Butterflies, beautiful and delightful, are the best known of the insects. For every species of butterfly there are more than ten species of moths, considerably less well known, but many also beautiful and delightful.
For local butterflies, Arthur M. Shapiro's Field Guide to Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions is deeply informative. County checklists of the butterflies and several moth groups (including silkmoths, tiger moths, and hawkmoths) are available online through the map search function of the Butterflies and Moths of North America web site. The checklists link to pages with natural history for each of the butterflies and for some of the better known moths. From my county checklist I learned about Clark's Sphinx, a small, day-flying hawkmoth whose caterpillars feed on elegant clarkia, with adults visiting the flowers of blue dicks, golden currant and chia, among others.
How can Lepidoptera teem and flourish? In cultivated habitats a dearth of suitable caterpillar forage limits populations of butterflies and moths. Each species develops on specific host plants, such as the Monarch, which requires plants of the milkweed family. Even species able to use a wide range of hostplants typically in local areas specialize on only a few or even only one. For example, Two-tailed Swallowtail caterpillars eat a many species of plants over their extensive range, but San Francisco Bay Region populations have only been observed on our native hop tree, Ptelea crenulata. Butterflies and moths typically seen in urban areas are sorts that develop on weeds, on cultivated plants or on the few natives (such as oaks) that persist. Local top caterpillar food plants for common butterflies are touted in Butterfly Gardening -- Bay Area, a North American Butterfly Association publication. Determine which Lepidoptera species fly in your locale and cater to their needs in your plantings and landscape management.
Notes on Lepidoptera Values of California Native Plants
Plant Species – nectar and caterpillar plants:
Note: "fq" = frequent, seems to be a favorite or particularly important nectar source ... lists of Lepidoptera without comment refer to nectar seekers at flowers. "Foodplant" or "larval host" refers to plants that serve as caterpillar forage.
"Zones" are Sunset Western Garden Book Zones -- those indicated are zones the plant has performed well in (many plants may need additional shade and irrigation in hotter zones) -- see the Sunset Western Garden Book and The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California for specific cultural information. Locally native plants will usually serve more insects.
A limited and somewhat arbitrary selection of moths are noted here, mostly larger, showier or conspicuous species ... there are more than nine species of moths for every species of butterfly here in the West. There is much yet to be learned about plants and insects!
Abies concolor. White Fir. Indirectly supports Thicket Hairstreak as a host for Dwarf Pine Mistletoe, its foodplant.
Caterpillar foodplant for Silver-spotted Tiger Moth and other mostly obscure smaller moths. Zones 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 14.
Abies grandis. Grand Fir.Caterpillar foodplant for the Pine White. Also for the Brown-lined Looper, Silver-spotted Tiger Moth, Dyar’s Looper, and other moths. Zones 4-7, 15-17.
Abutilon palmeri. Indian Mallow. Larval host for Arizona Powdered Skipper. Zones 8, 9, 11-13.
Acacia greggii is now Senegalia greggii. Catclaw Acacia. Fabaceae. Marine Blue, Ceraunus Blue, Palmer’s Metalmark, Great Purple Hairstreak, Leda Ministreak, Gray Hairstreak, Funereal Duskywing. Attracts small butterflies. Larval host Marine Blue, Reakirt’s Blue, Ceraunus Blue, Burns’ Buckmoth, Tricolor Buckmoth, and Hubbard’s Small Silk Moth. Zones 7-16, 19-24.
Acamptopappus shockleyi. Asteraceae. Foodplant for caterpillars of Neumogen’s Checkerspot.
Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus. Desert Goldenhead. Asteraceae. Variable Checkerspot. Larval host for Acastus Checkerspot in eastern San Diego County (Monroes).
Acer circinatum. Vine Maple. Aceraceae. Good butterfly nectar plant – Growing Native and others. Serves as a larval host for Western Tiger Swallowtail and Polyphemus Moth. Also Western Sheep Moth, Rough Prominent, Stormy Arches, and Pearsall’s Carpet Moth. Zones 4-7, 14-17.
Acer macrophyllum. Bigleaf Maple. Aceraceae. Good butterfly nectar plant – Growing Native and others. Insect-pollinated; great for bumblebees. Caterpillar plant for several moths including Yellow-spotted Tiger Moth, Rough Prominent, Brown-lined Looper, October Thorn, Western Red Twin-spot and American Swordgrass Moth. Zones 4-7, 14-24.
Acer negundo. Box Elder. Aceraceae. Caterpillar plant for many moths. Zones 7-9, 14-24.
Achillea millefolium. White Yarrow. Asteraceae. Propertius Duskywing, Mournful Duskywing, Funereal Duskywing, Fiery Skipper, Umber Skipper, Dun Skipper, Common Ringlet, Small Wood Nymph, Great Basin Wood Nymph, West Coast Lady, Painted Lady, American Lady, Buckeye, Variable Checkerspot, Silverspots, Lorquin’s Admiral, Hoary Comma, Purplish Copper, Lustrous Copper, Blue Copper, Sooty Gossamer-Wing, Thicket Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Great Purple Hairstreak, Juniper Hairstreak, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Western Brown Elfin, Melissa Blue, Marine Blue, Eastern Tailed Blue, Large Marble, Cabbage White, Western White, Orange Sulphur, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail. Shapiro questions actual nectar feeding from yarrow flowers by the swallowtails because of their long proboscis. All Zones.
Achillea millefolium ‘Calistoga’ and other selections.
Achillea millefolium ‘Island Pink’ – photographs document its popularity with butterflies.
Aconitum columbianum. Monkshood. Ranunculaceae. No specific California records. The flowers of this genus attract butterflies, according to Butterfly Gardening in the Pacific Northwest.
Acourtia microcephala. Asteraceae. Sacapellote. No specific information, but Desert Survivors Nursery relates that flowers of Acourtia wrightii of neighboring states attract butterflies.
Adenostoma fasciculatum. Chamise. Rosaceae. Boisduval’s Blue -- rated occasional on its flowers by Moldenke. A Variable Checkerspot is shown sucking nectar in an online photograph. Gray Hairstreak (Butterworth). A secondary nectar source. Shapiro finds that occasionally hill-topping butterflies simply rest on the flowers. Said to serve as a larval host for Spring Azure, Brown Elfin and even Marine Blue. Zones 7, 14-16, 18-24.
Aesculus californica. California Buckeye. Hippocastanaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail (a pollinator for this species), Anise Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Variable Checkerspot (fq), Northern Checkerspot, Edith’s Checkerspot, California Sister, Mourning Cloak, Lorquin’s Admiral, California Tortoiseshell, West Coast Lady, Painted Lady, Buckeye, Satyr Anglewing, Calippe Fritillary, Crown Fritillary, Oregon Silverspot, Unsilvered Fritillary, Monarch, Common Ringlet, Wood Nymph, Cabbage White, Orange Sulphur, Large Marble, California Dogface, Tailed Copper, Gorgon Copper, Great Copper, Acmon Blue, Spring Azure (Echo Blue), Thicket Hairstreak, Gold-Hunter’s Hairstreak, Hedgerow Hairstreak, Dryope Hairstreak, California Hairstreak, Great Purple Hairstreak, Mournful Duskywing, Propertius Duskywing, Silver-spotted Skipper, Northern Cloudy-wing, Farmer (fq), Umber Skipper. Also sphinx moths, including Sequoia Sphinx, and other moths. One of the most important butterfly nectar sources in its range. Great for hummingbirds, too. Larval host for the Spring Azure – I saw a cloud of them around a San Francisco specimen grown as a street tree! Zones 7-9, 14-24.
Agastache urticifolia. Nettleleaf Giant Hyssop, Horse-mint. Lamiaceae. "One of the best" for butterflies" – Las Pilitas Nursery. Monarch, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, California Sister, Calippe Fritillary. Shapiro adds: "In its native Sierran range: Clodius Parnassian, Pale Swallowtail, Zerene Fritillary, Crown Fritillary, Hydaspe Fritillary, Leto Fritillary, Painted Lady, American Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Silver-spotted Skipper, Propertius Duskywing, California Tortoiseshell, and on and on ... species with long proboscides." Zones 1-7.
Agave deserti. Desert Agave. Liliaceae. Larval host for California Giant-Skipper (Heath). Zones 8-10, 12, 14, 19-21.
Ageratina herbacea. Fragrant Snakeroot or Apache Snakeroot. Asteraceae. Recommended as a butterfly nectar plant by Desert Survivors Nursery.
Ageratina occidentalis. Western Eupatorium or Western Snakeroot. Asteraceae. Mormon Metalmark (Shapiro). Attested by various sources to be a good butterfly plant. Zones 2, 7.
Agoseris glauca.Pale Dandelion. Asteraceae. Clouded Sulphur, Western White.
Agoseris grandiflora. California Dandelion. Asteraceae. Schinia sp. K (Moldenke) – a day-flying moth. Likely serves as a nectar plant for other Lepidoptera.
Allium spp. Wild Onions. Liliaceae. Harford’s Sulphur, Thoosa Orange-tip, Boisduval’s Blue, Edith’s Checkerspot, Propertius Dusky-wing, Sleepy Duskywing, Anise Swallowtail, Gray Hairstreak, Thicket Hairstreak, Juba Skipper. Many wild onions attract butterflies (Shapiro) – a few documented ‘by name’appear below.
Allium amplectens. Narrowleaf Onion. Liliaceae. A top nectar plant for the endangered Fendler’s Blue in Oregon. Zones 14-18.
Allium lemmonii. Lemmon’s Onion. Liliaceae. "Yuba Skipper, many Blues, Tecumseh Skipper, Common Checkered Skipper, Edith’s Checkerspot, Variable Checkerspot, Northern Checkerspot, Mylitta Crescent, Great Basin Ringlet, Juniper Hairstreak ..." (Shapiro, observations in the wild on eastern slope of the Sierras).
Allium sanbornii var. sanbornii. Sanborn’s Onion. Liliaceae. Common Hairstreak.
Allium unifolium. Colony Onion. Liliaceae. Shapiro says that Propertius Duskywing "dotes" on this and other native onions. Colony Onion is very easy to cultivate – increases readily in the garden, too much so for some gardeners – good in tubs, too. Zones 7, 9, 14-17, 19-24.
Alnus spp. Alders. Larval hosts for Western Tiger Swallowtail. Larval hosts for Arched Hooktip (Drepana arcuata, Drepaidae) on Inverness Ridge (J. A. Powell) and many other moths, such as the White-Banded Black (Rheumaptera subhastata, Geometridae), a day-flying moth of late spring to early summer; an ‘eye candy’ nocturnal moth dubbed the ‘Caramel Looper’ (Autographa corusca, Noctuidae), and the Yellow-spotted Tiger Moth. Alnus rhombifolia, white alder: zones 1-3, 7, 9, 14-18. Alnus rubra, red alder: zones 4-7, 16-17.
Aloysia wrightii. Oreganillo. Verbenaceae. Butterfly nectar plant – Desert Survivors Nursery and others. One of several known larval hosts for the Rustic Sphinx. Zones 8-13, 19-24.
Amelanchier alnifolia. Serviceberry. Rosaceae. Lorquin’s Admiral, Pale Swallowtail, Brown Elfin. Shapiro: "Not as nearly as strong a nectar draw as Choke Cherry. Larval host for California Hairstreak and Western Sheepmoth (Hemileuca eglanterina) which flies during the day (not visiting flowers) in midsummer." Also recorded as a larval host for Weidemeyer’s Admiral, Pale Swallowtail, California Hairstreak, Ceanothus Silk Moth, Blinded Sphinx, Yellow-spotted Tiger Moth, Brown Tiger Moth and other moths. Its over-ripe and rotting fruit will attract various butterflies. For var. pumila: Zones 2, 6-7, 14-18; var. semiintegrifolia: Zones 5-7, 14-18.
Amorpha spp. False Indigos. Fabaceae. Larval host for Gray Hairstreak (Garth & Tilden). The Gray Hairstreak caterpillars eat a wide variety of plants.
Amorpha californica. California False Indigo. Fabaceae. California Dogface, Silver-spotted Skipper. Larval plant for California Dogface, Gray Hairstreak, Marine Blue, Northern Cloudy-wing. California False Indigo is the essential caterpillar food plant for the state insect, the California Dogface. As butterfly gardener Jack Schiefflein notes in Growing Native: "The California Dogface used to be very widespread around the state, but as people built, they would rip up the plant." Using more of this native plant in cultivated landscapes, he suggests, would help prevent our state insect from going the way of the California Grizzly, the extinct animal that adorns our state flag. For var. napensis: Zones 14-17.
Amorpha fruticosa. False Indigo. Fabaceae. Blues. Larval plant for Southern Dogface and the Silver-spotted Skipper. Zones 2-3, 6-7, 14-24.
Amsinckia sp. Fiddleneck. Boraginaceae. Large Marble, Small Marble, Sara Orange-tip, Thoosa Orange-tip, Sonoran Blue, Silvery Blue, Propertius Duskywing, Painted Lady, Gabb’s Checkerspot. Amsinckia spp. serve as larval hosts for the Painted Lady.
Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia. Common Fiddleneck. Boraginaceae. Cabbage White, Sara Orange-tip (fq), Large Marble, Sonoran Blue, Acmon Blue, California Ringlet. Zones 7-10, 14, 18-23.
Amsinckia tessellata. Bristly Fiddleneck. Boraginacae. Monroes: Checkered White, Desert Orangetip, Funereal Duskywing. At least five species of butterflies nectar on it in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park area.
Anaphalis margaritacea. Pearly Everlasting. Asteraceae. Anise Swallowtail, Clodius Parnassian, Pine White, Juniper Hairstreak, Sylvan Hairstreak, Hedgerow Hairstreak, Thicket Hairstreak, Golden Hairstreak (Pyle), Mormon Metalmark, Western Meadow Fritillary, Field Crescent, Mylitta Crescent, Variable Checkerspot, Oreas Anglewing, Zephyr Anglewing, Juba Skipper, Woodland Skipper, American Painted Lady, Painted Lady, Silverspots. In much of its range the magnificent Golden Hairstreak is not observed nectaring at flowers, but in the Northwest, Pyle says, it comes down to nectar late in the day, and Pearly Everlasting is one of the flowers it visits. In much of its range there is little or no nectar available in Golden Hairstreak habitat during the adult phase of its lifecycle. Larval host for American Lady and Painted Lady. Zones 4-6, 14-24.
Anemopsis californica. Yerba Mansa. Saururaceae. The Monroes find the Large White Skipper nectaring on Yerba Mansa in eastern San Diego County. Zones 7-12, 14-24.
Antirrhinum multiflorum. Rose Snapdragon. Scrophulariaceae. ‘Butterflies love it’ – Annie’s Annuals. Snapdragons are larval hosts for the Buckeye. Shapiro thinks nectaring improbable. Zones 7, 14-24.
Apiaceae. Carrot Family. Great Purple Hairstreak, Great Copper; many butterflies utilize the larger species of carrot family plants as nectar sources. Most are larval hosts for Anise Swallowtail, many for Indra Swallowtail.
Apocynum spp. Dogbanes. Apocynaceae. (Probably usually Indian Hemp is meant). Boisduval’s Marble, Western Sulphur, Great Copper, Gorgon Copper, California Hairstreak, Sylvan Hairstreak, Thicket Hairstreak, Johnson’s Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Field Crescent, Northern Checkerspot, Variable Checkerspot, Lorquin’s Admiral, Ox-eye Satyr, Woodland Satyr, Silver-spotted Skipper, Northern Cloudy-wing, Propertius Dusky-wing, Mournful Dusky-wing, Dodge’s Skipper, Columbia Skipper, Farmer, Umber Skipper, Dun Skipper.
Apocynum androsaemifolium. Pink Dogbane or Spreading Dogbane. Apocynaceae. Fritillaries, West Coast Lady, Lorquin’s Admiral, Buckeye, Hydaspe Fritillary, Clodius Parnassian, Checkered White, Sylvan Hairstreak, Hedgerow Hairstreak, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Small Marble, Mormon Metalmark, Edith’s Copper, Lilac-Bordered Copper, Western Tailed Blue, Pacuvius Dusky-wing, Persius Duskywing (fq), Nevada Skipper, Dun Skipper, Colorado Skipper. Shapiro says the Persius Dusky-wing is ‘addicted’ to pink dogbane nectar! He finds it one of the very best nectar sources in montane California. The Snowberry Clearwing also visits the flowers (Powell & Opler). Reported as a larval host for Monarch, and the Dogbane Tiger Moth (Cycnia tenera). Zones 1-3, 7.
Apocynum cannabinum. Indian Hemp. Apocynaceae. Favorite of Great Purple Hairstreak & Great Copper. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Clodius Parnassian, Great Spangled Fritillary, Fritillaries, American Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Red Admiral, Lorquin’s Admiral, Viceroy, Buckeye, Field Crescent, Monarch, Gray Hairstreak, Sylvan Hairstreak, Hedgerow Hairstreak, California Hairstreak (fq), Spring Azure, Eastern Tailed Blue, Cabbage White, Orange Sulphur, Dun Skipper, Sachem, Silver-spotted Skipper. Shapiro finds "basically all" butterflies come to the flowers of this plant. John Dennis back East had a list of 38 species. Larval host for Snowberry Clearwing Moth, Dogbane Tiger Moth (Cycnia tenera) and Clio Tiger Moth (Ectypia clio). Formerly thought to be a larval host for the Monarch, but its caterpillars would rather die than eat it! Zones 1-3, 6-9, 14-21.
Aquilegia formosa. Western Columbine. Ranunculaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, Silvery Blue, Acmon Blue, Common Ringlet, Common Wood Nymph. Specific butterfly nectar seeking records mostly from Oregon. In California Shapiro has rarely seen a butterfly attempting to get nectar from this good humingbird plant. Moths, too, according to the Pollinator Partnership. Zones 4-7, 14-24.
Arabis spp. Brassicaceae. Rock Cresses. Large Marble, Thoosa Orange-tip, Mourning Cloak. Likely most or all of the native Arabis species serve as nectar plants and larval hosts for various Pierids.
Arabis blepharophylla ‘Spring Charm’. Pink Coast Rock Cress. Brassicaceae. Bramble Hairstreak, Cabbage White. A secondary nectar source for the San Bruno Elfin.
Arabis breweri. Brewer’s Rock Cress. Brassicaceae. Larval host for Western White (Scott).
Arabis glabra. Tower Mustard. Brassicaceae. This large leafy native annual is prime caterpillar pasture. Tower Mustard serves as a larval host for Sara Orange Tip, Boisduval’s Marble, Small Marble, Large Marble, Cabbage White, Gray-veined White, Checkered White, Western White, and Spring White.
Arabis holboellii. Holboell’s Rock Cress. Brassicaceae. Stella Orange-tip. Nectar plant and larval host (Shapiro). Documented as a larval host in Nevada for Spring White, Large Marble, Small Marble and Thoosa Orange-tip as well and surely a nectar plant for them, too.
Arabis pulchra var. gracilis. Beautiful Rock Cress. Brassicaceae.
Aralia californica. Elk Clover. Araliaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail (photographed by Bay Natives Nursery). "Excellent for hairstreaks" – Shapiro.
Arbutus menziesii. Madrone. Ericaceae. Shapiro says he has never seen a butterfly get in to the flowers. Hummingbirds. Larval host Brown Elfin. One of the larval hosts of the Mendocino Saturnia (Saturnia mendocino), a showy day-flying silk moth of fast and erratic flight; also of the Ceanothus Silk Moth (Hyalophora euryalus) a large showy nocturnal species. Silk moth adults do not visit flowers. Recorded as a foodplant for Polyphemus Moth, Yellow-spotted Tiger Moth, and Darwin’s Green.
Arceuthobium spp. Dwarf Mistletoe. Viscaceae. Parasitic on conifers; caterpillar plants for Thicket Hairstreak, some for Johnson’s Hairstreak.
Arctostaphylos spp. Manzanitas. Ericaceae. California Tortoiseshell, Monarch, Thicket Hairstreak. Many moths. Shapiro notes the common diurnal noctuid moth, Litocala sexsignata is a specialist visitor to manzanita flowers, including A. nevadensis. In 38 years afield in California he feels he’s seen less than a dozen instances of butterflies sucking nectar from manzanita flowers or trying to ... the manzanita/madrone flower conformation is not oriented to butterflies. Some other observers consider manzanitas important early nectar sources. Good for hummingbirds.
Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Howard McMinn’. Sonoma Manzanita. Ericaceae. Painted Lady was seen at nectar by the author in San Jose during the 2009 spring migration and also seen at nectar on Zaca Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. zacaensis) in southern California by Nature Shutterbug in the same migration.
Arctostaphylos glauca. Bigberry Manzanita. Ericaceae. California Tortoiseshell. Foodplant for Brown Elfin, Western Sheep Moth, Mendocino Saturnia Moth, Ceanothus Silk Moth, and Elegant Sphinx.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Bearberry. Ericaceae. Spring Azure. Brown Elfin larval host.
Aristolochia californica. California Pipevine. Aristolochiaceae. Not a butterfly nectar plant but an important larval host for the Pipevine Swallowtail. In the Growing Native newsletter, butterfly gardener Jack Schifflein reports that though he had pipevines all over his property, they consistently laid eggs on but one plant – "This one is chewed to the nuggin. This one is covered with blooms, even though it lies entirely on the ground."
