www.stlouisco.com/parks
Butterfly
Plants
Care Instructions
American Lady
Host Plant: Pussytoes
Requires excellent drainage and no fallen leaves or wood mulch over crown.
Annual: Verbena
Fine foliage types keep blooming in summer without adding fertilizer.
Fall: Smooth Aster
If over time the plant becomes lanky by late summer, try cutting back 1/3 mid – late spring, shear moderately hard as bloom starts to finish to control reseeding. Drought tolerant once established. Remover spent flowers to control reseeding.
Summer: Slender Mountain Mint Spring: Old Fashioned Lilac
American Snout
Host Plant: Hackberry/Sugarberry Annual: Globe Amaranth
Avoid placing by sidewalks. Prune weak or undesirable growth in late winter.
Fall: Smooth Aster
Spring: Plum or Peach Tree
If over time the plant becomes lanky by late summer, try cutting back 1/3 mid – late spring, shear moderately hard as bloom starts to finish to control reseeding. Prefers lights shade, even moisture. May need staking as it takes time to mature and maintain upright shape. Not recommended around livestock.
Host Plant: Flowering Dogwood Annual: Scabiosa spps.
Easy to damage by lawnmowers. Plant away from heat reflective surfaces. Takes time to establish. Water during dry spells. Dead head regularly to get the most blooms
Fall: Black-eyed Susan
Divide clump to prevent overcrowding. Deadhead to control reseeding and extend flower period. Well suited for cultivated gardens. Reserve energy used forming seedpods by removing spent blooms. Tip prune in the spring, remove berried canes in fall
Summer: Summersweet
Summer Azure
Summer: Swamp Milkweed Spring: Blackberries
Banded Hairstreak
Host Plant: Black Oak Annual: Pentas Fall: Milkweed Summer: Yarrow Spring: New Jersey Tea
Black Swallowtail
Remove 2” canes and larger and most spindly suckers annually. Choose mildew resistant single forms like “Old Glory.”
Host Plant: Parsley/Fennel/Dill Annual: Verbena Fall: Joe Pye Weed Summer: Swamp Milkweed Spring: Blazing Star
Easy care. No deadheading needed
Usually require minimal care once established. Acorn production after 20 years cycling every 2-3 years Easy care. No deadheading needed. Well suited for cultivated gardens. Reserve energy used forming seedpods by removing spent blooms. Both native and introduced genotypes reseed easily but are easy to control. Remove spend flowers. Soft, ferny foliage, crown is tender and easy to injure with spade. Drought tolerant. Prune hard to rejuvenate as needed. After flowering remove spent blooms if preferred. Treat as annual. Tolerates range of soil conditions. Fennel and Dill are more heat tolerant. Grow all three in ground or container. Easy care. No deadheading needed. Water deeply during extended drought periods. When center starts to die out its time to dig up, divide and discard the dead center. Replant to division flower colors variable. Well suited for cultivated gardens. Reserve energy used forming seedpods by removing spent blooms. Deadhead to prevent seeding by removing flower stalks at base leaving basal foliage or leave for songbirds.
Butterfly
Plants
Care Instructions
Cloudless Sulphur
Host Plant: Partridge Pea
Lengthy bloom period. Useful in honey production. Remains fairly upright and can tolerate gentle shearing before blooming. Easy care. No deadheading needed.
Annual: Bougainvillea Fall: Phlox paniculata
Common Buckeye
Summer: Rose Mallow
Mildly fragrant. Avoid overcrowding, drought and poor circulation. Remove spent flowers. Largest Missouri wildflower. Needs moist soil. Significantly extend bloom period by removing each spent bloom and the calyx, the little cup at the flower base that forms seed.
Host Plant: Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis) Annual: Globe Amaranth
Long bloom period, tolerates some shade, no deadheading required, occasional volunteers easy to remove. Easy care. No deadheading needed.
Fall: Smooth Aster
If over time the plant becomes lanky by late summer, try cutting back 1/3 mid – late spring, shear moderately hard as bloom starts to finish to control reseeding. Requires moist soil. Cut plant height 1/3 in the spring to encourage tight bushy habit, pruning may delay flowering slightly. Deadhead after flowering to control spread.
Summer: American Boneset
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Host Plant: False Blue Indigo Annual: Globe Amaranth Fall: Smooth Aster Summer: Swamp Milkweed Spring: False Blue Indigo
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Easy to maintain as moderate size shrub with occasional pruning, or as small tree. Water during dry periods. Easy care. No deadheading needed.
Fall: Tall Phlox
Mildly fragrant. Avoid overcrowding, drought and poor circulation. Remove spent flowers. Prune as needed in spring to remove winter damage. Regrows from roots after severe winter. Water weekly or more in extended dry periods. Remove 2” canes and larger and most spindly suckers annually. Choose mildew resistant single forms like “Old Glory.”
