With the right host plants to feast on, they will come. Butterflies can be
fairly picky when it comes to the larval host plants that voracious
caterpillars enjoy chomping. “Usually it’s important to have the right host
plant in your garden if you’re trying to attract a particular butterfly
species,” says Tim Pollak, butterfly gardening expert at the
According to the Butterfly House and Monarch Watch, these butterflies prefer to
Cloudless
(Phoebis sennae) – Senna (Cassia spp.)
Monarch (Danaus plexippus) –
Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) –
Thistles (Cirsium spp.)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) –
Nettles (Urtica spp.)
Red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis)
– Willows (Salix spp.)
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) –
Willows (Salix spp.)
Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)
– Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)