Ironically the one plant consistently being eaten seemed to be stronger than the rest. "... by the end of the season there won’t be a single leaf left on this. It grows better than any other pipevine we have. The eating seems to help it. We think there may be a symbiotic relationship. It may not be just a predator relationship, because each year it gets striped of all its leaves and then the next year it comes back, far more vigorous than before. The ones that aren’t eaten just sort of eke out an existence."
Armeria maritima. Seathrift. Plumbaginaceae. West Coast Lady, Buckeye, Skippers, Blues, Green Hairstreak, Silverspots.
Artemisia spp. Sagebrush. Asteraceae. Monarch. Shapiro comments: "Artemisias are wind-pollinated and do not produce nectar. What would a butterfly get?" Various Artemisia species are recorded as larval hosts for the Painted Lady, American Lady and Baird’s Swallowtail.
Artemisia dracunulus. Tarragon. Asteraceae.Caterpillar foodplant for Baird’s Swallowtail in the San Bernadino Mountains.
Artemisia rothrockii. Rothrock’s Sagebrush. Asteraceae. Reported as a foodplant for Ruddy Copper.
Artemisia tridentata. Big Sagebrush. Asteraceae. Foodplant for Hera Buckmoth.
Aruncus dioicus var. pubescens. Goatsbeard. Rosaceae. Spring Azure.
Asclepias spp. Milkweeds. Asclepiadaceae. (Probably often the Narrowleaf Milkweed is meant). Monarch, Queen, Clodius Parnassian, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, Red Admiral, Orange Sulphur, Cabbage White, Checkered White, Western Sulphur, American Lady, Buckeye, Calippe Fritillary, Field Crescent, Northern Checkerspot, Variable Checkerspot, Edith’s Checkerspot, Lorquin’s Admiral,Woodland Satyr, Boisduval’s Blue, Gray Hairstreak, Great Purple Hairstreak, Sylvan Hairstreak, Thicket Hairstreak, Johnson’s Hairstreak, California Hairstreak, Acmon Blue, Spring Azure, Silver-spotted Skipper, Mournful Dusky-wing, Dodge’s Skipper, Columbia Skipper, Lindsey’s Skipper, Umber Skipper. All are larval hosts for Monarch and Queen. True Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) are also larval hosts for Clio Tiger Moth.
Asclepias albicans. Wax Milkweed.Asclepiadaceae. Nectar plant and larval host for the Queen.
Asclepias californica. California Milkweed. Asclepiadaceae. California Hairstreak, Hedgerow Hairstreak, Gold-hunter’s Hairstreak, Monarch (Nature Shutterbug). Larval host for Monarch.
Asclepias cordifolia. Heartleaf Milkweed. Asclepiadaceae. Monarch, many butterflies, Clark’s Sphinx.
Asclepias eriocarpa. Indian Milkweed. Asclepiadaceae. Great Copper. Especially Hairstreaks, Variable Checkerspot, Sara Orange-tip.
Asclepias erosa. Desert Milkweed. Asclepiadaceae. Monroes: Ceraunus Blue. Larval host for Monarch and Queen.
Asclepias fascicularis. Narrowleaf Milkweed. Asclepiadaceae. Queen, Monarch, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Acmon Blue, American Painted Lady, Gray Hairstreak, Calippe Fritillary, Mourning Cloak, Least Checkered Skipper. Excellent nectar source for Mt. Diablo butterflies. Twelve butterfly species were collected on one large patch in the Central Valley; also attracts nocturnal moths. A larval host for the Clio Tiger Moth, Ectypia clio, an attractive species.
Asclepias linaria. Pineleaf Milkweed. Asclepiadaceae. Queen (fq), Monarch, Gray Hairstreak, butterflies of all sizes.
Asclepias speciosa. Showy Milkweed. Asclepiadaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Monarch, West Coast Lady, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Gray Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Blue Copper.
Asclepias subulata. Rush Milkweed. Asclepiadaceae. Nectar --The Butterfly Gardener’s Guide. Among the ‘Most Recommended’ by Desert Butterfly Gardening. Larval host for Queen.
Asteraceae. Sunflower Family. Dodge’s Skipper, Lindsey’s Skipper, Hoary Comma, Small Marble, Dainty Sulphur, Yellow Sulphur, Rustic Anglewing, Great Basin Wood Nymph; many butterflies.
Aster spp. Asters. Asteraceae. Anise Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Clodius Parnassian, West Coast Lady, Painted Lady, Variable Checkerspot, Northern Checkerspot, Gray Hairstreak, Cabbage White, Checkered White, Western White, Pine White, Orange Sulphur, Buckeye, Rustic Anglewing, Crown Fritillary, Lorquin’s Admiral, California Ringlet, Melissa Blue, Anna Blue, Western Pygmy Blue, Purplish Copper, Edith’s Copper, Lustrous Copper, Columbia Skipper, Sandhill Skipper, Skippers. Shapiro finds Asters generally are excellent or very good butterfly nectar plants.
Aster chilensis is now Symphyotrichum chilense. Common California Aster. Asteraceae. Orange Sulphur, Mormon Metalmark, Field Crescent, Monarch, Buckeye, West Coast Lady, Mylitta Crescent, Silverspots, Acmon Blue, Common Checkered Skipper, Sandhill Skipper, Umber Skipper, Skippers. An important butterfly nectar plant. Larval host for Field Crescent and Northern Checkerspot.
Aster greatae is now Symphyotrichum greatae. Greata’s Aster. Asteraceae. Behr’s Metalmarks, Skippers. Larval host for Field Crescent.
Aster lanceolatus is now Symphyotrichum lanceolatum. Panicled Aster. Asteraceae. Monarch, Mourning Cloak, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, American Lady, Clouded Sulphur, Cabbage White, Checkered White, Sachem, Yellow-collared Scape Moth.
Aster occidentalis is now Symphyorichum spathulatum. Western Aster. Asteraceae. Heavily used as nectar plant in its native range; 8 - 14 nectaring butterfly species seen at his study sites on September 9 and 10, 2009 are typical (Shapiro). Larval host for Northern Checkerspot, Field Crescent.
Aster radulinus is now Eurybia radulina. Broad-leaved Aster. Asteraceae. Larval host for Northern Checkerspot.
Astragalus spp. Milk-vetches. Fabaceae. Larval hosts for Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur and several blues in the alpine and sub-alpine zones and a few elsewhere.
Astragalus douglasii var. parishii. Parish Locoweed. Fabaceae. Nectar plant and larval host for Harford’s Sulphur in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (Monroes).
Astragalus trichopodus. Santa Barbara Milk Vetch. Fabaceae. Larval host for Silvery Blue, Western Tailed Blue, Common Hairstreak.
Astragalus trichopodus var. lonchus. Fabaceae. Larval host for rare Palos Verde Blue.
Baccharis douglasii. Marsh Baccharis. Asteraceae. Tailed Copper, American Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Buckeye, Acmon Blue; "generally attractive, especially to coppers, blues, hairstreaks and buckeyes" – Shapiro.
Atriplex spp. Saltbush. Chenopodiaceae. Fat hen (Atriplex patula), quail bush (Atriplex lentiformis) and others are foodplants for the Western Pygmy Blue.
Baccharis pilularis. Coyotebrush. Asteraceae. Shapiro: "all fall butterflies". Purplish Copper, Western Pygmy Blue, Acmon Blue, Painted Lady, Buckeye, California Sister, Monarch, Gray Hairstreak, Great Purple Hairstreak, Umber Skipper, Woodland Skipper, Skippers. "Male plants are more attractive than females to butterflies" (Shapiro). Larval host for at least 22 species of mostly small moths.
Baccharis sarothroides. Indian Broom. Asteraceae. Pipevine Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Orange Sulphur, Southern Dogface, Cloudless Sulphur, Mexican Yellow, Sleepy Orange, Great Purple Hairstreak , Reakirt’s Blue, American Snout, American Lady, Painted Lady, Common Buckeye, Queen (Hank & Priscilla Brodkin, one shrub, one fall day!). Found a favorite of Great Purple Hairstreak. Fiery Skipper, also. In Chasing Monarchs Pyle recounts finding twenty species of butterflies on one flowering specimen! Gulf Fritillary, Red Admiral, Monarch, Palmer’s Metalmark.
Baccharis salicifolia. Mule Fat. Asteraceae. Monarch, Queen, Sleepy Duskywing, Propertius Duskywing, Pipevine Swallowtail, Harford’s Sulphur, Bramble Hairstreak, Great Purple Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Leda Ministreak, Fatal Metalmark, Palmer’s Metalmark, Tiny Checkerspot, Variable Checkerspot, Texan Crescent, California Sister, Brown Elfin, Western Pygmy Blue, Silvery Blue; favorite of American Snout and Cloudless Sulphur. Mule Fat is one of our best butterfly nectar plants. Larval host for interior populations of Fatal Metalmark (Garth & Tilden). Larval host for Spring Azure (Monroes).
Baileya multiradiata. Desert Marigold. Asteraceae. Many sources attest it to be popular with butterflies. Mormon Metalmark. Shown in online photographs: Texan Crescent, Western Pygmy Blue, Painted Lady. Larval host for Desert Marigold Moth, Schinia miniana.
Barbarea orthoceras. American Yellowrocket. Brassicaceae. The best of the mustards for butterfly nectaring on Mt. Diablo (Hintsa). Sara Orange-tip, Cabbage White, Checkered White, Orange Sulphur, American Painted Lady, Brown Elfin, Gray Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Eastern Tailed Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper. Larval host for Sara Orange Tip, Large Marble, Gray-veined White and Cabbage White.
Batis maritima. Saltwort, Beachwort. Bataceae. Foodplant for Western Pgymy Blue.
Bebbia juncea var. aspera. Sweetbush. Asteraceae. Pipevine Swallowtail, Fatal Metalmark, White Checkered Skipper. "Gossamer wings and sulphurs" (Desert Connections). Common Checkered Skipper and ‘butterflies of all sizes’(Desert Butterfly Gardening). Orange Skipperling in Orange County (Orsak). "One of the best butterfly plants in the Sonoran Desert" (Sonoran Desert Lepidoptera web page). Monroes: Harford’s Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, Western Pygmy Blue, Desert Metalmark, Wright’s Metalmark, Tiny Checkerspot, California Patch, Acastus Checkerspot. Larval host for Wright’s Metalmark.
Berberis aquifolium. Oregon Grape. Berberidaceae. Painted Lady, Johnson’s Hairstreak. Foodplant for the Barberry Geometer.
Betula occidentalis. Water Birch. Betulaceae. Foodplant for Western Tiger Swallowtail, Ceanothus Silk Moth, and Dark Marbled Carpet. Sap draws sap-feeding Lepidoptera.
Bidens cernua. Nodding Bur-Marigold. Asteraceae. Monarch (fq), Red Admiral, American Painted Lady, Viceroy, Checkered White (fq), Clouded Sulphur (fq), Sachem, Yellow-collared Scape Moth, likely many others.
Bidens laevis. Larger Bur-marigold. Asteraceae. Orange Sulphur, California Dogface, Monarch, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Buckeye, Mormon Metalmark, blues, hairstreaks, duskywings. Great nectar plant for insects in general.
Bloomeria crocea. Common Goldenstar. Liliaceae. ‘Great’ for butterflies – Las Pilitas Nursery.
Bouteloua curtipendula. Side-oats Grama. Poaceae. Foodplant for Orange Skipperling.
Bouteloua gracilis. Blue Grama. Poaceae. Foodplant for Uncas Skipper and Pahaska Skipper.
Brickellia californica. California Brickelbush. Asteraceae. Shapiro finds this fragrant plant rarely visited by butterflies; most often by the Gray Hairstreak. Larval host for Schinia buta and Schinia oleagina, noctuid moths.
Brassicaceae. Mustard Family. Adult Pierids are frequent visitors to flowers of plants of this family which are also their larval hosts. Becker’s White, Checkered White, Cabbage White, Boisduval’s Marble, Large Marble, Small Marble, Sara Orange-tip, Western White.
Brodiaea spp. Liliaceae. Swallowtails, other butterflies. ‘All are good’ – Shapiro. Sonoran Blue, Large Marble, Sara Orange-tip, Northern Cloudy-wing (Butterworth).
Brodiaea terrestris. Dwarf Brodiaea. Liliaceae. Skippers, Bay Checkerspot.
Calamagrostis purpurascens. Purple Reedgrass. Poaceae. Foodplant for Arctic Skipper.
Calliandra californica. Baja Fairy Duster. Fabaceae. Zebra Longwings (not likely to be be seen in California) get nectar from this showy flowering shrub! Hummingbirds. Also larval food for Ceraunus Blue and other lycaenids, according to Desert Butterfly Gardening – one of their ‘Most Recommended’.
Calliandra eriophylla. Fairyduster. Fabaceae. Nectar – The Butterfly Gardener’s Guide.
Calocedrus decurrens. Incense Cedar. Cupressaceae. Foodplant for Nelson’s Hairstreak.
Calochortus invenustus. Plain Mariposa Lily. Liliaceae. Western Branded Skipper (Monroes).
Calochortus luteus. Yellow Mariposa Lily. Liliaceae. (Elkhorn Native Plant Nursery). Online photographs show a Variable Checkerspot burrowing in, apparently getting nectar; another shows an Acmon Blue. Shapiro finds Calochortus spp. rarely visited by butterflies. Moldenke records a Schinia sp. for C. venustus.
Calochortus tolmei. Tolmei’s Star-tulip. Liliaceae. A top nectar plant for Fendler’s Blue in Oregon.
Calyptridium umbellatum. Pussypaws. Portulacaceae. Shapiro notes: "Extremely attractive to all small and some medium-sized butterflies. In the first half of the season in the mountains: Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Skippers, some Pierids and Nymphalids. I commonly see 15-20 species at Pussypaws at Donner Summit (7000') in June - early July. Particularly attractive to the Lustrous Copper!" Its nectar-seeking visitors include Small Marble, Johnson’s Hairstreak. Lembert’s Green Hairstreak, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Western Pine Elfin, Boisduval’s Blue, Lupine Blue, Western Tailed Blue, Lilac-Bordered Copper, Calippe Fritillary, Hoffman’s Checkerspot, Two-banded Skipper, Nevada Cloudy-Wing, Sonoran Skipper, Tecumseh Skipper, Yuba Skipper.
Camissonia bistorta. Southern Suncup. Onagraceae. West Coast Lady, Gulf Fritillary. Foodplant for Phaeton Primrose Sphinx and for Ridings’ Forester, showy day-flying moths.
Camissonia californica. California Suncup. Onagraceae. Foodplant for Ridings’ Forester.
Camissonia campestris. Mojave Suncup. Onagraceae. Larval host for Kern Primrose Sphinx Moth on Carizzo Plain.
Cardamine californica. Milkmaids. Brassicaceae. Gray-veined White, Sonoran Blue, likely others; "good butterfly nectar plant" – Growing Native. Larval host for Gray-veined White and Sara Orange-tip.
Carex spissa. San Diego Sedge. Cyperaceae. Foodplant for the Dun Skipper and Umber Skipper.
Castilleja sp. Indian Paintbrush. Scrophulariaceae. Edwards’s Swallowtail. Hummingbirds. Foodplants for various checkerspots.
Castilleja affinis. Indian Paintbrush. Scrophulariaceae. Foodplant for Variable Checkerspot, Northern Checkerspot and Leanira Checkerspot.
Castilleja densiflora. Owl’s Clover. Scrophulariaceae. Bay Checkerspot, Flame Longhorn (Adela flammeusella, Incurvariidae). Shapiro finds Castilleja, Orthocarpus and Pedicularis spp. are not butterfly nectar sources, but larval hosts for some populations of Edith’s Checkerspot and Leanira Checkerspot. Some annual Castilleja spp. (formerly Orthocarpus) are larval hosts for the Flame Longhorn (Powell & Hogue).
Castilleja exserta. Purple Owl’s Clover. Scrophulariaceae. Bay Checkerspot, Quino Checkerspot. Larval host for the Buckeye (Scott) and for Schinia pulchripennis (Moths of Western North America) and Schinia cupes (Hostplants).
Castilleja foliolosa. Woolly Paintbrush. Scrophulariaceae. Foodplant for Variable Checkerspot, Edith’s Checkerspot and Leanira Checkerspot.
Caulanthus inflatus. Desert Candle. Brassicaceae. Foodplant for Small Marble and Desert Orange-tip.
Ceanothus spp.and vars. Wild Lilac. Rhamnaceae. Especially white-flowered forms are said to attract butterflies, Buckeye, Gray Hairstreak, Thicket Hairstreak, Johnson’s Hairstreak, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Western Meadow Fritillary, Pacuvius Duskywing, Propertius Duskywing. Shapiro adds: "Blue-flowered ones, too. Nearly all very good." Many are larval hosts for Hedgerow Hairstreak, Bramble Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Pale Swallowtail, and Ceanothus Silk Moth. Ceanothus spp. are larval hosts for Darwin’s Green in southern California (Powell & Hogue), Pink-margined Green at Inverness Ridge (J. A. Powell), the Bordered Fawn (Sericosema juturnaria, Geometridae) and other moths. Caterpillars of various Drepanulatrix spp. (Geometridae) eat only Ceanothus spp., according to Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands. A butterfly gardening suggestion from Growing Native is to get a long succession of wild lilac bloom plant by planting early, mid-season and late flowering local varieties. Other species, not listed here, are no doubt of value! An attractive mostly reddish diurnal moth, the Red-winged Wave (Dasyfidonia avuncularia, Geometridae) of open conifer forest and sagebrush habitats, also seeks nectar at Ceanothus flowers (Powell & Opler).
Ceanothus cuneatus. Buckbrush. Rhamnaceae. Pacuvius Duskywing, California Tortoiseshell (Butterworth). Larval host for California Hairstreak, Brown Elfin, Pale Swallowtail and especially Hedge-row Hairstreak (Garth & Tilden). Also a larval host for various moths such as the Common Gray, Sulphur Moth and White-streaked Saturnia Moth.
Ceanothus greggii. Cupleaf Ceanothus. Rhamnaceae. Monroes: Small Marble, Northern Cloudywing. Foodplant for White-streaked Saturnia Moth.
Ceanothus oliganthus. Jimbrush. Rhamnaceae. Pacuvius Duskywing (Butterworth). Larval host for Pacuvius Duskywing and Afranius Duskywing (Hostplants).
Ceanothus integerrimus. Deerbrush. Rhamnaceae.
Ceanothus ramulosus. Blue Buck Brush. Rhamnaceae. Foodplant for California Tortoiseshell.
Ceanothus sanguineus. Oregon Tea Tree. Rhamnaceae. This and many other spp. are also larval hosts for the Pale Swallowtail.
Ceanothus spinosus. Greenbark Ceanothus. Rhamnaceae. A larval host for the Ceanothus Silk Moth near Santa Barbara. Also reported as foodplant for Darwin’s Green and Western Sheep Moth.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus. Carmel Ceanothus. Rhamnaceae. Cabbage White.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. thyrsiflorus. Blueblossum. Rhamnaceae. "Pale Swallowtail, Echo Blue, Buckeye, California Tortoiseshell, Brown Elfin (other Ceanothus attract these, also)" – Yerba Buena Nusery. Larval host for California Tortoiseshell at Inverness Ridge (J.A. Powell). Foodplant for many moths including the Ceanothus Silk Moth and Western Sheep Moth.
Ceanothus tomentosus. Ramona Lilac. Rhamnaceae. Favorite nectar plant for first brood of the rare Thorne’s Hairstreak, according to Butterflies of America.
Ceanothus velutinus. Snowbrush. Foodplant for Brown Elfin, California Tortoiseshell, Pale Swallowtail, and California Hairstreak. Larval host for many moths, including the Lappet Moth Sulphur Moth, Ceanothus Silk Moth and Western Sheep Moth.
Ceanothus ‘Wheeler Canyon’. Rhamnaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail.
Cephalanthus occidentalis var. californicus. Buttonbush or Button Willow. Rubiaceae. Excellent nectar source for many species, especially swallowtails, skippers and hairstreaks. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Checkered White (fq), Cabbage White, Southern Dogface, Clouded Sulphur, Monarch (fq), Common Wood Nymph, American Lady, Painted Lady, Red Admiral (fq), Lorquin’s Admiral, Viceroy, Gray Hairstreak, Eastern Tailed Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper (fq), Sachem, Tawny-edged Skipper (fq), American Snout, Yellow-Collared Scape Moth, Bella Moth.
Cercis occidentalis. Western Redbud. Fabaceae. Western Brown Elfin, Echo Blue, Muir’s Hairstreak, Sleepy Duskywing.
Chaenactis sp. Asteraceae. Variable Checkerspot, a favorite of Edith’s Checkerspot.
Chaenactis artemesiifolia. White Pincushion. Asteraceae.
Chaenactis douglasii. Dusty Maidens. Asteraceae. Becker’s White and Dark Wood Nymph
Chaenactis fremontii. Desert Pincushion. Asteraceae. Monroes: Spring White, Sara Orangetip, Tiny Checkerspot (fq); they found eight species of butterflies nectaring on Desert Pinchushion in the Anza-Borrego area.
Chaenactis glabriscula. Yellow Pincushion Flower. Asteraceae. Edith’s Checkerspot (Butterworth). Shapiro notes it is "insanely devoted" to these flowers, visiting nothing else when it is in flower. Larval host for Schinia graefiana, as is C. xantiana, Mojave Pincushion (Hostplants).
Chamaebatiaria millefolium. Fernbush or Desert Sweet. Rosaceae. As a nectar plant, Shapiro finds only that fritillaries attempt to get nectar from this plant – don’t get anything – and leave. Shields observed Nelson’s Hairstreak at nectar. Foodplant for Spring Azure and Nuttall’s Sheepmoth.
