebush Swallowtail Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) |
| Aster
(Aster species)  |
Sleepy Orange
Abaeis nicippe (Cramer) Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus) Checkered Skipper Pyrgus communis (Grote) Sachem Atalopedes campestris huron (W.H.Edwards) Silver-Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus clarus (Cramer) Milkweed Butterfly or Monarch Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus) |
| Butterfly Bush
(Buddleia davidii)  |
Pipe Vine or Blue Swallowtail
Battus philenor philenor (Linnaeus) Spicebush Swallowtail Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaeus) Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus (Drury) |
| Butterfly Weed
(Asclepias tuberosa)  |
Milkweed Butterfly or Monarch
Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus) Pipe Vine or Blue Swallowtail Battus philenor philenor (Linnaeus) Gorgone Checkerspot Charidryas gorgone carlota (Reakirt) Spicebush Swallowtail Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) Coral Hairstreak Harkenclenus titus mopsus (Hubner) |
| Chicory
(Cichorium intybus)  |
Little Sulphur
Pyrisitia lisa lisa (Boisduval & Leconte) |
| Coreopsis
(Coreopsis species)  |
Silver-Spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus clarus (Cramer) Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos tharos (Drury) American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele cybele (Fabricius) |
| Cosmos
(Cosmos species)  |
Sachem
Atalopedes campestris huron (W.H.Edwards) Silvery Checkerspot Charidryas nycteis nycteis (Doubleday & Hewitson) Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos tharos (Drury) Buckeye Junonia coenia Hubner Alfalfa Butterfly Colias eurytheme Boisduval Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaeus) |
| Cushion Mum
(Chrysanthemum x morifolium)  |
Milkweed Butterfly or Monarch
Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus) Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaues) |
| Dogbane, Indian Hemp
(Apocynum species)  |
Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele cybele (Fabricius) Pipe Vine or Blue Swallowtail Battus philenor philenor (Linnaeus) Tomato Fruit Worm, Cotton Boll Worm or Corn-Ear Worm Moth Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) Orange-Margined Dogbane Moth or Delicate Cycnia Cycnia tenera Hubner |
| Four-o-clock
(Mirabilis jalapa)  |
Tersa Sphinx
Xylophanes tersa (Linnaeus) White-Lined Sphinx Hyles lineata (Fabricius) |
| Gaillardia, Blanket Flower
(Gaillardia aristata)  |
Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele cybele (Fabricius) Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaeus) Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice philodice Godart Alfalfa Butterfly Colias eurytheme Boisduval Silvery Checkerspot Charidryas nycteis nycteis (Doubleday & Hewitson) Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta rubria (Fruhstorfer) |
| Globe Thistle
(Echinops ritro)  |
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus) Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus Hubner |
| Goldenrod
(Solidago species)  |
Milkweed Butterfly or Monarch
Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus) Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice philodice Godart Alfalfa Butterfly Colias eurytheme Boisduval Eastern-Tailed Blue Everes comyntas comyntas (Godart) |
| Grape Hyacinth
(Muscari americanum)  |
Silver-Spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus clarus (Cramer) Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice philodice Godart Alfalfa Butterfly Colias eurytheme Boisduval |
| Herbaceous Peony
(Paeonia officinalis)  |
Spicebush Swallowtail
Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) Silver-Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus clarus (Cramer) Peck's Skipper Polites coras (Cramer) Tawny-Edged Skipper Polites themistocles (Latreille) Little Wood Satyr Megisto cymela cymela (Cramer) |
| Hydrangea
(Hydrangea serrata)  |
Little Wood Satyr
Megisto cymela cymela (Cramer) |
| Ice Plant
(Sedum spectabile)  |
Silver-Spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus clarus (Cramer) Sachem Atalopedes campestris huron (W.H.Edwards) Pepper and Salt Skipper Amblyscirtes hegon (Scudder) Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos tharos (Drury) American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus) Buckeye Junonia coenia Hubner Milkweed Butterfly or Monarch Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus) Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus Hubner |
| Impatiens or Patient plant
(Impatiens wallerana)  |
Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaeus) White-Lined Sphinx Hyles lineata (Fabricius) |
| Italian Bugloss
(Anchusa azurea ‘Dropmore’)  |
Silver-Spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus clarus (Cramer) Hoary Edge Achalarus lyciades (Geyer) |
| Lantana
(Lantana species)  |
Buckeye
Junonia coenia Hubner Alfalfa Butterfly Colias eurytheme Boisduval Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos tharos (Drury) |
| Lilac
(Syringa vulgaris)  |
Lettered Sphinx
Deidamia inscripta (Harr.) Pipe Vine or Blue Swallowtail Battus philenor philenor (Linnaeus) Zebra Swallowtail Eurytides marcellus (Cramer) Tiger Swallowtail Pterourus glaucus glaucus (Linnaeus) Spicebush Swallowtail Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) Sleepy Dusky Wing Erynnis brizo brizo (Bsdvl.& Leconte) |
| Marigolds
(Tagestes species)  |
Sleepy Orange
Abaeis nicippe (Cramer) Silvery Checkerspot Charidryas nycteis nycteis (Doubleday & Hewitson) Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos tharos (Drury) Buckeye Junonia coenia Hubner Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice philodice Godart Alfalfa Butterfly Colias eurytheme Boisduval Dog Face Zerene cesonia cesonia (Stoll) Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaeus) Little Sulphur Pyrisitia lisa lisa (Boisduval & Leconte) Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole Boisduval Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele cybele (Fabricius) |
