Butterfly Garden	See below for a listing of butterfly larval plants
Common Name	Latin Name	T	HxW	Ornamental Value
Acton Encelia	Encelia actoni	S	3' x 3'	Yellow flowers in spring and summer, fragrant foliage
Angelita Daisy	Hymenoxys acaulis, prev. Tetraneuris acaulis	P	1' x 1'	1 foot long blooming yellow flower February to November
Apache Plume	Falugia paradoxa	P	4' X 4'	White rose-like flowers, pink plumed fruits
Arizona Rosewood	Vauquelinia californica	T	25' x 5'	In place of oleander, shrub, hedge, or tree, may be pruned, blooms May through July
Autumn Sage	Salvia greggi	S	3' x 3'	Red flowers, aromatic mid-summer to mid-fall
Baby Sage	Salvia microphylla	S	3' x 3'	Red flowers, mid-summer to mid-fall
Baccharifolius Beardtongue	Penstemon baccharifolius	P	2' x 2'	Red trumpet shaped flowers June through September
Bamboo Muhly	Muhlenbergia dumosa	G	1.5' x 3'	Delicate flowers after rains
Bastard Sage	Eriogonum wrightii	P	2' x 2'	Lacy flowers in spring, deciduous
Big Berry Manzanita	Arctostaphylos glauca	S	10' x 6'	White to pink flowers
Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany	Cercocarpus montanus	T	12' x 4'	White to pink fragrant flowers, attractive leaves
Bisbee Peak Rushrose	Helianthemum scoparium	P	1' x 2'	Yellow flowers March through July
Blackfoot Daisy	Melampodium leucanthum	P	6" X 1'	White one inch daisies
Blackfoot Daisy	Melampodium leucanthum	P	6" x 1'	White one inch daisies
Blue Eldberberrry	Sambucus nigra	T	12' x 12'	Small, berrylike drupe, purple-black, and very juicy
Blue Oak	Quercus douglasii	T	30' x 30'	Evergreen medium sized oak
Bovardia	Bouvardia ternifolia	S	4' x 3'	Showy red trumpet shaped flowers May through November
Brittle Bush	Encelia farinosa	S	3' x 3'	Yellow flowers blooming all spring, fragrant
Brewer's Salt Bush	Atriplex lentiformis	S	7' x 7'	Yellow flowers July to October, evergreen grey leaves
Buck Brush	Ceanothus cuneatus	S	8' x 10'	White to light blue flowers in late winter to mid-spring
Bush Beardtongue	Keckiella breviflora	P	5' x 5'	White flowers line with purple, pink, or red streaks in spring and fall, fragrant
Butterfly Milkweed	Asclepias tuberosa	P	2'	Bright red or orange flower in mid-summer followed by attractive pods in fall
California Black Oak	Quercus kelloggii	T	25' x 25'	Dapple shade, deciduous, leaves red in fall
California Buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum	P	18" to 3'	Lacy flowers in spring
California False Indigo	Amphora californica	S	6' x 6'	Small purple flowers on 3 inch spike, frangrance of guava, pineapple, lavender
California Fuchsia	Zauschneria californica	P	3' x 5'	Red flowers from mid-spring to early winter
California Goosefoot	Chenopodium californicum	P	1' x 3'	Showy leaves, flowers insignificant
California Milkweed	Asclepias californica	S	3' x 3'	Attractive deep purple flowers, grey/white fuzzy leaves
California Prickly Phlox	Leptodactylon californicum	S	3' x 3'	Pink/violet/lavender flowers late winter to mid-spring
Canyon Live Oak	Quercus chrysolepis	T	30' x 25'	Shade, evergreen, large acorns
Cascalote Tree	Caesalpinia cacalaco	T	12' x 12'	Light yellow flowers most of winter, attractive copper pods
Catclaw Acacia	Acacia greggii	T	15' x 20'	Yellow flowers in spring, grey deciduous foliage, fragrant
Chamise	Adenostoma fasciculatum	S	6' x 6'	Tiny tubular white flowers in spring until July
Chia	Salvia columbariae	S	2'	Light blue flowers March through June
Chuparosa	Justicia californica	S	4' x 8'	Long tubular red flowers from May through fall, deciduous
Claret Cup Cactus	Echinocereus triglochidiatus	S	1' x 4'	Showy scarlet to wine flowers in spring or early summer
Cleveland Sage	Salvia clevelandii	S	4' x 4'	Purple trumpet shaped flowers spring to summer, evergreen, fragrant
