Butterfly Larval Plants

Butterfly Larval Plants
Compiled by Barbara Lowenthal

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Larval Plant Size Habitat Butterfly Comments

Trees/Shrubs

Black Dalea – Dalea frutescens 1-3' Dry, rocky areas, full sun Dogface Rounded shrub

Bluebonnet – Lupinus texensis 8-16" Limestone, gravelly, clay or calcareous soil, well-drained full sun Hairstreaks, Elfin White becomes majenta when pollinated

Cenizo – Leucophyllum frutescens to 8' Rocky limestone hills, full sun Theona Checkerspot,

False Indigo – Amorpha fruticosa 2-15' Along streambeds, full sun, needs extra moisture. Dogface, Hoary Edge, Gray Hairstreak, Silver-spotted Skipper Plant away from Perennials, aggressive surface feeder.

Flame Acanthus – Aniscacanthus quadrifidus 2-4" Drought tol., full to dappled sun Janais Patch, Texan Crescentspot Bushy

Kidneywood, TX – Eysenhardtia texana 3-10' Calcareous soil, full to dappled sun Painted Lady

Lantana, TX – Lantana, horrida 2-6' Full sun, drought tol. Painted Lady

Mesquite, Honey – Prosopis glandulosa Reakirt's Blue

Mountain Laurel – Sophora secundiflora Henry's Elfin

Oak – all native species see Geyata's book for long list

Plum. Mexican – Prunus mexicana Tiger Swallowtail

Redbud – Cercis canadensis Henry's Elfin

Soapberry – Sapindus saponaria Soapberry Hairstreak

Sumac, Fragrant – Rhus aromatica to 6 ½' Full sun, drought tol Red-banded Hairstreak

Thoroughwort – Eupatorium havanense to 15' Full to drappled sun Rawson's Metalmark Deer like it, worth Planting and caging

Wafer-Ash – Ptelia trifoliata to 25' Understory, full to dappled sun Dry or moist sites Tiger Swallowtail, Giant Swallowtail, Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail Good wildlife value food & shelter.

Vines

Climbing Milkweed Vine - Matelea reticulata vine Shade, drought tol., high climbing Monarch, Queen.

Passionflower – Passionflora lutea vine Full to dappled sun, drought tolerant Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing

Snapdragon – Maurandaya antirrhiniflora vine Rocky, calcareous soils, full sun Southern Cloudywing Very twiny, small blooms

TX Virgins Bower – Clematis drummondii vine Open areas, dry, full sun Fatal Metalmark

Grasses/Sedges -Perennial

Bluestem, Big – Andropogon gerardii to 6'+ Full sun Large Wood Nymph

Bluestem, Little – Schizachyrium scoparium to 3'+ Full sun Beardgrass Skipper Delaware Skipper

Cedar Sedge – Carex planostachys Apache Skipper

Fluffgrass – Dasyochloa pulchella Green Skipper

Fluffgrass, Downy – Erioneuron pilosum Green Skipper

Grama, Blue – Bouteloua gracilis Full sun Green Skipper

Grama, Sideoats – Bouteloua curtipendula Full sun Green Skipper

Grass, Buffalo – Buchloe dactyloides Full sun Green Skipper

Indian Grass, Yellow – Sorghastrum nutans Full sun Peper & Salt Skipper

Sea Oats, Inland – Chasmanthium latifolium Roadside Skipper Bronze Roadside Skipper

Switchgrass – Panicum virgatum Delaware Skipper

Herbs – Annual

Amaranth, Redroot – Amaranthus retroflexus Common Sootywing

Amaranth, Slim – Amaranthus hybridus Common Sootywing

Bluebonnet – Lupinus texensis 8-16" Full sun Gray Hairstreak Henry's Elfin

Bur-clover – Medicago lupulina Orange Sulphur, Fairy Yellow, Little Yellow

Clover, Sour – Melilotus indicus to 2' Grassy areas Eastern Tailed Blue

Clover, White – Trifolium repens to 4" Mat-forming, full sun

Cowpen Daisy – Verbesina enceloides to 5' Open areas Bordered Patch

Daucosma – Daucosma laciniatum to4' Full Sun, dry areas Black Swallowtail

Flax, Yellow – Linum rigidum v. berlandieri 6-12" Full sun Variegated Fritillary

Mustard, Tansy – Descurainia pinnata to 2½' Sandy or calcareous soils, sun Delaware Skipper, Cabbage White, Checkered White

