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Butterfly Gardening

Table 4. Butterfly and moth garden plants.


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Copyright ©  1998  Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

This table is based on a listing of plants rated excellent by Carrol L. Henderson in Landscaping for Wildlife, available through Minnesota’s Bookstore at the Minnesota Department of Natual Resources (612-297-3000 or 1-800-652-9747; ask for Minnesota’s Bookstore). Used with permission.

Key: Sun: F=full, FP=full to partial, PS=partial to shade, A=all light conditions; Comments: Hardy in MN zones 3-4, except where noted; Cat=caterpillars; AB=adult butterflies; AM=adult moths.

Scientific name Common name Height Sun Comments Cat AB AM
Annuals
Anethum graveolens dill 3' F   X    
Calendula officinalis calendula, pot marigold 1' FP     X  
Heliotropium arborescens heliotrope 1–2' FP     X X
Mirabilis jalapa four o’clocks 1.5–2' FP       X
Nicotiana alata flowering tobacco 1.5–3' FP       X
Petroselinum crispum parsley 1' FP   X    
Petunia x hybrida petunia 1' FP     X X
Pimpinella anisum anise 1.5' F   X    
Rosemarinus officinalis rosemary 2–3' F     X  
Tagetes erecta American or African marigold 1.5–3' F   X X  
Tagetes patula French marigold 1' F   X X  
Tithonia rotundifolia Mexican sunflower 2.5' F     X  
Scientific name Common name Height Sun Comments Cat AB AM
Annuals
Tropaeolum majus nasturtium 1' FP     X  
Verbena spp. verbena 8–14" F     X  
Zinnis elegans zinnia 1–3' FP     X  
Biennials/perennials
Achillea millefolium yarrow 2' F     X  
Alcea rosea hollyhock 6' F   X X  
Amorpha canescens leadplant 2' F     X  
Anaphalis margaritacea pearly everlasting 2' F   X    
Arabis spp. rock cress .5–1' FP   X    
Asclepias incarnata swamp milkweed 4' FP   X X  
Asclepias speciosa showy milkweed 3' FP   X X  
Asclepias syriaca common milkweed 3' FP   X X  
Asclepias tuberosa butterflyweed 3' FP     X  
Scientific name Common name Height Sun Comments Cat AB AM
Biennials/perennials
Aster ericoides heath heather 3' F   X X  
Aster spp. aster 3–5' FP   X X  
Bidens aristosa tickseed sunflower 3–4' F     X  
Carex spp. sedge 1' F   X    
Centaurea dealbata Persian centaurea 2' FP     X  
Centaurea macrocephala globe centaurea 3' F zones 4–5   X  
Centaurea montana mountain bluet 2' F zone 4   X  
Chelone glabra turtlehead 2' F zone 4   X  
Cirsium flodmanii prairie thistle 1–2' F     X  
Daucus carota Queen Anne’s Lace 2' FP   X X  
Dianthus barbatus sweet William 1.5' FP   X    
Echinacea purpurea purple coneflower 4' FP     X  
Scientific name Common name Height Sun Comments Cat AB AM
Biennials/perennials
Echinops spp. globe thistle 4' FP     X  
Epilobium angustifolium fireweed 4' FP       X
Erigeron spp. fleabane 2' F     X  
Eupatorium maculatum Joe-Pye weed 5' FP     X  
Eupatorium perfoliatum boneset 3' FP     X  
Euthamia graminifolia lance leaved goldenrod 2' F     X  
Gaillardia x grandiflora blanketflower 2–3' F     X  
Gentiana septemfida var. lagondechiana dwarf blue gentian 1' A zones 4–5     X
Helianthus laetiflorus showy sunflower 2–4' F     X  
Helianthus maximiliani narrow leaved sunflower 3–5' F     X  
Helianthus occidentalis western sunflower 3' F     X  
Heliopsis helianthoides oxeye daisy 3' F     X  
Scientific name Common name Height Sun Comments Cat AB AM
Biennials/perennials