Chamaesyce hooveri. Hoover’s Spurge. Euphorbiaceae. Unspecified butterflies seen visiting it in a Sacramento Prairie restoration project. A vernal pool species threatened by habitat loss.
Chamaesyce melanadenia. Squaw Spurge. Euphorbiaceae. Sonoran Blue in Anza-Borrego Desert (Heath). Photograph shows this or similar species with a Dainty Sulphur at nectar.
Chamomilla suaveolens (soon to be Matricaria discoidea or matricarioides). Pineapple Weed. Monroes: Melissa Blue in eastern San Diego County.
Chenopodium californicum. California Goosefoot. Cheopodiaceae. Larval host for Western Pygmy Blue and Common Sootywing.
Chilopsis linearis. Desert Willow. Bignoniaceae. Monarch. Long-tongued moths. Favorite larval host of the Rustic Sphinx (Powell & Opler).
Chlorogalum pomeridianum. Soap Lily. Liliaceae (soon to be Agavaceae). Attracts Hawkmoths according to the California Horticultural Society. Moldenke captured 8 species of unidentified nocturnal moths visiting its flowers. Major larval host for Brown Elfin. The white flowers open in late afternoon.
Chorizanthe rigida. Spiny Herb. Polygonaceae. Larval host for White-lined Sphinx.
Chorizanthe robusta. Robust Spineflower. Polygonaceae. Attracts "at least six species of butterflies" – Randy Morgan. Presumably C. r. var. hartwegii, Scott’s Valley Spineflower.
Chrysolepis chrysophylla. Giant Chinquapin. Fagaceae. Nectar for Hedgerow Hairstreak. Foodplant for the Golden Hairstreak. Difficult to grow.
Chrysothamnus nauseosus. Rubber Rabbitbrush. Asteraceae. Western White, Becker’s White, Pine White, Checkered White, Orange Sulphur, Mexican Yellow, Yellow Sulphur, Dainty Sulphur, Southern Dogface, Monarch, Queen, Great Purple Hairstreak, Thicket Hairstreak, Leda Ministreak, Buckeye, Mormon Metalmark, Variegated Fritillary, Tehachapi Fritillary, Mourning Cloak, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Zephyr Anglewing (fq), Crown Fritillary, American Lady, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Mylitta Crescent, Ceraunus Blue, Reakirt’s Blue (fq) Western Pygmy Blue, Edith’s Copper, Desert Tailed Copper, Great Basin Ringlet, Small Wood Nymph, American Snout, Large White Skipper, Mournful Duskywing, Funereal Duskywing, White Checkered Skipper, Common Checkered Skipper, Orange Skipperling, Pahaska Skipper, Eufala Skipper, Columbia Skipper, Sandhill Skipper, moths. One of the best general nectar plants and native in much of the West.
Chrysothamnus parryi. Parry Rabbitbrush. Asteraceae. "Unshowy, but excellent all around" – Shapiro.
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus. Yellow Rabbitbrush. Asteraceae. Butterflies, moths. Shapiro finds this the least attractive of the rabbitbrushes as a nectar plant to butterflies. Larval host for Acastus Checkerspot and Northern Checkerspot (Hostplants).
Cicuta maculata. Water Hemlock. Apiaceae. American Snout, Great Spangled Fritillary, Viceroy, Eastern Tailed Blue, Clouded Sulphur, Yellow-Collared Scape Moth. Larval host for the Anise Swallowtail. The flowers of this poisonous plant serve a great diversity of insects.
Cirsium spp. Thistles. Asteraceae. Clark’s Sphinx, Common Checkerspot, Pipevine Swallowtail, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, California Dogface, Orange Sulphur, Cloudless Sulphur, Harford’s Sulphur, Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur, Checkered White, Large Marble, Pine White, Sara Orange-tip, California Dogface, Great Copper, Hedgerow Hairstreak, Golden Hairstreak, Western Meadow Fritillary, Zerene Fritillary, Callippe Fritillary, Crown Fritillary, Leto Fritillary, Gulf Fritillary, Unsilvered Fritillary, Viceroy, Field Crescent, Lorquin’s Admiral, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, California Sister, Monarch, Lindsey’s Skipper, Sachem, Western Branded Skipper, Umber Skipper, Dun Skipper. Larval hosts of the Painted Lady, Mylitta Crescent, and California Crescent. White-lined Sphinx Moth, too.
Cirsium andersonii. Rose Thistle. Asteraceae.
Cirsium brevistylum. Indian Thistle. Asteraceae. Recommended as a butterfly nectar plant by the Eugene-Springfield Oregon NABA chapter. Likely many observers fail to distinguish this species of thistle from others ...
Cirsium hydrophilum. Suisun Thistle. Asteraceae. Larval host for Painted Lady and Mylitta Crescent.
Cirsium occidentale. Western Thistle. Asteraceae. Anise Swallowtail, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Cloudless Sulphur, Calippe Fritillary, American Lady, Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Red Admiral, Monarch, Dogface. Larval host for Mylitta Crescent.
Cirsium occidentale var. californicum. California Thistle. Asteraceae. Pale Swallowtail.
Cirsium quercetorum. Brownie Thistle. Asteraceae. Two species on San Bruno Mountain. Mission Blue in San Francisco.
Clarkia spp. Farewell-to-Spring. Onagraceae. The Farmer is the only butterfly to visit this genus in Shapiro’s study areas – a decidedly secondary nectar source for butterflies (Shapiro, personal communication). Butterworth finds Lindsey’s Skipper visits Clarkia spp. in San Luis Obispo County. Larval host of the notable Pacific Green Sphinx or Bear Sphinx (Arctonotus lucidus) which flys in late winter. Also larval hosts for Riding’s Forester (Alypia ridingsi, Noctuidae) a day-flying flower-visiting moth – sporting black-and-white wings with tufts of orange hairs on its middle legs -- and the similar California Forester (Alypia mariposa).
Clarkia concinna. Red Ribbons. Onagraceae. Long-tongued moths.
Clarkia rhomboidea. Forest Clarkia or Diamond Clarkia. Onagraceae. Larval host for Clark’s Sphinx, White-lined Sphinx, and Snowberry Clearwing.
Clarkia unguiculata. Elegant Fairyfans. Onagraceae. Clark’s Sphinx – nectar plant and larval host of this attractive day-flying sphinx moth. Also a larval host for the California Forester (Alypia mariposa), another showy day-flying moth.
Clarkia williamsonii. Fort Miller Clarkia. Onagraceae. Larval host of the California Forester.
Claytonia perfoliata. Indian Lettuce. Portulacaceae. Spring Azure, Clodius Parnassian.
Clematis spp. Virgin’s Bower. Ranunculaceae. Common Wood Nymph. Shapiro finds them good butterfly flowers on the Sierran west slope, noting fritillaries, hairstreaks and blues.
Clematis lasiantha. Chaparral Virgin’s Bower. Ranunculaceae. "Good nectar plant for adult butterflies" – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Clematis ligusticifolia. Western Clematis. Ranunculaceae. Hedgerow Hairstreak, Acmon Blue, Common Wood Nymph. Foodplant for borers (Alcathoe spp.) – wasp mimic moths.
Collinsia heterophylla. Chinese Houses. Ranunculaceae. Butterworth says Spring Azure comes to it in San Luis Obispo County. Shapiro does not find flowers of this good bee plant visited by butterflies, but notes it serves as a larval host for some populations of Edith’s Checkerspot. Larval host for Variable Checkerspot (Scott).
Comandra umbellata. Bastard Toad-Flax. Santalaceae. Gray Hairstreak. Shapiro finds small butterflies visit this species.
Cordylanthus sp. Bird’s-beak. Scrophulariaceae. Larval host for Leanira Checkerspot (Butterworth).
Coreopsis stillmannii. Stillman’s Tickseed. Asteraceae. ‘Good butterfly nectar plant’ -- even in England.
Cornus glabrata. Brown Dogwood. Cornaceae. Larval host for Echo Blue.
Cornus nuttallii. Pacific Dogwood. Cornaceae. Johnson’s Hairstreak (Xerces Society) – a rare small butterfly. Shapiro finds this primarily beetle-pollinated species never visited by butterflies, but finds the shrubby dogwoods are good draws, especially C. amomum (Silky Dogwood) of the eastern U.S.
Cornus sericea. Redtwig Dogwood. Cornaceae. Orange Sulphur, Echo Blue, Painted Lady. Listed among the larval hosts for Mottled Euchlaena (Euchlaena tigrinaria, Geometridae) and other moths.
Corylus cornuta. Hazelnut. Betulaceae. Larval host for the Western White Ribboned Carpet (Mesoleuca gratulata, Geometridae) – an early spring day-flying species. Also American Barred Umber Moth (Plagodis pulveraria occiduaria, Geometridae), the Orange-marked Hazelnut Moth, (Dysstroma ochrofuscaria, Geometridae), Polyphemus Moth and other moths.
Crataegus spp. Hawthorn. Rosaceae. Shapiro finds them rarely visited by California butterflies.
Crataegus douglasii. Black Hawthorn. Rosaceae. Spring Azure. Larval host for Pale Swallowtail – likely more so outside of California, where Rhamnaceae generally are preferred (Shapiro); also for the Blinded Sphinx and other moths.
Croton californicus. California Croton. Euphorbiaceae. A nectar plant for Lange’s Metalmark and a caterpillar host of a day-flying tiger moth, Leptarctia californiae.
Cryptanta spp. Boraginaceae. Quino Checkerspot. Monroes: Great Copper, Ceraunus Blue, Sonoran Blue, Lupine Blue, Gabb’s Checkerspot, Propertius Duskywing, White Checkered-Skipper.
Cryptantha intermedia. Common Cryptantha. Boraginaceae. A secondary nectar plant for the endangered Fendler’s Blue in Oregon. Other visitors include: Becker’s White, Boisduval’s Blue, Silvery Blue, Acmon Blue, Arrowhead Blue, Square-spotted Blue, Gray Hairstreak.
Cryptantha muricata. Prickly Cryptantha. Boraginaceae. "A source of nectar for a variety of adult butterflies" – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Cucurbita foetidissima. Calabazilla. Cucurbitaceae. This and Cucurbita palmata (Coyote Melon) are among larval hosts for the spectacular Manroot Borer (Melittia gloriosa, Sesiidae) – our largest wasp mimic moth – in southern California (Powell & Hogue). Powell & Opler: "Stealthy search during cool mornings will reveal the moths perched along the midrib facing outward. Later, after temperatures rise, Melitta are almost impossible to approach and are very rapid fliers." Calabazilla also feeds caterpillars of Melittia grandis and Melittia snowi.
Cupressus forbesii. Tecate Cypress. Cupressaceae. Foodplant for Thorne’s Hairstreak in their mutually native range.
Cupressus sargentii. Sargent Cypress. Cupressaceae. Foodplant for Nelson’s Hairstreak.
Cuscuta spp. Dodder. Cuscutaceae. The flowers attract male Queens; its nectar has pyrradizidine alkaloids they need to make sex pheromones.
Cymopterus panamintensis. Panamint Indian Parsley. Apiaceae. Larval host for Indra Swallowtail, one of its smallest races (Whaley).
Cynanchum utahense is now Funastrum utahense. Utah Swallow Wort. Asclepiadaceae. Likely of value; Monarch and Buckeye have been seen at the flowers of C. laeve in Illinois (Hilty).
Cynoglossum grande. Pacific Hound’s Tongue. Boraginaceae. Stella Orange-tip photo on Shapiro’s site. Hummingbirds. Larval host for the Sierran Pericopid (Gnophaela latipennis), a striking black-and-white day-flying, flower-visiting tiger moth (Powell & Hogue).
Cynoglossum occidentale.Western Hound’s Tongue. Boraginaceae. Good butterfly nectar plant – Growing Native. Listed as a foodplant for the Sierran Pericopid.
Danthonia californica. California Oatgrass. Poaceae. Foodplant for Columbia Skipper and Lindsey’s Skipper.
Delphinium umbraculorum. Umbrella Larkspur. Ranunculaceae. Pale Swallowtail (Nature Shutterbug).
Delphinium variegatum. Royal Larkspur. Ranunculaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Bay Checkerspot. Hummingbirds.
Dendromecon rigida. Bush Poppy. Papaveraceae. Shapiro: members of the poppy family have essentially nothing to offer butterflies and are only visited by young butterflies who don’t know any better and soon desist. Foodplant for an attractive geometrid moth, Neoterpes edwardsata.
Deschampsia caespitosa. Tufted Hairgrass. Poaceae. Foodplant for the Umber Skipper.
Deschampsia elongata. Poaceae. Slender Hairgrass. Foodplant for the Yuba Skipper.
Descurainia incana. Mountain Tansymustard. Brassicaceae. Listed as a foodplant for the Large Marble, Small Marble, Becker’s White, Western White and Spring White.
Descurainia pinnata. Western Tansy Mustard. Brassicaceae. "Flowers visited heavily by Juniper Hairstreak and spring Pierids in eastern California" (Shapiro). Larval host for Sara Orange-tip, Felder’s Orange-tip, Pima Orange-tip, Small Marble, Checkered White.
Dichelostema capitatum. Blue Dicks. Liliaceae. Pipevine Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, Monarch, American Lady, Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Sara Orange-tip (fq), California Dogface, Boisduval’s Marble, Large Marble, Small Marble, Common Checkerspot, Bay Checkerspot, Mission Blue, Common Ringlet, Propertius Duskywing, Mournful Duskywing, Northern Cloudy-wing, Fiery Skipper, Clark’s Sphinx. Great butterfly plant!
Dichelostema congestum. Ookow. Liliaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, Common Ringlets, Unsilvered Fritillary, Propertius Duskywing, Mournful Duskywing, Skippers.
Encelia virginensis. Virgin River Brittlebrush. Asteraceae.
Epilobium angustifolium is now Chamerion angustifolium. Fireweed. Onagraceae. Dun Skipper. "Moths only"– Butterfly Gardening. In England and Scotland, according to Leverton, white butterflies, Pieris, visit it. He finds extensive stands in mid-summer flower, especially along railroad tracks which frequently burned in previous times, very attractive to moths, especially in the hour after dusk; a good variety of noctuids and geometrids. Foodplant for White-lined Sphinx, and for the Yellow-banded Sphinx, a day-flying moth in Humboldt County, and other moths.
Epilobium brachycarpum. Parched Fireweed. Onagraceae. Woodland Skipper, Checkered White (late season with few other plants in flower). Shapiro adds: "Cabbage White, rarely other things."
Epilobium canum. California Fuchsia. Onagraceae. Pipevine Swallowtail (most avid user known to Shapiro), Anise Swallowtail, California Dogface, Mexican Yellow. Larval host for White-lined Sphinx. Outstanding nectar plants for hummingbirds.
Eremalche exilis. White Mallow. Malvaceae. Larval host for West Coast Lady and Northern White Skipper.
Eremalche rotundifolia. Desert Five-spot. Malvaceae. Larval host for Northern White Skipper, Common Checkered Skipper and White Checkered-Skipper.
Eremocarpus setigerus is now Croton setigerus. Dove Weed. Euphorbiaceae. American Painted Lady, Acmon Blue, Gray Hairstreak, Common Checkered Skipper, Buckeye, others. Shapiro: "excellent" nectar source for butterflies. Larval host for Gray Hairstreak.
Eriastrum densifolium. Giant Woollystar or Heavenly Blue. Polemoniaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Painted Lady, a nymphalid, an Hesperia skipper, Cabbage White, Gorgon Copper.
Eriastrum densifolium ssp. elongatum. Polemoniaceae. Orsak observed it being visited avidly by Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Cabbage White, and Variable Checkerspot.
Eriastrum sapphirinum. Sapphire Woollystar. Polemoniaceae. ‘Butterflies’, unidentified hairstreak. Larval host for Schinia aurantiaca, an ‘attractive little moth’ (Moths of Western North America).
Ericameria arborescens. Golden Fleece. Asteraceae. ‘Generally attractive’ (Shapiro); moths also.
Ericameria bloomeri. Bloomer’s Goldenbush. Asteraceae. "Good for most butterflies ... saw 8 species at it on Castle Peak, Nevada County, ~9000', 9 September 2009" – Shapiro, personal communication. Yosemite Skipper (Shields).
Ericameria brachylepis. Boundary Goldenbush. Asteraceae. Las Pilitas Nursery.
Ericameria ericoides. Mock Heather. Asteraceae. A Funereal Duskywing, a rare stray in San Francisco, was found in September 2008 at nectar on this species at the Presidio.
Ericameria linearifolia. Narrowleaf Goldenbush. Asteraceae. Interior Goldenbush. Hintsa finds it a very good butterfly haunt on Mt. Diablo. The Monroes note specifically: Indra Swallowtail, Behr’s Metalmark, Leanira Checkerspot, Variable Checkerspot, Mournful Duskywing, Common Sootywing, Juba Skipper.
Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis. Palmer’s Goldenbush. Asteraceae. Mormon Metalmark.
Erigeron spp. Fleabanes. Asteraceae. Blues. Butterworth: Variable Checkerspot, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Gulf Fritillary, Common Checkered Skipper, Sleepy Orange, Checkered White. Shapiro finds them secondary to Aster spp., and utilized mostly in the fall, with Erigeron glaucus near the coast the best.
Erigeron foliosus. Fleabane Aster. Asteraceae. "Good source of nectar for adult butterflies" – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains
Erigeron glaucus. Seaside Daisy and its cultivars. Asteraceae. Common White, Monarch, Variable Checkerspot, Buckeye, West Coast Lady, Painted Lady, Mylitta Crescent (fq). Myrtle’s Silverspot. Silverspots, Gray Hairstreak, Green Hairstreak, Mournful Duskywing, Common Checkered Skipper, Skippers.
Erigeron glaucus ‘Cape Sebastian’. Said to be adored by butterflies, notably Checkered White. Las Pilitas Nursery photographs show Gray Hairstreak, a Fritillary and Mylitta Crescent.
Erigeron glaucus ‘Wayne Roderick’. Great for butterflies, including Monarch, Common Checkered Skipper, Mylitta Crescent. A favorite with the Checkered White.
Eriodictyon spp. Yerba Santas. Hydrophyllaceae. California Dogface, Small Marble, Great Basin Wood Nymph, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Gold-hunter’s Hairstreak, California Hairstreak, Macaria Fritillary, Calippe Fritillary, Great Purple Hairstreak, Leda Ministreak, Thicket Hairstreak, Johnson’s Hairstreak, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Edwards’ Swallowtail, Northern White-Skipper. Great genus for butterflies.
Eriodictyon angustifolium. Narrowleaf Yerba Santa. Thicket Hairstreak (Shields). Note: my lack of records for any species of plant doesn’t mean it isn’t used; I’m limited by a general lack of available information for most species!
Eriodictyon californicum. Yerba Santa. Hydrophyllaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, Sara Orange-tip, Small Marble, Boisduval’s Marble, Western Sulphur, Variable Checkerspot (fq), Northern Checkerspot, Edith’s Checkerspot, Callippe Fritillary, Macaria Fritillary, Lorquin’s Admiral, California Hairstreak, Hedgerow Hairstreak, Thicket Hairstreak, Johnson’s Hairstreak, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Western Brown Elfin, Arrowhead Blue, Propertius Dusky-wing, Funereal Duskywing, Mournful Dusky-wing, Columbia Skipper. The the best butterfly nectar apart from the California Buckeye at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve near Stanford University. Larval host for Brown Elfin.
Eriodictyon crassifolium. Thick-leaved Yerba Santa. Hydrophyllaceae. Las Pilitas Nursery: "quite the butterfly magnet and easier to grow". Variable Checkerspot. Excellent source of nectar for a wide variety of other butterflies: Pale Swallowtail, California Dogface, Calippe Fritillary, American Painted Lady, Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Hedgerow Hairstreak, California Hairstreak, Funereal Duskywing, Northern White-skipper, Common Branded Skipper.
Eriodictyon tomentosum. Woolly Yerba Santa. Hydrophyllaceae. Monarch, West Coast Lady, Gray Hairstreak, Fritillaries, others. A good butterfly plant at Pinnacles National Monument.
Eriodictyon trichocalyx. Smooth Leaf Yerba Santa. Hydrophyllaceae. Excellent nectar source for such butterflies as the Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, California Dogface, Calippe Fritillary, Variable Checkerspot, American Lady, Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Hedgerow Hairstreak, Funereal Duskywing, Northern White-skipper, and Common Branded Skipper.
Eriogonum spp. Wild Buckwheats. Polygonaceae. Tailed Copper, American Painted Lady, Common Buckeye, Marine Blue, Gray Hairstreak, Great Purple Hairstreak, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Northern White-Skipper, Mormon Metalmark, Edith’s Copper, Lilac-Bordered Copper. The smaller herbaceous perennial sorts work well in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley regions with the shrubby kinds working much better towards the south where they are native (Shapiro).
Eriogonum davidsonii. Davidson Buckwheat. Polygonaceae. Larval host for Pratt’s Dotted Blue in the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains in Riverside County (Monroes).
Eriogonum elatum. Tall Woolly Buckwheat. Polygonaceae. Dark Wood Nymph. Larval host for Acmon Blue.
