Herbs - Hosts and Larval
- Nectar Plants provide nectar for the butterfly to live on.
- Larval plants provide food for the caterpillar stage of the butterfly.
- You need both types in a butterfly garden. The larval plants are for the butterfly to lay its eggs on. The butterfly eggs will turn into a caterpillar, than form a chrysalis which will then transform into a beautiful butterfly! And the cycle continues.
HERBS:
• Basil (nectar)
• Chives (nectar)
• Dill (larval)
• Fennel (larval)
• Lavender (nectar)
• Mexican Mint Marigold (nectar)
• Mints (nectar)
• Oregano (nectar)
• Parsley (larval)
• Pineapple Sage (nectar)
• Rosemary (nectar)
• Thyme (larval)
• Tiny Tim (nectar)
Umbelliferous herbs provide nectar and act as larval host plants. Herbs in general are excellent nectar sources for butterflies.
Larval Plants (butterfly species noted):
- Achillea millefolium (yarrow). Painted Lady
- Anethum graveolens (dill). Black Swallowtail; Anise Swallowtail
- Foeniculum vulgare (fennel). Black Swallowtail; Anise Swallowtail
- Levisticum officinale (lovage). Black Swallowtail; Anise Swallowtail
- Mentha spp. (mint). White Peacock, Painted Lady
- Petroselinum crispum (parsley). Black Swallowtail; Anise Swallowtail
- Salvia spp. (sage). Gray Hairstreak; Painted Lady; West Coast Lady
- Tanacetum vulgare (tansy). Painted Lady
- Viola odorata (sweet violet). Fritillaries
- Achillea millefolium (yarrow)
- Allium schoenoprasum (chives)
- Chamaemelum nobile (chamomile)
- Coriandrum sativum (cilantro)
- Lavandula spp. (lavender)
- Mentha pulegium (English pennyroyal)
- Mentha spp. (mint)
- Nepeta spp. (catmint)
- Ocimum basilicum (basil)
- Origanum laevigatum (oregano)
- Origanum majorana (marjoram)
- Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)
- Salvia spp. (sage)
- Thymus spp. (thyme)