Nettle, Low spring – Urtica Chamaedryoides Red Admiral

Parsley, TX – Poltaenia texana to 2½' Open areas Eastern Black Swallowtail

Pea, Partridge – Chamaecrista fasciculata to 3' Erect sandy or alluvial soil Cloudless Giant Sulphur

Peppergrass, Virginia – Lepidium virginicum to 2' Bushy, distrubed areas, full sun Checkered White

Rattlesnake-weed – Daucus pusillus to 3' Erect, annual full sun Eastern Black Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Great Southern White

Sneezeweed, Fall – Helenium autumnale to 4' Moist areas Dwarf Yellow

Star-thistle, Barnaby – Centaurea solstitialis Open areas Painted Lady

Sunflower, Common – Helianthus annuus to 8' Dry soils, full sun Gorgone Crescentspot

Toadflax, TX - Linaria canadensis, texana to 2' Sandy, limestone Green Skipper

Vetch, Deer Pea – Vicia ludoviciana 6-36" Sandy & calcareous soils, sun Little Yellow

Herbs –Perennial

Antelope Horns – Asclepias asperula 8-24" Open grassy areas Monarch, Queen, Pearly Crescentspot Milkweed

Aster, Heath, White – Aster ericoides 4-30" Open areas Pearly Crescentspot Spreads by rhizomes, Much branched

Bluehearts, Buchnera american (floridana) 6-24" Moist areas Buckeye

Boneset, Late-flowering, White – Schizachyrium scoparium to 4' Moist areas, forms colonies Lost Metalmark

Brown-eyed Susan – Rudbeckia hirta to 2 ½' Full sun Bordered Patch

Butterfly Weed – Asclepias tuberosa to20" Full sun Gray Hairstreak, Monarch, Queen

Dutchman's Breetches, TX - Thamnosma texana 6-12" Full sun, drought tolerant Eastern Black Swallowtail

Dutchman's Pipe, Virginia – Aristolochia serpentaria low Open areas Pipevine Swallowtail

Foxglove – Penstemon cobaea to 2 ½' Open areas, rocky, full sun Dotted Checkerspot

Frog Fruit – Phyla incisa 3-5" h Full sun best blooms, ground 3' long hugging Buckeye, Phaon

Globe-Mallow, Copper – Sphaeralce angustifolia to 3' Full sun, dry conditions, erect Common Checkered Skipper, Common Streaky Skipper

Goldeneye – Viguiera dentata to 6' Full sun, dry caliche Bordered Patch Crescentspot

Ground Plum – astragulus crassicarpus low Meanders thru grass, dry caliche Common Sulphur Gray Hairstreak

Horse-purslane – Trianthema protulacastrum Western Pygmy Blue

Locoweed, Woolly – Astragalus mollissimus Gray Hairstreak

Mallow, Indian – Abutilon fruticosum to 2' Open rocky, dry areas Common Streaky Skipper, Laviana Skipper, TX Powdered Skipper

Milkvetch, Nuttall – Astragalus nuttalliana to 1' Sprawling, grassy areas Northern Cloudywing

Milkweed – Asclepias sp. Open areas Queen, Monarch Use all you can get

Paintbrush, Prairie – Casstilleja purpurea to 12" Open areas Fulvia checkerspot, Buckeye

Pea, Scarlet – Indigofera minuata to 8" Open areas, stems radiate out Reakirt's Blue

Ruellia, White – ruellia nudiflora v. Metzae to 2' Grassy area, dappled sun Buckeye

Senna, Lindheimer – Cassia lindheimeria to 6' Open rocky areas Sleepy Orange Deer browse

Sida, Spreading – Sida abutifolia Desert checkered Skipper, Common Streaky Skipper,

Spiderling, Scarlet – Boerhaavia diffusa (coccinea) to 4' Long Trailing, disturbed grassy areas Variegated Fritillary

Thistle, TX – Cirsium texanum to 4½' Dry open areas Painted Lady

Tube-Tongue – Siphonoglossa pilosella 2-5" Full, dappled sun Dymas Checkerspot, Elada Checkerspot, Texan Crescentspot, Vesta Crescentspot

Yarrow, White, Milfoil – Achillea millefolium to 3' Grassy areas Southern Cloudywing Deer leave alone