Eriogonum elongatum. Longstem Buckwheat. Polygonaceae. "A butterfly favorite" -- U.C. Riverside Botanic Garden. Great Purple Hairstreak, California Hairstreak, Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Square-spotted Blue, Acmon Blue, Marine Blue, Gorgon Copper, Variable Checkerspot, American Lady, Painted lady, West Coast Lady, Funereal Duskywing, Northern White-skipper, Common Branded Skipper. Larval host for Acmon Blue, Dotted Blue.
Eriogonum fasciculatum. California Buckwheat. Polygonaceae. Swallowtails, Becker’s White, Checkered White, Spring Azure, Acmon Blue, Dotted Blue, Marine Blue, Reakirt’s Blue, Square-spotted Blue, Lupine Blue (fq), Great Copper, Brown Elfin, Green Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Tailed Copper (fq),. Great Purple Hairstreak, Gold-hunter’s Hairstreak, California Hairstreak, Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak (fq), Hedgerow Hairstreak, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Bramble Hairstreak, Leda Ministreak, Variable Checkerspot, Buckeye, Painted Lady, American Lady, West Coast Lady, Wood Nymph, Mormon Metalmark, Crown Fritillary, Mournful Duskywing, Funereal Duskywing, Propertius Duskywing, Common Sootywing, Northern White-skipper, Common Branded Skipper, Fiery Skipper, Umber Skipper. A favorite nectar plant for the second brood of the rare Thorne’s Hairstreak, according to Butterflies of America. One of the top butterfly nectar plants in southern California! Moths, also. Loads of other insects, too. Larval host for Mormon Metalmark, Behr’s Metalmark, Blue Copper, Square-spotted Blue, Lupine Blue, Burns’ Buckmoth, and the Electra Buckmoth – a day-flying silk moth with a bright red-orange hingwing bordered in black.
Eriogonum giganteum. Saint Catherine’s Lace. Polygonaceae. Perhaps one of the best for butterflies according to Growing Native. Western Pygmy Blue, Avalon Hairstreak; also larval host for Avalon Hairstreak.
Eriogonum latifolium. Coast Buckwheat. Polygonaceae. Gorgon Copper, Blue Copper, Dotted Blue, Mission Blue. Lange’s Metalmark, Common Buckeye. Larval host for Mormon Metalmark, Bramble Hairstreak, Green Hairstreak, Blue Copper, Acmon Blue, Dotted Blue, Veined Blue and for the Green Hairstreak. Also one of several buckwheat hosts for the Buckwheat Borer, a wasp mimic moth.
Eriogonum latifolium ssp. grande var. rubescens. Pink Island Buckwheat. Polygonaceae. ‘Butterflies’. Mournful Duskywing.
Eriogonum grande ssp. timorum. San Nicolas Island Buckwheat. Polygonaceae.
Erioneuron pilosum. Hairy Erioneuron. Poaceae. Foodplant for the Uncas Skipper.
Erioneuron pulchellum. Fluff Grass. Poaceae. Foodplant for Pahaska Skipper.
Eriophyllum confertiflorum. Golden Yarrow. Asteraceae. Anise Swallowtail, Cabbage White, American Lady, West Coast Lady, Variable Checkerspot, Bay Checkerspot (fq), Field Crescent, Tailed Copper, Hedgerow Hairstreak, California Hairstreak, Acmon Blue, Marine Blue, Fiery Skipper, Umber Skipper. Shapiro and other recent northern California observers, for reasons unknown, find little use of this species by most butterflies. Perhaps outdrawn by abundant non-native thistles – a more abundant nectar source flowering simultaneously.
Eriophyllum lanatum var. achillaeoides. Oregon Sunshine. Asteraceae. Very good on Mt. Diablo. Boisduval’s Marble, Gorgon Copper, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Variable Checkerspot, Northern Checkerspot, Leinara Checkerspot (fq), Bramble Hairstreak.
Eryngium aristulatum. Coyote Thistle. Apiaceae. Acmon Blue (abundant) and Schinia sp. H (common) – Moldenke. Shapiro finds no butterflies getting nectar on the native Eryngium spp. in his study areas.
Erysimum spp. Brassicaceae. Wallflowers. Large swallowtails, Boisduval’s Marble.
Erysimum capitatum. Western Wallflower. Brassicaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Boisduval’s Marble (Shapiro); Clodius Parnassian, Anise Swallowtail (Shields); Variable Checkerspot, Painted Lady, Propertius Duskywing. Larval host for Sara Orange-tip.
Erysimum concinnum. Point Reyes Wallflower. Brassicaceae.
Erysimum franciscanum var. crassifolium. Coarse-leaved Wallflower. Brassicaceae. (Elkhorn Native Plant Nursery). Secondary nectar source for the San Bruno Elfin (Steiner).
Eschscholzia californica. California Poppy. Papaveraceae. Skippers, Common Ringlet. Moldenke found Schinia ‘sp. K’ (a flower-visiting moth) abundant. Steiner includes among nectar plants for the Large Marble. Shapiro insists not a butterfly flower, period. Seems secondary at best for butterflies; mostly a landing pad?? In one study of 8200 insect visits, there were no butterflies; mostly beetles and bees. Skippers were observed often visiting it in a student study at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Powell & Opler think California poppy is an important larval host for Neoterpes edwardsata (Geometridae).
Euthamia occidentalis. Western Goldenrod. Asteraceae. Orange sulphur, Crown Fritillary, Purplish Copper. I was amazed and delighted to find that the Crown Fritillary follows the creeks down from the hills all the way to the San Francisco Bay, seeking nectar on this species. Shapiro finds it excellent for butterflies and a major draw for the Great Purple Hairstreak among others.
Fallugia paradoxa. Apache Plume. Rosaceae. (Mountain States Wholesale Nursery). Foodplant for Neumogen’s Buckmoth.
Festuca brachyphylla. Poaceae. Foodplant for Miriam’s Skipper and Sandhill Skipper.
Festuca idahoensis. Idaho Fescue. Foodplant for Lindsey’s Skipper, Sandhill Skipper and Sonora Skipper.
Festuca rubra. Red Fescue.
Forestiera pubescens. Desert Olive. Oleaceae. Early nectar, especially for hairstreaks (Austin Butterfly Forum, Jan-Feb 2006 Newsletter). Larval host for the rare Incense Cedar Sphinx.
Fouquiera splendens. Ocotillo. Fouquieriaceae. Long-tongued moths. Foodplant for the spectacular Calleta Silkmoth, known from Baja California and Arizona, though not reported from California.
Fragaria californica. California Strawberry. Rosaceae. Listed as larval host for Western Sheepmoth, Ceanothus Silkmoth, Pale Swallowtail, Gray Hairstreak (Hostplants).
Fragaria chiloensis. Coast Strawberry. Rosaceae. Purplish Copper, Two-banded Skipper, Brown Elfin. Listed as a foodplant for many moths.
Fragaria vesca. Woodland Strawberry. Rosaceae. Western Meadow Fritillary, Green Hairstreak, Sara Orange-tip.
Frankenia salina. Alkali Heath. Frankeniaceae. Common Checkered Skipper, Wandering Skipper. Hardly noticed as attractive to butterflies in comparison to salt heliotrope, which often grows in the same habitat.
Fraxinus velutina. Arizona Ash. Oleaceae. Larval host for Great Ash Sphinx.
Fremontodendron sp. Flannel Bush. Sterculiaceae. Large White Skipper in Tehachapi Mountains (Orsak) – possibly noted as unusual. Not usually considered a butterfly plant!
Fremontodendron californicum. California Flannel Bush. Sterculiaceae. Larval host for White-streaked Saturnia Moth; the reddish male flies during the day, but does not nectar.
Galium boreale. Northern Bedstraw. Rubiaceae. Listed as a larval host for White-lined Sphinx.
Gaultheria shallon. Salal. Ericaceae. Larval host for Brown Elfin and Ten-spotted Rhododendron Moth.
Geraniaceae. Geranium Family. Shapiro says ‘a wonderful, beautiful, diurnal noctuid’ moth – Schinia sp. (=Melicleptria) formerly abundant, now rare, specializes on plants of this family, nectaring mostly on weedy Geranianeace, especially Erodium botrys (longbeak stork’s bill). Likely Geranium carolinianum, Carolina Geranium, possibly other native Geranium spp. and Erodium macrophyllum, Roundleaf Filaree – a now rare native species --are among its native nectar plants. Arctic Skipper seeks nectar at wild geraniums in Lane County, Oregon.
Gilia achilleaefolia. Yarrow-leaved Gilia. Polemoniaceae. West Coast Lady, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Gulf Fritillary, Adela simpliciella, Pieridae, ‘small butterflies’. Foodplant for Kodiosoma fulva and Kodiosoma otero, showy if small tiger moths.
Gilia angelensis. Chaparral Gilia. Polemoniaceae. West Coast Lady, Fiery Skipper.
Gilia cana. Showy Gilia. Polemoniaceae. West Coast Lady.
Gilia capitata. Blue Globe Gilia. Polemoniaceae. Variable Checkerspot, Orange Sulphur, Cabbage White, an unidentified native white, California Ringlet, Gabb’s Checkerspot, Mylitta Crescent, Boisduval’s Blue and Juba Skipper. Shapiro adds that he finds it a good butterfly plant in the Sierran foothill canyons, at about 2,000' elevation, attracting Sara Orange-tip, Propertius Duskywing, Ringlet, etc.
Gilia caruifolia is now Saltugilia caruifolia. Caraway-leaved Gilia. Polemoniaceae. Adela sp.
Gilia tricolor. Bird’s Eye. Polemoniaceae. Orange Sulphur and White-lined Sphinx.
Gnaphalium spp. and related genera. Cudweeds or Everlastings. Asteraceae. Hoary Comma (Shields), Woodland Skipper (Heath), Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak and Orange Skipperling (Monroes) for nectar. Larval hosts for American Lady.
Gnaphalium bicolor. Pungent Cudweed. Asteraceae. Tree of Life Nursery Butterfly Mix.
Gnaphalium californicum. Green Everlasting. Asteraceae. Good nectar plant – Growing Native.
Gnaphalium canescens is now Pseudognaphalium canescens. White Everlasting. Asteraceae.
Gnaphalium palustre. Lowland Cudweed. Asteraceae. Larval host for American Lady.
Grindelia spp. Asteraceae. Coppers, Skippers, Buckeye, Red Admiral, Painted Lady. Growing Native suggests that "especially the taller ones" are good nectar plants.
Grindelia camporum. Valley Gumplant. Asteraceae. Great Copper (fq), Variable Checkerspot. "Host of the scarce diurnal moth Schinia sordida" – Shapiro.
Grindelia hirsutula. Hairy Gumplant. Asteraceae. Myrtle’s Silverspot. "Great" for butterflies – Las Pilitas Nursery.
Guillenia lasiophylla. California Mustard. Brassicaceae. Larval host of Large Marble (Shapiro). Also listed as larval host for Western White, Checkered White, Sara Orange-tip and Felders’ Orange-tip. Probably a nectar plant for all of these and others.
Gutierrezia californica. San Joaquin Snakeweed. Asteraceae. Lange’s Metalmark.
Hackelia californica. This and H. floribunda are foodplants for the Sierran Pericopid.
Hazardia squarrosa. Saw-toothed Goldenbush. Asteraceae. Gabb’s Checkerspot (Butterworth). Monroes: Harford’s Sulphur, Woodland Skipper (fq). The Monroes have recorded five species of butterflies at nectar on its flowers in the Anza-Borrego area. Larval host for Gabb’s Checkerspot.
Helenium puberulum. Rosilla. Asteraceae. Field Crescent.
Helianthus annuus. Sunflower. Asteraceae. Monarch, Great Spangled Fritillary, California Patch, Gabb’s Checkerspot, Hedgerow Hairstreak, California Hairstreak, Cabbage White, Checkered White, Tawny-edged Skipper, Mournful Duskywing, Sachem, Western Branded Skipper, Orange Skipperling, Farmer. "Excellent source of nectar for many adult butterflies" – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains. Bordered Patch larval host in extreme SE corner of the state especially in agricultural areas where sunflowers are being grown (Heath). Also larval host for Painted Lady, occasionally for California Patch (Scott), and for the Rustic Sphinx and Isabella Tiger Moth (Hostplants) and other moths.
Helianthus californicus. California Sunflower. Asteraceae. Nectar – The Butterfly Gardener’s Guide.
Helianthus exilis. Serpentine Sunflower. Asteraceae. Butterflies among its pollinators. Shapiro: "I agree. Best is the Columbia Skipper." Nectar plant for Schinia sordida (Nature Shutterbug).
Helianthus gracilentus. Slender Sunflower. Asteraceae. "‘Butterflies adore it for a nectar source" – Las Pilitas Nursery. Common Checkerspot, Pale Swallowtail. Butterworth: Monarch, Queen, Funereal Duskywing, Sachem. Another source: ‘many species’.
Heliotropium convolvulaceum var. californicum. Morning-glory Heliotrope. Boraginaceae. A beautiful desert annual.
Heliotropium curassavicum. Salt Heliotrope. Boraginaceae. Queen, Monarch, American Painted Lady, Painted Lady, Buckeye, Mylitta Crescent, Checkered White, Cabbage White, Orange Sulphur, Purplish Copper, Great Copper, Gray Hairstreak, Marine Blue, Western Pygmy Blue, Eastern Tailed Blue, Acmon Blue, Common Sootywing, White Checkered-Skipper, Fiery Skipper, Least Checkered Skipper, Sandhill Skipper, Eufala Skipper (fq), Wandering Skipper. A prime butterfly nectar plant.
Hemizonia sp. yellow. Asteraceae. ‘Many’ (NABA). Possibly H. corymbosa or H. fasciculata is meant.
Hemizonia fasciculata is now Deinandra fasciculata. Common Tarweed. Asteraceae. Cultivated, may be the one butterfly gardners are referring to as attracting ‘many’ species.
Hemizonia pungens is now Centromadia pungens. Spikeweed. Asteraceae. Purplish Copper, Common Sootywing.
Heracleum lanatum. Cow Parsnip. Apiaceae. Pipevine Swallowtail, Great Arctic, Common Wood Nymph, Lorquin’s Admiral, Weidemeyer’s Admiral, Viceroy. ‘Many lycaenids’ (Shapiro) – blues, coppers, hairstreaks, metalmarks. Larval host for Anise Swallowtail. Juice is extremely irritating, notes Shapiro – exercise caution to avoid skin contact. Also among larval hosts for Black Swallowtail and Machaon Swallowtail.
Heteromeles arbutifolia. Toyon. Rosaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Tailed Copper, Acmon Blue (fq), Hedgerow Hairstreak, Mountain-Mahogany Hairstreak, California Sister, Mourning Cloak, California Tortoiseshell; Hintsa finds it one of the best butterfly nectar plants on Mt. Diablo. Shapiro finds only Mountain-Mahogany Hairstreak consistently in his study areas. I’ve seen a Clearwing Moth. Its flowers draw Brown Ctenucha in the Santa Monica Mountains, according to Powell & Opler. Listed as a foodplant for Ceanothus Silkmoth caterpillars.
Heterotheca spp. Asteraceae. ‘butterflies’.
Heterotheca grandiflora. Telegraph Weed. Asteraceae. Nectar for ‘a variety of adult butterflies’ – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains. Shapiro doesn’t see butterflies coming to it in his northern California study areas. Larval host for Gabb’s Checkerspot (Heath).
Heterotheca oregona var. compacta. Oregon Goldenaster. Asteraceae. Shapiro: "Orange Sulphur, Checkered White, Hairstreaks, Blues, a favorite of the Field Skipper (Sachem). Good general nectar source in autumn, but very unshowy."
Heterotheca sessiliflora ssp. bolanderi. Hairy Goldenaster. Asteraceae. West Coast Lady, Painted Lady, Checkerspots, Gray Hairstreak, Cabbage White, Coppers, Mission Blue, Umber Skipper. Shapiro finds it distinctly secondary. In East Bay gardens, Pete Veilleux often notices butterflies on them – in cultivation he finds them in flower most of the year.
Hibiscus denudatus. Rock Hibiscus. Malvaceae. Larval host for Arizona Powdered Skipper.
Hieracium spp. Hawkbits. Asteraceae. Flowers attract butterflies according to various sources.
Hoita orbicularis. Giant Clover. Fabaceae. Las Pilitas Nursery.
Holodiscus discolor. Oceanspray. Rosaceae. Pale Swallowtail, Spring Azure, Tailed Copper, Lorquin’s Admiral, Oceanspray Fairy Moth (Adela septentrionella), Brown Elfin. Larval host for Brown Elfin. Pale Swallowtail larval host, but less so in California, where Rhamnaceae are preferred; also Weidemeyer’s Admiral. Larval host Western Sheepmoth (Saturnidae). Also a larval host for the Sulphur Moth (Hesperumia sulphuraria), October Thorn (Synaxis jubararia) and Banks’s Emerald Moth (Chlorosea banksaria) – attractive geometers – and other moths.
Holodiscus dumosus. Rock Spiraea. Rosaceae. Listed as a larval host for Weidemeyer’s Admiral (Hostplants) and is also one of the larval hosts for the Sulphur Moth.
Horkelia californica. California Horkelia. Rosaceae. Mission Blue in San Francisco. Two species on San Bruno Mountain. Two-banded Skipper larval host (Shapiro).
Horkelia cuneata. Wedge-leaf Horkelia. Rosaceae. California Hairstreak.
Horkelia tenuiloba. Thin-lobed Horkelia. Rosaceae. Larval host for Two-banded Skipper.
Hyptis emoryi. Desert Lavender. Lamiaceae. Becker’s White, Checkered White, Sara Orangetip, Sleepy Orange, Great Purple Hairstreak, ‘Loki’ Juniper Hairstreak, Bramble Hairstreak, Silvery Blue, Sonoran Blue, Acmon Blue, Desert Metalmark, California Patch, Variable Checkerspot, Quino Checkerspot, Painted Lady, Funereal Duskywing, Powdered Skipper. Beautiful moths, too; Cisthene spp. (lichen moths). In the Anza-Borrego area Desert Lavender attracts more species of butterflies than any other plant; the Monroes found 18 species of butterflies visiting its flowers. Also one of the many larval hosts for the Gray Hairstreak.
Iris douglasiana. Douglas Iris. Iridaceae. Checkerspot, copper and swallowtail butterflies (Backyard Birding). Shapiro doubts this, particularly the copper, with its short proboscis. The book was the sole source for this record – perhaps butterflies were seen investigating the flowers? They ‘try’ many.
Isocoma sp. Goldenbush. Asteraceae. ‘Siva’ and ‘Loki’ Juniper Hairstreak.
Isocoma acradenia. Alkali Goldenbush. Asteraceae. Monroes: Queen, Checkered White, Variegated Fritillary, Great Purple Hairstreak, Leda Ministreak, Western Pygmy Blue, Palmer’s Metalmark, Painted Lady, Mojave Sootywing, Northern White-Skipper, Juba Skipper, Sandhill Skipper. In their Anza-Borrego study the Monroes recorded 14 species of butterflies at nectar on Alkali Goldenbush, which flowers from August to November – one of their best plants.
Isocoma menziesii. Coast Golden Bush. Asteraceae. Tree of Life Nursery recommends for butterfly nectar.
Isocoma menziesii var. vernonioides. Green-leaved Dune Goldenbush. Asteraceae. Orsak notes it as a favorite at Upper Newport Bay with the Sachem, Woodland Skipper, Wandering Skipper, and Sandhill Skipper.
Isomeris arborea. Bladderpod. Capparaceae. Monarch. The Monroes find it one of the best in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park recording: Becker’s White, Sara Orangtip, Bramble Hairstreak, Silvery Blue, Funereal Duskywing. It may work so well in desert situations because of its ability to flower most years and over a long period. Flowers rarely visited in Shapiro’s experience; cabbage white may use as a larval host in gardens (Shapiro, personal communication). Becker’s White larval host (Heath). Hummingbirds.
Ivesia spp. Yellow Ivesias. Rosaceae. Visited by a number of butterflies in its range, including Mountain-Mahogany Hairstreak and Tailed Copper.
Juniperus californica. California Juniper. Important foodplant for the Sequoia Sphinx. Also serve the ‘Loki’ and ‘Siva’ Hairstreaks.
Justicia californica. Beloperone or Chuparosa. Acanthaceae. West Coast Lady. Monroes: ‘Desert’ Black Swallowtail, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Cloudless Sulphur. Hummingbirds. Larval host for Tiny Checkerspot (Heath); the Monroes observe: "With sufficient winter/spring rains, they may flutter in abundance around Chuparosa."
Keckiella antirrhinoides. Yellow Bush Snapdragon. Scrophulariaceae. Probably attracts butterflies as a larval host rather than nectar plant. Larval host for Quino Checkerspot and Variable Checkerspot (Scott). Buckeye and American Painted Lady also use Antirrhinum (Syn. Keckiella) as larval hosts.
Keckiella breviflora. Yawning Penstemon. Scrophulariaceae. Larval host for Variable Checkerspot and for a wasp mimic moth, Penstemonia dammersi.
Keckiella cordifolia. Heart-leaved Penstemon. Scrophulariaceae. Larval host for Variable Checkerspot. Very choice hummingbird plant.
Keckiella ternata. Scarlet Beardtongue. Scrophulariaceae. Larval host for Variable Checkerspot.
Koeleria macrantha. Junegrass. Poaceae. Foodplant for the Columbia Skipper.
Larrea tridentata. Creosote Bush. Zygophyllaceae. Western Pygmy Blue (Monroes).