Cliff Fendlerbush	Fendlera rupicola	S	1' x 6'	Purple flowers in spring to fall, fragrant, silver foliage
Cliff Goldenbush	Ericameria cuneata	P	1' x 6"	Showy yellow flowers late summer and fall
Coast Live Oak	Quercus agrifolia	T	20' x 40'	Deep shade, evergreen
Coral Bean	Erythrina flabelliformis	T	10' x 8'	Long bright red flowers in racemes near end of branches in June followed by foot long gold and brown pods
Coyote Gourd	Cucurbita palmata	V	6" x 30'	Large 3" wide yellow, unisexual, bell shaped, opens in morning, closes by mid-day, Apr through Sept
Deerweed	Lotus scoparius	P	3' x 3'	Blooms all year, yellow flowers turn red once pollinated
Desert Alyssum	Lepidium fremontii	P	2' x 2.5'	Fragrant white flowers March to May
Desert Bitterbrush	Purshia glandulosa	S	5' x 6'	1" yellow rose-like flowers in spring
Desert False Indigo	Amphora fruticosa	S	10' x 10'	Small purple flowers on 3 inch spike, fragrance of guava, pineapple, lavender
Desert Honeysuckle	Anisacanthus thurberi	S	4' x 6'	Lovely orange to red flowers superficially resemble those of honeysuckles
Desert Lavender	Hyptis emoryi	S	8' x 8'	Lavender flowers, minty fragrance in spring, grey to white foliage
Desert Marigold	Baileya multiradiata	P	1' x 1'	Yellow daisies almost all year
Desert Milkweed	Asclepias erosa	S	2' x 2'	White flowers May to July
Desert Penstemon, Desert Beardtongue	Penstemon pseudospectabilis	P	2' x 2'	Showy magenta (pink-purple) flowers in mid-summer
Desert Rosemallow	Hibiscus coulteri	P	4' x 2'	Showy cream, tan, or yellow flowers March through November
Desert Sage	Salvia dorrii	S	2' x 2'	Blue flowers bloom late in spring, leaves fragrant
Desert Willow	Chilopsis linearis	T	12' x 15'	Trumpet shaped flowers 2 to 3 inches long in white to rose to purple, often two toned, April through September
Dwarf Coyote Brush	Baccharis pilularis Var. pilularis	S	1' x 12'	Evergreen groundcover, white flowers summer to fall
Dwarf White Zinnia, Desert Zinnia	Zinnia acerosa	P	3" x 1'	White flowers after rains
Eaton's Penstemon, Scarlet Bugler	Penstemon eatoni	P	3' x 2'	Showy red flowers in spring
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus	Echinocereus engelmannii	C	2' x 2'	Showy magenta to fuschia flowers in spring or early summer
Fairy Duster	Calliandra eriophylla	S	4' x 4'	Silver-green leaves, fragrant, pink to red duster blooms most of year, showy April through July
Foothill Penstemon, Purdy's Penstemon	Penstemon heterophyllus	P	2' x 1'	Showy violet flowers in spring
Fragrant Evening Primrose	Neriserenia camporum	P	8" x 1'	White to pale pink flowers in spring
Fragrant Pitcher Plant	Lepechinia fragrans	S	6' x 6'	Aromatic white to purple flowers blooming April to June
Gambel Oak	Quercus gambelii	T	30' x 30'	Deciduous high altitude medium oak
Gilia Beardtongue	Penstemon ambiguus	P	2' x 2'	Uniquely showy light-pink flowered species for its extravagant late spring display
Globe Mallow, Desert Mallow	Sphaeralcea ambigua	P	2' x 3'	Orange, pink, white, or lavender leaves mostly in spring
Golden Currant	Ribes aureum	V	10' x 10'	Yellow, tubular showy flowers, borne in spring, hanging clusters several inches long, clove-like fragrance
Golden Stars	Bloomeria crocea	P	2'	Bright yellow flowers in spring, goes dormant in summer
Golden Yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum	P	2'	Mat of bright yellow flowers
Grape Soda Lupine	Lupinus excubitus	S	4' x 4'	Showy purple blooms May and June with fragrance of grape soda
Gregg Dalea	Dalea greggii	S	1' x 6'	Purple flowers in spring to fall, fragrant
Grinnell's Penstemon	Penstemon grinnellii	P	2' x 2'	Showy pink flowers in spring
Grizzly Bear Pricklypear	Opuntia erinacea	CS	1' x 3'	Pink, red, or yellow flowers in May and June
