Butterfly and Foodplants for Inland Mendocino and Sonoma Counties Baby birds need caterpillars, and caterpillars need native plants. It's time to create caterpillar paradises!

Common Botanical Evergreen/ Locally Exposure Water Max Flower Bloom Birds Bees Butterfly Other Wildlife Name of Name of Deciduous Na- SH = Shade VL=Very Height Color/ Time Y=yes Y=Yes and Moth and Ecosystem Benefits Plant Plant WD=winter tive? PS = Part Low Fragrant? N=No N=No Caterpillars (# (FP=Foodplant; BB=bumblebee; B'fly=butterfly; Shade L=Low deciduous Y=yes Y=Yes of species known HB=hummingbird) FS = Full M=Mod. SD=summer N=No (Y)=Mild to feed on plant) deciduous Sun H=High LARGE TREES Big-leaf Acer macro- Yellow, March- Very Many Nectar for butterflies. Leaves for deer, rodents, and . WD Y PS/S M-H 30-114' Y N Maple phyllum Pink June 34 , 2 b'flies Seeds for small mammals and birds (finches, grosbeak).

Coast Live Quercus Cream, Early Throngs All oaks, incl. tanoak, are excellent FPs. Collectively, CA's WD Y S/PS L 25-82' Y N Oak agrifolia green spring 70 moths, 7 b'flies oaks feed at least 239 caterpillar spp. Oak canopies, cavities, bark crevices, and leaf litter provide exc. food, cover and foraging substrate for birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, Oregon Quercus Cream, Throngs WD Y FS/PS L 20-90' Spring Y N insects, and spiders. Mistletoe and epiphytes on oaks also green 85 moths, 3 b'flies Oak garryana provide important food, cover and foraging sites. Fremont Good foraging/nesting substrate for birds, esp. migrants. Populus White, Winter, Very Many Cotton- WD Y FS M-H 39-114' Y N/A Bark for porcupines, beavers; twigs, buds for deer etc. fremontii cream Spring 29 moths, 6 b'flies wood Stabilizes soil. Leaves turn yellow in fall. Contains salicin. Cavities for cavity-nesting birds. Browse for deer and elk; Western Tsuga Throngs E Y ? L, M-H 40-175' N/A Spring Y N stems for rabbits and hares; seeds for rodents; cover for 65 moths, 3 b'flies Hemlock heterophylla many . SMALLER TREES Nectar for 59 b'flies and myriad other native insects; toxic to California Aesculus White May- Some SD-SSD Y PS/S VL/L 12-60' Y Y honeybees, but OK if other nectar is plentiful or if tree is far Y June 7 moths, 1 b'fly Buckeye californica from hives. Seeds for squirrels. Beautiful all year!

Corylus Imp. winter-spring pollen for bees. Seeds, buds, catkins for California Winter/ Very Many cornuta WD Y FS,PS, SH ? 18' Yellow, red Y Y birds (finches, jays, chickadees, grouse). Seeds & nuts for Hazel Spring 39 moths californica squirrels, chipmunks, especially when acorn crops fail. Holly-leaf Prunus Cream, Winter- Many B'flies love early sticky fruits. Many birds and some E N FS/PS VL 15-20' Y Y Cherry ilicifolia white Spring 23 moths, 5 b'flies mammals eat lovely red fruits. Beautiful flowers! Pollen for bumblebees, nectar for hummingbirds. Flowers Arbutus Mar- Very Many Madrone E Y PS L 15-50' White, red Y Y and fall berries for birds and mammals (including humans). May 47 moths, 2 b'flies menziesii Graceful, smooth reddish-orange limbs and bark. Nectar for bees, other insects. Extremely important source Arroyo Salix Cream, Winter- Very Many WD Y FS M-H 7-35' Y Y of protein. Vital cover for migrating birds. All native yellow Spring 27 moths, 3 b'flies Willow lasiolepis willows are good foodplants! (As are alders). To learn more about these plants, including the nurseries that carry them, go to www.calscape.org. The caterpillar numbers shown here have been taken from an unpublished manuscript, "California Plants for ," by Jeffrey Caldwell. To report observations or request Caldwell as a speaker: [email protected]. This chart was created by Kate Marianchild with help from Emily Allen, Marisela de Santa Anna, and other Sanhedrin CNPS members. To request Marianchld as a speaker, or to buy her book, Secrets of the Oak Woodlands: Plants and Animals among California's Oaks; close-focusing binoculars; or oak identification charts, go to www.katemarianchild.com. Common Botanical Evergreen/ Locally Exposure Water Max Flower Bloom Birds Bees Butterfly Other Wildlife Name of Name of Deciduous Na- SH = Shade VL=Very Height Color/ Time Y=yes Y=Yes and Moth and Ecosystem Benefits Plant Plant WD=winter tive? PS = Part Low Fragrant? N=No N=No Caterpillars (# (FP=Foodplant; BB=bumblebee; B'fly=butterfly; Shade L=Low deciduous Y=yes Y=Yes of species known HB=hummingbird) FS = Full M=Mod. SD=summer N=No (Y)=Mild to feed on plant) deciduous Sun H=High LARGE SHRUBS

