The plants that caterpillars eat are called host plants while the plants that adult butterflies eat (actually they “drink” nectar from the flowers) are called nectar plants. Each species of butterflies has specific host plants on which the adult butterflies lay their eggs.
Listed below are several popular butterfly species and the host plants that their caterpillars eat. The butterflies are particular about where they lay eggs because their caterpillars must have that distinct host plant to survive. In other words, the caterpillar will not eat if it does not have access to one of its specific host plants and will die.
Some caterpillars are so picky that there is only one plant type that will support them. Fortunately, many caterpillars will eat from more than one plant type.
The Best Host Plant for Caterpillars to Eat?
You may find that in one region of the country the butterfly caterpillars may prefer to eat a specific variety of their host plant. Likewise, they may prefer a different host plant in other regions. In addition, the preference can vary from garden to garden. This may be due to changes in soil types, pH, etc.
Therefore, determining the “best” host plant to attract a certain butterfly is not always easy. Offer a few different plants in the host group for a specific butterfly. This will increase your chances of attracting that butterfly to your garden.
Source: DeadEyeArrow reproduced under
Creative Commons
If you are raising caterpillars and you happen to run out of caterpillar food, you should be successful in changing their food source. As long as it is in their group of host plants, they should eat the leaves. Fortunately, many caterpillars will easily eat from several food plants within their normal host plants. Even though they will have preferences, they will eat what is available within their host group. The table below can help you find something to feed your caterpillar if you happen to run out of food!
Joyful Butterfly sells several of these plants and seeds. All of our plants and seeds are safe for caterpillars and butterflies. Some of the plants listed below can also be found in local nurseries. Be sure to ask about pesticide use if you are planning to buy them to feed caterpillars. Pesticides are very common in nurseries unless they cater specifically to organics/wildlife.
What Caterpillars Eat:
| BUTTERFLY SPECIES | HOST PLANTS |
| Anise Swallowtail | anise, parsley, carrot, dill, fennel, rue |
| Eastern Black Swallowtail_________ | anise, parsley, carrot, dill, fennel, rue, Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) |
| Giant Swallowtail | citrus, hop tree, prickly ash, rue |
| Pipevine Swallowtail | Dutchman’s Pipe, pipevines (not the exotics), Virginia snakeroot |
| Spicebush Swallowtail | spicebush (primarily), sassafras, camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), various bays (Persea spp.) |
| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | many broadleaf trees and shrubs, lilac, willow, birch, tuliptree, cherry |
| Zebra Swallowtail | pawpaw |
| Monarch | Milkweed (Asclepias) |
| Viceroy | willow, poplar, aspen, apple, cherry, plum |
| Red-Spotted Purple | apple, aspen, cherry, hawthorn, hornbeam, poplar, willow |
| Great Spangled Fritillary | violets, (Viola tricolor) |
| Variegated Fritillary | Violets, (Viola tricolor), pansies, stonecrops, passionflowers (Passiflora incarnata), plantains |
| Meadow Fritillary | violets (Viola sororia, Viola pallens) |
| Mourning Cloak | elm, poplar, willow |
| Question Mark | elm, hackberry, hop, nettle, false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) |
| Green Comma | rhododendron, azalea, birch, willow |
| Red Admiral | nettle, false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), hop |
| Painted Lady | members of the mallow family, Malva sylvestris, Tree mallow (Lavatera), thistles, goosefoots |
| American Painted Lady | daisies, everlastings, other composites, Hollyhock (Alcea rosea), Pearly Everlastings |
| Buckeye | plantain, snapdragon, stonecrop, verbena, (Verbena stricta), other garden flowers |
| Baltimore Checkerspot | turtlehead (primarily), false foxglove, plantain, white ash |
| Pearl Crescent | asters, New England Aster (A. novae-angliae) |
| Great Purple Hairstreak | mistletoes |
| Gray Hairstreak | cotton, mallows, strawberry, legumes, mints |
| American Copper | sheep sorrel, curly dock, mountain sorrel |
| Tailed Blue | clovers, beans, peas |
| Spring Azure | blueberry, California lilac, dogwoods, meadowsweet, viburnums |
| Cloudless Sulphur | Senna marilandica, senna, clovers, other legumes |
| Clouded Sulphur | clovers and other legumes, Wild Blue Indigo (Baptisia australis) |
| Orange Sulphur | white clover, alfalfa, vetch, lupine, Wild Blue Indigo (Baptisia australis) |
| Dogface | false indigo, clovers, lupine, vetch, leadplant |
| Checkered White | crucifers, Cleome |
| Cabbage White | Cabbage, Mustards, other crucifers, nasturtium |
| Zebra Longwing | passionflowers, Passiflora incarnata |
| Gulf Fritillary | passionflowers, Passiflora incarnata, Passiflora caerulea |
| Malachite | yerba papagayo |
Popular Butterflies and Their Host Plants
Monarch butterflies and Black Swallowtail butterflies (Anise Swallowtail butterflies in the West) are popular, easy, and beautiful caterpillars/butterflies to raise indoors or outside. They are found throughout most of the US and beyond. If you are new to raising butterflies, consider starting with what these caterpillars eat. For instance, Parsley (curled or flat leaf) and common rue are my local favorites for Black Swallowtail caterpillars. Purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) is my current favorite for Monarch caterpillar.
These plants are attractive and well behaved in a garden setting. As a bonus, Milkweed has the advantage of being a popular nectar plant as well. Parsley can be found in most local garden centers, but ask about pesticides. Remember, If used on the plants, it will kill the caterpillars. The common rue plant is a perennial and will start easily from seeds or cuttings.
Many people already have nectar plants in their gardens that attract some butterflies. By adding what the caterpillars eat, you will greatly increase the number and duration of butterflies. In addition to watching butterflies, this gives you the opportunity to watch the whole amazing life cycle of a butterfly in your own garden!