Zexmenia, Hairy Wedelia – Wedelia hispida to 2½' Dry, open areas Bordered Patch

Home Meetings Officers Newsletter Hill Country Flora Useful Links

Larval Plant	Size	Habitat	Butterfly	Comments

Trees/Shrubs
Black Dalea – Dalea frutescens	1-3'	Dry, rocky areas, full sun	Dogface	Rounded shrub
Bluebonnet – Lupinus texensis	8-16"	Limestone, gravelly, clay or calcareous soil, well-drained full sun	Hairstreaks, Elfin	White becomes majenta when pollinated
Cenizo – Leucophyllum frutescens	to 8'	Rocky limestone hills, full sun	Theona Checkerspot,

False Indigo – Amorpha fruticosa	2-15'	Along streambeds, full sun, needs extra moisture.	Dogface, Hoary Edge, Gray Hairstreak, Silver-spotted Skipper	Plant away from Perennials, aggressive surface feeder.
Flame Acanthus – Aniscacanthus quadrifidus	2-4"	Drought tol., full to dappled sun	Janais Patch, Texan Crescentspot	Bushy
Kidneywood, TX – Eysenhardtia texana	3-10'	Calcareous soil, full to dappled sun	Painted Lady
Lantana, TX – Lantana, horrida	2-6'	Full sun, drought tol.	Painted Lady
Mesquite, Honey – Prosopis glandulosa			Reakirt's Blue
Mountain Laurel – Sophora secundiflora			Henry's Elfin
Oak – all native species				see Geyata's book for long list
Plum. Mexican – Prunus mexicana			Tiger Swallowtail
Redbud – Cercis canadensis			Henry's Elfin
Soapberry – Sapindus saponaria			Soapberry Hairstreak
Sumac, Fragrant – Rhus aromatica	to 6 ½'	Full sun, drought tol	Red-banded Hairstreak
Thoroughwort – Eupatorium havanense	to 15'	Full to drappled sun	Rawson's Metalmark	Deer like it, worth Planting and caging
Wafer-Ash – Ptelia trifoliata	to 25'	Understory, full to dappled sun Dry or moist sites	Tiger Swallowtail, Giant Swallowtail, Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail	Good wildlife value food & shelter.

Vines
Climbing Milkweed Vine - Matelea reticulata	vine	Shade, drought tol., high climbing	Monarch, Queen.
Passionflower – Passionflora lutea	vine	Full to dappled sun, drought tolerant	Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing
Snapdragon – Maurandaya antirrhiniflora	vine	Rocky, calcareous soils, full sun	Southern Cloudywing	Very twiny, small blooms
TX Virgins Bower – Clematis drummondii	vine	Open areas, dry, full sun	Fatal Metalmark

Grasses/Sedges -Perennial
Bluestem, Big – Andropogon gerardii	to 6'+	Full sun	Large Wood Nymph
Bluestem, Little – Schizachyrium scoparium	to 3'+	Full sun	Beardgrass Skipper Delaware Skipper
Cedar Sedge – Carex planostachys			Apache Skipper
Fluffgrass – Dasyochloa pulchella			Green Skipper
Fluffgrass, Downy – Erioneuron pilosum			Green Skipper
Grama, Blue – Bouteloua gracilis		Full sun	Green Skipper
Grama, Sideoats – Bouteloua curtipendula		Full sun	Green Skipper
Grass, Buffalo – Buchloe dactyloides		Full sun	Green Skipper
Indian Grass, Yellow – Sorghastrum nutans		Full sun	Peper & Salt Skipper
Sea Oats, Inland – Chasmanthium latifolium			Roadside Skipper Bronze Roadside Skipper
Switchgrass – Panicum virgatum			Delaware Skipper

Herbs – Annual
Amaranth, Redroot – Amaranthus retroflexus			Common Sootywing
Amaranth, Slim – Amaranthus hybridus			Common Sootywing
Bluebonnet – Lupinus texensis	8-16"	Full sun	Gray Hairstreak Henry's Elfin
Bur-clover – Medicago lupulina			Orange Sulphur, Fairy Yellow, Little Yellow
Clover, Sour – Melilotus indicus	to 2'	Grassy areas	Eastern Tailed Blue
Clover, White – Trifolium repens	to 4"	Mat-forming, full sun
Cowpen Daisy – Verbesina enceloides	to 5'	Open areas	Bordered Patch
Daucosma – Daucosma laciniatum	to4'	Full Sun, dry areas	Black Swallowtail
Flax, Yellow – Linum rigidum v. berlandieri	6-12"	Full sun	Variegated Fritillary
Mustard, Tansy – Descurainia pinnata	to 2½'	Sandy or calcareous soils, sun	Delaware Skipper, Cabbage White, Checkered White
Nettle, Low spring – Urtica Chamaedryoides			Red Admiral
Parsley, TX – Poltaenia texana	to 2½'	Open areas	Eastern Black Swallowtail
Pea, Partridge – Chamaecrista fasciculata	to 3'	Erect sandy or alluvial soil	Cloudless Giant Sulphur
Peppergrass, Virginia – Lepidium virginicum	to 2'	Bushy, distrubed areas, full sun	Checkered White
Rattlesnake-weed – Daucus pusillus	to 3'	Erect, annual full sun	Eastern Black Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Great Southern White
Sneezeweed, Fall – Helenium autumnale	to 4'	Moist areas	Dwarf Yellow
Star-thistle, Barnaby – Centaurea solstitialis		Open areas	Painted Lady
Sunflower, Common – Helianthus annuus	to 8'	Dry soils, full sun	Gorgone Crescentspot
Toadflax, TX - Linaria canadensis, texana	to 2'	Sandy, limestone	Green Skipper
Vetch, Deer Pea – Vicia ludoviciana	6-36"	Sandy & calcareous soils, sun	Little Yellow