Hairy Goldenaster	Heterotheca villosa	P	1' x 1'	Yellow to gold flowers June through October
Hairy-leaf Ceanothus	Ceanothus oliganthus oliganthus	S	6' x 6'	Whitish to blue to purple flowers in spring
Hairyseed Bahia	Bahia absinthifolia	P	1' x 1'	Yellow blooms spring through fall
Hairy Yerba Santa	Eriodictyon trichocalyx	S	6' x 6'	White to purple flowers in spring
Howard McMinn Manzanita	Arctostaphylos densiflora	S	8 ' x 12'	Small, white to pinkish white flowers, appearing from late winter to spring
Huajillo	Havardia pallens	T	20' x 15'	Fragrant, white, ball shaped flowers May through August
Indian Milkweed	Asclepias eriocarpa	P	3' x 1'	Yellow flowers and red fruits, butterfly magnet
Indigo Bush	Amorpha californica	P	6' x 6'	Violet flowers in spring, fragrant, attracts butterflies
Interior Live Oak	Quercus wislizenii	T	10' x 20'	Deep shade, evergreen
Joshua Tree	Yucca brevifolia	Y	15' x 8'	White to cream colored flowers in March followed by attractive fruits
Lewis Flax	Linum lewisii	P	3' x 3'	Lavender flowers spring until summer
Little Leaf Cordia	Cordia parvifolia	S	8' x 10'	White clusters of blooms March through November
Littleleaf Sumac	Rhus microphylla	S	8' x 6'	White flowers in spring, orange fruits in early summer
Matilija Poppy	Romneya coulteri	P	3' x 2'	Huge white flowers, yellow centers, May to July, fragrant
Mescal Bean	Sophora secundiflora	T	20' x 15'	Distinctive, showy; pendulous raceme of purple flowers late winter to early spring, fragrant
Mexican Tree Ocotillo	Fouquieria macdougalii	T	15' x 10'	Red  flowers mid-spring
Mojave Aster	Xylorhiza tortifolia	P	1' x 2'	Light purple flowers March through May and again in September-October
Mojave Beardtongue	Penstemon incertus	P	3' x 3'	Showy pink and blue flowers in spring to summer
Mojave Verbena	Verbena gooddingii	P	1' x 1'	Pale lavender-blue flowers from February to November, fragrant
Mountain Desert Sage	Salvia pachyphylla	S	2' x 2'	Two-tone red and purple large flowers July through September, evergreen grey-green leaves
Mountain Mahogany	Cercocarpus belutoides	T	12' x 4'	White to pink fragrant flowers, attractive leaves, inverse conical shape, gains personality with age
Narrowleaf Milkweed	Asclepias fascicularis	P	3'x 1'	White to off-white flowers July to October, butterfly magnet
Narrowleaf Yerba Santa	Eriodictyon angustifolium	S	3' x 3'	White flowers in spring and summer
Netleaf Hackberry	Celtis reticulata	T	15' x 20'	Attracts songbirds in fall and winter, good shade tree, small green flowers in spring
Ocotillo	Fouquiera splendens	S	12' x 8'	Green leaves for short time after rains, red-orange flowers on fall, stem evergreen
Orange Bush Monkeyflower	Diplacus aurantiacus	S	3' x 3'	One inch yellow to orange to scarlet flowers in spring, dormant in summer in desert
Palmer's Penstemon, Balloon Flower	Penstemon palmeri	P	2' x 1'	Showy pink flowers in spring, aromatic
Paper Flower	Psilostrophe cooperi	P	1' x 2'	Yellow flowers bloom early in spring and last for a long time eventually turning into dry and paper-like
Parry's Penstemon	Penstemon parryi	P	3' x 2'	Rose-pink flowers in spring
Pineleaf Penstemon, Pineneedle Beardtongue	Penstemon pinifolius	P	1' x 1'	Showy red flowers in late spring, summer
Red Barberry	Berberis haematocarpa	S	6' x 8'	Fragrant yellow flowers, red berries, purple fall color
Redberry	Rhamnus crocea	T	12' x 9'	White flowers in March and April, followed by showy red berries, tree looks like scrub oak
Red Thistle	Cirsium proteanum or occidentale	P	6' x 1'	Red flowers in spring, dies after it produces
Royal Penstemon, Showy Penstemon	Penstemon spectabilis	P	3' x 2'	Purple-blue flowers in spring
Rubber Rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus nauseosus	S	5' x 6'	Small yellow flowers in summer, cotton tufts in fall, grey leaves and limbs