Lasthenia spp. Goldfields. Asteraceae. Quino Checkerspot. Visited by many species of butterflies in very early spring when little else in flower – Acmon Blue, Silvery Blue, Eastern Tailed Blue, Mylitta Crescent, California Ringlet, Sandhill Skipper, Least Checkered Skipper, Common Checkered Skipper, Buckeye, Ladies – almost anything flying (Shapiro). Adela and Schinia spp. (Thorp & Leong). Heliothoides diminutiva – small day-flying moth.
Lasthenia californica. Goldfields. Asteraceae. Edith’s Checkerspot, Common Ringlet, Skippers, Three-striped Longhorn (Adela trigrapha, Incurvariidae), Kern Primrose Sphinx Moth. See Lasthenia spp. above – this the most common species.
Lathyrus spp. Wild Peas. Fabaceae. Arctic Skipper, Roadside Skipper. Shapiro comments: "The NATIVE species only are larval hosts for Eastern Tailed Blue, Western Tailed Blue, Western Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, Silver-spotted Skipper, and Northern Cloudy-wing."
Lathyrus jepsonii. Delta Tule Pea. Fabaceae. Larval host for Orange Sulphur, Western-tailed Blue, Silvery Blue.
Lathyrus lanszwertii. Nevada Pea. Fabaceae. Larval host for Queen Alexandra Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, Western Sulphur.
Lathyrus polyphyllus. Oregon Pea. Fabaceae. Larval host of Western Tailed Blue, Northern Blue.
Lathryrus torreyi. Redwood Pea. Fabaceae. Larval host for Northern Blue.
Lathyrus vestitus. Pacific Pea. Fabaceae. ‘provides nectar for a number of adult butterflies’ – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Lathyrus vestitus var. orchropetalus. Pacific Pea. Fabaceae.
Lavatera assurgentiflora. Tree Mallow. Malvaceae. Larval host for West Coast Lady. Outstanding for hummingbirds.
Layia platyglossa. Tidy-tips. Asteraceae. Edith’s Checkerspot, Common Ringlet, Painted Lady, American Lady. Shapiro notes it is especially visited by many species in very early spring when little else in flower – also Acmon Blue, Silvery Blue, Eastern Tailed Blue, Mylitta Crescent, Buckeye, Ladies, Sandhill Skipper, Least Checkered Skipper, Common Checkered Skipper – almost anything flying. Also serves various moths (Moldenke). Online photograph shows a lovely specimen of Schinia pulchripennis, a day-flying moth, at nectar on tidy tips. Monroes: Arrowhead Blue and White Checkered Skipper nectars on it in eastern San Diego County.
Ledum glandulosum. Western Labrador Tea. Ericaceae. Shapiro: "Very popular with Great Arctic, Anglewings and Gossamer-wings in bogs in NW California and south to Butterfly Valley in Plumas County." Good for moths, also.
Lepechinia calycina. Pitcher Sage. Lamiaceae. Variable Checkerspot. Shapiro: "Never seen a butterfly visit it." Perhaps getting in through carpenter bee bites? Good bee plant and interesting beetles.
Lepidospartum squamatum. Scale Broom. Asteraceae. Nectar for butterflies including Fatal Metalmark, Mormon Metalmark, Common Buckeye, Great Purple Hairstreak, Umber Skipper. Also visted by the Tarantula Hawk wasp.
Lepidium densiflorum. Common Peppergrass. Brassicaceae. Larval host for Western White, Checkered White.
Lepidium fremontii. Bush Peppergrass. Brassicaceae. Larval host for Small Marble, Western White, Checkered White.
Lepidium nitidum. Shining Peppergrass. Brassicaceae. Bay Checkerspot.
Lepidium virginicum. Wild Peppergrass. Brassicaceae. Checkered White. Larval host for Small Marble, Becker’s White, Western White, Checkered White.
Leptodactylon californicum is now Linanthus californicus. Prickly Phlox. Polemoniaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail is a consistent pollinator; other recorded visitors include an unidentified Hairstreak, Northern Cloudy-wing, an unidenified Duskywing, Woodland Skipper, Snowberry Clearwing, Clark’s sphinx, and White-lined Sphinx. Listed among foodplants for the Buckwheat Borer.
Lessingia spp. Asteraceae. ‘butterflies’.
Lessingia filaginifolia is now Corethrogyne filaginifolia. California Corethrogyne. Asteraceae. Las Pilitas Nursery finds it attracts: "a host of butterflies from skippers to swallowtails". Orange Sulphur, Harford’s Sulphur, Cabbage White, Marine Blue, American Lady, West Coast Lady, Red Admiral, Columbia Skipper, Fiery Skipper, Umber Skipper. Larval host for Gabb’s Checkerspot (Heath).
Lessingia glandulifera var. glandulifera. Valley Lessingia. Asteraceae. Acmon Blue.
Limnanthes gracilis ssp. parishii. Parish’s Meadowfoam. This endangered plant is a nectar source for Boisduval’s Blue and and a newly described tiny subspecies (peninsularis) of the Mormon Metalmark in eastern San Diego County (Monroes).
Limonium californicum. California Sea-lavender. Plumbaginaceae.
Linanthus androsaceus is now Leptosiphon androsaceus. Baby Stars. Polemoniaceae. Edith’s Checkerspot, Common Ringlet, Mylitta Crescent. Powell & Hogue note Baby Stars is a larval host for Three-striped Longhorn (Adela trigrapha, Incurvariidae)
Linanthus dichotomus. Evening Snow. Polemoniaceae. White-lined Sphinx. A California study revealed that formerly recognized northern California subspecies meridianus, whose flowers open at noon, received daytime visits from California Ringlet and Clark’s Sphinx moth and other bees and flies and an unidentified butterfly. Noctuid moths were observed as night visitors. There seemed to be a relatively low rate of visitation (Chess, Raguso and LeBuhn).
Linanthus grandiflorus is now Leptosiphon grandiflorus. California Phlox. Polemoniaceae. Unidentified Lady butterfly.
Linanthus nuttallii is now Leptosiphon nuttallii. Bushy Linanthus or Nuttall’s Linanthus. Polemoniaceae. Propertius Duskywing, Artful Duskywing.
Linanthus parviflorus is now Leptosiphon parviflorus. False Babystars. Polemoniaceae. Adela simpliciella, Edith’s Checkerspot. Larval host for Three-striped Longhorn.
Linnea borealis. Twin Flower. Caprifoliaceae. Dun Skipper.
Linum lewisii. Blue Flax. Linaceae. Checkered White, American Lady. Likely rather secondary as a nectar plant -- Shapiro doesn’t recall seeing a butterfly visit this species.
Lippa sp. (Syn. for Phyla, see). Frogfruit.
Lithocarpus densiflorus is now Notholithocarpus densiflorus. Tanoak. Fagaceae. A foodplant for the Golden Hairstreak.
Lithospermum californicum. California Stoneseed. Boraginaceae. Shapiro finds it "an excellent all-around butterfly plant in the Sierra Nevada – all families but a special favorite of checkerspots."
Lithospermum ruderale. Lemonweed. Boraginaceae. Large Marble.
Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens. Cardinal Flower. Campanulaceae. Pipevine Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, American Snout, White-lined Sphinx. Great for hummingbirds.
Lobelia dunnii var. serrata. Blue Lobelia. Campanulaceae. Las Pilitas Nursery: "butterflies large and small love it from skippers to swallowtails"; Western Tiger Swallowtail, Monarch. Also Painted Lady, Northern White Skipper (Butterworth).
Lomatium spp. Apiaceae. Western Pine Elfin, Moss’s Elfin, Thicket Hairstreak, Anise Swallowtail, Silvery Blue, Mission Blue, moths. Larval hosts for Anise and Indra Swallowtails.
Lomatium californicum. Chu-chu-pate. Apiaceae. Important larval host for Anise Swallowtail and Indra Swallowtail.
Lomatium dasycarpum. Woollyfruit Desertparsley. Apiaceae. Edith’s Checkerspot, Green Hairstreak, San Bruno Elfin, Mylitta Crescent. Larval host for Anise Swallowtail.
Lomatium grayi. Gray’s Lomatium. Apiaceae. Larval host for one of the smallest Indra Swallowtail races (Whaley).
Lomatium hallii. Hall’s Lomatium. Apiaceae. Nectar plant for Western Pine Elfin, Moss’s Elfin, Anise Swallowtail – this species and "Lomatiums in general" (Eugene-Springfield Oregon NABA chapter).
Lomatium marginatum.Butte Desert-parsley. Apiaceae. Larval host for Indra Swallowtail.
Lomatium parryi. Parry’s Lomatium. Apiaceae. Larval host for Indra Swallowtail.
Lomatium triternatum. Nineleaf Biscuitroot. Apiaceae. Larval host for Indra Swallowtail, but not documented for California populations (Whaley).
Lomatium utriculatum. Bladder Parsnip. Apiaceae. Common Ringlet, Edith’s Checkerspot (fq), San Bruno Elfin (a primary nectar source), Sonoran Blue, Flame Longhorn and two other day-flying moths. Larval host for Anise Swallowtail.
Lonicera ciliosa. Orange Honeysuckle. Caprifoliaceae. Hummingbird pollinated. Western Tiger Swallowtails also visit the flowers.
Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans. California Honeysuckle. Caprifoliaceae. Swallowtails.
Lonicera interrupta. Chaparral Honeysuckle. Caprifoliaceae. Larval host for Edith’s Checkerspot.
Lonicera involucrata. Twin Berry. Caprifoliaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail seen in online photograph. Great for hummingbirds. Among larval hosts for Edith’s Checkerspot. In the days after a severe October 2009 storm, Barbara Deutsch, a butterfly gardener at Tomales Bay, observed Anglewings and other insects lining up along the cracks in its battered stems avidly feeding on liquids in the injured portions of the plants .
Lonicera subspicata. Santa Barbara Honeysuckle. Caprifoliaceae. Nectar for a number of butterflies – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains. Mournful Duskywing (Nature Shutterbug). Larval host for Snowberry Clearwing.
Lotus sp. Fabaceae. Quino Checkerspot, looking for early season flowers.
Lotus crassifolius. Big Deervetch. Fabaceae. Not listed as a nectar source but as an important larval host for Silver-spotted Skipper, Northern Cloudy-wing, Persius Duskywing, Bramble Hairstreak, Western Sulphur and possibly others (Shapiro) – whose reproductive urges draw them to the plant.
Lotus oblongifolius var. nevadensis. Streambank Bird’s-foot Trefoil. Fabaceae. Nectar plant and larval host for Anna Blue in its native range.
Lotus purshianus. Spanish Clover. Fabaceae. Attracted 8 species of butterflies to a Sacramento prairie restoration planting, including the Acmon Blue and Eastern Tailed Blue, which also employ it as a larval host as do the Silvery Blue, Melissa Blue, Persius Duskywing, Orange Sulphur and Gray Hairstreak. A foodplant for the Afranius Duskywing, also, according to Butterflies of Arizona. Shapiro considers Spanish Clover "the most useful summer annual in our grassland flora" for butterflies.
Lotus rigidus. Desert Lotus. Fabaceae. Monroes: Sara Orangetip, Sleepy Orange
Lotus scoparius. Chaparral Broom. Fabaceae. ‘Desert’ Black Swallowtail, Acmon Blue, Marine Blue, Silvery Blue, Western Tailed Blue, Ceraunus Blue, Sleepy Orange, Orange Sulphur, Whites, Painted Lady, Brown Elfin, Funereal Duskywing, Sandhill Skipper, Common Checkered Skipper, Fiery Skipper, Umber Skipper, Bramble Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak. Larval host for Orange Sulphur, Acmon Blue, Marine Blue, Eastern Tailed Blue, Alexandra Sulphur. Shapiro notes that in general this species is used much more heavily in southern California than in northern California. A very important butterfly plant in southern California for NABA butterfly gardeners. Also listed as a foodplant for the Painted Tiger Moth and Vestal Tiger Moth.
Lotus strigosus. Bishop Lotus. Fabaceae. Monroes: California Patch. Larval host for Orange Sulphur, Bramble Hairstreak, Acmon Blue.
Lotus wrangelianus. Calf Lotus. Fabaceae. Larval host for Orange Sulphur.
Ludwigia peploides. Water Primrose. Onagraceae. Sachem, Eufala Skipper.
Lupinus spp. Lupines. Fabaceae. Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Skippers, Gray Hairstreak, Thicket Hairstreak, Orange Sulphur, Boisduval’s Blue. Shapiro notes their value tends to be greatest as larval host plants; lupines generally serve as nectar plants for very few butterflies.
Lupinus albicaulis. Sickle-keeled Lupine. Fabaceae. Boisduval’s Blue; also a larval plant for it.
Lupinus arboreus. Yellow Bush Lupine. Fabaceae. Larval host for Silvery Blue, Mission Blue, and the Ranchman’s Tiger Moth (Platyprepia virginalis, Arctiidae) – a large, strikingly colorful day-flying moth of early summer.
Lupinus arbustus. Spur Lupine. Fabaceae. Boisduval’s Blue; also a larval plant for it.
Lupinus albifrons. Silver Bush Lupine. Fabaceae. ‘Great’ for butterflies (Las Pilitas Nursery). Blues, painted ladies, gray hairstreaks, skippers (Yerba Buena Nursery). Larval host for Boisduval’s Blue, Arrowhead Blue. "Great as a host plant" (Shapiro).
Lupinus chamissonis. Dune Bush Lupine. Fabaceae. Larval host for Boisduval’s Blue.
Lupinus excubitus. Grape Soda Lupine.Fabaceae. Larval host for Boisduval’s Blue, Arrowhead Blue. Monroes: larval host for Silvery Blue and Melissa Blue, also.
Lupinus formosus. Summer Lupine. Fabaceae. Larval host for Boisduval’s Blue.Monroes: larval host for Silvery Blue and Arrowhead Blue, also.
Lupinus hirsutissimus.Stinging Lupine. Fabaceae. Larval host for Arrowhead Blue.
Lupinus latifolius. Broad-leaved Lupine. Fabaceae. Larval host for Western Sulphur, Persius Duskywing, and Boisduval’s Blue.
Lupinus polyphyllus. Bigleaf Lupine. Fabaceae. Larval host for Anna Blue in Sierra Nevada (Shapiro); also Silvery Blue (Hostplants).
Lupinus rivularis. Riverbank Lupine. Fabaceae. Silvery Blue and others.
Lupinus sparsiflorus. Coulter’s Lupine. Fabaceae.
Lupinus succulentus. Succulent Lupine. Fabaceae. "Many" butterflies – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains. This easily cultivated annual is a larval host for Orange Sulphur, Silvery Blue, Boisduval’s Blue, and West Coast Lady.
Lupinus truncatus. Collar Lupine. Fabaceae.
Lycium andersonii. Anderson Thornbush. Solanaceae. Ford’s Swallowtail.
Lycium brevipes. Baja Wolfberry. Solanaceae. Anza-Borrego Natural History Association web site: 26 Jan 09 "mobbed by butterflies at Clark Lake". Said to be a favorite of the Funereal Duskywing. Monroes: Western Pygmy Blue.
Lycium fremontii. Fremont’s Wolfberry. Solanaceae. Recommended for butterflies by Desert Survivors Nursery.
Lycopus americanus. American Water Horehound. Lamiaceae. Viceroy, Clouded Sulphur, Melissa Blue, Common Sootywing, Tawny-edged Skipper, Yellow-Collared Scape Moth.
Lythrum sp. Loosestrife. Lythraceae. Field Crescent. Likely was Lythrum californicum.
Machaeranthera asteroides var. lagunensis is now Dieteria asteroides var. laguensis. Laguna Mountain Aster. Asteraceae. ‘Great’ for butterflies – Las Pilitas Nursery.
Machaeranthera canescens is now Dieteria canescens. Hoary Aster. Asteraceae. Larval host for Acastus Checkerspot.
Madia spp. Good butterfly nectar plants – Growing Native.
Madia elegans. Common Madia. Asteraceae. California Ringlet, Edith’s Checkerspot. Good nectar plant for butterflies – Growing Native. Larval host for Heliothoides diminutivus, a day-flying Noctuid moth.
Malacothamnus spp. Bush Mallows. Malvaceae. Buckeye, Red Admiral, Large White Skipper. "All Malacothamnus are hosts of the Large White Skipper, Heliopetes ericetorum" (Shapiro).
Malacothamnus densiflorus. Shrub Globemallow. Malvaceae. Nectar source and larval host for Large White Skipper in eastern San Diego County (Monroes).
Malacothamnus fasciculatus. Common Bush Mallow. Malvaceae. ‘Great’ for butterflies – Las Pilitas Nursery. "Painted ladies, buckeyes, skippers, monarchs, red admirals, fiery skippers (other Malacothamnus spp. the same)" – Yerba Buena Nursery. Larval host for West Coast Lady and Northern White Skipper.
Malacothamnus palmeri. Santa Lucia Bush Mallow. Malvaceae. Larval host for Common Checkered Skipper.
Malacothrix spp. Desertdandelion. Good butterfly nectar plants – Growing Native.
Malacothrix saxatilis. Cliff Aster. Asteraceae.
Malosma laurina. Laurel Sumac. Anacardiaceae. Larval host for Ceanothus Silkmoth, Walters’ Saturnia Moth and geometrids Cochisea sinuaria and Dichorda illustraria (a mostly green moth).
Malus fusca. Oregon Crab Apple. Rosaceae. Said to attract butterflies. Foodplant for the Unicorn Caterpillar Moth.
Malvella leprosa. Alkali Mallow. Malvaceae. Columella Hairstreak. Larval host for White Checkered Skipper, Least Checkered Skipper, Western Coast Lady, Columella Hairstreak.
Marah fabaceus. Manroot. Cucurbitaceae. Green Hairstreak in San Francisco. "Never seen a butterfly at it myself" (Shapiro). This and M. oreganus are foodplants for Melitta gloriosa, the largest and most spectacular North American sesid (wasp mimic); the caterpillars are borers.
Marina parryi. Parry Dalea. Parry’s False Prairie-clover. Fabaceae. Foodplant for Southern Dogface (Butterflies of Arizona).
Mentha spp. Mint. Lamiaceae. Anise Swallowtail, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Checkered White, Monarch, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, American Painted Lady, Clodius Parnassian, Callippe Fritillary, Field Crescent, Oreas Anglewing, Pacuvius Dusky-wing, Common Checkered Skipper, Dodge’s Skipper (fq).
Mentha arvensis. Field Mint. Lamiaceae. American Snout, Cabbage White. This is the one true mint species considered native to California. ‘Great’ for butterflies (Las Pilitas Nursery). Likely are Gray Hairstreak, Silver-spotted Skipper, Sachem, and others listed under Mentha spp. above.
Menyanthes trifoliata. Bogbean. Menyanthaceae. A larval host for the Nevada Buckmoth.
Mertensia spp. Bluebells. Boraginaceae. Flowers are said to attract butterflies, according to Butterfly Gardening in the Pacific Northwest. Mertensia spp. are foodplants for a striking mid-summer day-flying moth, the black-and-white Police Car Moth (Gnophaela vermiculata, Arctiidae), reported from Tuolumne County. Mertensia ciliata, Streamside Bluebells, is listed as a foodplant for the Variable Checkerspot.
Microseris douglasii. Douglas’ Silverpuffs. Asteraceae. Bay Checkerspot.
Mimulus aurantiacus, M. longiflorus. Bush Monkeyflower. Scrophulariaceae. Variable Checkerspot, Sara Orange-tip. Hummingbirds. Principal butterfly value is as a larval host for Variable Checkerspot and Buckeye. Favorite foodplant for the Variable Checkerspot in the San Francisco Bay region.
Mimulus cardinalis. Scarlet Monkeyflower. Scrophulariaceae. Cabbage White, Checkered White, Checkerspots, Painted Lady, Common Ringlet (NABA Malibu). Hummingbirds. Shapiro doesn’t recall seeing a butterfly visit this common plant in 38 years of observation in central California. Perhaps these represent visits through carpenter bee bites – or an example of butterfly ‘regional cuisine’!
Mimulus moschatus. Musk Monkeyflower. Scrophulariaceae. Larval host for Buckeye.
Mirabilis multiflora. Wild Four o’Clock. Nyctaginaceae. Ashy Sphinx, Tobacco Hornworm, White-lined Sphinx, Great Ash Sphinx, Achemon Sphinx, Five-spotted Hawkmoth.
Monarda pectinata. Pony Beebalm. Lamiaceae. The Firefly Forest web site says that it blooms in August and September in Arizona and that its "white flowers seemed to be very popular with Northern Cloudywing butterflies" -- with photographs. Also native to California.
Monardella spp. Lamiaceae. ‘Especially fritillaries and skippers’ – Shapiro. American Painted Lady, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Monarch, Hoffman’s Checkerspot, Great Basin Wood Nymph, Great Arctic, several Fritillaries, Tilden’s Skipper, Lindsey’s Skipper. Online photographs show Lorquin’s Admiral, Common Checkerspots, and Pale Swallowtail nectaring on Monardella, most likely mostly M. villosa. Shapiro finds "all Monardella are great" butterfly nectar plants..
Monardella antonina. San Antonio Hills Monardella. Lamiaceae. Especially fine species for butterflies, according to Las Pilitas Nursery; said to be a Monarch favorite.
Monardella australis. Southern Mountain Monardella. Lamiaceae. Las Pilitas Nursery: ‘a GREAT butterfly plant’!
Monardella odoratissima ssp. pallida. Pallid Mountain Monardella. Lamiaceae. Pete Veilleux photograph shows cf. Calippe Fritillary. Top butterfly draw in Native Revival Nursery in Aptos on an early September visit.