Hemerocallis spp. daylily 3–6' F     X  
Hesperis matronalis dame’s rocket 3' PS       X
Houstonia spp. houstonia 8" F     X  
Hyssopus officinalis hyssop 2' F     X  
Liatris aspera rough blazing star 2–3' FP     X  
Liatris cylindracea dwarf blazing star 2' FP     X  
Liatris ligulistylus meadow blazing star 1–1.5' FP     X  
Liatris punctata dotted gayfeather 1' FP     X  
Liatris pycnostachya prairie blazing star 5' FP     X  
Liatris spicata gayfeather, blazing star 3' F     X  
Lilium candidum Madonna lily 6' FP       X
Lupinus perennis lupine 2' A   X X  
Lupinus ‘Russell Hybrids’ Russell lupine 5' A   X X  
Scientific name Common name Height Sun Comments Cat AB AM
Biennials/perennials
Mentha piperita peppermint 2' FP     X  
Mentha spicata spearmint 2' PS zones 4–5   X  
Monarda didyma scarlet bergamot 3' A     X X
Monarda fistulosa wild bergamot 2' F     X X
Oenothera biennis common evening primose 3–4' F       X
Paeonia spp. peony 3' FP     X  
Prunella vulgaris selfheal 1' FP zones 4–5   X  
Rudbeckia fulgida  ‘Goldsturm’ Goldsturm black-eyed Susan 2' FP   X X  
Rudbeckia hirta ‘Gloriosa’ gloriosa daisy 3' FP   X X  
Rumex spp. docks 2' FP   X    
Sedum albo-roseum pink live forever 2' A   X X  
Sedum spectabile sedum 2' A   X X  
Scientific name Common name Height Sun Comments Cat AB AM
Biennials/perennials
Solidago nemoralis gray goldenrod 2' F     X  
Solidago rigida stiff goldenrod 4' F     X  
Solidago rugosa  rough stemmed goldenrod 1–7' F     X  
Solidago speciosa showy goldenrod 3' F     X  
Thymus vulgaris thyme 1' F zone 5   X  
Trifolium pratense red clover 1.5' F     X  
Vicia spp. vetch 3' F     X  
Viola spp. violets 1' A   X    
Trees, shrubs, vines
Acer negundo boxelder 75' FP   X    
Aristolochia durior Dutchman’s pipe 30' FP zones 4–5 X    
Betula spp. birch — FP   X    
Ceanothus americanus New Jersey tea 3' FP     X  
Scientific name Common name Height Sun Comments Cat AB AM
Trees, shrubs, vines
Cephalanthus occidentalis buttonbush 12' FP zones 4–5   X  
Clethra alnifolia sweet pepperbush 6' FP zones 4–5   X  
Ledum groenlandicum Labrador tea 3' FP     X  
Lindera benzoin spicebush 15' A zones 4–5 X    
Philadelphus coronarius sweet mockorange 9' FP     X  
Populus spp. poplar — A   X    
 Prunus spp. stone fruits (e.g., plum, cherry) — F     X  
Quercus spp. oak — F   X    
Rubus allegheniensis wild blackberry 6' FP     X  
Salix discolor pussy willow 10–20' F     X  
Salix humilis var. microphylla prairie willow 4' F   X    
Salix nigra black willow 50' FP zones 4–5 X X  
Scientific name Common name Height Sun Comments Cat AB AM
Trees, shrubs, vines
Salix pentandra laurel willow 36' FP   X X  
 Spirea alba narrowleaf meadowsweet 4' F     X  
Spirea latifolia broadleaf meadowsweet 6' A     X  
Spirea tomentosa hard hack 4' A     X  
Symphoricarpos occidentalis wolfberry 6' A   X    
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus coralberry 3' A   X    
Syringa x hyacinthiflora Canadian lilac 16' FP zones 4–5   X  
Syringa josiflexa Chinese/Hungarian lilac 15' FP zones 4–5   X  
Syringa meyeri dwarf Korean lilac 5' FP zones 4–5   X  
Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’ Miss Kim Korean lilac 4' FP zones 4–5   X  
Syringa x prestoniae Preston lilac 10' FP     X  
Weigelia florida weigelia 9' F zones 4–5     X




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