Red-spotted Purple

Red-spotted Purple on banana

Many of the butterflies that use trees and shrubs as caterpillar food, such as this Red-spotted Purple, can be lured down for better viewing with butterfly feeders. Naba member Pat Sutton shares her experiences with a butterfly feeder report from New Jersey

To find out more about which butterflies you are most likely to see in New York City and Northern New Jersey gardens, click here:

Common Butterflies For Your Garden and Yard

Trees, Shrubs, and Vines of Northern New Jersey and the New York City Region

The following table lists the growing group of plants that have been suggested Mourning Cloak on Milkweed and reviewed by butterfly gardeners in the northern New Jersey/New York City region.

Don't see your favorite butterfly garden plant listed? Let us know by clicking here. Input from experienced butterfly gardeners is welcome.

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English Name	Scientific Name	Plant Type	Caterpillar Food Plant For:
American Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis	tree	Tawny Emperor, Hackberry Emperor, American Snout, Question Mark, Mourning Cloak
Black Cherry	Prunus serotina	tree	Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Red-spotted Purple, Coral Hairstreak
Common Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis	Shrub	Not a caterpillar food plant
Dutchman's Pipe	Aristolochia macrophylla	vine	Pipevine Swallowtail
Spicebush	Lindera benzoin	shrub	Spicebush Swallowtail

English Name	Scientific Name	Plant Type	Caterpillar Food Plant For:
Dutchman's Pipe	Aristolochia macrophylla	vine	Pipevine Swallowtail
American Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis	tree	Tawny Emperor, Hackberry Emperor, American Snout, Question Mark, Mourning Cloak
Common Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis	Shrub	Not a caterpillar food plant
Spicebush	Lindera benzoin	shrub	Spicebush Swallowtail
Black Cherry	Prunus serotina	tree	Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Red-spotted Purple, Coral Hairstreak

English Name	Scientific Name	Plant Type	Caterpillar Food Plant For:
Common Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis	Shrub	Not a caterpillar food plant
Spicebush	Lindera benzoin	shrub	Spicebush Swallowtail
Dutchman's Pipe	Aristolochia macrophylla	vine	Pipevine Swallowtail
American Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis	tree	Tawny Emperor, Hackberry Emperor, American Snout, Question Mark, Mourning Cloak
Black Cherry	Prunus serotina	tree	Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Red-spotted Purple, Coral Hairstreak