Ribes san- Pink, Nectar for hummingbirds); winter pollen for BBs. Birds eat Blood Feb- Very Many guineum var WD Y FS/PS L/VL 13' purple Y Y the fruit and seeds. Beautiful showy flowers! Does well Currant April 39 moths, 3 b'flies glutinosum Y under oaks. Other Ribes spp are also good hostplants. Berries for at least 36 birds as well as woodrats, ringtails, foxes, Blue Sambucus Cream, Mar- Many squirrels, chipmunks. Nectar for hummingbirds, honeybees, (Mexican) nigra ssp WD Y SH/PS/FS L/VL 20-30' yellow, Y ? Sept 15 moths, 1 b'fly native bees, and other insects. Valuable cover, foraging, perching, Elderberry caerulea purple nesting sites. Quercus California Cream, Winter- Winter- Very Many This small oak is a good option where space is limited. It supports berberidi- E Y FS/PS VL 3-10' N Scrub Oak green Spring Spring 28 moths, 1 b'fly a surprising number of moth and butterfly species for its size. folia

Arcto- Pollen for bumblebees; nectar for hummingbirds and bees; Common Many staphylos E Y FS VL/L 8-12' White, pink Jan-Mar Y Y berries for birds, bears, foxes, coyotes. Nesting substrate. All Manzanita 17 moths manzanita Arctostaphylos spp are good foodplants. Important nectar in October (when nectar is scarce) for Cream, Coyote- Baccharis October Very Many >200 beneficial insects, incl. many b'flies. Valuable cover for E Y FS VL/L 4-7' (+) white Y Y (Fall) 29 moths birds, small mammals. Fast-growing, deer-resistant. Exc. For bush pilularis Y erosion control. Attractive if pruned.

Creek Dog- Extremely important wildlife food. Feeds 47 bird species, plus Cornus White, May- Very Many wood (aka WD Y SH, PS, FS M-H 4-13' Y ? deer, elk, beavers, rabbits... Glossy red fall fruits. Seeds feed sericea purple, red July 35 moths, 1 b'fly Red-Twig) bears, small mammals. Known as "ice cream tree." White, Nectar for b'flies, bees, other insects. Seeds for birds, small Ceanothus blue, March- Very Many Deerbrush E Y FS/PS VL 3-13' Y Y mammals. Browse for deer. Nesting substrate for birds, woodrats. lavender June 39 moths, 6 b'flies integerrimus Fragrant! All ceanothus spp are good foodplants. (Y) Mountain Cercocarpus Yellow March- Many Host to large, beautiful, ceanothus silkmoth. Fixes nitrogen. E Y PS/FS L/VL 8-15' ? Y Mahogany betuloides (Y) May 23 moths; 2 b'flies Resprouts vigorously after fire. Excellent deer browse.

White, Throngs Nectar for bees, and 15 butterflies. Food and cover for deer Ocean Holodiscus May- WD Y FS/PS L, M-H 3-16' green, Y Y 62 moths, and small mammals. Resprouts after fire. Flowers are edible August Spray discolor Y 5-6 b'flies for humans.

Saskatoon Throngs Important wildlife plant. Pollen for bees. Bark, twigs, foliage, Amelanchier Y White Mar- Service- WD FS/PS L 15-35' Y Y 57 moths fruit for black bears, beavers, hares and other animals. Fruits alnifolia (Willits) Y June berry 5 b'flies and buds for birds and rodents.