Monardella purpurea X villosa. Monardella ‘subglabra’. Lamiaceae.
Monardella undulata. Curly Leaf Monardella. Lamiaceae. Silverspots. An annual of various coastal habitats.
Monardella villosa. Coyote Mint. Lamiaceae. An excellent butterfly plant. California Dogface, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, Monarch, Red Admiral, Lorquin’s Admiral, West Coast Lady, Variable Checkerspot, Northern Checkerspot, Leanira Checkerspot, Callippe
Monotropa uniflora. Indian Pipe. Ericaceae. Silver-spotted Skipper (Shields; from Clark, A.H. 1932. The butterflies of the District of Columbia & vicinity, U.S. National Museum Bulletin 157:1-337). Indian Pipe is a strange plant; parasitic, it has no chlorophyll; the whole plant ghostly white.
Muilla maritima. Common Muilla. Liliaceae. Visited by the Flame Longhorn, a day-flying moth, and an important early nectar plant for the endangered Bay Checkerspot.
Navarretia spp. Polemoniaceae. Likely others in this genus (besides those mentioned below) are good butterfly plants, also.
Navarretia hamata. Hooked Pincushionplant. Polemoniaceae. Common Checkerspot.
Navarretia leucocephala ssp. leucocephala. White Navarretia. Polemoniaceae. "A favorite nectar source for a number of small blue and copper butterflies."(Plants of Mather Field web site). Shapiro adds: Ringlet, Sylvan Hairstreak, and California Hairstreak.
Nemophila menziesii. Baby Blue Eyes. Hydrophyllaceae. Kern Primrose Sphinx Moth. California Ringlet, photographed in Napa Co. by Greg K. Seems to be rarely visited nowadays, but seems likely to me it was more important historically, when this was one of our most abundant wildflowers and in flower very early.
Oemleria cerasiformis. Osoberry. Rosaceae. Brown Elfin. Among the many larval hosts for the Rusty Shoulder Knot Moth (Aseptis binotata, Noctuidae).
Oenanthe sarmentosa. Pacific Water Parsley. Apiaceae. Great Copper. Larval host for Anise Swallowtail.
Oenothera californica. California Evening Primrose. Onagraceae. Moths (Pollinator Partnership).
Oenothera elata var hookeri. Hooker’s Evening Primrose. Onagraceae. White-lined Sphinx.
Olneya tesota. Desert Ironwood. Fabaceae. Larval host for Funereal Duskywing.
Orobanche fasciculata. Clustered Broomrape. Orobanchaceae. Larval host for Variable Checkerspot.
Oxytropis spp. False Locoweeds. Fabaceae. Blues, Sulphurs. Found mostly in montane and desert regions and serve more as larval hosts than nectar sources (Shapiro).
Oxytropis parryi. Parry’s Loco Weed. Fabaceae. Larval host for Shasta Blue.
Palafoxiaarida. Spanish Needle. Asteraceae. Monroes: Sara Orangetip, Becker’s White, Checkered White, White Checkered Skipper; they listed nine species in all, putting Spanish Needle in the top ten of Anza-Borrego nectar plants. "Many" (Butterfly Gardening for the Rio Grande Valley of Texas). Nectar plant and larval host for Dainty Sulphur. Larval host for Schinia niveicosta.
Pectis papposa. Cinchweed. Asteraceae. Monroes: White Checkered-Skipper. Larval host for Dainty Sulphur.
Pedicularis densiflora. Indian Warrior. Scrophulariaceae. Propertius Duskywing (Moldenke; "occasional" -- 4-10 captures on the flowers). Shapiro: "Pedicularis ... are larval hosts of some populations of Edith’s Checkerspot. Flowers are not normally visited by butterflies, which can’t get in." Mostly hummingbirds. A photograph on the Butterflies of America web site shows a Pale Swallowtail which appears to be at nectar on Indian Warrior.
Penstemon spp. Beardtongues. Scrophulariaceae. Anise Swallowtail. Shapiro has mostly noted butterflies getting access to nectar through carpenter bee bites at the base of the corollas, especially tailed coppers – except for Pipevine Swallowtail, which commonly visits red species. Penstemons are thought to be "engineered" to be bee flowers, not to serve butterflies. Several are larval hosts of popululations of Variable or Edith’s Checkerspots and sporadically of the Buckeye, which may account for butterfly interest. Hummingbirds like Penstemons.
Penstemon azureus. Azure Penstemon. Scrophulariaceae. Larval host for Buckeye.
Penstemon centranthifolius. Scarlet Bugler. Scrophulariaceae. Pale Swallowtail. Hummingbirds.
Penstemon heterophyllus. Foothill Penstemon. and cultivars ‘Zuriblau’ & ‘Blue Springs’. Scrophulariaceae. Larval host for Variable Checkerspot and Buckeye.
Petasites palmatus. Coltsfoot. Asteraceae. Anise Swallowtail, Sara Orange-tip, Margined White, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell. Larval host for Old World Swallowtail (Hostplants).
Phacelia sp. Hydrophyllaceae. Small Marble, Propertius Duskywing. Shapiro says almost all Phacelia species are top notch butterfly nectar plants.
Phacelia brachyloba. Shortlobe Phacelia. Hydrophyllaceae. Common Checkerspot.
Phacelia californica. California Phacelia. Hydrophyllaceae. An important nectar source for the endangered Mission Blue. ‘Many’ species (NABA). Blues (Pete Veilleaux).
Phacelia distans. Common Phacelia. Hydrphyllaceae. "We have seen a number of ... butterflies nectaring ... including ... Funereal Duskywing and Mourning Cloak" – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains. Monroes: Sara Orangetip, Harford’s Sulphur, Painted Lady, California Patch, Arizona Powdered Skipper, Sleepy Duskywing, Orange Skipperling.
Phacelia hastata. Silver-leaved Scorpionweed. Hydrophyllaceae. Gray Hairstreak; said to attract "a diverse assortment" of butterflies.
Phacelia tanacetifolia. Tansyleaf Phacelia or Beefood. Hydrophyllaceae. Orange Sulphur, West Coast Lady, Buckeye, a grass skipper; moths. Great for a diversity of bees; beeflies, too.
Philadelphus lewisii. Western Mock Orange. Philadelphaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Swallowtails, Sulphurs, Common Wood Nymph, Gold-hunter’s Hairstreak. ‘Many species’. Also the double-flowered cultivar ‘Goose Creek’. Shapiro finds this species visited sporadically, not heavily. Moths, too.
Phlox dolichantha. Bear Valley Phlox. Polemoniaceae. White-lined Sphinx.
Phlox gracilis is now Microsteris gracilis. Slender Phlox. Polemoniaceae. Sara Orange-tip – an early spring nectar source on Figueroa Mountain, 2 February 2009 (Nature Shutterbug on Flickr).
Phyla lanceolata. Northern Frogfruit. Verbenaceae. Clouded Sulphur, Eastern Tailed Blue, Mylitta Crescent, Fiery Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper. Larval host and nectar plant for Mat-plant Crescent and Common Buckeye. Probably serves the same butterflies as the following species. Phyla also is known as Lippia – formerly more commonly sold as a groundcover.
Physocarpus capitatus. Ninebark. Rosaceae. Lady, Spring Azure, likely Red Admiral, others.
Pinus coulteri. Coulter Pine. Pinaceae. Foodplant for Pandora Pinemoth.
Pinus jeffreyi. Jeffrey Pine. Pinaceae. Foodplant for the Pine White.
Pinus lambertiana. Sugar Pine. Pinaceae. Foodplant for Pandora Pinemoth, Silver-spotted Tiger Moth and the Sequoia Pitch Moth (a wasp mimic).
Pinus muricata. Bishop Pine. Pinaceae. Foodplant for the Western Pine Elfin and Sequoia Pitch Moth.
Pinus ponderosa. Ponderosa Pine. Pinaceae. Foodplant for the Pine White, Pandora Pinemoth, and many other moths.
Plantago spp. Plantains. Plantaginaceae. Wind-pollinated, their attraction for butterflies is as larval hosts. Some of the native species are Plantago erecta, P. ovata, P. subnuda. Quino Checkerspot larval host in southern California. Shapiro: "Plantains are also larval hosts of the Buckeye and some populations of Edith’s Checkerspot in northern California.". Naturalized non-native species are important foodplants for the Buckeye.
Plectritis ciliosa. Longspur Seablush. Valerianaceae. Reported as a larval host for Edith’s Checkerspot (Hostplants). A Valerianaceae as a larval host for it seems quite unlikely to Shapiro.
Plectritis congesta. Seablush. Valerianaceae. Good nectar source for early spring butterflies (Oregon NABA).
Plectritis macrocera. White Plectritis. Valerianaceae. Three-striped Longhorn (Adela trigrapha, Incurvariidae), Schinia sp., Common Ringlet.
Pluchea odorata. Salt Marsh Fleabane. Asteraceae. Attracts ‘a variety of butterflies’ (Shapiro).
Pluchea sericea. Desert Arrowweed. Monroes: Checkered White, Great Purple Hairstreak, Western Pgymy Blue, Mojave Sootywing, Eufala Skipper, Orange Skipperling. The Monroes recorded ten species of butterflies at nectar on Desert Arrowweed in the Anza-Borrego area.
Polemonium spp. Polemoniaceae. Flowers of plants of this genus attract butterflies, according to Butterfly Gardening in the Pacific Northwest.
Polygonum spp. Smartweed. Polygonaceae. Purplish Copper, Thicket Hairstreak. Among recorded foodplants for Purplish Copper are: P. amphibium (Water Smartweed), P. douglasii (Douglas’ Knotweed), P. hydropiperoides (Water Pepper), Polygonum lapathifolia (Willow Smartweed), P. punctatum (Dotted Smartweed). Much of the genus soon to be known as Persicaria.
Populus balsamifera var. trichocarpa. Black Cottonwood. Salicaceae. Larval host for Western Tiger Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak, Lorquin’s Admiral, Viceroy, Dreamy Duskywing (in California usually on willows – Shapiro), Blinded Sphinx, One-eyed Sphinx, Yellow-spotted Tiger Moth, many other moths.
Populus fremontii. Fremont Cottonwood. Salicaceae. Larval host for the Western Tiger Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak, Lorquin’s Admiral, Dreamy Duskywing and Persius Duskywing. Larval host for hundreds of species of moths – including Polyphemus Moth, Western Sheepmoth, Nevada Buckmoth, Arched Hooktip, Parathrene robiniae (Sesiidae), Blinded Sphinx, One-eyed Sphinx, and many more in several families, including many of the larger, showier and better-known species. A favorite larval host for the Big Poplar Sphinx.
Populus tremuloides. Quaking Aspen. Larval host for Lorquin’s Admiral, Dreamy Duskywing, Persius Duskywing, Western Tiger Swallowtail, and hundreds of moths, including many large and showy species. Look for sap feeders at sapsucker wounds.
Potentilla fruticosa. Shrubby Cinquefoil. Rosaceae. Monarch, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Hoary Comma, Thicket Hairstreak, Tailed Copper, Ruddy Copper, Boisduval’s Blue, Marine Blue, Reakirt’s Blue, Colias sp., Western White, Small Wood Nymph, American Snout. Seems to be a secondary nectar source in most locations, but can be important where other nectar plants are lacking. Most of these are from VanOverbeke, et. al., a focused study on the value of this plant as a nectar source for butterflies.
Potentilla glandulosa. Sticky Cinquefoil. Rosaceae. Western White. Shapiro has never seen a butterfly visit this plant. Moldenke records moth Adela cf. septrionella ‘common’ (10 - 64 captures in his study). Apparently a secondary nectar source.
Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana. Honey Mesquite. Lamiaceae. American Snout, Mojave Sootywing. Nectar and larval food for Palmer’s Metalmark (Heath), nectar (Monroes) and larval host for Leda Hairstreak, nectar and larval host for Marine Blue (Monroes), larval host for Edwards’s Blue, Reakirt’s Blue (Garth & Tilden). Larval host for Palmer’s Metalmark (Monroes).
Prosopis pubescens. Screwbean Mesquite. Lamiaceae. Nectar and larval host for Marine Blue (Monroes). Larval host for Palmer’s Metalmark (Garth & Tilden) and Reakirt’s Blue (Monroes).
Prunella vulgaris. Self-heal. Lamiaceae. Clouded Sulphur, Cabbage White, Silver-spotted Skipper, American Painted Lady, Great Arctic, Dun Skipper (particularly fond of this source), Tawny-edged Skipper. Dennis listed 21 eastern butterflies visiting its flowers.
Prunus emarginata. Bitter Cherry. Rosaceae. Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Western Banded Elfin. Shapiro: it is an "unpreferred but visited" nectar source. Foodplant for Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Brown Elfin, Western Sheep Moth, and the Red-winged Wave (Dasyfidonia avuncularia, Geometridae), another attractive day-flying species. Also supports caterpillars of the Ceanothus Silk Moth, Wild Cherry Sphinx, Sharp-lined Yellow (Sicya macularia, Geometridae), Sulphur Moth (Hesperumia sulphuraria, Geometridae), and other moths.
Prunus fasciculata. Desert Almond. Rosaceae. Comstock’s Hairstreak, Thicket Hairstreak, Bramble Hairstreak. A larval host for Burns’ Buckmoth and Neumoegen's Buckmoth (Powell & Opler).
Prunus fremontii. Desert Apricot. Rosaceae. Monroes: ‘Desert’ Black Swallowtail, Spring White, Desert Orange-tip, Sara Orange-tip, Brown Elfin, Bramble Hairstreak, Silvery Blue, Acmon Blue, Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Sleepy Duskywing, Funereal Duskywing, Propertius Duskywing. In the top six of Anza-Borrego area butterfly nectar plants, attracting 13 species of butterflies.
Prunus ilicifolia. Hollyleaf Cherry. Rosaceae. Anise Swallowtail, Western Tiger Swallowtail, ‘a variety of other butterflies enjoy the nectar’ (natureshutterbug.com). Foodplant for Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Echo Blue, Elegant Sphinx, Ceanothus Silk Moth, Yellow-spotted Tiger Moth, February Miller, and Autumnal Moth, among others.
Prunus subcordata. Sierra Plum. Rosaceae. Larval host for California Hairstreak, Brown Elfin, Lorquin’s Admiral, Yellow-spotted Tiger Moth, and Leptarctia californiae, an attractive day-flying tiger moth, Red-winged Wave, Dasyfidonia avuncularia – an attractive day-flying geometrid moth, besides the Sharp-lined Yellow and the Sulphur Moth -- attractive noctural yellow geometrids -- and other moths.
Prunus virginiana var. demissa. Western Choke Cherry. Rosaceae. Pale Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Crown Fritillary, Northern Checkerspot, Thicket Hairstreak, Brown Elfin,Western Pine Elfin, Echo Blue, Sequoia Sphinx. Shapiro: "Preferred nectar source, often with many small species in attendance." Foodplant for Western Tiger Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail, Echo Blue, Lorquin’s Admiral, California Hairstreak, Western Sheep Moth, Ceanothus Silk Moth, Wild Cherry Sphinx, Small Eyed Sphinx, Yellow-spotted Tiger Moth, the Sulphur Moth and many other moths.
Pseudotsuga menziesii. Douglas-fir. Pinaceae. Serves as a foodplant for the Pine White and for hundreds of moths, including the Common Grey, Pale Beauty, Western Woodling Moth, Packard’s Girdle, Red Girdle, Bowling Pin, Autumnal Moth, Deceptive Sallow, Comstock’s Sallow, Sulphur Moth, Phantom Hemlock Looper, Ceanothus Silk Moth, Hydriomena speciosata, Silver-spotted Tiger Moth, the Vapourer, Rindge’s Pero, and the Lappet Moth.
Ptelea crenulata. Hoptree. Rutaceae. California Sister, Anise Swallowtail, others. "Everyone" according to the Las Pilitas Nursery. Flowers have strong citrusy aroma. Foodplant for Two-tailed Swallowtail – said to utilize only it in the San Francisco Bay area.
Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens. Bracken Fern. Dennstaedtiaceae. Reported as a foodplant for several moths, including Great Tiger Moth and Brown Tiger Moth.
Purshia glandulosa. Waxy Bitterbrush. Rosaceae. Larval host for Behr’s Hairstreak.
Purshia tridentata. Antelope Bitterbrush. Rosaceae. Shapiro: "Occasionally visited by Juniper Hairstreak, but I don’t know if it gets any nectar!" Larval host for Behr’s Hairstreak and Nuttall’s Sheepmoth. Listed among larval hosts for many other moths, including the Western Sheep Moth, Ceanothus Silk Moth, Sulphur Moth, Darwin’s Green, and Purple Arches.
Pycnanthemum californicum. Sierra or Mountain Mint. Lamiaceae. Pete Veilleaux remembers butterflies liking this plant, which rings true; Hilty records 28 species nectaring on P. tenuifolium, a midwestern species of this genus.
Quercus agrifolia. Coast Live Oak. Fagaceae. Foodplant for caterpillars of California Sister, Propertius Duskywing and Mournful Duskywing. Also for moths such as the Polyphemus Moth, American Dun-bar, Edwards’ Glassywing, Nevada Buckmoth, and the Oak Winter Highflier.
Quercus chrysolepis. Canyon Live Oak. Fagaceae. Foodplant for caterpillars of California Sister and the Golden Hairstreak. Also several moths including Edwards’ Glassywing and Ophelia Underwing.
Quercus douglasii. Blue Oak. Fagaceae. Foodplant for Mournful Duskywing and Gold-hunter’s Hairstreak. Also various moths, including the February Miller.
Quercus durata. Leather Oak. Fagaceae. Recorded as a foodplant for Sleepy Duskywing.
Quercus garryana. Oregon Oak. Fagaceae. Foodplant for Propertius Duskywing and many moths, including Polyphemus Moth, Aholibah Underwing, Verrill’s Underwing, Edwards’ Glassywing, Oak Winter Highflier, Rough Prominent, Lappet Moth, Falcate Synaxis, and the Tissue Moth.
Quercus kelloggii. California Black Oak. Fagaceae. Foodplant for several moths, including Polyphemus Moth, American Dun-bar, and Rough Prominent.
Quercus lobata. Valley Oak. Fagaceae. Listed as a foodplant for the Mournful Duskywing, Gold-hunter’s Hairstreak, and various moths, including the Western Sheep Moth.
Quercus vaccinifolia. Fagaceae. Huckleberry Oak. Caterpillar foodplant for California Sister and Propertius Duskywing. The Golden Hairstreak employs only hybrids of this with Q. chrysolepis, according to Shapiro’s studies, not pure Q. vaccinifolia.
Quercus wislizeni. Interior Live Oak. Fagaceae. Listed as a foodplant for Gold-hunter’s Hairstreak and various mostly obscure smaller moths.
Raillardella argentea. Silky Raillardella. Asteraceae. Ivallda Arctic, one of few flowers it is known to visit (Shapiro).
Ranunculus californicus. California Buttercup. Ranunculaceae. Common Ringlet, Sara Orange-tip, Adela trigrapha (fq), Large Marble, Mylitta Crescent, Bramble Hairstreak.
Ranunculus spp. listed among nectar plants for Columbia Skipper and Large Marble and as a secondary nectar source for the San Bruno Elfin (Steiner). Monroes: Nelson’s Hairstreak. Shapiro doesn’t see butterflies coming to any buttercups. Seems to be a sporadic secondary butterfly nectar source.
Rhamnus californica. California Coffeeberry. Rhamnaceae. Variable Checkerspot, Edith’s Checkerspot, Lorquin’s Admiral, Mourning Cloak, Pale Swallowtail, Gray Hairstreak, Echo Blue, Great Copper, Hedgerow Hairstreak, California Hairstreak. Larval host for Pale Swallowtail and Gray Hairstreak. Shapiro notes that Rhamnus spp. are excellent for small butterflies with short tongues, especially hairstreaks. Powell & Opler believe it to be the major Californian larval host for the tissue moth, Triphosa haesitata, a geometrid and note it as one of the foodplants for the Ceanothus Silkmoth.
Rhamnus crocea. Redberry. Rhamnaceae. Foodplant for the Hermes Copper and Pale Swallowtail. Also listed as a foodplant for the Ceanothus Silkmoth, Vestal Tiger Moth, and California Tissue Moth.
Rhamnus tomentella. Hoary Coffeeberry. Rhamnaceae. Variable Checkerspot, Lorquin’s Admiral. Larval host for Spring Azure (Monroes).
Rhododendron macrophyllum. Rose Bay. Ericaceae. Larval host for the Ten-spotted Rhododendron Moth (Dysstroma sobria, Geometridae).
Rhododendron occidentale. Western Azalea. Ericaceae. Pipevine Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Satyr Anglewing, Brown Elfin. Shapiro finds it infrequently visited. Caterpillar foodplant for the Rustic Anglewing.
Rhus integrifolia. Lemonade Berry. Anacardiaceae. Foodplant for Walters’ Saturnia Moth.
Rhus trilobata. Squaw Bush. Anacardiaceae. Very attractive to checkerspots; Edith’s Checkerspot, a favorite of Johnson’s Hairstreak & Common Checkerspot. Foodplant for Dichorda illustraria (a green geometrid), Neumogen’s Buckmoth, and other moths.
Ribes spp. Currants and Gooseberries. Grossulariaceae. Large Marble, Thicket Hairstreak. Larval hosts for Zephyr Anglewing, Tailed Copper. Hummingbirds visit currant and gooseberry flowers.
