The following plants will attract and encourage butterflies in Iowa. Most provide nectar for adults; others (marked with a C ) are a necessary food source for specific caterpillars. Refer to Food Preferences of Common Iowa Butterflies. Some plants support both caterpillars and adult butterflies (for example, asters, milkweeds and thistles). Inclusion of a plant does not constitute an endorsement of its use. Evaluate carefully your site and all available information before deciding to plant or retain any plants in your landscape.
Trees shrubs Ash C Annual Flowers Cosmos Weeds Burdock C
Mullen Other Anise C |
Perennials Asters C |
Adapted from Krischik, V., 1996. Butterfly Gardening. University of Minnesota Extension Service publication AG-BU-6711-S.
Prepared by Donald R. Lewis, extension entomologist and Richard Jauron and Cindy Haynes, extension horticulturists. January, 2001
This article originally appeared in the February 23, 2001 issue, pp. 15-16.
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Horticulture and Home Pest News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on February 23, 2001. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.