Spring: Old Fashioned Lilac Host Plant: Hoptree Annual: Bougainvillea Fall: Ironweed Summer: Swamp Milkweed Spring: Beebalm
Gray Hairstreak
If over time the plant becomes lanky by late summer, try cutting back 1/3 mid – late spring, shear moderately hard as bloom starts to finish to control reseeding. Well suited for cultivated gardens. Reserve energy used forming seedpods by removing spent blooms. Trim off finished bloom and trim /shape gently after flowering to keep compact or leave seed pods for looser look.
Host Plant: Sweetbay Magnolia Annual: Pentas
Summer: Glossy Abelia
Giant Swallowtail
Trim off finished bloom and trim /shape gently after flowering to keep compact or leave seed pods for looser look. Easy care. No deadheading needed.
Host Plant: High Mallow or Beans (Phaseolus spp.) Annual: Globe Amaranth Fall: Chrysanthemums Summer: Bluestar (Amsonia) Spring: New Jersey Tea
Small tree, deer resistant. Useful in small gardens as windbreak where multipurpose function appreciated. Easy care. No deadheading needed. Trim 1/3 to 1/2 late spring to reduce height and encourage more flowers. Remove spent flowers to control reseeding. Well suited for cultivated gardens. Reserve energy used forming seedpods by removing spent blooms. Needs good air circulation. If mildew develops remove foliage at base to stimulate new growth. Divide when center begins to die out. Mallow needs no pampering, original plant short lived but gentle reseeding usually keeps population. Volunteers easy to remove. Dwarf forms are available. Beans are not low maintenenace. Easy care. No deadheading needed. Trim 1/3 to 1/2 in late spring to reduce height and encourage more flowers. Removing spent flowers as they wane stimulates dormant buds. Leave foliage intact over winter to protect crown. Flowers best in full sun, shear after flowering to maintain fresh appearance and to prevent reseeding. Prune hard to rejuvenate as needed. After flowering remove spent blooms if preferred.
Butterfly
Plants
Care Instructions
Great Spangled Fritillary
Host Plant: Violets (native or common) Annual: Verbena
Plant annual types in September for fall, winter and spring. Not heat tolerant. Leave fallen leaf debris in shade garden for caterpillars. Easy care. No deadheading needed.
Fall: Joe Pye Weed
Water deeply during extended drought periods. When center starts to die out its time to dig up, divide and discard the dead center. Replant to division flower colors variable. Well suited for cultivated gardens. Reserve energy used forming seedpods by removing spent blooms. Needs good air circulation. If mildew develops remove foliage at base to stimulate new growth. Divide when center begins to die out. Well suited for cultivated gardens. Reserve energy used forming seedpods by removing spent blooms. Easy care. No deadheading needed. Monarch Watch deems safe for use in Missouri. Lift, divide and replant outer crown part. Discard center every 2 years to prevent open woody center developing. Trim ½ in late spring to encourage more flowers. Deadhead spent flowers to extend flower period but leave last flowers for songbirds. Some plants/ flowers show significant variability but susceptible to aster yellow virus. Deadhead to prevent seeding by removing flower stalks at base leaving basal foliage or leave for songbirds.
Summer: Swamp Milkweed Spring: Beebalm
Monarch
Host Plant: Rose or Swamp Milkweed Annual: Bloodflower Fall: Sedum Summer: Coneflower Spring: Blazing Star
Pearl Crescent
Host Plant: Aromatic Aster Annual: Mexican Sunflower Fall: Black-eyed Susan Summer: Swamp Milkweed Spring: Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Red-Spotted Purple
Host Plant: Black Cherry Fall: Coneflower Summer: Summersweet Spring: Linden
Silver-Spotted Skipper
Host Plant: Honey Locust Annual: Zinnia (purple) Fall: Sedum Summer: Swamp Milkweed Spring: Blazing Star
Silvery Checkerspot
Host Plant: Black-eyed Susan Annual: Zinnia Fall: Coneflower Summer: Swamp Milkweed Spring: Lanceleaf Coreopsis
If over time plant becomes lanky by late summer, try cutting back 1/3 in mid-late spring. Shear moderately hard as bloom starts to finish to control reseeding. Easy care. No deadheading needed. Divide clump to prevent overcrowding. Deadhead to control reseeding and extend flower period. Seeds are attractive to birds. Well suited for cultivated gardens. Reserve energy used forming seedpods by removing spent blooms. Remove spent blooms by shearing to prevent reseeding issues. Trim foliage 1/3 to keep tidy. Some selections remain more upright. No fruit production until age 10. Keep away from driveway and patio. Needs moist soil and full sun. Deadhead spent flowers to extend flower period but leave last flowers for songbirds. Some plants/ flowers show significant variability but susceptible to aster yellow virus. Prefers light shade, even moisture. May need staking as it takes time to mature and maintain upright shape. Prefers rich soil. Grows stream side. Not pollution or salt tolerant. June flowers. Fragrant pollinator. Drops nutlet and flower bracts. There are thornless and podless cultivars available. Salt tolerant and tolerates being near Black Walnut. Pods on species are edible to livestock. Thorns were once used as nails. Easy care. No deadheading needed. Lift, divide and replant outer crown part. Discard center every 2 years to prevent open woody center developing. Trim ½ in late spring to encourage more flowers. Well suited for cultivated gardens. Reserve energy used forming seedpods by removing spent blooms. Deadhead to prevent seeding by removing flower stalks at base leaving basal foliage or leave for songbirds. Divide clump to prevent overcrowding. Deadhead to control reseeding and extend flower period. Easy care. No deadheading needed. Deadhead spent flowers to extend flower period but leave last flowers for songbirds. Some plants/ flowers show significant variability but susceptible to aster yellow virus. Well suited for cultivated gardens. Reserve energy used forming seedpods by removing spent blooms. Remove spent blooms by shearing to prevent reseeding issues. Trim foliage 1/3 to keep tidy. Some selections remain more upright.