Ribes aureum var. gracillimum. Golden Currant. Grossulariaceae. Monarch, Anise Swallowtail, Clark’s Sphinx.
Ribes californicum. California Gooseberry. Grossulariaceae. California Dogface.
Ribes malvaceum. Chaparrral Currant. Grossulariaceae. Butterflies seeking nectar include Western Tiger Swallowtail – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Ribes quercetorum. Oak Gooseberry. Grossulariaceae. Monroes: West Coast Lady.
Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum. Pink Flowering Currant. Grossulariaceae. Western Pine Elfin, Spring Azure, Western Brown Elfin. Outstanding for hummingbirds. Larval host for Zephyr Anglewing, Tailed Copper, Cloudy Copper.
Rorippa curvisiliqua. Western Yellowcress. Brassicaceae. Foodplant for caterpillars of the Western White.
Rorippa palustris. Bog Yellowcress. Foodplant for Gray-veined White.
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum is now Nasturtium officinale. Watercress. Brassicaceae. Large White Skipper (Orsak).
Rosa gymnocarpa. Wood Rose. Rosaceae. Mourning Cloak. Shapiro questions the possiblity. Listed as a foodplant for the Gray Swordgrass Moth and American Swordgrass Moth.
Rosa nutkana. Nootka Rose. Rosaceae. Mourning Cloak. Shapiro questions the possibility.
Rubus spp. Blackberries. Rosaceae. Aside from flowers attractive to various butterflies, the over-ripe fruits, especially late in the season, are attractive to some butterflies and many moths. Leverton of Great Britain notes "numerous moths can be found on blackberries after dark, especially in woodland" (Enjoying Moths). "The Herald [Scoliopteryx libatrix, also found in California] moth has a barbed proboscis able to pierce the skin of soft fruit, but other species can reach the juice only if the fruit is damaged.". He says most of the moths attracted to the fruit will be noctuids; it is an important food for those that emerge late and overwinter as eggs, or hibernate as adults.
Rubus parviflorus. Thimbleberry. Rosaceae. Variable Checkerspot, Northern Checkerspot, Orange Sulphur. Larval host for Dark Marbled Carpet (Dysstroma citrata, Geometridae) and the lovely Lettered Habrosyne (Habrosyne scripta, Thyatiridae).
Rubus spectabilis. Salmonberry. Rosaceae. Orange Sulphur, Margined White. A larval host for the Enigmatic Dart (Cerastis enigmatica, Noctuidae) and Lettered Habrosyne (Habrosyne scripta, Drepanidae).
Rudbeckia californica. California Coneflower. Asteraceae. Nectar – The Butterfly Gardener’s Guide.
Rumex hymenosepalus. Wild Rhubarb. Polygonaceae. Foodplant for the Ruddy Copper, Great Copper and Purplish Copper.
Rumex salicifolius. Willow-leaved Dock. Polygonaceae. Foodplant for the Purplish Copper, Great Copper, and Ruddy Copper.
Salix spp. Willows. Salicaceae. Shapiro: "Willow catkins produce nectar attractive to early spring butterflies such as hibernating Mourning Cloak, Anglewings, Tortoiseshells, and the Echo Blue and Elfins. Shields adds: Small Wood Nymph, Acastus Checkerspot, Leanira Checkerspot, Thicket Hairstreak, California Hairstreak. Shapiro: "Willows are larval hosts for the Mourning Cloak, Lorquin’s Admiral, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Willow Hairstreak and the Common Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina)" Johnson’s Hairstreak (Steiner). Leverton in England notes that willow blossom is "the first great feast of the year for moths" also. He finds a dozen or so species of moths in great numbers, mostly in the hour after dark. Willows are also larval hosts for the day-flying Nevada Buckmoth (Hemileuca nevadensis), another day-flying silkmoth. Willow sap from sapsucker wounds attracts Red Admiral, Weidemeyer’s Admiral, Mourning Cloak, Common Wood Nymph, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, and others.
Salix exigua. Narrowleaf Willow. Salicaceae. Foodplant for Viceroy, Mourning Cloak, Western Tiger Swallowtail, and Sylvan Hairstreak. Also various moths including the Western Sheep Moth, Nevada Buckmoth, Ceanothus Silkmoth, and White-lined Sphinx.
Salix lasiolepis. Arroyo Willow. Salicaceae. Listed as a foodplant for Lorquin’s Admiral, Western Tiger Swallowtail and Sylvan Hairstreak. Also the Nevada Buckmoth.
Salix scouleriana. Scouler’s Willow. Salicaceae. Listed as a foodplant for the Western Tiger Swallowtail, and several moths including the Large Gray Pinion, Yellow-spotted Tiger Moth, the Vapourer, Lappet Moth, the Herald, October Thorn, and American Swordgrass Moth.
Salvia spp. Sages. Lamiaceae. American Painted Lady, Monarch, Buckeye, Red Admiral, Pale Swallowtail, Common Sulphur, Silvery Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper, White-lined Sphinx. Butterworth adds: Mournful Duskywing, Calippe Fritillary, Crown Fritillary, West Coast Lady, California Dogface, Western Tiger Swallowtail. Shapiro notes that most Salvias are not built for butterflies, moths are more likely lepidopteran visitors, if any. He finds the genus of little value to butterflies in northern California. They seem to be of more interest to butterflies in southern California.
Salvia apiana. White Sage. Lamiaceae.
Salvia brandegei. Santa Rosa Island Sage. Lamiaceae. Attested to be one of the more attractive species for butterflies; White-lined Sphinx.
Salvia carduacea. Thistle Sage. Lamiaceae. In the Theodore Payne Butterfly Mix.
Salvia ‘Carl Nielson’. Lamiaceae.
Salvia X ‘Celestial Blue’. Lamiaceae. Swallowtails, Painted Lady.
Salvia clevelandii. Cleveland’s Sage. Lamiaceae. Pale Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, Monarch, Silvery Blue, Orange Sulphur, Common Checkerspot, White-lined Sphinx. Important butterfly plant in southern California. In Shapiro’s experience, cultivated in northern California, gets nothing.
Salvia clevelandii ‘Winifred Gilman’. Lamiaceae. Dogface, White-lined Sphinx, Snowberry Clearwing.
Salvia columbariae. Chia. Lamiaceae. Buckeye, Quino Checkerspot (fq), Clark’s Sphinx.
Salvia x ‘Gracias’ = ‘Bee’s Bliss’. Lamiaceae. Gets some butterflies. Probably S. clevelandii x S. sonomensis.
Salvia leucophlla. Purple Sage. Lamiaceae. Painted Lady, Monarch. Foodplant for the Caramel Looper, an ‘eye candy’ moth.
Salvia mellifera. Black Sage. Lamiaceae. Common Checkerspot, Monarch, Common Buckeye, Acmon Blue. "We have seen Bramble Hairstreak, Fiery Skipper, Funereal Duskywing, Gulf Fritillary, Painted Lady and Sara Orange-tip nectaring on Black Sage." – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Salvia munzii. Munz Sage. Lamiaceae.
Salvia ‘Pozo Blue’. (S. clevelandii x leucophylla). Lamiaceae. "THE NATIVE BUTTERFLY BUSH! Attracts about 30 species" – Las Pilitas Nursery. Photographs show Western Tiger Swallowtail, California Dogface, Painted Lady, a Fritillary, White-lined Sphinx, Snowberry Clearwing; specifically noted: Buckeye, fritillaries, hairstreaks, skippers, Mournful Duskywing. This plant, an F1 hybrid, originated as a chance seedling at Las Pilitas Nursery in 1989.
Salvia sonomensis. Sonoma Sage. Lamiaceae. Nectar – The Butterfly Gardener’s Guide.Shapiro finds it unvisited in parts of its native range he studies, even where butterfly nectar plants are scarce – notes it gets loads of bumblebees.
Salvia spathacea. Hummingbird Sage. Lamiaceae. Swallowtails. White-lined Sphinx Moth. In his garden and in a population he has studied for 35 years, Shapiro has not seen a butterfly visit this species.Great hummingbird plant.
Salvia ‘Vicki Romero’. Butterflies including Monarch. S. apiana x S. leucophylla or clevelandii.
Sambucus mexicana. Mexican Elderberry. Caprifoliaceae. Anise Swallowtail, Variable Checkerspot. Shapiro has never seen butterflies at nectar on elderberry. Shields finds them used very rarely, when other plants not available. A larval host for various moths including the Elderberry Moth, Zotheca tranquilla (Noctuidae), a nocturnal moth with green and white wings.
Sambucus racemosa. Red Elderberry. Caprifoliaceae. Spring Azure. Shapiro has never seen any visits. Foodplant for the Virginian Tiger Moth and the Elderberry Moth.
Sanicula arctopoides. Footsteps-of-spring. Apiaceae. Brown Elfin.
Sanicula bipinnatifida. Purple Sanicle. Apiaceae. Bay Checkerspot, Schinia sp. B
Sarcostemma cynanchoides ssp. hartwegii is now Funastrum cynanchoides ssp. hartwegii. Climbing Milkweed. Asclepiadaceae. Its flowers attract many butterfly species, according to Desert Butterfly Gardening and other sources. Monroes: Marine Blue. Larval host for the Queen and for the Obscure Sphinx.
Sarcostemma hirtellum is now Funastrum hirtellum. Smooth Milkvine. Asclepiadaceae. Monroes: Marine Blue. Larval host for Queen and for the Clio Tiger Moth.
Scrophularia californica. CaliforniaBee Plant. Scrophulariaceae. A larval host for Variable Checkerspot and occasionally for the Buckeye.
Sedum spathulifolium. Pacific Stonecrop. Crassulaceae. Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Bramble Hairstreak, Moss’s Elfin. Larval host for Moss’s Elfin and Fotis Hairstreak.
Senecio spp. Groundsels, Ragworts. Asteraceae. Northern Checkerspot, Thicket Hairstreak. Shapiro finds most species disappointing as nectar draws in northern California.
Senecio canus is now Packera cana. Woolly Groundsel. Asteraceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Western Sulphur, Western White, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell. Secondary nectar source.
Senecio flaccidus var. douglasii. Butterweed. Asteraceae. ‘Desert’ Black Swallowtail, Acmon Blue, Ceraunus Blue, Great Purple Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Thicket Hairstreak, Mormon Metalmark, Lange’s Metalmark, Acastus Checkerspot, Painted Lady, American Lady, West Coast Lady, Northern White Skipper, Colorado Skipper, unidentified grass skipper, Mournful Duskywing, Funereal Duskywing, American Snout. "Great for butterflies" – Las Pilitas Nursery. The Monroes record 13 species of butterflies at nectar on Butterweed in the Anza-Borrego area.
Senecio integerrimus. Forest Groundsel. Asteraceae. A Sulphur, a Swallowtail, Monarch, Checkerspot, Ringlet, Ladies.
Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus. Columbia Groundsel. Asteraceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Western White, Orange Sulphur, Mourning Cloak, Parnassian, West Coast Lady, blues, skippers, etc.
Senna armata. Desert Cassia. Fabaceae. Monroes: Tiny Checkerspot. Its primary value is as a larval host for the Sleepy Orange and Cloudless Sulphur.
Senna covesii. Coues’ Cassia. Fabaceae. Foodplant for the Cloudless Sulphur and Sleepy Orange.
Sesuvium verrucosum. Western Sea-purslane. Aizoaceae. Gray Hairstreak. Foodplant for Western Pygmy Blue (Butterflies of Arizona).
Sidalcea malviflora. Checker Mallow. Asteraceae. Mission Blue in San Francisco. Shapiro never sees butterflies at nectar on the flowers. Larval host for Rural Skipper, Common Checkered Skipper and West Coast Lady.
Sidalcea oregana. Oregon Checkerbloom. Malvaceae. Hesperidae skippers. Larval host for Common Checkered Skipper.
Silene californica. Indian Pink. Caryophyllaceae. California Dogface (Pete Veilleux). Hummingbirds.
Sisyrinchium bellum. Blue-eyed Grass. Iridaceae. Large Marble (Moldenke). Mission Blue in San Francisco. Not usually noted as a butterfly plant!
Sium suave. Water Parsnip. Apiaceae. Monarch, American Snout, Spring Azure, Cabbage White.
Smilacina stellata. Slim Solomon. Liliaceae. Cabbage White. Not usually noted as a butterfly plant!
Solanum wallacei. Catalina Nightshade. Solanaceae. Foodplant for the Carolina Sphinx.
Solidago spp. Goldenrods. Asteraceae. American Painted Lady, Painted Lady, Buckeye, Crown Fritillary, Leto Fritillary, Lorquin’s Admiral, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Purplish Copper, Marine Blue, Western Pygmy Blue, Anna Blue, Sachem, Orange Sulphur, Becker’s White, Checkered White, Pine White, Great Purple Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Thicket Hairstreak, California Ringlet, Monarch, Columbia Skipper, Dun Skipper. Shapiro considers all Solidago spp. excellent except for very pale varieties and Solidaster hybrids.
Solidago californica. California Goldenrod. Asteraceae. Northern White-skipper, American Painted Lady. Reported as a caterpillar plant for the Northern Checkerspot.
Solidago canadensis ssp. elongata. Canada Goldenrod. Asteraceae. Clouded Sulphur, Pine White, Monarch, Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Red Admiral, California Tortoiseshell, Oregon Silverspot, Mylitta Crescent, Acmon Blue, Gray Hairstreak, American Snout, Yellow-collared Scape Moth.
Solidago confinis. Southern Goldenrod. Asteraceae. Particularly good for butteflies (Las Pilitas Nursery).
Solidago multiradiata. Northern Goldenrod. Asteraceae. Mourning Cloak, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, West Coast Lady, blues, Orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Cabbage White, Western White especially. Reported as a foodplant for caterpillars of the Northern Checkerspot.
Solidago spathulata. Coast Golden Rod. Asteraceae.
Sphaeralcea ambigua. Desert Mallow. Malvaceae. Foodplant for Common Checkered Skipper, Large White Skipper, Little Checkered Skipper, West Coast Lady, and Painted Lady.
Sphaeralcea angustifolia. Copper Globemallow. Malvaceae. Foodplant for Large White Skipper and Common Checkered Skipper.
Sphenosciadium capitellatum. Ranger’s Buttons. Larval host for Indra Swallowtail near Tioga Pass (Whaley). Also reported as a larval host for the Anise Swallowtail.
Spiraea douglasii. Western Spiraea. Rosaceae. Mourning Cloak, Pale Swallowtail, Lorquin’s Admiral, Common Wood Nymph. Reported as a foodplant for Lorquin’s Admiral, Western Sheep Moth, Protector Quaker Moth and Yellow-spotted Tiger Moth.
Spiranthes romanzoffiana. Hooded Lady’s Tresses. Orchidaceae. Recorded as nectar plant (non-pollinating) for the Inscribed Looper Moth, Syngrapha epigaea (Noctuidae) in the Midwest. Both moth and orchid are native to California – does the relationship hold here, too?
Stachys spp. Lamiaceae. Hedgenettles. California Dogface (Butterworth), Clark’s Sphinx, Cabbage White. Shapiro notes he has seen Columbia Skipper and Sleepy Duskywing try to get nectar from a Stachys sp., but they seemed to give up without getting in to the nectar. The California Dogface and Clark’s Sphinx Moth are likely the primary lepidopteran users of this genus.
Stachys ajugoides var. ajugoides. Wood Mint. ‘Persnickty Pink’. Lamiaceae.
Stachys ajugoides var. rigida. Lamiacae.
Stachys bullata. California Hedgenettle. Lamiaceae.
Stachys chamissonis var. cooleyae. Cooley’s Hedge Nettle. Nectar plant – The Butterfly Gardener’s Guide.
Stachys palustris. Marsh Hedge Nettle. Lamiaceae. Tawny-edged Skipper. Reported as a larval host for Variable Checkerspot, which seems unlikely.
Stachys pycnantha. Shortspike Hedgenettle. Lamiaceae. California Dogface.
Stanleya pinnata. Prince’s Plume. Brassicaceae. Larval host for Becker’s White in Nevada; the caterpillars feed on the flower buds and develop rapidly. Also reported as a larval host for Small Marble.
Stephanomeria sp. Asteraceae. Monroes: Mojave Sootywing. Foodplant for Schinia scarletina.
Streptanthus glandulosus. Bristly Jewelflower. Brassicaceae. Larval host for the Spring White (Steiner). Also Sara Orange-tip and Small Marble (Hostplants).
Streptanthus tortuosus. Shieldleaf. Brassicaceae. Small Marble visits the flowers of this, its larval host (Shapiro). Also reported as a foodplant for Sara Orange-tip, Western White, Spring White and Boisduval’s Marble.
Styrax redivivus. Snowdrop Bush. Styracaceae. Pipevine Swallowtail, Western Tiger Swallowtail – observed at California Flora Nursery, Fulton.
Suaeda spp. Seepweed. Chenopodiaceae. Favorite foodplants for the Western Pygmy Blue, such as Bush Seepweed, Suaeda moquinii, California Sea-blite, Suaeda californica, and Woolly Sea-blite, Suaeda taxifolia.
Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus. Common Snowberry. Caprifoliaceae. Monarch, Lorquin’s Admiral, Variable Checkerspot, Northern Cloudy-wing, moths. Shapiro has not seen butterflies visiting this plant. Nectar plant and larval host for the Snowberry Clearwing, a day-flying moth that mimics a bumblebee in appearance. Foodplant for the striking diurnal moth Ctenucha multifaria. A foodplant for many other moths inlcuding Western Sheep Moth, Sulphur Moth, Purple Arches, the One-eyed Sphinx and Vashti Sphinx.
Symphoricarpos mollis. Creeping Snowberry. Caprifoliaceae. Reported as a foodplant for the Variable Checkerspot and Western Sheepmoth.
Tauschiaarguta. Southern Umbrellawort. Apiaceae. Shapiro: "I have seen the flowers visited by Leanira Checkerspot (American River Canyon). Larval host Anise Swallowtail." A larval host for Indra Swallowtail and Black Swallowtail also.
Tauschia parishii. Parish’s Umbrellawort. Apiaceae. Larval host for Indra Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail and Anise Swallowtail.
Thermopsis macrophylla var. semota. San Diego Goldenpea. Fabaceae. Monroes: Nelson’s Hairstreak.
Thuja plicata. Western Red Cedar. Cupressaceae. Foodplant for Western Pine Elfin and Nelson’s Hairstreak. Also many moths including the Common Grey, Pale Beauty, Gray Spruce Looper Moth, Packard’s Girdle Moth, Autumnal Moth, Silver-spotted Tiger Moth, the Vapourer, and Rindge’s Pero.
Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium. Dyssodia. Asteraceae. Dainty Sulphur nectar source and larval host.
Thysanocarpus curvipes. Lacepod. Brassicaceae. Foodplant for Sara Orange-tip and Spring White.
Toxicodendron diversilobum. Poison Oak. Anacardiaceae. Variable Checkerspot. A friend has observed last instar caterpillars on poison oak, also.
Trichostema lanatum. Woolly Blue-curls. Lamiaceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, California Dogface, Monarch, Large White Skipper, hawkmoths. Outstanding for hummingbirds. Reported as a foodplant for the Variable Checkerspot.
Trichostema lanceolatum. Vinegarweed. Lamiaceae. Shapiro says the Pipevine Swallowtail is sometimes visits it and the Woodland Skipper is ‘addicted’ and ‘swarms over it’. He also noted a few visits by other grass skippers. Online photograph shows a Snowberry Clearwing captured by a spider on this plant.
Trichoptilium incisum. Yellow-head. Asteraceae. This attractive yellow-flowering annual presumably is the "Desert Yellowhead" the Monroes refer to as a nectar source for ‘Henne’s’ Variable Checkerspot in the Anza-Borrego area.
Trifolium spp. Clovers. Fabaceae. Clodius Parnassian, Large Marble, Orange Sulphur, Southern Dogface, Spring Azure, Acmon Blue, Marine Blue, Eastern Tailed Blue, Gray Hairstreak, Gray Blue, Lustrous Copper, American Painted Lady, Buckeye, Variable Checkerspot (to large clovers), Common Sootywing, Northern Cloudy-wing, Silver-spotted Skipper, Sachem, Dun Skipper, Dogstar Skipper, Nevada Cloudy-Wing.
Trifolium amoenum. Showy Indian Clover. Fabaceae. A very rare species, in cultivation, "attracts butterflies".
Trifolium ciliolatum. Fabaceae. Foothill Clover. Foodplant for Persius Duskywing.
Trifolium longipes. Longstalk Clover. Fabaceae. Greenish Blue and Orange Sulphur nectar plant and larval host.
Trifolium variegatum. Whitetip Clover. Fabaceae. Foodplant for the Greenish Blue.
Trifolium willdenovii. Tomcat Clover. Fabaceae. Orange Sulphur, Bay Checkerspot. Larval host for Orange Sulphur and Gray Hairstreak.
Triteleia laxa. Ithuriel’s Spear. Liliaceae. Excellent for Swallowtails and Propertius and Mournful Duskywings (Shapiro). Pale Swallowtail (Butterworth). Anise Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail (Shapiro). Mission Blue in San Francisco.
Triteleia hyacinthina. White Brodiaea. Liliaceae. Three-striped Longhorn (Adela trigrapha) and three other day-flying moths.
Trixis californica var. californica. Trixis. Asteraceae. Monroes: Northern White-Skipper.
