"Butterflies are self-propelled flowers." - R.H. Heinlein
If you've already spotted Monarchs and Swallowtails dancing through your garden, you're just getting started! Ma Nature has plenty more fluttering visitors to delight your eyes and support your ecosystem. From tiny Pygmy Blues to the punctuation-marked Comma, these butterflies bring motion, charm, and pollination power to any landscape!
Each butterfly species depends on very specific Host Plants to raise their caterpillars. But adults also need nectar, water, and shelter to complete their magical life cycles. With the right mix of plants and care, your yard can become a vital rest stop for butterflies all season long!
10 More Butterflies To Know
Here are some of the most common, and beloved, butterflies and their caterpillars you're likely to spot this season, along with what they need to thrive.
1. Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus)
Found throughout most of the U.S., especially near wetlands, lakes, and damp meadows, Viceroy butterflies fly from late spring into early fall. The Viceroy has a distinct black line across its hindwings that Monarchs lack. Males and females are nearly identical in appearance.
- Host plant: Willow Trees, Cottonwood, and Poplar Trees
- Appearance: Caterpillars are brown and green with a rough, bird-dropping mimic look
- Chrysalis: Angular and camouflaged, often resembling a twig
- Butterfly: Orange and black with black veins, similar to Monarchs but smaller
2. Skipper Butterflies (Family: Hesperiidae)
Skippers are a large and energetic group found coast to
coast in North America from spring into fall. They're fast fliers and commonly seen in meadows, fields, and gardens. Skippers can be tricky to identify at a glance. Look for their stout bodies, quick movement, and antennae with hooked tips. Males often patrol in the open while females stick to host plants.
- Host plants: Grasses, Sedge Grass, and various Legumes
- Appearance: Caterpillars are usually smooth, green or brown, with large heads and leaf shelters
- Chrysalis: Hidden in curled leaves or grassy nests
- Butterfly: Small-bodied with hooked antennae and rapid, skipping flight
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Common Types:
- Silver-Spotted Skipper – Brown with bold silver hindwing spot
- Peck's Skipper – Orange and brown with checkered patterns
- Fiery Skipper – Golden-orange and fast-flying
3. Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae)
Found in nearly every U.S. state, this common butterfly is often seen fluttering through vegetable gardens, meadows, and roadsides from early spring through late fall. Originally from Europe, it's now widespread across North America.
Often confused with moths due to its fluttery flight. Males have one wing spot; females have two.
- Host plants: Cabbage, Broccoli, Kale, Cauliflower, and other Brassicas
- Appearance (Caterpillar): Velvety green with a faint yellow stripe down its back, well-camouflaged against leaves
- Chrysalis: Angular, green to tan, usually attached upright to stems or fences
- Butterfly: Creamy white with a black wing tip and one (male) or two (female) black spots
While considered a pest to Brassica crops, it's an early pollinator and a reliable sign that spring has arrived.
4. Sulphur Butterflies (Cloudless/Clouded Sulphur) (Phoebis sennae/Colias philodice)
These cheery yellow butterflies are found across the southern and eastern U.S. (Cloudless) and more broadly throughout North America (Clouded). You'll see them from late spring to frost, often bouncing above fields, roadsides, and clover patches. Cloudless Sulphurs have nearly unmarked yellow wings and are more common in the Southeast.
Clouded Sulphurs often appear with orange or pink tints and may fly low in meadows with a skipping pattern. While they may not land often, their color and energy bring a lively charm to any pollinator garden.
- Host plants: Legumes including Cassia, Alfalfa, Clover, and Wild Peas
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Appearance (Caterpillars):
- Cloudless Sulphur – Bright green with a faint yellow stripe
- Clouded Sulphur – Green with a pale stripe and small dark spots
- Chrysalis: Slender and tapered, pale green or yellowish with delicate veining
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Butterflies:
- Cloudless Sulphur – Large and lemon-yellow with few markings
- Clouded Sulphur – Smaller, pale yellow with black border and occasional pinkish hue
4. Comma Butterfly (Polygonia comma)
These woodland butterflies are known for their ragged wing edges and cryptic underwings that resemble a dead leaf. They're most active from early spring through fall and can overwinter as adults. Males often perch in sunny clearings and are slightly smaller than females.
