Butterfly Host Plants

If you are serious about attracting butterflies to your yard, you need to install the plants they lay their eggs on, as well as provide a variety of nectar sources.

Here is a list of local plants that we grow (some might not always be in stock, but we're trying!) that butterflies use in the larval stage.

This list was assembled by Linda Evans, butterfly enthusiast.

Follow this link for more information about butterflies and the plants they depend on: Miami Blue Chapter NABA

BUTTERFLY HOST PLANT LIST
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA


BOTANICAL NAME	COMMON NAME	BUTTERFLY	LOCATION
Bursera simaruba	Gumbo Limbo	Dingy Purplewing	Extreme S.E.
Byrsonima lucida	Locustberry	Florida Duskywing	Keys
Capparis flexuosa	Bayleaf Caper Tree	Florida White	S.E. Coast
Capparis flexuosa	Bayleaf Caper Tree	Great Southern White	Coastal
Coccothrinax argentata	Florida Silver Palm	Monk Skipper
Ficus aurea	Strangler Fig	Ruddy Daggerwing	South
Ficus citrifolia	Wild Banyan Tree	Ruddy Daggerwing	South
Guajacum sanctum	Lignumvitae	Lyside Sulphur	S.E. Coast
Gymnanthes lucida	Crabwood	Florida Purplewing	Extreme S.E.
Lysiloma latisiliquum	False Tamarind	Cassius Blue
Lysiloma latisiliquum	False Tamarind	Large Orange Sulphur	Coastal
Lysiloma latisiliquum	False Tamarind	Mimosa Yellow	Up. Keys only
Picramnia pentandra	Florida Bitterbush	Dina Yellow
Piscidia piscipula	Jamaica Dogwood	Fulvous Hairstreak	Extreme S.
Piscidia piscipula	Jamaica Dogwood	Hammock Skipper	Coastal
Pithecellobium keyense	Blackbead	Cassius Blue
Pithecellobium keyense	Blackbead	Large Orange Sulphur	Coastal
Senna polyphylla*	Desert Cassia	Cloudless Sulphur
Senna polyphylla	Desert Cassia	Orange-barred Sulphur
Sorghastrum secundum	Lopsided Indiangrass	Delaware Skipper
Sorghastrum secundum	Lopsided Indiangrass	Swarthy Skipper
Sorghastrum secundum	Lopsided Indiangrass	Twin-spot Skipper
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis	Blue Porterweed	Tropical Buckeye	Extreme S.E.
Suriana maritima	Bay Cedar	Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak	S. Coastal
Suriana maritima	Bay Cedar	Martial Scrub-Hairstreak	Extreme S.
Thrinax morrisii	Brittle Thatch Palm	Monk Skipper
Thrinax radiata	Florida Thatch Palm	Monk Skipper
Tripsacum floridana	Gammagrass	Clouded Skipper
Tripsacum floridana	Gammagrass	Three-spotted Skipper	Extreme S.
Zanthoxylum coriaceum	Prickly Ash	Giant Swallowtail
Zanthoxylum fagara	Wild Lime	Giant Swallowtail
Zanthoxylum fagara	Wild Lime	Schaus Swallowtail	N. Key Largo
Zanthoxylum flavum	Yellowwood	Giant Swallowtail

*Senna polyphylla is not considered to be native to South Florida, but is an attractive, non-invasive small tree from the Caribbean area, appropriate for planting in our area.

This list was prepared by Linda M. Evans
Miami Blue Chapter NABA (miamiblue.org)

Last updated: 01/22/2008