Nova Scotia & New Brunswick Butterfly Gardening

Butterfly Species
Caterpillar Host Plant
Adult Stage
Pink-edged Sulphur
Colias interior
blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)

Blueberry
photo: NC

Blueberry
photo: RM

 variety of flowers
Clouded Sulphur
Colias philodice
lupins, alfalfa, White Clover variety of flowers (especially asters / Aster spp. & goldenrods / Solidago spp.), also seen at puddles & other wet areas

Asters
photo: RM

Goldenrod
photo: RM

idea: a bird bath

Monarch
Danaus plexippus 		milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) variety of flowers (with a favorite being milkweed blossoms)

Milkweed
photo: AJBM
Silvery Blue
Glaucopsyche lygdamus
plants such as vetch (Vicia spp.) & White Clover (Trifolium repens)

Vetch
photo: JBM

 variety of flowers, puddles & other wet areas
idea: a bird bath
White Admiral
Limenitis arthemis
birch (Betula spp.), willow
(Salix spp.), aspen (Populus
spp.)

Willow
photo: RM

 rotting fruit, puddles & other wet areas
idea: a bird bath
American Copper
Lycaena phlaeas
Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
flowers such as goldenrods (note: the American Copper defends its territory & will chase off other butterflies)

Goldenrod
photo: RM
Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa
willow (Salix spp.)
note: they are communal, feeding in large groups & can sometimes cause considerable defoliation to ornamental willows as they move up a branch. For control, if needed, simply remove the affected branch.

Willow
photo: RM

 tree sap (ie. of birch or maple)
idea: make a small cut in the trunk & allow the
sap to run. Check in a day or two. This is best done in early spring when not a lot of food sources are available.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio canadensis
a wide variety : cherry (Prunus spp.), apple (Malus spp.), alder (Alnus spp.), birch (Betula spp.), willow (Salix spp.), poplar (Populus spp.), ash (Fraxinus spp.), serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) & lilac (Syringa spp.)

Cherry
photo: NF
Willow
photo: RM

variety of flowers especially lilac (Syringa spp.), apple (Pyrus spp.), cherry (Prunus spp.) & butterfly bush (Buddleia spp.), also seen at puddles & other wet areas
idea: a bird bath

Butterfly bush
photo: JPB
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
plants from the Parsley family (Apiaceae) ie. dill, celery, carrot & parsley
note: the caterpillars are never
abundant enough to cause any serious damage to your plants
variety of flowers
Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele
violets (Viola spp.) avid flower visitor (a favorite being Knapweed / Centaurea nigra)

More info in the gallery