Butterfly Tropical Plants
The following plants provide excellent sources of butterfly
nectar and are found in the Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory
(source: www.butterflies.org)
Botanical Name: Asclepias curassavica
Common Name: Milkweed, Bloodflower
Family: Asciepiadaceae
Origin: South America
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Botanical Name: Pentas Ianceolata
Common Name: Star Flower
Family: Rubiaceae
Origin: East Tropical Africa to South Arabia |
Botanical Name: Latana camara
Common Name: Goat Bush
Family: Verbenaceae
Origin: Tropical America
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When creating a butterfly garden, use colorful plants. Butterflies
see more colors than humans do and are attracted to red,
orange, yellow, purple and dark pink.Be sure to keep a pesticide
free environment for your butterflies.
Encourage ladybugs. They are a natural enemy of unwanted
pests in your butterfly garden.
Learn about which butterflies are indigenous to your area.
Your county extension service may be helpful in identifying
the plants found in your area that provide your butterflies'
favorite nectar source.
 The following are plants which generally
attract butterflies:
Black-eyed Susan
Butterfly Bush
Egyptian star flower (penta)
Lantana
Vervain
Purple coneflower
French marigold
Butterfly weed
Here are some host plants and the specific butterflies they
attract:
Black cherry/ Tiger Swallowtail
Milkweed/ Monarch
Hop tree/ Giant swallowtail
Cassias/ Orange Barred Sulphur
Bacopa/ White peacock
White Vine/ Soldier
Passionvine/ Gulf fritilary
Passionvine/ Zebra
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