Nectar Flowers for Connecticut Butterflies

'When planting a butterfly garden, one focus is on butterfly nectar plants. But, they are only half the equation. Before metamorphoses, a butterfly must first be a caterpillar. Butterflies lay their eggs on very specific host plants, called their larval food plants. In many cases, only one type of plant or one family of plant will do for a certain butterfly. If that larval food plant is absent, the butterfly will move on. Spicebushes (larval food plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail) are one example of this phenomenon. Others include Milkweeds (Asclepias family) as larval food plants for Monarchs, and Queen Anne’s Lace (and related plants such as carrots and parsley) for the Black Swallowtail.

Since butterflies only fly in warm weather (85 degrees and above), they are summer creatures sipping nectar from summer flowers. Some of their favorites are the Butterfly Bush (Buddleia sp.), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Gaillardia, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea), Asters, Sedums, Verbena, and Lantana. Butterflies are nomads, and take off if their needs are not met. To keep them around, plan your garden to have a long succession of bloom of key nectar plants, spanning the season from June through September. The list of butterfly nectar sources is very long.'

Nature Works Garden Center

Here is a list of nectar flowers and host plants for Connecticut butterflies.