IS1661 Butterfly Plants & Mississippi Butterflies

Butterfly Plants and Mississippi Butterflies Butterflies and their host plants are intri- Gomphrena – Gomphrena globosa cately tied to one another. Generally, there Hardy Ageratum – Conoclinium coelestinum are two types of plants that you must have Hibiscus – Hibiscus spp. in your garden for butterflies. One is a nec- Hollyhock – Alcea rosea tar plant (or plants); adult butterflies feed Hollyhock Mallow – Malva alcea on these nectar plants. The second plant Joe-Pye Weed – Eupatorium purpureum you must have is a larval host plant; the Lantana – Lantana spp. immature stage (larva) feeds on this plant. Milkweed – Asclepias spp. When you plan a butterfly garden, Musk Mallow – Malva moschata you should plan for both types of plants. Ox-Eye Daisy – Leucanthemum vulgare This information sheet lists both types of Passion Flower – Passiflora incarnata plants and some of the butterflies we can Pentas – Pentas lanceloata expect to see in Mississippi. Queen-Anne's-Lace – Daucus carota Many kinds of butterflies will usually Sages – Salvia spp. visit the nectar plants, but you must be Shasta Daisies – Leucanthemum superbum careful when choosing a larval host plant Showy Sedum – Sedum spectabile if you want to attract a particular species Spicebush – Lindera benzoin of butterfly. Also, remember the larval Swamp Sunflower – Helianthus angustifolius plant will be eaten, so expect that to hap- Sweet William – Dianthus barbatus pen and plan accordingly. Verbena – Verbena spp. Willow – Salix spp. Selected Nectar Plants Yarrows – Achillea spp. For Mississippi Butterfly Gardens Zinnia – Zinnia spp. Angel's Trumpet – Datura meteloides Bee Balm – Monarda didyma Selected Larval Plants Black-Eyed-Susan – Rudbeckia spp. For Mississippi Butterfly Gardens Butterfly Bush – Buddleia davidii Anise Hyssop – Agastache foeniculum Cardinal Flower – Lobelia cardinalis Black Cherry – Prunus serotina Cleome – Cleome pungens Common Mallow – Malva neglecta Common Mallow – Malva neglecta Dill Weed – Anethum graveolens Coneflower – Echinacea spp. Dogwood – Cornus florida Coreopsis – Coreopsis spp. Dutchman's pipe – Aristolochia durior Cosmos – Cosmos spp. Fennel – Foeniculum vulgare Dame's Rocket – Hesperis matronalis Frikart Aster – Aster x Frikartii Dogwood – Cornus florida Hollyhock – Alcea rosea Frikart Aster – Aster x Frikartii Hollyhock Mallow – Malva alcea Garden Phlox – Phlox paniculata Milkweed – Asclepias spp. Gayfeathers – Liatris spp. Mullein – Verbascum spp. Glossy Abelia – Abeliax grandiflora Nasturtium – Nasturtium spp. Goldenrod – Solidago spp. New England Asters – Aster novae-angliae Parsley – Petroselinum crispum Viceroy – Basilarchia archippus Passion Flower – Passiflora incarnata Brown Elfin – Insicalia augustinus Pawpaw – Asimina triloba Eastern Pygmy Blue – Brephidium isophthalma Queen-Anne's-Lace – Daucus carota Gray Hairstreak – Strymon melinus Rue – Ruta graveolus Silvery Blue – Glaucopsyche lygdamus Sassafras – Sassafras albidum Spring Azure – Celastrina ladon Spicebush – Lindera benzoin Monarch – Danaus plexippus Sweet Bay – Magnolia virginiana Queen – Danaus gilippus Verbena – Verbena spp. Large Wood Nymph – Ceryonis pegala Willow – Salix spp. Common Checkered Skipper – Pyrgus communis Silver-spotted Skipper – Epargyreus clarus Host plants ensure food sources for butterfly Tawney-edged skipper – Polites themistocles species. When the plants are available for both larva Eastern Black Swallowtail – Papilio polyxenes and adults, they will come. Feeders, water, and miner- Giant Swallowtail – Papilio cresphontes al sources can provide additional incentives for butter- Pipevine Swallowtail – Battus philenor flies to visit and remain in the garden area. Spicebush Swallowtail – Papilio troilus Tiger Swallowtail – Papilio glaucus Common Butterflies Found in Mississippi Zebra Swallowtail – Eurytides marcellus American Painted Lady – Vanessa virginiensis Cabbage White – Pieris rapae Buckeye – Junonia coenia Checkered White – Pontia protodice Comma – Polygonia comma Cloudless Giant Sulfur – Phoebis sennae Gulf Fritillary – Agraulis vanillae Common Sulphur – Colias philodice Hackberry – Asterocampa celtis Dogface butterfly – Zerene cesonia Mourning Cloak – Nymphalis antiopa Falcate Orangetip – Anthocharis midea Painted Lady – Vanessa cardui Orange Sulphur – Colias eurytheme Pearly Crescentspot – Phyciodes tharos Sleepy Orange – Eurema nicippe Question Mark – Polygonia interrogationis Red Admiral – Vanessa atalanta Red-spotted Purple – Basilarchia astyanax For more information on butterflies, visit these web sites: Butterflies and Moths of North America Web Site: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/ North American Butterfly Association http://www.naba.org/ North American Butterfly Association Newsletter http://www.naba.org/pubs/bg.html Compiled by Michael R. Williams, Ph.D., Former Extension Entomology Specialist, and Lelia Scott Kelly, Ph.D., Associate Extension Professor. Discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s status is a violation of federal and state law and MSU policy and will not be tolerated. Discrimination based upon sex- ual orientation or group affiliation is a violation of MSU policy and will not be tolerated. Information Sheet 1661 Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. MELISSA J. MIXON, Interim Director POD 02-10.

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