Saguaro	Carnegiea gigantea	CS	to 50'	Attractive, borne on the branch tips in rings, white with a yellow center, 2 inches across, blooming at night during May and June
Sand Penstemon, Gilia Beardtongue	Penstemon ambiguus	P	1' x 1'	Green leaves, white flowers in spring
Scarlet Bugler	Penstemon centranthifolius	P	1' x 2'	Showy red flowers in spring
Scarlet Keckiella	Keckiella ternata	P	3' x 3'	Red flowers spring to summer
Screwbean Mesquite	Prosopis pubescens	T	15' x 15'	Yellow flowers in late spring, fragrant, interesting seedpods
Scrub Live Oak	Quercus turbinella	S	6' x 6'	Remains small, evergreen
Silver Lupine	Lupinus albifrons	P	5' x 5'	Light blue to purple flowers in summer
Skeletonleaf Goldeneye	Viguiera stenoloba	P	2' x 3'	Golden flowers after rains
Snapdragon Penstemon	Keckiella breviflora	P	6' x 3'	Wonderfully fragrant, bright yellow flowers and elegant foliage
Snowflake Sage	Salvia chionophylla	P	1' x 6'/yr	Blue flowers spring and fall, evergreen gray-white ground cover
Southern California Grape	Vitis girdiana	P	9' x 30'	White flowers in spring, blue fruit in summer, ground cover
Southern Honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata denudata	S	8' spread	White to yellow flowers spring to summer, climbing
Spinystar Cactus	Coryphantha (Escobaria) vivipara	C	1' x 1'	Showy pink to purple flowers in spring or early summer
Standing Cypress	Ipomopsis rubra	P	6' x 2'	Red, orange, or yellow trumpet shaped flowers May through July (biennial)
Starleaf Mexican Orange	Choisya dumosa	S	18" x 3'	White fragrant flowers mid-spring to early winter, fancy leaves
Sticky Monkeyflower	Mimulus aurantiacus	P	3' x 3'	White to orange to red flowers mid-spring to early summer
Sugarbush	Rhus ovata	S	12' x 15'	Cream flowers in spring, red fruits in early summer
Sulfur Flower	Eriogonum umbellatum	S	3" x 3'	Yellow flowers in spring, good ground cover
Texas Persimmon	Diospyros texana	T	20' x 12'	Green to white-green urn shaped flowers, edible black fruit on female  trees, dioecious, madrone-like peeling bark
Texas Plume	Bauhinia lunarioides	T	12' x 10'	Fragrant pale pink orchid-like flowers in spring, butterfly shaped flowers
Texas Ranger	Leucophyllum frutescens	S	6' x 6'	Purple trumpet shaped flowers, evergreen silver leaves
Torry Mesquite	Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana	T	10' x 25'	Yellow flowers in late spring, fragrant, seedpods are sometime scarlet
Tree Poppy	Dendromecon rigida	S	8' x 6'	Profuse bright yellow poppy flowers spring through fall
Turpentinebush	Ericameria laricifolia	S	6' x 8'	Fragrant yellow flowers mid-fall, red berries, purple fall color
Upright Prairie Coneflower	Ratibida columnifera	P	3' x 2'	Showy brown, yellow, orange flowers May through October
Utah Service Berry	Amelanchier utahensis	S	15' x 15'	White flowers in spring, fruit in early summer, white bark
Violet Silverleaf	Leucophyllum candidum	P	5' x 5'	Violet flowers February to May, silver-white leaves
Waterjacket	Lycium andersonii	S	3' x 18"	Light purple to nearly white flowers in early spring, red berries in fall
Western Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis	T	45' x 50'	Attracts songbirds in fall and winter, good shade tree, small green flowers in spring
Western Redbud	Cercis occidentalis	T	10' x 20'	Showy pink, purple, or white flowers in April, rosy seed pods in May
Western Soapberry	Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii	T	40' x 20'	Large showy flowers in May and June, deciduous
Whitebark Raspberry	Rubus leucodermis	P	3' x 3'	Vine with small white flowers in spring and red fruit in fall
Whitebrush	Aloysia gratissima	S	6' x 6'	White flowers March to November