| Mexican Sunflower
(Tithonia rotundifolia) 
|
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus) |
| Moss Pinks
(Phlox subulata)  |
Parsnip or Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes asterius Stoll Tiger Swallowtail Pterourus glaucus glaucus (Linnaeus) Spicebush Swallowtail Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos tharos (Drury) American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) |
| Obedient Plant
(Physostegia virginica vivid)  |
Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaeus) |
| Perennial Ageratum
(Eupatorium coelistinum)  |
American Painted Lady
Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) |
| Petunia
(Petunia x hybrida)  |
Spicebush Swallowtail
Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) European Cabbage Butterfly or Imported Cabbage Worm Artogeia rapae (Linnaeus) Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaeus) Peck's Skipper Polites coras (Cramer) Zabulon Skipper Poanes zabulon (Boisduval & Leconte) |
| Privet
(Ligustrum species)  |
Pipe Vine or Blue Swallowtail
Battus philenor philenor (Linnaeus) Zebra Swallowtail Eurytides marcellus (Cramer) Tiger Swallowtail Pterourus glaucus glaucus (Linnaeus) Spicebush Swallowtail Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) Silver-Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus clarus (Cramer) Golden-Banded Skipper Autochton cellus (Boisduval & Leconte) Hoary Edge Achalarus lyciades (Geyer) Northern Cloudy Wing Thorybes pylades (Scudder) Tawny-Edged Skipper Polites themistocles (Latreille) Northern Broken Dash Wallengrenia egeremet (Scudder) Hobomok Skipper Poanes hobomok (Harris) Zabulon Skipper Poanes zabulon (Boisduval & Leconte) Pepper and Salt Skipper Amblyscirtes hegon (Scudder) Little Wood Satyr Megisto cymela cymela (Cramer) Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele cybele (Fabricius) American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) Olive Hairstreak Mitoura gryneus gryneus (Hubner) |
| Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea)  |
Spicebush Swallowtail
Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) Silver-Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus clarus (Cramer) Horace's Dusky Wing Erynnis horatius (Scudder & Burgess) Tawny-Edged Skipper Polites themistocles (Latreille) Sachem Atalopedes campestris huron (W.H.Edwards) Wood Nymph or Grayling Cercyonis pegala (Fabricius) Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele cybele (Fabricius) Harvester Feniseca tarquinius tarquinius (Fabricius) Eastern-Tailed Blue Everes comyntas comyntas (Godart) |
| Red Clover
(Trifolium pratense)  |
Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos tharos (Drury) Alfalfa Butterfly Colias eurytheme Boisduval Little Sulphur Pyrisitia lisa lisa (Boisduval & Leconte) Spicebush Swallowtail Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) |
| Rose Verbena
(Verbena candensis)  |
Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaeus) Pipe Vine or Blue Swallowtail Battus philenor philenor (Linnaeus) Spicebush Swallowtail Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) Parsnip or Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes asterius Stoll |
| Snapdragon
(Antirrhinum species)  |
Sachem
Atalopedes campestris huron (W.H.Edwards) |
| Spearmint
(Mentha spicata)  |
European Cabbage Butterfly or Imported Cabbage Worm
Artogeia rapae (Linnaeus) |
| Summer Phlox
(Phlox paniculata)  |
Silvery Checkerspot
Charidryas nycteis nycteis (Doubleday & Hewitson) European Cabbage Butterfly or Imported Cabbage Worm Artogeia rapae (Linnaeus) Pipe Vine or Blue Swallowtail Battus philenor philenor (Linnaeus) Parsnip or Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes asterius Stoll Spicebush Swallowtail Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) Hummingbird Clearwing Hemaris thysbe (Fabricius) Snowberry Clearwing Hemaris diffinis (Boisduval) White-Lined Sphinx Hyles lineata (Fabricius) Tersa Sphinx Xylophanes tersa (Linnaeus) |
| Violet Sage
(Salvia x superba)  |
Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaeus) Hoary Edge Achalarus lyciades (Geyer) |
| White Clover
(Trifolium repens)  |
Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos tharos (Drury) Eastern-Tailed Blue Everes comyntas comyntas (Godart) |
| Wisteria
(Wisteria floribunda)  |
Hoary Edge
Achalarus lyciades (Geyer) Sleepy Orange Abaeis nicippe (Cramer) Olive Hairstreak Mitoura gryneus gryneus (Hubner) |
| Zinnia
(Zinnia elegans)  |
Sachem
Atalopedes campestris huron (W.H.Edwards) Pepper and Salt Skipper Amblyscirtes hegon (Scudder) Roadside Skipper Amblyscirtes vialis (W.H.Edwards) Southern Cloudy Wing Thorybes bathyllus (J.E.Smith) Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele cybele (Fabricius) Silvery Checkerspot Charidryas nycteis nycteis (Doubleday & Hewitson) Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos tharos (Drury) American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus) Red-Spotted Purple Basilarchia arthemis astyanax (Fabricius) Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia (Cramer) Milkweed Butterfly or Monarch Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus) Alfalfa Butterfly Colias eurytheme Boisduval Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae eubule (Linnaeus) Little Sulphur Pyrisitia lisa lisa (Boisduval & Leconte) Parsnip or Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes asterius Stoll Giant Swallowtail Heraclides cresphontes cresphontes (Cramer) Pipe Vine or Blue Swallowtail Battus philenor philenor (Linnaeus) Tiger Swallowtail Pterourus glaucus glaucus (Linnaeus) Spicebush Swallowtail Pterourus troilus troilus (Linnaeus) European Cabbage Butterfly or Imported Cabbage Worm Artogeia rapae (Linnaeus) Silver-Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus clarus (Cramer); Hoary Edge Achalarus lyciades (Geyer) Tawny-Edged Skipper Polites themistocles (Latreille) Little Glassy Wing Pompeius verna (W.H.Edwards) Harvester Feniseca tarquinius tarquinius (Fabricius) Buckeye Junonia coenia Hubner |