- Region: Eastern and central U.S., especially in wooded areas
- Flight Season: Early spring through fall
- Host Plants: Elm Trees, Nettle, Hops
- Notes: Jagged wing shape and white comma-shaped mark underneath
5. Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
Larger and darker than the Comma, the Question Mark has a distinct white "?" shape on the underside of its hindwings. This species is active through the warm months and is one of the few butterflies that overwinter as adults. Males are more aggressive and often defend territories, while females tend to stay closer to host plants.
- Region: Much of the eastern and central U.S.
- Flight Season: Spring through late fall
- Host Plants: Hackberry Trees, Elm Trees, Nettle
Similar to Comma Butterflies but larger with a distinct "question mark" on the underside
These punctuation-marked pollinators might not be flashy at first glance, but their clever camouflage and quirky markings make them true garden curiosities!
6. American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
This beauty can be found across the U.S., particularly in open fields, gardens, and forest edges. They're active from early spring through fall and often migrate northward in summer. Often mistaken for the Painted Lady, but American Ladies have two bold hindwing eyespots compared to the Painted Lady's four smaller ones. Males and females look nearly identical, though males are more territorial.
- Host plant: Pussytoes, Everlastings, Ironweed
- Appearance: Caterpillars are spiny and dark with yellow bands. They often live in leaf nests
- Chrysalis: Brown or green with gold highlights
- Butterfly: Rich orange upper wings with white spots and two large eyespots on the hindwing underside
7. Pearl Crescent Butterfly (Phyciodes tharos)
Widespread east of the Rockies, especially in meadows and sunny garden borders, they're seen from early spring through late fall. Males are generally more vibrant in color, while females may have more subdued markings. They can be tricky to distinguish from Northern Crescents, but Pearl Crescents often show a more defined black crescent on the hindwing underside.
- Host plant: Asters
- Appearance (Caterpillar): Dark brown with pale dots and branched spines
- Chrysalis: Grayish-brown, rough, and bark-like
- Butterfly: Orange with black patterning, underwings marked with crescent moon shapes
These petite pollinators rely heavily on native Asters and make frequent appearances in wildflower gardens.
8. Pygmy Blue Butterfly (Western Pygmy Blue) (Brephidium exilis)
This tiny gem, one of the world's smallest butterflies, is found in the Southwestern U.S., particularly in desert regions of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. They're active nearly year-round in warm climates, most commonly from late spring through fall. Males and females are similar, though males often show more iridescent blue. No other butterfly in North America is this small, making it a truly pocket-sized pollinator.
- Host plant: Saltbush, Goosefoot (Lambs Quarters), and Pigweed (Amaranth)
- Appearance: Caterpillars are tiny, green, and slug-like with faint striping. Adults are coppery-brown with metallic blue at the base of their wings
- Chrysalis: Pale green or tan, often hidden low in weedy vegetation
- Butterfly: Wingspan of only ½ inch; copper-brown upper-side with blue shimmer and dotted hindwings
9. Hairstreak Butterflies
Widespread and easy to spot, these butterflies often perch with closed wings, showing off their tiny "tails" and orange dots. They're active throughout the warmer months in sunny, open spaces. Males are slightly smaller and can be more boldly marked than females. These butterflies have small gray wings with an orange spot and thin tail projections that seem to move on their own.
- Region: Widespread across North America
- Flight Season: Spring through fall
- Host Plants: Peas, Beans, Clover, Mallows
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) is the most widespread, with soft gray wings, an orange dot near the tail, and two thin black-and-white streaks underneath. Males are slightly smaller and more active in open areas, while females are more often seen visiting host plants.
Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus) lacks tails entirely and has warm brown wings with bright coral-orange dots along the hindwing. It prefers scrubby clearings and is more often seen in mid to late summer.
Red-Banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) is easily recognized by its vivid red-orange stripe across the underside of its gray-brown wings. It often flicks its tails as a predator distraction and is commonly found in the southeastern U.S.
10. Checkered White Butterfly (Pontia protodice)
Often fluttering low to the ground, this species is found in open, dry areas like prairies, fields, and roadside ditches. It flies from early spring through fall. Males have crisper checkered markings, while females may be more heavily patterned and slightly larger.
- Region: Open fields across the southern and western U.S.
- Flight Season: Spring through fall
- Host Plants: Mustard, Peppergrass, Wild Radish
White with gray checkered wing edges, Checkered White Butterflies are often mistaken for Cabbage Whites.
Host & Nectar Plants For These Butterflies
These garden-friendly plants support both the caterpillar stage (host plants) and adult butterflies (nectar sources):
- Cassia/Senna – Host for Cloudless Sulphurs and a heat-tolerant shrub with yellow flowers
- Clover – Excellent for Sulphurs and Skippers, nitrogen fixer too
- Pussytoes – Low-growing native for American Lady caterpillars
- Hackberry Trees – Essential for Question Mark and other woodland butterflies
- Ironweed – Nectar powerhouse and host for American Lady
- Willow and Poplar – Moisture-loving trees used by Viceroy Butterflies
- Goosefoot and Pigweed – Wild, weedy plants essential for Pygmy Blues. Try planting ornamental Amaranth or Love Lies Bleeding for a more ornamental option.
- Mallows – Support Hairstreaks, Painted Ladies, and other pollinators
- Coneflower, Bee Balm, and Blazing Star (Liatris) – Nectar magnets for nearly all butterfly species
- Milkweed (still counts!) – A vital nectar and host plant, even if Monarchs aren't your focus
Ways to Attract and Protect Butterflies in Your Garden
Creating a butterfly sanctuary doesn't require much space, but it does take intention. Here's how to help every stage of their delicate life cycle:
- Plant in Sun – Butterflies love warmth and need sunny spots for basking
- Choose Native Plants – Caterpillars recognize and rely on native host plants
- Offer Continuous Bloom – Include early, mid, and late-season flowers for consistent nectar
- Create Shelter – Include shrubs, tall grasses, and trees for windbreaks and hiding
- Provide Puddling Spots – Shallow dishes filled with wet sand and stones help butterflies drink and absorb minerals
- Use Clusters – Group same-species flowers together for better visibility and easier access
Protecting Butterflies:
- Skip Pesticides – Even "natural" sprays can kill caterpillars and eggs. Use hand-picking of insects instead.
- Leave Some Weeds – Wild plants like thistle and plantain are critical hosts. Fall clean-up can wait.
- Avoid Early Spring Cleanings – Chrysalises often hide on stems and low leaves, not hatching until the weather warms up more.
- Leave the Leaves – In fall, don't clean up too fast; many butterflies overwinter in leaf litter, too!
- Use Arborist Mulch – Helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect caterpillar habitats
- Water Smart – Water at the roots of plants to avoid soaking your butterflies, washing away nectar, and encouraging fungal growth on foliage.
Winged Wonders Are Closer Than You Think!
From the tiniest Pygmy Blue to the boldly patterned Viceroy, your garden is full of secret lives in motion. Butterflies aren't just pretty, they're pollinators, educators, and storytellers of Ma Nature's rhythms. By growing the right host and nectar plants, and by offering protection at every life stage, you create a living sanctuary where transformation thrives!
Many of these fluttering friends may already be visiting your yard. Others are waiting just outside the fence for a reason to stay. With a bit of intention, your landscape becomes more than just beautiful; it becomes alive!
Happy Planting!
