The Complete Tucson Butterfly Plant List

BUTTERFLY PLANT LIST


Perennials
•Ageratum corymbosum, Flossflower, nectar plant for male Queens

•Aristolochia watsonii, Native pipevine, foodplant for Pipevine Swallowtail

•Bouteloua curtipendula, Sideoats grama (grass), foodplant for Orange Skipperling

•Cosmos sulphureus, Cosmos, nectar plant

•Dicliptera resupinata, Twinseed, foodplant for Texan Crescent

•Eupatorium greggii, Butterfly mist, nectar plant for male Queens

•Eupatorium odoratum, Eupatorium, nectar plant for many butterflies

•Galvezia juncea, Galvezia, foodplant for Tropical Buckeye

•Glandularia gooddingii, Desert verbena, nectar plant for many butterflies

•Passiflora foetida, Native passionvine (vine), foodplant for Gulf Fritillary

•Petroselinum crispum, Parsley (biennial), foodplant for Black Swallowtail

•Senna covesii, Desert senna, foodplant for Sleepy Orange, Cloudless Sulphur

•Thymophylla pentachaeta, Dogweed, nectar plant; foodplant for Dainty Sulphur

Shrubs

•Acacia angustissima, Fern acacia, foodplant for Acacia Skipper, Mexican Sulphur

•Aloysia gratissima, Beebrush, nectar plant for gossamer wings

•Anisacanthus thurberi, Native honeysuckle, nectar plant; foodplant for Elada Checkerspot

•Asclepias linaria, Pineleaf milkweed, foodplant for Queen, Monarch

•Asclepias subulata, Desert milkweed, foodplant for Queen, Monarch

•Atriplex spp., Saltbush, foodplant for Western Pygmy Blue

•Baccharis sarothroides, Desert Broom, nectar (winter) for many, esp. Great Purple Hairstreak

•Bebbia juncea, Sweet bush, nectar plant for gossamer wings and sulphurs

•Buddleia davidii, Butterfly bush, nectar plant

•Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Red bird of paradise, nectar plant for swallowtails and sulphurs

•Calliandra californica, Baja fairy duster, foodplant for various Blues

•Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Rabbitbrush, nectar (fall) for many species

•Dalea spp., Indigo bush, nectar plant; foodplant for Southern Dogface

•Hyptis emoryi, Desert lavender, nectar plant

•Lycium spp., Wolfberry, nectar plant (winter)

•Lantana spp., Lantana, nectar plant

•Senna hirsuta var. glaberrima, Long-pod senna, foodplant for Sleepy Orange, Cloudless Sulphur

•Tagetes lemmoni, Mountain marigold, nectar (fall) for many species

•Tithonia fruticosa, Mexican sunflower, nectar; foodplant for Bordered Patch
Trees & Large Shrubs

•Acacia greggii, Catclaw, nectar plant

•Celtis pallida, Desert hackberry, foodplant for Empress Leilia, American Snout

•Celtis reticulata, Canyon hackberry, foodplant for Empress Leilia, American Snout

•Citrus spp., Citrus trees, foodplant for Giant Swallowtail

•Eysenhardtia orthocarpa, Kidneywood, nectar; foodplant for Marine Blue

•Havardia pallens, Tenaza, nectar plant

•Lysiloma watsoni, Feather tree, foodplant for Agarithe Sulphur

•Prosopis velutina, Native mesquite, nectar; foodplant for Leda Hairstreak, Palmers Metalmark

Source:  Tucson Botanical Gardens