Below are some common Central California butterfly species and their preferred larval host plants. Some larval plants are also nectar plants.

Be aware that virtually any plant purchased from a commercial nursery has been doused with insecticides, and may also have systemic pesticides in its soil. If you want protect all butterflies inhabiting your garden already, repot all non-organically grown plants in fresh soil, and rinse leaves and flowers repeatedly for at least a week before introducing them into your butterfly garden.

Butterfly Nectar Plants

The following list includes a variety of nectar plants that will attract butterflies. When creating a butterfly garden, the size of the flower is important as to whether a species of butterfly can nectar on it. Larger, trumpet shaped flowers are used by larger butterflies (which have a longer proboscis), while smaller butterflies require shorter tubed flowers on which to nectar.

Try not to purchase nectar plants that have been heavily hybridized to create double flowers, as these are generally poor nectar producers. In descending order of color preference, butterflies prefer flowers that are red, yellow, orange, purple, pink, blue or white.