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North American Butterfly Associaton

Butterfly Gardening and Habitat Program

Northern New Jersey/ New York City Perennials

Selected and rated by NABA New Jersey members, the following native plants will perform well in a butterfly garden. Don't see your favorite plant listed? Let us know by rating a garden plant here:

CLICK HERE TO RATE BUTTERFLY GARDEN PLANTS

Milkweed : Asclepias species

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
2	2	3

Purple Milkweed - A. purpurascens is rated as very useful; it can be difficult to establish in some gardens but provides strong color and is valuable as a food and nectar plant for Monarch butterflies and their caterpillars.

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
3	3	3

Swamp Milkweed - A. incarnata is rated as essential due to its adaptability to a variety of garden conditions, its importance as a food source for Monarch caterpillars, and its attractiveness as a nectar source to a wide variety of butterflies.

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
3	3	3

Butterfly Milkweed - A. tuberosa is rated as essential for butterfly gardens due to its use as both a caterpillar food plant as well as a favored nectar source. It is easily grown and fits well into many garden schemes.

Asters: Aster species

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
3	3	2

New England Aster - A. novae-angliae is rated as essential for the N. New Jersey/ New York City as it blooms under a variety of garden conditions and is attractive to a wide variety of butterflies.

Bergamot/Beebalm: Monarda species

Wild Bergamot - M. fistulosa Be the first to rate this plant!

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
3	2	0

Oswego Tea - M. didyma is rated as essential due to its ability to thrive in a variety of garden settings, its long bloom period, and its attractiveness as a nectar source for a variety of butterflies.

Other Plants

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
2	0	3

Violets- Viola ssp. are rated as useful. They can be invasive but are a primary caterpillar food source for many Fritillary caterpillars.

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
3	2	3

Pearly Everlasting - Anaphalis margaritacea is rated as useful. It is a caterpillar food source for American Lady butterflies. It is easy to grow and the foliage provides a silver accent.

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
0	3	0

Goldenrod species are valuable nectar souces and easy to grow but must be selected with care.

Eupatorium species

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
3	3	0

Boneset - Eupatorium perfoliatum is rated as essential for the N. New Jersey/ New York City as it blooms heavily in the late summer and attracts a wide variety of butterflies.

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
3	3	0

Mistflower -Conoclinium coelestinum is rated as essential for the N. New Jersey/ New York City as it blooms under a variety of garden conditions and is attractive to a wide variety of butterflies.

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
2	3	0

Hollow Joe Pye Weed - E. fistulosum is rated as very useful for the N. New Jersey/ New York City. If space allows, it will attract a wide variety of butterflies while making a large garden statement.

Garden Rating	Nectar Rating	Caterpillar Rating
2	2	0

White Snake Root - Eupatorium rugosum is rated as useful for the N. New Jersey/ New York City. It can be weedy but is useful in certain situations.