Extension for Real Life

Larval Plants for Mississippi Caterpillars

Did you know that certain plants provide food to certain butterflies? Just like adult and baby humans eat different things, the same applies to butterflies! Adult butterflies and larva, also known as caterpillars, have two different food sources. To attract butterflies, you need two different types of plants in your landscape: nectar plants and larval host plants. 

Adult butterflies feed on nectar plants, while larva feed on larval host plants. Butterflies lay eggs on larval host plants. Then, the caterpillars feed on the host plants after they have hatched. Once the caterpillars have morphed into butterflies, they feed on nectar plants.

You can find a lot of the plants butterflies need for nectar and to lay eggs on at your local garden center. Below are the different types of larval host plants you would need in your yard to provide a food source for larva.

• Anise Hyssop
• Black Cherry
• Common Mallow 
• Dill Weed 
• Dogwood 
• Dutchman’s pipe 
• Fennel 
• Frikart Aster 
• Hollyhock 
• Hollyhock Mallow 
• Milkweed 
• Mullein 
• Nasturtium 
• New England Asters 
• Parsley 
• Passion Flower 
• Pawpaw 
• Queen-Anne’s-Lace
• Rue 
• Sassafras 
• Spicebush 
• Sweet Bay 
• Verbena 
• Willow 

You can also incorporate feeders, water, and mineral sources into your landscape to provide more reasons for butterflies to stay around!

If you’re interested in attracting other pollinators to your garden like birds and bees, check out this publication on how to create a pollinator garden!