Native butterflies and their host plants
Every butterfly needs specific native plants to complete its life cycle. Pick a butterfly to see its host plants and plan an HOA-friendly garden around them for your region.
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
bright orange wings with black veins and white spot borders
Queen
Danaus gilippus
dark brown wings with black borders
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
Black wings with yellow or orange spotted pattern
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
Bold yellow wings with dramatic black tiger stripes
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
bright yellow wings with bold black tiger stripes
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
iridescent blue-green hindwing scales
Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus
Large black wings with white and green-blue scaling
Gulf Fritillary
Dione vanillae
bright orange wings with black markings
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
Orange wings with intricate black and white patterns
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
black wings with vibrant red-orange bands
American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis
brown and orange wings with prominent eyespots
Common Buckeye
Junonia coenia
prominent black eyespots on brown wings
Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa
dark wings with bright yellow border
Question Mark
Polygonia interrogationis
Silver question mark mark on underwing
Viceroy
Limenitis archippus
orange and black wings with a distinctive black line across hindwings
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
Limenitis arthemis
dark blue-black wings with white bands and red spots
Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia
Orange wings with complex black lace-like patterns
Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos
intricate black network pattern on bright orange wings
Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis
mottled brown wings that blend perfectly with tree bark
Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae
Solid bright yellow wings
Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme
bright yellow or white wings with orange-yellow edges
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas
tiny tail-like extensions on hindwings
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
thin tail-like projections on hindwings
Juniper Hairstreak
Callophrys gryneus
metallic green wing coloration
Banded Hairstreak
Satyrium calanus
Small tail-like projections on hindwings
Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus
large silver-white patch on underwings
Checkered White
Pontia protodice
white wings with black checkered pattern
Clouded Sulphur
Colias philodice
bright yellow wings with soft green or gray edges