10 Best Native Trees for Butterflies

1. Eastern Serviceberry

  • Scientific Name: Amelanchier canadensis
  • Average Height: 15 feet to 25 feet
  • Butterfly Species Attracted: Red-Spotted Purple
  • Notes: Wet soils; multi-trunked
 Eastern Serviceberry tree with leaf detail inset

2. Parsley Hawthorn

  • Scientific Name: Crataegus marshallii
  • Average Height: 15 feet to 25 feet
  • Butterfly Species Attracted: Gray Hairstreak, Striped Hairstreak, Red-Spotted Purple
  • Notes: Wet, moist, or dry soil
 Parsley Hawthorn tree blossom with leaf detail inset

3. Green Hawthorn

  • Scientific Name: Crataegus viridis
  • Average Height: 20 feet to 35 feet
  • Butterfly Species Attracted: King’s Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Soapberry Hairstreak, Banded Hairstreak, Red-Banded Hairstreak
  • Notes: Moist to dry soils
 Green Hawthorn tree with leaf detail inset

4. Spicebush

  • Scientific Name: Lindera benzoin
  • Average Height: 8 feet to 10 feet
  • Butterfly Species Attracted: Spicebush Swallowtail, Tiger Swallowtail
  • Notes: Wet, moist, to dry soil; produces small yellow flowers
 Spicebush tree with blossom detail inset

5. Pawpaw

  • Scientific Name: Asimina triloba
  • Average Height: 15 feet to 30 feet
  • Butterfly Species Attracted: Zebra Swallowtail
  • Notes: Wet to moist soil; full to partial sun or shade; produces edible fruit
 Pawpaw tree with leaf detail inset

6. Hackberry

  • Scientific Name: Celtis occidentalis
  • Average Height: 40 feet to 100 feet
  • Butterfly Species Attracted: Hackberry Emperor, Tawny Emperor, American Snout, Mourning Cloak
  • Notes: Moist to dry soil; produces a blue fruit in the fall; shade tree
 Hackberry tree with leaf detail inset

7. Black Cherry

  • Scientific Name: Prunus serotina
  • Average Height: 60 feet to 80 feet
  • Butterfly Species Attracted: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Coral Hairstreak, Striped Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Red-Spotted Purple
  • Notes: Moist to dry soil; fall colors
 Black Cherry tree with leaf detail inset

8. American Wild Plum

  • Scientific Name: Prunus americana
  • Average Height: 10 feet to 20 feet
  • Butterfly Species Attracted: Red-Spotted Purple, Tiger Swallowtail
  • Notes: Moist to dry soil; full to partial shade; toxic to cats and dogs; produces edible fruit
 American Wild Plum tree in flower with blossom detail inset

9. Bristly Locust

  • Scientific Name: Robinia hispida
  • Average Height: 2 feet to 10 feet
  • Butterfly Species Attracted: Silver-Spotted Skipper, Golden-Banded Skipper
  • Notes: Moist to dry soil; hanging pink flowers
 Bristly Locust tree with blossom detail inset

10. Willow

  • Scientific Name: Salix species
  • Average Height: 30 feet to 40 feet
  • Butterfly Species Attracted: Western Admiral, Lorquin’s Admiral, Mourning Cloak, Red-Spotted Purple
  • Notes: Moist to dry soil; produces a blue fruit in the fall; shade tree
 Willow tree with leaf detail inset

1. Red-spotted Purple

Red-spotted Purple, Donald Hall, University of Florida

2. Gray Hairstreak

Gray Hairstreak, MJ Corzer, 2015

3. Striped Hairstreak

Striped Hairstreak, Sara Bright, 2012

4. Soapberry Hairstreak

Soapberry Hairstreak, Kayla King, 2015

5. King's Hairstreak

King's Hairstreak, Sara Bright, 2000

6. Spicebush Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail, Donald Hall, University of Florida

7. Tiger Swallowtail

Tiger Swallowtail, Donald Hall, University of Florida

8. Zebra Swallowtail

Zebra Swallowtail, Donald Hall, University of Florida

9. Hackberry Emperor

Hackberry Emperor, Jerry Butler, University of Florida

10. Tawny Emperor

Tawny Emperor, Donald Hall, University of Florida

11. American Snout

American Snout, Jerry Butler, University of Florida

12. Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak, Jerry Butler, University of Florida

13. Coral Hairstreak

Coral Hairstreak, Sara Bright, 2021

14. Spring Azure

Spring Azure, Vitaly Charny, 2010

15. Western White Admiral

Western White Admiral, Andrew McKinlay

16. Lorquin's Admiral

Lorquin's Admiral, Peter J. Bryant, 2005

About this page

  • Butterflies (Viceroy) need a safe and nutritious spot to lay their eggs (host their ‘larva’). Certain trees are more attractive for this than others.

Butterfly

  • If you already have or plan to plant a butterfly garden, consider adding a special tree to ensure that the butterflies not only have a spot to eat, but also a place to grow their family.
  • The top 10 native tree species for hosting butterfly larva are listed on this page as well as 16 of the butterfly species that may be attracted to them.
  • Please contact your local nursery to determine if it has native plants in stock, as not all businesses are able to stock these plants, and some may only be available in certain seasons.
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