Top Trees for Attracting Butterflies

In honor of Arbor Day coming up on April 24th, we thought we would talk about some of the top butterfly-supporting trees! The trees we have chosen wear multiple hats, so to speak. These trees will support more than one species of caterpillar in its development to becoming a full-fledged butterfly!

​Trees play a vital role in supporting butterflies because they provide shelter, food, and water! If you look at the Oyamel Fir forest in Mexico or the Eucalyptus trees in California in the winter, you will notice that Monarchs spend most of their time on these trees. 

Something to consider when planting trees to support pollinators is that butterflies will lay their eggs on the leaves of these trees and the leaves may fall off so it is important to not immediately rake these leaves up!

Oak (Quercus spp.)

Oaks might arguably be the most valuable host tree for butterflies because they support so many different species of butterflies.

Butterflies that consider Oak trees a host plant are : Striped Hairstreak, Banded Hairstreak, Mourning Cloak, Edwards Hairstreak, Red Banded Hairstreak, White M Hairstreak, and Horace's Duskywing.

Distribution: Oaks include any of about 450 species of ornamental and timber trees and shrubs  distributed throughout the north temperate zone and at high altitudes in the tropics.

Mourning cloak caterpillar and chrysalis.

Cherry Tree (Prunus avium)

Not only are Cherry trees a beautiful blooming tree but they also host a huge variety of butterflies and moths including: the American Snout,  Red-spotted Purple, Spring Azure, Viceroy, Coral Hairstreak, Hummingbird Clearwing, Cecropia Silk Moth, and White Admiral. 

​Distribution: Though not native to North America, most of the sweet cherry crop in North America is grown in the Pacific Coast states and in Michigan and Ontario.

Viceroy caterpillar.

Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana )

Sweetbay magnolias are a host tree for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Palamedes Swallowtail,  Sweetbay Silkmoth and Spicebush Swallowtail. In spring,  sweetbay magnolias produce a profusion of creamy white flowers that carry a light lemon scent. 
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Distribution: Sweetbay grows along the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains from Massachusetts south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Tennessee.

Spicebush swallowtail caterpillar.

Elms (Ulmus spp.)

Elms are a host plant for several butterflies such as the Question Mark, Eastern Comma, Hackberry Butterfly, Tawny Emperor, and Mourning Cloak.  
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This tall, popular much-loved Elm tree has beautiful lustrous green leaves throughout the summer that change to a lovely shade of yellow in the fall.  Dutch elm disease has been fatal to many elm trees in the past and with new Elm varieties on the market, saving the Elm trees will bring back a part of American history that has been missing from our landscapes. Planting Elms are essential to the conservation of trees and to many butterflies that rely on them as a food source.

Distribution: Elm trees are a species native to eastern North America, naturally occurring from Nova Scotia west to Alberta and Montana, and south to Florida and central Texas. 

Tawny Emperor caterpillar.

Willows (Salix spp.)

Yes, beautiful Willows provide food in the larval stage for the Striped Hairstreak, Compton Tortoise Shell, Northern Pearly Eye, Cecropia Moth, Mourning Cloak, Red-spotted Purple, and Viceroy butterflies.

​Willows are fast growing and will tolerate many soil types. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes. These trees are an important host plant to butterflies and are an impressive addition to your landscaping.

Distribution: Willows originated from China, but can be found throughout the northern hemisphere (Europe, Asia and North America). Willow inhabits temperate areas that provide enough moisture and direct sunlight. They are often found near the lakes and ponds or planted in gardens and parks because of its ornamental morphology.

Cecropia moth caterpillar. This is the largest moth in North America.

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Is there a perfect tree? Consider the magnificent Hackberry tree, Celtis occidentalis. Many species of butterflies consider it the perfect caterpillar food plant, including the Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, Hackberry Emperor, Tawny Emperor and the darling American Snout. 

Birds also celebrate Hackberry trees as well! Winter residents such as yellow-bellied sapsuckers, wild turkeys, and mockingbirds depend on the persistent berries.

Distribution: Common hackberry is most common in the midwestern United States. It is sparingly distributed in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, rare along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Virginia, occasional in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia, and restricted to Hemphill County in the Texas panhandle.

American snout caterpillar.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

The Serviceberry is a host plant for​ Red-spotted Purple and Viceroy caterpillars. Fruits are also eaten by songbirds, small mammals, and large mammals.

Serviceberry is a deciduous tree that may grow 20 to 40 feet tall. In spring, 5-petaled, white flowers mature. The small tree produces a red to purple berry that matures in the fall.
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Distribution: Common serviceberry occurs from the southern tip of Newfoundland south to the northern tip of the Florida Panhandle and west to southern Ontario and Quebec, eastern Kansas, the eastern edge of Nebraska, and southern Mississippi and Alabama.

Red-spotted purple caterpillar.

Paw Paw  (Asimina triloba)

Zebra swallowtail butterfly.

This is the one exception to our list of versatile host trees because it only supports one type of butterfly. However, this is the ONLY host plant for the spectacular Zebra Swallowtail. In addition, the Paw Paw fruit is often compared to bananas, but with hints of mango, vanilla, and citrus. Despite its diminutive size, it produces the largest edible fruit to North America. 

Distribution: Asimina triloba, the pawpaw, is native to the Eastern, Southern, and Midwestern United States and adjacent Ontario, Canada, from New York west to southeastern Nebraska, and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas.

Zebra swallowtail caterpillar.