HOST PLANTS

The caterpillars eat plants in preparation (to fuel up) for the transition from larva to butterfly (these plants are referred to as host plants). Butterflies are extremely selective when locating a host plant on which to lay their eggs.

Providing the right host plant in you garden is the most important step in creating a butterfly garden. It is important to plant a large number of host plants in order to provide adequate food for the caterpillars. They will perish if there is not enough available.

Due to this fact it is very important NOT to use any pesticides, even organic pesticides in the garden. The use of beneficial insects is the most effective way to control pest problems in a habitat garden for butterflies.

The following plants are some of the more common HOST plants:

TIP

Don't forget to use plants that flower throughout the season so that there is a constant nectar source for the butterflies! By using a combination of all of these traits in your host and nectar plants, you will surely see a fluttering butterfly in no time.

Beneficial Insects

Back to the Smithsonian Butterfly Habitat Homepage