Dedicated to the Preservation of Butterflies and their Host Plants in Orange County

Orange County N.A.B.A.

North American Butterfly Association - Orange County Chapter

Western Tiger Swallowtail
By gardening for the benefit of butterflies, you will not only bring some of their beauty and wonder into your yard, but you will also be helping to ensure the survival of some of these lovely creatures!

When deciding what to plant in your Butterfly Garden, take some time out to learn about the benefits of going native. Native plants provide a beautiful, hardy, drought resistant, low maintenance landscape while benefiting the environment.

 

 

Orange County Butterfly Host Plants

*California Native Plant
Butterfly Host Plants
American Painted Lady California Pearly Everlasting* (Gnaphalium californicum) Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) California Sage* (Artemisia californica)
Anise Swallowtail Apiaceae*, Lomatium* (Lomatium utriculatum), Fennel, Dill, Parsley, Carrot
Buckeye Plantain* (plantaginaceae) Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia)
California Dogface False Indigo* (Amorpha fruticosa)
California Sister Coast Live Oak* (Quercus agrifolia) Canyon Live Oak* (Quercus chrysolepis)
Checkered White Mustard
Cloudless Sulfur Cassia (Senna)
Common Hairstreak Buckwheat* (Eriogonum)
Funeral Duskywing Deerweed*
Giant Swallowtail Citrus, Common Garden Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Gulf Fritillary Passion Vine (Passiflora incarnata)
Lorquin's Admiral Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana demissa) Willow* (Salix)
Monarch Milkweed* (Asclepias)
Mourning Cloak Willow* (Salix) Elm
Orange Sulfur California Sage* (Artemisia californica)
Painted Lady California Thistle* (Cirsium californicum) Nettle (Urticaceae) Mallow (Malva) Lupine (Lupinus)
Pale Swallowtail California Lilac* (Ceanothus) Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica) Cherry (Prunus)
Pipevine Swallowtail Duchman's Pipe, Pipevine* (Aristolochia californica)
Queen Milkweed (Asclepias)
Red Admiral Nettle (Urticaceae) Baby Tears Moss (Soleirolia soleirolii)
Sara Orange Tip Rockcress (Arabis)
Spring Azure Wild Lilac (ceanothus)
West Coast Lady Mallow (Malvaceae) Nettle (Urticaceae)
Western Tiger Swallowtail Western Sycamore (Platanus racemosa) Willow* (Salix)

Butterfly Nectar Plants

*California Native Plant
Common Name Genus/Species
Aster Aster
Black Eyed Susan Rudbeckia
Blanket Flower Gaillardia
Butterfly Bush Buddleia
Butterfly Mint* Monardella
Coreopsis Coreopsis
Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
Coyote Mint Monardella villosa
Gayfeather Liatris
Globe Thistle Echinops exaltatus
Goldenrod Solidago
Honeysuckle Eupatorium
Joe-Pye Weed Lonicera
Lantana Lantana
Lavender Lavendula angustifolia
Milkweed or Butterfly Weed Asclepias (also the Monarch & Queen host Plant)
Blue Sky Lobelia Lobelia
Loosestrife Lythrum virgatum
Penstomon Penstemon
Pentas Pentas
Pincushion Flower Scabiosa
Plumbago Plumbago auriculata
Coneflower Echinacea
Red Valerian Centranthus ruber
Sage* Salvia
Sedum Sedum
Statice Limonium
Sticky Monkey Flower* Mimulus aurantiacus
Sunflowers Helianthus
Verbena Verbena
Yarrow* Achillea
Zinnia Zinnia