Western Prunus Amazing FP! Excellent foraging substrate for insectivorous White May- Throngs Choke- virginiana WD Y FS, PS, SH VL 3-20' Y Y and frugivorous birds. Fruit also edible for humans, esp. in Y June 111 moths; 8 b'flies cherry var demissa jam. Toxic to deer, sheep. Fragrant pendulous flowers. Common Botanical Evergreen/ Locally Exposure Water Max Flower Bloom Birds Bees Butterfly Other Wildlife Name of Name of Deciduous Na- SH = Shade VL=Very Height Color/ Time Y=yes Y=Yes and Moth and Ecosystem Benefits Plant Plant WD=winter tive? PS = Part Low Fragrant? N=No N=No Caterpillars (# (FP=Foodplant; BB=bumblebee; B'fly=butterfly; Shade L=Low deciduous Y=yes Y=Yes of species known HB=hummingbird) FS = Full M=Mod. SD=summer N=No (Y)=Mild to feed on plant) deciduous Sun H=High SMALL SHRUBS/LARGE PERENNIALS

Solidago Nectar for 26 b'flies; also for bees, including BBs. Seeds for California May- Many velutina spp E Y FS, PS, SH VL, L 1.5-5' Yellow-gold Y Y birds. Many healing properties. All native goldenrods are Goldenrod Nov 20 moths, 2 b'flies californica good for lepidoptera spp (moths and butterflies). Symphoricar- Nectar for hummingbirds. Cover and food for birds, Common Pink, red, May- Very Many pos alba var WD Y? SH/PS L 4-6' Y ? including grouse, kingbirds, bluebirds, and small mammals, Snowberry white July 33 moths, 1 b'fly laevigatus including squirrels. Browse for deer. Resprouts after fire. Apocynum Nectar for at least 96 b'fies; also honeybees. FP for several Spreading May- Some androsaemi- E Y FS, PS ? ? Pink ? Y day-flying moths. Nests for crab spiders; forage for forest- Dogbane October 7 moths folium dwelling ground squirrels. Milkweeds are the only FPs used by monarch b'flies. Narrow- Narrowleaf Asclepias Summe Few WD Y FS, PS L 2-4' Pink, white N Y leaf provides nectar for 48 b'flies, 3 moths, & bumblebees. r-Fall 1 moth, 1 b'fly Milkweed fascicularis Showy, woolly pod, and heartleaf m'weeds also native here. Nectar for hummingbirds, 8 b'flies, & several types of bees Silver Lupinus Blue, March- Some E Y FS VL 3-5' Y Y (bumble, mason, miner, and carpenter). Seeds for birds and purple June 8 moths, 4 b'flies Lupine albifrons small mammals. Fixes nitrogen. Western Polystichum Some Key FP for Taylor's Thallophaga (moth). Foliage for elk, mountain SD, E Y FS L 6' N/A N/A Y N Swordfern munitum 5 moths beavers, & deer. Imp. habitat element for at least 16 bird spp. SMALL PERENNIALS Scrophularia Mar- Many Along w/other figworts, important FP for Variable Checker- Bee Plant E Y PS L? 4' Red Y Y californica July 11 moths, 2 b'flies spot b'fly. Nectar for hummingbirds, bees, and 1 small wasp. Red, Nectar for butterflies, bees, beetles, & many other native Cobweb Circium Feb- Some E Y Various ? 2-10' purple, Y Y pollinators, as well as hummingbirds. Birds eat the seeds (esp Sept 6 moths, 2 b'flies Thistle occidentale pink, white goldfinches) and use the fluffy chaff in their nests. Coyote Monardella May- Some Nectar for 39 b'flies, 2 moths (including Snowberry E Y FS/PS VL 1-2' Purple Y Y Mint villosa Aug 8 moths Clearwing), and many bumblebees. Pacific Foodplant for Hound's Tongue Woolly Bear, a striking black- Cynoglossum Blue, Feb- Few and-white day-flying tiger moth. Nectar for 7 b'flies and Hound's D Y FS/PS VL, L 1-3' Y Y grande purple May 4 moths native bees, including BBs; also for HB's & Large Bee Fly. Also Tongue known as Western Hound's Tongue. Showy in bloom! Anaphylis Pearly Stress- Yellow, July- Many Foodplant for Painted Lady, Common