Tiger Checkered Henry’s Elfin Little Red Admiral Little Wood Swallowtail White (Callophrys Metalmark (Vanessa Satyr Flowering Plants (Papilio glaucus) (Pontia henrici) (Calephelis atalanta) (Megisto cymela) & Butterflies: (Male) protodice) virginiensis) Zebra Falcate White M Zebra American Common Swallowtail Orangetip Hairstreak Longwing Lady Wood-Nymph The southeastern United States is home to a spectacular array of (Eurytides (Anthocharis (Parrhasius (Heliconius (Vanessa (Cercyonis native flowering plants. These plants support a healthy environment marcellus) midea) (male) m-album) charithonia) virginiensis) pegala) and add beauty to our wild lands, gardens, and greenspaces. Invite butterflies into your yard by including nectar plants for adult Pipevine Orange Gray Common butterflies and host plants for their larvae. While gardens cannot Gulf Fritillary Monarch replace natural habitat, a diverse landscape full of native flowering Swallowtail Sulphur Hairstreak (Agraulis Buckeye (Danaus plexippus) plants offers a bounty of resources to help support butterflies, (Battus philenor) (Colias (Strymon vanillae) (Junonia coenia) eurytheme) melinus) hummingbirds, bees and other pollinators.
Butterflies have four life stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), Spicebush Southern American Great Red-spotted Long-tailed and adult. While adult butterflies tend to be generalists, sipping nectar Swallowtail Dogface Snout Spangled Purple Skipper from a range of colorful blossoms, their larvae are specialists, feeding (Papilio troilus) (Zerene (Libytheana Fritillary (Limenitis (Urbanus only on specific host plants to complete development. The illustration cesonia) carinenta) (Speyeria cybele) arthemis proteus) below shows the life cycle of the Zebra Swllowtail (Eurytides marcellus) astyanax) on its host plant, Pawpaw (Asimina triloba). Giant Sleepy Red-banded Pearl Viceroy Silver-spotted Swallowtail Orange Hairstreak Crescent (Limenitis Skipper (Heraclides (Abaeis (Calycopis (Phyciodes archippus) (Epargyreus cresphontes) nicippe) cecrops) tharos) clarus)
Black Little Eastern Phaon Hackberry Horace’s Swallowtail Yellow Tailed-Blue Crescent Emperor Duskywing (Papilio (Pyrisitia lisa) (Everes (Phyciodes (Asterocampa (Erynnis larva polyxenes) comyntas) celtis) horatius) egg phaon) Palamedes Great Purple Summer Question Southern Yucca Swallowtail Hairstreak Azure Mark Pearly-eye Giant-skipper (Papilio (Atlides halesus) (Celastrina (Polygonia (Enodia (Megathymus palamedes) neglecta) interrogationis) portlandia) yuccae)
pupa Cloudless Banded Ceraunus Mourning Carolina Common/ adult Sulphur Hairstreak Blue Cloak Satyr White Checkered (Phoebis sennae) (Satyrium (Hemiargus (Nymphalis (Hermeuptychia Skipper calanus) ceraunus) antiopa) sosybius) (Pyrgus communis/ Southeast Region (LA, MS, GA, SC, NC, TN, VA, FL, AL) P. albescens) A great variety of native plants are excellent Butterfly Yellow Spotted Wild Pawpaw Summer for landscaping. They can be planted in small Milkweed Thistle Water Bergamot (Asimina triloba) Farewell containers or over several acres. (Asclepias (Cirsium Hemlock (Monarda (Dalea pinnata) tuberosa) horridulum) (Cicuta fistulosa) Southeast Region Flowering Plants (LA, MS, GA, SC, NC, TN, VA, FL, AL) h h h maculata) h h Redring Purple American Spotted Southern Black Locust Milkweed Passionflower Wisteria Beebalm Dewberry (Robinia Native plants: (Asclepias (Passiflora (Wisteria (Monarda (Rubus trivialis) pseudoacacia) • Require less irrigation once established variegata) incarnata) frutescens) punctata) • Are adapted to the region’s soil types and climate h h h h • Provide food and shelter for butterflies, birds, and other wildlife False Indigo Blue Partridge Wild Blue Eastern Giant • Require limited maintenance and pest control Bush Mistflower Pea Phlox Redbud Ironweed (Amorpha (Conoclinium (Chamaecrista (Phlox (Cercis (Vernonia Designing Your Garden fruiticosa) coelestinum) fasciculata) divaricata) canadensis) gigantea) • Garden in full sun and partial shade h h h • Check the sunlight, water, and soil needs of each plant to Mountain Button Oblongleaf Pickerelweed Obedient Swamp determine the best location Azalea Eryngo Snakeherb (Pontederia Plant Milkweed • Choose plants in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes cordata) (Rhododendron (Eryngium (Dyschoriste (Physostegia (Asclepias • Choose plants with different heights and growth habits canescens) yuccifolium) oblongifolia) virginiana) incarnata) • Select a variety of plants that bloom at different times h h • Group plants of the same species Common Blackeyed Indian Chickasaw Beach False Flowering • Plant both butterfly host plants and nectar sources Buttonbush Susan Blanket Plum Foxglove Dogwood (Cephalanthus (Rudbeckia hirta) (Gaillardia (Prunus (Agalinis (Cornus florida) icon indicates the species also serve as host plants for butterfly larvae. h occidentalis) pulchella) angustifolia) The native flowering plants pictured provide nectar and/or pollen resources fasciculata) for adult butterflies, bees and other pollinators. h h h
Illustrations by: Dale A. Johnson and Photographs by: Jaret Daniels and Ryan Fessenden Carolina New Mountain Hoary Climbing Black Vetch Jersey Tea Laurel Mountainmint Hempvine Cherry (Vicia (Ceanothus (Kalmia latifolia) (Pycnanthemum (Mikania (Prunus caroliniana) americanus) incanum) scandens) serotina) h h h h Forked Coastal Plain Scarlet Indian Spurred Dense Yellow Farkleberry Maryland Bluecurls Willow Paintbrush Butterfly Pea Blazing Star Fringed (Vaccinium Senna (Trichostema (Salix caroliniana) (Castilleja (Centrosema (Liatris spicata) Orchid arboreum) (Senna dichotomum) coccinea) virginianum) (Platanthera marilandica) h h ciliaris) h h Common Woman’s Common Trumpetweed Cardinal- Golden Swamp Purple Yarrow Tobacco Blue (Eutrochium flower Zizia Sunflower Coneflower (Achillea (Antennaria Violet fistulosum) (Lobelia (Zizia aurea) (Helianthus (Echinacea millefolium) plantaginifolia) (Viola sororia) cardinalis) angustifolius) purpurea) h h h