Six versatile native host plants that support butterflies and moths at every life stage while providing nectar for bees and hummingbirds, seeds for birds, and creating a complete wildlife habitat from caterpillar to chrysalis to flight.
Common Milkweed (Asclepias Syriaca)
Fragrant pink flower clusters bloom in early summer, serving as the essential host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars while attracting ruby-throated hummingbirds, eastern tiger swallowtails, great spangled fritillaries, bumblebees, and long-horned bees with abundant nectar. This robust native supports the complete monarch lifecycle and also hosts milkweed tussock moth and milkweed tiger moth caterpillars that provide food for insect-eating birds.
Height: 3-5 feet tall
Sunlight: Full Sun
Bloom Period: Blooms July to September
Soil Moisture: Dry to Medium
Seeds Per Packet: Approx. 80 seeds per pack, covers 30 ft²
Hardiness Zones: Zones 3-8
*Cold, moist stratification required. Mix seeds with moist substrate (vermiculite, perlite or moss) and place in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 6-8 weeks. Sow seed at depth stated on packet. Do not let seedling dry out while it is establishing.
OR
Sow directly outdoors in late fall to overwinter.
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum Novae-Angliae)
Vibrant purple daisy-like flowers with golden centers create spectacular fall displays, providing essential nectar for migrating monarch butterflies, pearl crescent butterflies, specialist aster mining bees, sweat bees, and bumblebees preparing for winter. This robust native is one of the most important fall food sources for chickadees, goldfinches, and other birds that hunt insects among the flowers and later harvest the seeds.
Height: 3-6 feet tall
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Bloom Period: Blooms September to October
Soil Moisture: Medium to Moist
Seeds Per Packet: Over 200 seeds per pack, covers 30 ft²
Hardiness Zones: Zones 3-8
*Cold, moist stratification required. Mix seeds with moist substrate (vermiculite, perlite or moss) and place in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 6-8 weeks. Sow seed at soil surface. Do not let seedling dry out while it is establishing.
OR
Sow directly outdoors in late fall to overwinter.
Flat-Topped White Aster (Doellingeria Umbellata)
Clusters of small white daisy-like flowers create a flat-topped display in late summer and fall, providing accessible nectar for tiny sweat bees, small carpenter bees, pearl crescent butterflies, and migrating monarchs. This shade-tolerant native offers important late-season forage for chickadees and other small birds that hunt insects among the flowers.
Height: 2-5 feet tall
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Bloom Period: Blooms July to September
Soil Moisture: Medium to Moist
Seeds Per Packet: 200 seeds per pack, covers 50 ft²
Hardiness Zones: Zones 3-9
*Cold, moist stratification required. Mix seeds with moist substrate (vermiculite, perlite or moss) and place in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 6-8 weeks. Sow seed at depth stated on packet. Do not let seedling dry out while it is establishing.
OR
Sow directly outdoors in late fall to overwinter.
Blue Vervain (Verbena Hastata)
Slender purple-blue flower spikes rise elegantly from mid-summer through fall, attracting eastern tiger swallowtails, monarchs, native sweat bees, small carpenter bees, and beneficial wasps throughout the season. This adaptable wetland native provides continuous blooms that support hummingbirds and serves as a host plant for common buckeye butterfly caterpillars.
Height: 2-5 feet tall
Sunlight: Full Sun
Bloom Period: Blooms July to September
Soil Moisture: Medium to Moist
Seeds Per Packet: Over 200 seeds per pack, covers 30 ft²
Hardiness Zones: Zones 3-8
*Cold, moist stratification required. Mix seeds with moist substrate (vermiculite, perlite or moss) and place in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 6-8 weeks. Sow seed at depth stated on packet. Do not let seedling dry out while it is establishing.
OR
Sow directly outdoors in late fall to overwinter.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda Fistulosa)
Lavender-pink tubular flowers form shaggy pompom-like clusters in mid-summer, specifically attracting ruby-throated hummingbirds, bumblebees, long-horned bees, and swallowtail butterflies with abundant nectar. This aromatic native with minty-scented foliage hosts caterpillars of the hermit sphinx moth and gray marvel moth while supporting diverse native bee species.
Height: 3-5 feet tall
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Bloom Period: Blooms July to September
Soil Moisture: Dry to Medium
Seeds Per Packet: Approx. 150 seeds per pack, covers 30 ft²
Hardiness Zones: Zones 3-9
*No pre-treatment required. Sow seed at depth specified on packet. Do not let seedling dry out while it is establishing.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium Scoparium)
This ornamental native grass provides essential shelter and overwintering habitat for butterfly eggs and chrysalises while its seeds feed sparrows, juncos, dark-eyed juncos, and other ground-feeding birds throughout fall and winter. Its clumping structure creates protected spaces where native bees nest in the ground, birds forage for insects and seeds, and the dried stems provide nesting materials for chickadees and wrens in spring.
Height: 3-6 feet tall
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Bloom Period: Blooms September- October
Soil Moisture: Dry to Medium
Seeds Per Packet: Approx. 90 seeds per pack, covers 7.5 ft²
Hardiness Zones: Zones 3-9
*No pre-treatment required. Sow seed at depth specified on packet. Do not let seedling dry out while it is establishing.
