What host plants can I plant to bring other butterflies to my garden?

Just as monarch larvae need to eat milkweed, other Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) larvae require specific host plants for development. Some, like monarchs, are specialists and can only eat one type of plant. Others are generalists and can eat a variety of different plants.

You can attract butterflies by planting the species that their larvae need to eat. It’s also important to provide nectar sources for the adults by planting flowers that bloom throughout the growing season. Check out the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder to learn more about the host plants that are native to your area.