Herbs –Perennial
Antelope Horns – Asclepias asperula	8-24"	Open grassy areas	Monarch, Queen, Pearly Crescentspot	Milkweed
Aster, Heath, White – Aster ericoides	4-30"	Open areas	Pearly Crescentspot	Spreads by rhizomes, Much branched
Bluehearts, Buchnera american (floridana)	6-24"	Moist areas	Buckeye
Boneset, Late-flowering, White – Schizachyrium scoparium	to 4'	Moist areas, forms colonies	Lost Metalmark
Brown-eyed Susan – Rudbeckia hirta	to 2 ½'	Full sun	Bordered Patch
Butterfly Weed – Asclepias tuberosa	to20"	Full sun	Gray Hairstreak, Monarch, Queen
Dutchman's Breetches, TX - Thamnosma texana	6-12"	Full sun, drought tolerant	Eastern Black Swallowtail
Dutchman's Pipe, Virginia – Aristolochia serpentaria	low	Open areas	Pipevine Swallowtail
Foxglove – Penstemon cobaea	to 2 ½'	Open areas, rocky, full sun	Dotted Checkerspot
Frog Fruit – Phyla incisa	3-5" h	Full sun best blooms, ground 3' long hugging	Buckeye, Phaon
Globe-Mallow, Copper – Sphaeralce angustifolia	to 3'	Full sun, dry conditions, erect	Common Checkered Skipper, Common Streaky Skipper
Goldeneye – Viguiera dentata	to 6'	Full sun, dry caliche	Bordered Patch Crescentspot
Ground Plum – astragulus crassicarpus	low	Meanders thru grass, dry caliche	Common Sulphur Gray Hairstreak
Horse-purslane – Trianthema protulacastrum			Western Pygmy Blue
Locoweed, Woolly – Astragalus mollissimus			Gray Hairstreak
Mallow, Indian – Abutilon fruticosum	to 2'	Open rocky, dry areas	Common Streaky Skipper, Laviana Skipper, TX Powdered Skipper
Milkvetch, Nuttall – Astragalus nuttalliana	to 1'	Sprawling, grassy areas	Northern Cloudywing
Milkweed – Asclepias sp.		Open areas	Queen, Monarch	Use all you can get
Paintbrush, Prairie – Casstilleja purpurea	to 12"	Open areas	Fulvia checkerspot, Buckeye
Pea, Scarlet – Indigofera minuata	to 8"	Open areas, stems radiate out	Reakirt's Blue
Ruellia, White – ruellia nudiflora v. Metzae	to 2'	Grassy area, dappled sun	Buckeye
Senna, Lindheimer – Cassia lindheimeria	to 6'	Open rocky areas	Sleepy Orange	Deer browse
Sida, Spreading – Sida abutifolia			Desert checkered Skipper, Common Streaky Skipper,
Spiderling, Scarlet – Boerhaavia diffusa (coccinea)	to 4'	Long Trailing, disturbed grassy areas	Variegated Fritillary
Thistle, TX – Cirsium texanum	to 4½'	Dry open areas	Painted Lady
Tube-Tongue – Siphonoglossa pilosella	2-5"	Full, dappled sun	Dymas Checkerspot, Elada Checkerspot, Texan Crescentspot, Vesta Crescentspot
Yarrow, White, Milfoil – Achillea millefolium	to 3'	Grassy areas	Southern Cloudywing	Deer leave alone
Zexmenia, Hairy Wedelia – Wedelia hispida	to 2½'	Dry, open areas	Bordered Patch