If you want to attract Gossamer-Winged butterflies to your garden, check out the list of host and nectar plants below for each of the twenty-four species that visit Tennessee!
| Gossamer-Winged Species | Host Plants | Nectar Plants |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Azure | Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) | Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) |
| Dusky Azure | Goat’s Beard (Aruncus dioicus) | Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) Carolina Vetch (Vicia caroliniana) Chickweed (Stellaria spp.) Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) Woodland Violets (Viola spp.) |
| Spring Azure | Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) | Blackberry (Rubus spp.) Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) |
| Summer Azure | Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) Leafy Elephant’s Foot (Elephantopus carolinianus) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) Spiraea (Spiraea spp.) White Crownbeard (Verbesina virginica) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) Sneezeweed (Helenium spp.) Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) |
| Eastern Tailed-Blue | Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Downy Milk Pea (Galactia volubilis) Milk Vetch (Astragalus spp.) Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis) Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) Various Legumes (Fabaceae family) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Blackberry (Rubus spp.) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Pentas (Pentas lanceolata) Shepherd’s Needle (Scandix pecten-veneris) Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Sweet Clover (Melilotus spp.) Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) Winter Cress (Barbarea vulgaris) |
| Reakirt’s Blue | Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Indigo (Indigofera spp.) Indigo Bush (Dalea spp.) Mesquite (Prosopis spp.) Milk Vetch (Astragalus spp.) Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) Rattleweed (Astragalus spp.) Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis) |
Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Spearmint (Mentha spicata) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) White Sweet Clover (Melilotus alba) Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) |
| Silvery Blue |
Astragalus (Astragalus spp.) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)Baptisia (Baptisia spp.)Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) |
| American Copper |
Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Blackberry (Rubus spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| Bronze Copper | Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) Sorrel (Rumex spp.) Water Dock (Rumex orbiculatus) |
Blackberry (Rubus spp.) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| Brown Elfin | Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) |
Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) Chickweed (Stellaria spp.) Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Early Saxifrage (Micranthes virginiensis) Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) |
| Eastern Pine Elfin | Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) |
Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) Pussytoes (Antennaria spp.) Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) |
| Henry’s Elfin | Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) Possumhaw Viburnum (Viburnum nudum) Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) |
Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) |
| Banded Hairstreak | Black Oak (Quercus velutina) Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) White Oak (Quercus alba) Other native oaks (Quercus spp.) |
Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| Coral Hairstreak | Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) Wild Plum (Prunus americana) |
Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| Early Hairstreak | American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) |
Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) |
| Edwards’ Hairstreak | Black Oak (Quercus velutina) Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea) White Oak (Quercus alba) Other native oaks (Quercus spp.) |
Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| Gray Hairstreak | Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) Tick Trefoil (Desmodium spp.) Wild Indigo (Baptisia spp.) Various native legumes (Fabaceae family) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| Great Purple Hairstreak | American Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) | Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Plum (Prunus americana) Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| Juniper Hairstreak | Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) Other native junipers (Juniperus spp.) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| Oak Hairstreak | Black Oak (Quercus velutina) Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata) White Oak (Quercus alba) Other native oaks (Quercus spp.) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| Red-banded Hairstreak | Dwarf Sumac (Rhus copallinum) Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica) Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) Various Oaks (Quercus spp.) Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera) Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| Striped Hairstreak | American Plum (Prunus americana) Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) Wild Plum (Prunus spp.) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| White M Hairstreak | Post Oak (Quercus stellata) Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata) White Oak (Quercus alba) Other native oaks (Quercus spp.) |
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa) Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
| Harvester | Harvester caterpillars feed on woolly aphids found on:
Alder (Alnus spp.) |
Adults rarely visit flowers. They feed on: Aphid honeydew Moist soil or mud Tree sap |