If you want to attract Brush-Footed butterflies to your garden, check out the list of host and nectar plants below for each of the thirty-four species that visit Tennessee!
| Brush-Footed Species | Host Plants | Nectar Plants |
|---|---|---|
| American Lady | Cudweeds (Gnaphalium spp.) Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) Pussytoes (Antennaria spp.) Sweet Everlasting (Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Thistle (Cirsium discolor) Vervain (Verbena spp.) |
| Common Buckeye | False Foxglove (Aureolaria spp.) Gerardia (Agalinis spp.) Plantain (Plantago spp.) Ruellia (Ruellia spp.) Snapdragon (Antirrhinum spp.) Toadflax (Linaria spp.) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Vervain (Verbena spp.) |
| Painted Lady | Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) Hoary Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canescens) Illinois Bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) Sensitive Pea (Chamaecrista nictitans) Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense) White Prairie Clover (Dalea candida) Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Thistle (Cirsium discolor) Vervain (Verbena spp.) |
| Red Admiral | Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) Pennsylvania Pellitory (Parietaria pensylvanica) Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Bush (Buddleja spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Thistle (Cirsium spp.) Vervain (Verbena spp.) |
| Red-Spotted Purple |
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) |
Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap and rotting fruit. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Viceroy | Aspens (Populus spp.) Cottonwoods (Populus spp.) Willows (Salix spp.) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Vervain (Verbena spp.) |
| Baltimore Checkerspot | Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus) White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Vervain (Verbena spp.) Wild Blackberry (Rubus spp.) Wild Rose (Rosa spp.) |
| Gorgone Checkerspot | Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) |
| Silvery Checkerspot | Bear’s Foot (Smallanthus uvedalius) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) |
| Pearl Crescent | Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) | Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Thistles (Cirsium spp.) Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) |
| Phaon Crescent | Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) | Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) |
| Eastern Comma | American Elm (Ulmus americana) False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) Hops (Humulus lupulus) Nettles (Urtica spp.) |
Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp surfaces. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Green Comma | Alder (Alnus spp.) Birch (Betula spp.) Gooseberry (Ribes spp.) Willow (Salix spp.) |
Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp surfaces. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Mourning Cloak | Aspen (Populus spp.) Birch (Betula spp.) Cottonwood (Populus spp.) Elm (Ulmus spp.) Hackberry (Celtis spp.) Willow (Salix spp.) |
Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp surfaces. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Question Mark | American Elm (Ulmus americana) False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) Hops (Humulus spp.) Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) |
Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp surfaces. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Hackberry Emperor | Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) | Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp soil and leaf litter. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Tawny Emperor | Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) |
Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on sap flows, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp soil and leaf litter. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
|
Aphrodite Fritillary |
Violets (Viola spp.) |
Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) |
| Diana Fritillary | Violets (Viola spp.) |
Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) |
| Great Spangled Fritillary | Violets (Viola spp.) | Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Thistles (Cirsium spp.) Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) |
| Gulf Fritillary | Corkystem Passionflower (Passiflora suberosa) Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) Yellow Passionflower (Passiflora lutea) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) |
| Meadow Fritillary | Canada Violet (Viola canadensis) Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia) Northern White Violet (Viola pallens) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Thistles (Cirsium spp.) Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) |
| Variegated Fritillary | Flax (Linum spp.) Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) Passionflowers (Passiflora spp.) Pansies (Viola tricolor) Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Sedum (Sedum spp.) Violets (Viola spp.) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Bearded Beggarticks (Bidens aristosa) Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Fleabane (Erigeron spp.) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Thistles (Cirsium spp.) |
| American Snout | Hackberry (Celtis spp.) | Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp soil and leaf litter. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Goatweed Leafwing |
Goatweed (Croton capitatus) |
Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp soil and leaf litter. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Monarch | Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Fewflower Milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata) Fourleaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia) Green Antelopehorn (Asclepias viridis) Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Tall Green Milkweed (Asclepias hirtella) Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Meadow Blazing Star (Liatris ligulistylis) Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) |
| Appalachian Brown | Sedges (Carex spp.) | Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp soil and leaf litter. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Carolina Satyr | Beaked Panicum (Panicum anceps) Rosette Grasses (Dichanthelium spp.) St. Augustine Grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) |
Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp soil and leaf litter. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Common Wood-Nymph | Fescue (Festuca spp.) Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata) Purpletop (Tridens flavus) |
Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) |
| Gemmed Satyr | Slender Woodoats (Chasmanthium laxum) | Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp soil and leaf litter. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Little Wood-Satyr | Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata) Poa (Poa spp.) St. Augustine Grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) |
Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp soil and leaf litter. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Creole Pearly-eye | Switchcane (Arundinaria tecta) | Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp soil and leaf litter. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Northern Pearly-eye | Bearded Shorthusk (Brachyelytrum erectum) Bottlebrush Grass (Elymus hystrix) River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) Whitegrass (Leersia virginica) |
Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp soil and leaf litter. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |
| Southern Pearly-eye | Switchcane (Arundinaria tecta) | Rarely visits flowers. Feeds mainly on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and moisture from damp soil and leaf litter. Support with host plants and shaded woodland habitat. |