Gardening for Butterflies is growing in popularity, and it’s a three season love affair that can take you from spring cocoons to fall migrations!  Try these host plants for Larvae and Caterpillars to use in the flower garden, and raise your own butterflies!

Growing Flowers For Black Swallowtail Caterpillars:

• Parsley
• Carrot
• Queen Ann’s Lace
• Dill
• Alfalfa
• Sweet Fennel
• Sunflower
• Aster
• Broccoli
• Milkweed
• Hollyhock
• Clover
• Partridge Pea
• Snapdragon
• Thistle
• Sunflower

Growing Trees For Larvae and Caterpillars:

• Willow
• Elm
• Chokecherry
• Oak
• Plum
• Hackberry
• Cottonwood
• Birch

Mix these flowers and trees into your landscape, or organize them into clumps to create a special butterfly garden.  Keep extra herbs like Carrot, Parsley and Dill in a butterfly garden area to create a safe place for the caterpillars to feed, and as a depository for them if you find them in your herb patch.

Happy gardening!