Buckeye. Nectar for 47 margarita- Y? S/PS L 4' ? Y Everlasting deciduous white October 9 moths, 2 b'flies b'flies, 3 moths, and numerous other insects. cea Nectar for 60 (+) butterflies. Birds eat the leaves, flowers, Sulphur Eriogonum June- Many E Y FS VL .5-5' Yellow Y Y! and seeds. All buckwheats are excellent plants for Sept 12 moths Buckwheat umbellatum lepidoptera. Achillea Apr- Many Yarrow E Y FS/PS/FS L 1-3' White N Y Nectar for 91 b'flies, 8 moths, and many other insects. millefolium Sept 15 moths, 2 b'flies Common Botanical Evergreen/ Locally Exposure Water Max Flower Bloom Birds Bees Butterfly Other Wildlife Name of Name of Deciduous Na- SH = Shade VL=Very Height Color/ Time Y=yes Y=Yes and Moth and Ecosystem Benefits Plant Plant WD=winter tive? PS = Part Low Fragrant? N=No N=No Caterpillars (# (FP=Foodplant; BB=bumblebee; B'fly=butterfly; Shade L=Low deciduous Y=yes Y=Yes of species known HB=hummingbird) FS = Full M=Mod. SD=summer N=No (Y)=Mild to feed on plant) deciduous Sun H=High GRASSES-LIKE SPECIES, GROUNDCOVERS, VINES American Acmispon H: 1' May- Some "The most useful summer annual in our grasslands" for Bird's-foot WD Y S L/M-H Pink, white Y Y americanus W: 1' Sept 6 b'flies butterflies. (Art Shapiro) Trefoil Nectar for butterflies. Berries for birds and woodrats. Nectar Beach Fragaria Feb- Many E N FS, PS VL, L 1' White, red Y Y and pollen for bees. Excellent for erosion control. Deer and Nov 19 moths Strawberry chiloensis gopher resistant. Possible lawn replacement. Native bunchgrasses (BGs) provide seeds, nest material, and California Danthonia H: 1' Few E Y S/PS L/M Brown Spring Y N cover for songbirds and small mammals, and browse for W: .5-2' 3-4 b'flies oatgrass californica deer. Some species send roots down as far as 20'. Their deep roots enable them to anchor soil, survive drought, fire, and Purple Few grazing, and avoid competing for groundwater with more E Y FS VL, L 3' Cream Spring Y N Needle- Stipa pulchra 1 moth shallowly rooted plants. When there is sod-free space grass between BGs, a diverse array of plants can establish themselves. Before the arrival of invasive, sod-forming Spike Agrostis June- Some E? Y FS 1-3.3' Yellow Y N annual grasses from Europe, BGs dominated CA's grasslands Bentgrass exarata August 3 b'flies, 2 moths and supported numerous and often endemic species. NON-NATIVE FOODPLANTS THAT HOST SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF CATERPILLARS Cork Oak, Apple(!), Plum (!), Common Pear (!), Pecan, American Linden, American Elm, Western Red Cedar, cherries, maples (red, sugar, silver), birches (esp Paper Birch!), willows, ashes, walnuts, viburnums; onions, celery, tomato, potato, eggplant, pea (Pisum sativum), kidney bean, radish, grapes, corn; Queen Anne's Lace, Common Lilac, Mexican Evening Primrose, clovers (red, white), Common Hollyhock, and more. To learn more about these plants, including the nurseries that carry them, go to www.calscape.org. The caterpillar numbers shown here have been taken from an unpublished manuscript, "California Plants for Lepidoptera," by Jeffrey Caldwell. To report observations or request Caldwell as a speaker: [email protected]. This chart was created by Kate Marianchild with help from Emily Allen, Marisela de Santa Anna, and other Sanhedrin CNPS members. To request Marianchld as a speaker, or to buy her book, Secrets of the Oak Woodlands: Plants and Animals among California's Oaks; close-focusing binoculars; or oak identification charts, go to www.katemarianchild.com.