Tsuga heterophylla. Western Hemlock. Pinaceae. Foodplant for the Pine White, Western Pine Elfin and Nelson’s Hairstreak. Also many moths, including American Barred Umber Moth, Common Gray, Rusty Shoulder Knot Moth, Gray Spruce Looper Moth, Dark Marbled Carpet, Packard’s Girdle Moth, Autumnal Moth, Barred Yellow, Comstock’s Sallow, Sulphur Moth, Silver-spotted Tiger Moth, Rindge’s Pero, and the Bowling Pin Moth.
Tsuga mertensiana. Mountain Hemlock. Pinaceae. Foodplant for various moths, many which also feed on Western Hemlock, including the Silver-spotted Tiger Moth.
Turricula parryi. Poodle-dog Bush.Hydrophyllaceae. Butterflies attracted to its flowers include Pale Swallowtail and Variable Checkerspot – Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Umbellularia californica. California Laurel. Lauraceae. Tailed Copper, Western Brown Elfin, Johnson’s Hairstreak (Shields). In flower as early as December in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Urtica dioica. Stinging Nettle. Urticaceae. Foodplant for Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Satyr Anglewing, West Coast Lady, and Red Admiral. Also various moths including the Great Tiger Moth.
Vaccinium ovatum. Western Huckleberry. Ericaceae. "As usual for Ericaceae, hard to get in, but some Lycaenids do" (Shapiro). Listed as a foodplant for Adelphagrotis stellaris (Noctuidae).
Vaccinium parvifolium. Red Huckleberry. Ericaceae. Spring Azure, Brown Elfin.
Venegasia carpesioides. Canyon Sunflower. Asteraceae. Variable Checkerspot, Red Admiral, Anerican Lady, West Coast Lady.
Veratrum californicum. Corn Lily. Melanthiaceae. Listed as a foodplant for Smith’s Dart.
Verbena gooddingii. (syn. Glandularia gooddingii). Gooding Verbena. Verbenaceae. Pipevine Swallowtail, Painted Lady, American Lady; various sources attest it attracts "many" species..
Verbena hastata. Blue Vervain. Verbenaceae. Checkered White, Clouded Sulphur, Melissa Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper, Common Sootywing, Yellow-collared Scape Moth.
Verbena lasiostachys. Western Vervain. Verbenaceae. California Dogface, Southern Dogface, Field Crescent, Mournful Duskywing, Sleepy Duskywing, Sandhill Skipper, Fiery Skipper, Sachem. Said to be a foodplant for caterpillars of the Buckeye.
Verbena lilacina ‘de la Mina’. Cedros Island Verbena. Verbenaceae. Monarch, American Lady, Fiery Skipper, Funereal Duskywing, doubtless others. This plant was the top butterfly draw in an early September visit to Yerba Buena Nursery in Woodside (San Mateo County).
Vicia spp. Vetch. Fabaceae. Shapiro notes: "ALL swallowtails nectar eagerly" on vetches, such as Pipevine Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, Western Tiger Swallowtail and Pale Swallowtail. Other visitors include the Orange Sulphur, Monarch, American Painted Lady, Arrowhead Blue, Silvery Blue, Western Tailed Blue, Propertius Duskywing, Northern Cloudy-wing, Pacuvius Dusky-wing, Arctic Skipper, Roadside Skipper, Eufala Skipper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Clark’s Sphinx.
Vicia americana var. americana. American Vetch. Fabaceae. Larval host for Eastern Tailed Blue, Western Tailed Blue, Silvery Blue, Edwards’s Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, Common Sulphur and Northern Cloudywing.
Viguiera laciniata. San Diego Sunflower. Asteraceae. Monroes: California Hairstreak, Mylitta Crescent, Juba Skipper.
Viguiera parishii. Goldeneye. Asteraceae. Monroes: Silvery Blue, Tiny Checkerspot (fq), California Patch, Yuba Skipper, Orange Skipperling. Larval host for California Patch.
Viola spp. Violets. Violaceae. Large Marble. Most native violets are Fritillary spp. larval hosts.
Viola adunca. Western Dog Violet. Violaceae. Oregon Silverspot. Larval host for Hydaspe Fritillary, Atlantis Fritillary, Egleis Fritillary and Zerene Fritillary.
Viola glabella. Stream Violet. Violaceae. Larval host for Hydaspe Fritillary and Western Meadow Fritillary.
Viola pedunculata. Johnny-Jump-Up. Violaceae.Larval host for Calippe Fritillary.
Viola purpurea. Mountain Violet. Violaceae. Monroes: Lupine Blue. Larval host for Calippe Fritillary and Crown Fritillary in eastern San Diego County.
Viola sempervirens. Evergreen Violet. Violaceae. Foodplant for Western Meadow Fritillary.
Vitis californica. California Wild Grape. Foodplant for Western Sheepmoth. Likely foodplant for Achemon Sphinx.
Wislizenia refracta. Jackass-clover. Capparidaceae. Monroes: Sleepy Orange, Mojave Sootywing; they recorded five butterfly species utilizing its nectar in the Anza-Borrego region. Sometimes a foodplant for the Western White.
Wyethia spp. Mule-ears. Asteraceae. Northern Checkerspot, Variable Checkerspot, Lindsey’s Skipper. Clark’s Sphinx, Yuba Skipper, Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur and others – "visited by a variety of butterflies but not preferred" (Shapiro).
Wyethia angustifolia. Narrowleaf Mule-ear. Asteraceae. Common Ringlet, Lindsey’s Skipper (Shapiro). Variable Checkerspot. Mission Blue in San Francisco.
Wyethia glabra. Smooth Mule-ear. Asteraceae. Among the many larval hosts of Painted Lady.
Xylorhiza spp. Asteraceae. Good butterfly nectar plants – Growing Native.
Xylorhiza orcuttii. Orcutt’s Aster. Asteraceae. Monroes: Western Pygmy Blue, Acastus Checkerspot. Larval host for Acastus Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus neumoegeni) in eastern San Diego County.
Xylorhiza tortifolia. Mojave Aster. Asteraceae. Online photograph notes a fairly large moth which likes to sleep in them. Listed as a foodplant for Neumogen’s Checkerspot.
Arizona Native Plant Society and Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute. 1996. Desert Butterfly Gardening.
Blakey, Louise G. 1985. Our Hummingbirds.
Covell, Jr., Charles V. 1984. A Field Guide to the Moths of Eastern North America.
Dennis, John V. 1985. The Wildlife Gardener.
Dole, Claire Hagen, ed. 2003. The Butterfly Gardener’s Guide.
Emmel, Thomas C. 1997. Butterfly Gardening: Creating a Butterfly Haven in your Garden.
Garth, John S. & J.W. Tilden. 1986. California Butterflies.
Grant, Verne & Karen. 1965. Flower Pollination in the Phlox Family.
Heath, Fred. 2004. An Introduction to Southern California Butterflies.
Hickman, James C., ed. 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California.
Leverton, Roy. 2001. Enjoying Moths. T & AD Poyser Natural History.
Lindsey, Terence & R.G. Turner Jr., et. al. 2002. The Nature Companions Backyard Birding. Fog City Press.
Miller, Jeffrey C. & Hammond, Paul C. 2000. Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands. USGS.
Moldenke, A.R. 1971. Studies on the Species Diversity of California Plant Communities. Ph.D. Thesis. Stanford University.
Monroe, Lynn & Gene. 2004. Butterflies & Their Favorite Flowering Plants: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park & Environs.
Opler, Paul A. 1999. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies.
Orsak, Larry J. 1978. The Butterflies of Orange County, California.
Powell, Jerry A. & Charles L. Hogue. 1979. California Insects.
Powell, Jerry A. & Paul A. Opler. 2009. Moths of Western North America.
Pyle, Robert Michael. 1999. Chasing Monarchs: Migrating with the Butterflies of Passage.
Pyle, Robert Michael. 2002. The Butterflies of Cascadia: A Field Guide to All the Species of Washington, Oregon, and Surrounding Territories.
Robinson, Gaden S. et. al. 2002. Hostplants of the moth and butterfly caterpillars of America north of Mexico.
Scott, James A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America.
Shapiro, Arther M. & Manolis, Timothy D. 2007. Field Guide to Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions.
Thorp, Robbin W. & Leong, Joan M. "Specialist Bee Pollinators of Showy Vernal Pool Flowers" in Witham, Carol W. , ed. 1998. Ecology, Conservation, and Management of Vernal Pool Ecosystems.
Tuskes, Tuttle & Collins. 1996. The Wild Silk Moths of North America.
Xerces Society and The Smithsonian Institution. 1998. Butterfly Gardening: Creating Summer Magic in Your Garden.
Compact Disc:
McLean, Gabi and Cliff. 2003 - 2008. Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains: Foothills and
Chess, Sall K.R., Robert A. Raguso, and Gretchen LeBuhn. 2008. "Geographic Divergence in Floral Morphology and Scent in Linanthus dichotomous (Polemoniaceae)." American Journal of Botany 95 (12):1652-1659.
Crabtree, Lawrence L. & Ron Leuschner. 2000. "Records for the Utilization of Prunus as a Larval Food Plant by 71 Species of Lepidoptera in Northeast California". The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey 2(7):1-7. http://www.tils-ttr.org/
Ezzeddine, Maya & Stephen F. Matter. 2008. "Nectar Flower Use and Electivity by Butterflies in Sub-alpine Meadows". Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 63(2):138-142.
Gless, John T. 1980. "The Ecology of Nectar Source Utilization in a Population of Euphydryas chalcedona Butterflies" Biology 178 Project, Jasper Ridge Paper, Stanford University.
Hobday, Alistair. 1992. "Specificity of pollinators of common wildflowers of the Jasper Ridge serpentine grassland." Biology 178 Project, Jasper Ridge Paper, Stanford University.
"Nectar for Erynnis on Jasper Ridge" (Stanford University student paper)
VanOverbeke, Dustin R., Paula K. Kleintjes-Neff, & Stephen M. Fettig. 2007. "Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) as a Nectar Plant for Butterflies". Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 61(4): 222-227.
Various Web Pages:
URLs following circa summer 2009.
Arthur Shapiro. His web sites, Internet articles quoting him, and his generous personal communications.
Butterfly Values of Non-native Naturalized Plants in California
Many of the naturalized plants records following are from Moldenke or the Flower-Visiting Insects web site or Field Guide to the Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions; some were listed as butterfly nectar plants by the Xerces/Smithsonian butterfly gardening book – and personal communications from Arthur Shapiro. Most butterflies in urban, suburban and rural areas are heavily dependent on naturalized plants as larval hosts and nectar sources. The emphasis here is relating nectar plants.
Abutilon theophrasti. Velvet-leaf. Malvaceae. Cloudless Sulphur, Cabbage White, Common Sootywing.
Anthemis cotula. Dog Fennel. Asteraceae. Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur.
Arctium lappa. Great Burdock. Asteraceae. Great Spangled Fritillary, Clouded Sulphur, Cabbage White, Silver-spotted Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper.
Arctium minus. Common Burdock. Asteraceae. Clouded Sulphur, Cabbage White, Common Checkered Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper.
Barbarea vulgaris. Yellow Rocket. Brassicaceae. Cabbage White (fq).
Bellis perennis. English Daisy. Asteraceae. Cabbage White (fq), Orange Sulphur.
Borago officinalis. Borage. Boraginaceae. Favorite of Vanessids. Larval host of Painted Lady.
Brassica campestris. Field Mustard. Brassicaceae. Sandhill Skipper, Cabbage White (fq).
Brassica nigra. Black Mustard. Brassicaceae. Sandhill Skipper, Cabbage White (fq).
Carduus pycnocephalus. Italian Thistle. Asteraceae. Important nectar source for Mission Blue in San Francisco. Utilized early in the season by Variable Checkerspot.
Carduus tenuiflorus. Italian Thistle. Asteraceae. Cabbage White (fq), Orange Sulphur.
Centaurea melitensis. Tocalote. Asteraceae. Cabbage White (fq), Orange Sulphur.
Centaurea solstitialis. Yellow Star Thistle. Asteraceae. Common Checkered Skipper, Cabbage White (fq), Woodland Skipper, Mournful Duskywing, Dodge’s Skipper, Orange Sulphur (fq),
Field Crescent. Shapiro: "Excellent nectar source but a terrible weed. Preferred by the Pipevine Swallowtail."
Cichorium intybus. Chicory. Asteraceae. Cabbage White (fq). Shapiro rarely sees visits.
Cirsium arvense. Canada Thistle. Asteraceae. Viceroy, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, American Lady, Cabbage White, Checkered White, Silver-spotted Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper. Shapiro: "Visited by almost everything, immensely popular. A very bad weed; in some jurisdictions illegal to have on your property."
Cirsium vulgare. Bull Thistle. Asteraceae. Western Tiger Swallowtail, Common Checkered Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper, Sandhill Skipper, Cabbage White (fq), Woodland Skipper, Dodge’s Skipper, Ox-eye Satyr, Monarch, Great Spangled Fritillary, Orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Sleepy Orange, Checkered White. Shapiro: "An important nectar source in selectively logged forests. A favorite of the Pine White, Colorado Skipper and Zerene Fritillary, among others." Important larval host for Mylitta Crescent and Painted Lady.
Convolvulus arvensis. Bindweed. Convolvulaceae. Sandhill Skipper (Moldenke). Shapiro finds it visited by a variety of butterflies including various Skippers, Cabbage White, Anise Swallowtail… but not by the Sandhill Skipper.
Descurainia sophia. Brassicaceae. Foodplant for Becker’s White, Western White and Checkered White.
Dipsacus fullonum. Teasel. Dipsacaceae. Monarch, American Painted Lady, Checkered White. Shapiro adds: "Fritillaries, Ox-eyed Satyr, Skippers. Invasive. Can be a bad weed."
Linaria vulgaris. Butter-and-Eggs. Scrophulariaceae. Painted Lady, Clouded Sulphur, Cabbage White, Tawny-edged Skipper. These reported in Robertson’s monumental midwestern study noted as sucking nectar as non-pollinators (these flowers are not formed for butterflies). Larval host of the Buckeye.
Lotus corniculatus. Bird’s Foot Trefoil. Fabaceae. Cabbage White. Shapiro notes: "Excellent nectar source for many species; now being used as a larval host by some populations of Eastern Tailed Blue, Gray Hairstreak and Orange Sulphur."
Lythrum salicaria. Purple Loosestrife. Lythraceae. Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, Wood Nymph, long-tongued moths. Shapiro notes this is a beautiful NOXIOUS WEED that should never be planted and is not a buterfly flower.
Malva neglecta. Common Mallow. Malvaceae. Cabbage White, Checkered White. Shapiro notes that the flowers of these weedy Malva spp. (this and those following) are rarely used by butterflies but the plants are an important larval host of Western Lady, Painted Lady, Gray Hairstreak, and Common Checkered/White Skipper.
Malva nicaeenis. Bull Mallow. Malvaceae. Cabbage White (fq), Common Checkered Skipper.
Malva parviflora. Cheeseweed. Malvaceae. Common Checkered Skipper.
Marrubium vulgare. Horehound. Lamiaceae. Checkered White (fq), Juniper Hairstreak. Shapiro: "Outstanding for hairstreaks and coppers"; favorite of California Hairstreak and Great Copper.
Medicago sativa. Alfalfa. Fabaceae. Calippe Fritillary, Leto Fritillary, Nevada Silverspot, Zerene Fritillary, Checkered White, Western White, Melissa Blue, Behr’s Hairstreak, California Hairstreak, Desert Tailed Copper, Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur, Yellow Sulphur, Orange Sulphur; moths, also. Caterpillar food for Orange Sulphur (fq), Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur, Western Sulphur, Funereal Duskywing, Silvery Blue, Marine Blue, Melissa Blue, California Tortoiseshell, Northern Cloudywing, even California Dogface (Hostplants).
Melilotus alba. White Sweet Clover. Fabaceae. Monarch, Red Admiral, American Painted Lady, Melissa Blue (fq), Coral Hairstreak, Common Hairstreak, Checkered White, Cloudless Sulphur, Great Basin Wood Nymph, Silver-spotted Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper. Shapiro it a "good all-around nectar plant, especially for Satyriums (hairstreaks) in montane settings."
Mentha pulegium. Pennyroyal. Lamiaceae. Sandhill Skipper, California Ringlet.
Myosotis verna. Spring Scorpion Grass. Boraginaceae. Checkered White.
Nepeta cataria. Catnip. Lamiaceae. Great Spangled Fritillary, Red Admiral, American Painted Lady, Clouded Sulphur, Cabbage White, Checkered White (fq), Silver-spotted Skipper, Common Sootywing.
Nicotiana glauca. Tree Tobacco. Solanaceae. Tobacco Hornworm. Great for hummingbirds.
Nicotiana sylvestris. South American Tobacco. Solanaceae. Tobacco Hornworm.
Oenothera biennis. Common Evening Primrose. Onagraceae. White-lined Sphinx.
Pastinacea sativa. Wild Parsnip. Apiaceae. Monarch, American Snout, Tawny-edged Skipper. Shapiro: "Larval host of Anise Swallowtail. Like most Apiaceae, flowers visited by diverse Lycaenids."
Picris echioides. Bristly Ox-tongue. Asteraceae. Cabbage White (favorite source), Orange Sulphur. Shapiro notes: "Very popular in winter."
Raphanus sativus. Radish. Brassicaceae. Cabbage White (favorite source). Shapiro: "Larval host of Cabbage White and Large Marble. Excellent all-around nectar source." Pipevine Swallowtail (Shapiro). He also notes that most "wild radish" populations in California consist of a stablized hybrid swarm of this and the following species.
Raphanus raphanistrum. Wild Radish. Brassicaceae. Cabbage White. Shapiro: "Ditto" – comments on the above.
Robinia pseudoacacia. Black Locust. Fabaceae. Monarch, White-lined Sphinx.
Rudbeckia hirta. Black-eyed Susan. Asteraceae. Viceroy, Great Spangled Fritillary, Melissa Blue, Clouded Sulphur, Cabbage White, Dun Skipper, Yellow-collared Scape Moth.
Salpichroa origanifolia. Lily-of-the-valley Vine. Solanaceae. West Coast Lady, Red Admiral ("much visited" – Shapiro).
Salsola tragus. Russian Thistle, Tumbleweed. Chenopodiaceae. Foodplant for Western Pygmy Blue. NOXIOUS WEED.
Senecio jacobaea. Tansy Ragwort. Asteraceae. Fritillaries. Shapiro notes: "A beautiful but NOXIOUS weed." Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands notes that Tyria jacobaeae, a colorful Arctiid moth, was deliberately introduced from Europe to control this noxious weed. It flies by day in May and June.
Sida rhombifolia. Cuban Jute. Malvaceae. Long-tongued moths. Shapiro: "Larval host of Common Checkered/White Skipper."
Silybum marianum. Milk Thistle. Asteraceae. Cabbage White (favorite source), Orange Sulphur, Mission Blue. Shapiro: "Larval host for Mylitta Crescent and Painted Lady. Good overall nectar source. Noxious weed."
Sisymbrium altissimum. Tumble-mustard. Brassicaceae. Shapiro: "Larval host for Checkered White, Western White, and, especially, Becker’s White. Decent nectar source."
Sisymbrium officinale. Hedge Mustard. Brassicaceae. Cabbage White (fq). Shapiro: "A preferred larval host of the Sara Orange-tip."
Sonchus asper. Spiny-leaved Sow Thistle. Asteraceae. Cabbage White (Moldenke fq). Shapiro finds it seldom visited.
Sonchus oleraceus. Common Sow Thistle. Asteraceae. Cabbage White (Moldenke fq). "Seldom visited" – Shapiro.
Stellaria media. Common Chickweed. Caryophyllaceae. American Painted Lady, Cabbage White. Shapiro notes: "Seldom visited!"
Trifolium pratense. Red Clover. Fabaceae. Checkered White, Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, Cloudless Sulphur, Sleepy Orange, Monarch, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, American Lady (fq), Great Spangled Fritillary, Eastern Tailed Blue, Acmon Blue and other Blues, Pipevine Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Silver-spotted Skipper (fq), Checkered Skippers, Fiery Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper, Northern Cloudywing, Snowberry Clearwing.
Trifolium repens. White Clover. Fabaceae. Clouded Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, Checkered White, Cabbage White, Variegated Fritillary, American Lady, Spring Azure, Eastern Tailed Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper (fq), Common Sootywing, Northern Cloudy-wing, White Lined Sphinx. Shapiro: "Larval host for Gray Hairstreak, Orange Sulphur, and possibly Greenish Blue.Good all-around nectar source." Scott notes it among larval hosts of Eastern Tailed Blue and Reakirt’s Blue.
Verbena bonariense. Brazilian Verbena. Heavily visited by a great variety of butterflies. Pipevine Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, Painted Lady, American Painted Lady, Monarch, Silver-spotted Skipper, Mournful Duskywing, Woodland Skipper, Fiery Skipper, Field Skipper, and doubtless others. Commonly naturalized in Central Valley wetlands (Shapiro).
Verbesina encelioides. Golden Crownbeard. Visited by Southern Dogface.
Veronica anagallis-aquatica. Water Speedwell. Scrophulariaceae. Listed as a foodplant for the Variable Checkerspot and the Buckeye.
Vicia spp. Vetches. "All annual varieties are good nectar sources. Being widely adopted as larval hosts by Eastern Tailed Blue and Silvery Blue, and used in winter as larval hosts of Orange Sulphur. Flowers heavily visited by many species, including all Swallowtail species in an area."
Vicia hirsuta. Hairy Tare or Tiny Vetch. Boisduval’s Blue.