Food
1. Provide Host Plants (Caterpillar Food)
These are specific native plants that female butterflies lay their eggs on. The leaves become food for the caterpillars. Each butterfly species has preferred or exclusive host plants — without them, butterflies can’t reproduce.
What to do:
- Plant Florida native host plants in your garden.
- Focus on diversity: aim for at least 5 different host plants.
- Avoid pesticides — they will kill caterpillars, bees, butterflies and many other beneficial insects like ladybugs.
Some Examples of Host Plants for Florida Butterflies:
Host Plant
Milkweed (Asclepias perennis)
Passionvine (Passiflora incarnata)
Cassia/Senna (Senna ligustrina)
Fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)
Wild Lime (Zanthoxylum fagara)
Butterfly Species
Monarch, Queen
Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing
Cloudless Sulphur, Sleepy Orange
White Peacock, Buckeye
Giant Swallowtail
2. Provide Nectar Plants (Adult Butterfly Food)
Adult butterflies feed on nectar for energy. Native flowering plants provide the best-quality nectar and are adapted to Florida’s climate and pollinators.
What to do:
- Plant Florida native nectar plants that bloom across seasons.
- Group the same plants together — butterflies notice large patches.
- Include a variety of flower shapes and colors.
Some Examples of Native Nectar Plants:
Nectar Plant
Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)
Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)
Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis)
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Tickseed (Coreopsis spp.)
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
Bloom Season
Spring–Fall
Summer–Fall
Year-round
Spring–Fall
Spring–Summer
Late Summer–Fall
Tips for a Successful Butterfly Buffet:
- Use only Florida native plants — non-natives don’t always provide the right nutrients or timing.
- Skip insecticides and herbicides — they’re harmful to butterflies, caterpillars, pets, children, and well everything!
- Butterflies need a mix of sun and shade conditions and so do their caterpillars. Plant to allow for them to have both conditions to attract more to your garden. While butterflies are solar powered, the sun zaps their energies and they need roosting places to rest in the shade to take a break.
- Let some plants go to seed — birds and other pollinators benefit too.