Butterfly Attracting Perennials and Annuals (Most are represented in REAL’s butterfly garden)

Swamp Milkweed Milkweed Weed Tropical milkweed Yarrow ()- host (asclepias incarnata) (asclepias tuberosa) (Asclepias plant for camouflaged Host plant for Monarch Host plant for Monarch currassavica) loopers, striped garden Host plant for Monarch caterpillars, blackberry loopers, common pugs, cynical quakers, olive arches, and voluble darts

Common Boneset Blue False Indigo Black Eyed Susan Tickseed- Coreopsis- (Eupatorium perfoliatum) (Baptisia Australis) (Rudbeckia Hirta) Nectar plant for many Host plant for Burdock Host plant for - Frosted Host Plant for Silvery species of butterflies Borer, Three lined Elfin, Orange Sulphur, Checkerspot and , Blackberry Looper, Eastern Tailed Blue Gorgone Checkerspot) and Clymene Moth) and Wild Indigo Duskywing, Canadian Skipper

Goldenrod, genus Blue Flag Iris- (Iris Common thistle -up Nettle- dioica - - Host plant for Vericolore) Height: Likes to 2 metres high- About 2-4 feet tall. asteroid, the brown- wet soil. attract Host to Painted Has stinging hairs along hooded owlet, the hummingbirds, butterflies, Lady the stem. beneficial , and Host plant to Red camouflaged looper, the native bees; C Admiral, Milbert’s common pug, the striped Tortoiseshell butterfly garden caterpillar, and the goldenrod gall moth.

Pearly everlasting Chokecherry Dogwood family Asters (genus aster)- host Anaphalis margaritacea — virginiana — ((Cornaceae) host plant for pearl crescents, Host plant- American lady Host plant for plant for -Azure, Lucia northern crescents, tawny butterfly swallowtail, hairstreak butterfly crescents, field crescents, butterfly silvery checkerspots, asteroids, brown-hooded owlets, camouflaged loopers, common pugs, and striped garden caterpillars.

Turtlehead- Chelone Pacific ninebark Square-stemmed Cranesbill , Physocarpus capitatus- Monkey Flower - host plant Virginian- tiger obliqua- host plant to Host plant for tiger ringens Baltimore Checkerspot moth the mouse moth, swallowtail butterfly and the tobacco budworm

Blanket flower (gaillardia) Gayflower - Liatris Mexican Sunflower- Butterfly bush ((Buddleia hosting a wide range of spicata- attracts a wide tithonia - attracts davidii)-nectar plant- butterflies like the variety of butterflies. butterflies and bees attracts butterflies and Bordered Patch and the bees Painted Shinia moth.

Obedient plant Cardinal flower, Lobelia Bottle brush grass Tall Verbena (Verbena (Physostegia virginiana) cardinalis, Host plant for northern bonariensis) Nectar plant for butterflies, Attracts hummingbirds pearly eye Attracts butterflies and bees and hummingbirds) bees

State Fair Zinnia Sunflower- Coneflower- (echinacea Pussy (salix Annual with large blooms multibranching purpurea) discolor) that make it easy for Can get 6-7 feet tall- Host plant for black 6-20 feet high butterflies to land on multi flowering swallowtail and Host plant for viceroys Not native to Ontario Attracts butterflies and american lady butterfly and red spotted purples bees and birds 2-5 feet tall Native Ontario perennial

Last Updated: July 2021