Butterfly
Plants
Care Instructions
Spicebush Swallowtail
Easy: Spicebush
Plant multiples for best fruit set. Tolerates sun or shade. Possible with pruning to be shaped as small tree standard or left natural as shrub. Easy care. No deadheading needed.
Annual: Lantana Fall: Joe Pye Weed
Water deeply during extended drought periods. When center starts to die out its time to dig up, divide and discard the dead center. Replant to division flower colors variable. Deadhead to prevent seeding by removing flower stalks at base leaving basal foliage or leave for songbirds.
Summer: Blazing Star
Wild Indigo Duskywing
Spring: Beebalm
Needs good air circulation. If mildew develops remove foliage at base to stimulate new growth. Divide when center begins to die out.
Easy: Blue False Indigo
Trim off finished bloom and trim /shape gently after flowering to keep compact or leave seed pods for looser look. Easy care. No deadheading needed.
Annual: Globe Ameranth Fall: Smooth Aster Summer: Swamp Milkweed Spring: Pussytoes
Zebra Swallowtail
Easy: PawPaw Annual: Zinnia Fall: Yarrow Summer: Milkweed Spring: Blueberry
If over time the plant becomes lanky by late summer, try cutting back 1/3 mid – late spring, shear moderately hard as bloom starts to finish to control reseeding. Well suited for cultivated gardens. Reserve energy used forming seedpods by removing spent blooms. Requires excellent drainage and no fallen leaves or wood mulch over crown. Fruit is on new wood. Multiple specimens are required for fruiting. Prefers understory while developing. No tolerance for water logged soil. Deer resistant. Slow colonizer. Easy care. No deadheading needed. Both native and introduced genotypes reseed easily but are easy to control. Remove spent flowers. Soft ferny foliage. Crown is tender, easy to injure with spade. Drought tolerant. Late to emerge in spring so place a few rocks around base at planting to serve as a marker. Draws significant numbers of pollinators so place multiples in various and viewable locations. Don’t prune for 2 years. When mature, remove older canes and prune inward pointing laterals when dormant for increase fruit production.
Photos courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation, except banded hairstreak, courtesy David Cappaert/CCL. This guide is a first step to creating a Pollinator Pantry Garden featuring common regional butterflies and the plants that attract them. It was created by the St. Louis County Parks Department, and its printing and this distribution are sponsored by the following area independent garden centers and other organizations:
720 S. 11th St. Belleville, IL 62220 (618) 234-4600 EffingerGarden.com
1605 S. Big Bend Blvd. Richmond Heights, MO 63117 (314) 645-7333 GardenHeights.com
2651 Barrett Station Rd. St. Louis, MO 63021 (314) 966-0028 Sherwoods-Forest.com
StLouisCo.com/Parks
2832 Barrett Station Rd. St. Louis, MO 63021 (314) 821-2440 GreenscapeGardens.com
1011 N. Woodlawn Ave. Kirkwood, MO 63122 (314) 965-3070 SugarCreekGardens.com
11530 Gravois Rd. St. Louis, MO 63126 (314) 843-4700 SappingtonGardenShop.com
878 Glen Elm Dr. Glendale, MO 63122 (314) 503-5792 StLCountyParksFoundation.org
For more resources on attracting butterflies and other pollinators to your garden visit: ButterflyHouse.org/ProjectPollinator StLZoo.org/Conservation/DoItYourselfConservation/Pollinators/ Polllinator.org Xerces.org MonarchJointVenture.org
GatewayGardener.com