White Gaura, Whirling Butterflies	Gaura lindheimeri	P	18" x 2'	Flowers used by butterflies and bees
White Sage	Salvia apiana	S	3' x 3'	White flowers in spring, grey leaves, aromatic
Whitethorn Acacia	Acacia constricta	T	15' x 10'	Yellow puffballs in spring, fragrant, attractive brown pods in fall
Woodland Strawberry	Frageria vesca ssp. californica	P	6" x 9"	White flowers in spring, red fruit in summer, ground cover
Wooly Bluecurls	Trichostema lanatum	S	4' x 4'	Blue-pink flowers in spring and fall, fragrant
Wooly Milkweeed	Asclepias eriocarpa	S	3' x 3'	Profuse large clusters of pink-white flowers
Woolly Paper Flower	Psilostrophe tagetina	P	1' x 1'	Yellow flowers bloom early in spring and last for a long time eventually turning into dry and paper-like, fragrant
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium californica	P	3' x 3'	White to near white, sometimes pink, flat topped cluster of small flowers from mid-spring to early winter, fragrant
Yellow Bush Snapdragon	Keckiella antirrhinoides	P	6' x 3'	Wonderfully fragrant, bright yellow flowers spring and summer and elegant foliage

 

Butterfly Larval Plants The following is a list of butterfly larval plants which are water-wise and will grow well in the high desert.  The butterfly larvae will often severely damage many these plants, so you may want to plant them in less featured spots in your garden.  Nonetheless, these plants presence in your garden may result in a successful resident population of your selected species of butterflies in your garden.

Common Name Genus/Species Image (Flights) Period Larval Host Common Name Larval Host Scientific Name Adult Food Common Nme Adult Food Scientific Name Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon Several Mar-Oct Buckwheats Lupines Eriogonum ssp. Lupinus ssp. Flower nectar   Becker's White Pontia beckerii Several Mar-Oct Bladder Pod Isomeris arborea Flower nectar   Behr's Hairstreak Satyrium behrii (1) Jun-Jul Bitterbrush Mountain Mahogany Purshia ssp. Cercocarpus ssp. Flower nectar   Bernardino Blue, Western Square-Dotted Blue Philotes battoides (1) Apr-Aug California Buckwheat Sulfer Flower Eriogonum fasciculatum Eriogonum umbellatum Wild Buckwheats Eriogonum ssp. Boisduval's Hairstreak, Golden Hairstreak Habrodais grunus (1) Jun-Sep Canyon Live Oak Quercus chrysolepsis Seek only moisture and aphid honeydew   California Dogface Zerene eurydice (2) Apr-May Jul-Aug California False Indigo Amphora californica Flower nectar   California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (1) Mar-May California Lilac Ceanothus ssp. Flower nectar   Chalcedon Checkerspot Euphydryas chalcedona (1) Apr-Jun Penstemons Indian Paintbrushes Penstemon ssp. Castilleja ssp. Flower nectar   Gentry's Giant Skipper Agathymus gentryi (1) Sep-Nov Desert Agave Agave deserti Males sip moisture from mud.  Females never feed   Gorgon Copper Lycaena gorgon May-Jul California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum Flower nectar   Grey Hairstreak Strymon melinus Multiple Feb-Nov California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum  Milkweed Asclepias ssp. Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus Feb-Sep California Juniper Juniperus californica Milkweed Asclepias ssp. Mojave Sootywing hesperopsis libya Several Mar-Oct California Goosefoot Chenopodium californicum Flower nectar   Mormon Metalmark Apodemia mormo Mar-Apr Aug-Sep California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum  Flower nectar   Mournful Duskywing Erynnis trystis Multiple Feb-Sep   Coast Live Oak Blue Oak Quercus agrifolia Quercus douglasii Flower nectar   Northern White-Skipper Heliopetes ericitorum Several Apr-Oct Globe Mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua Flower nectar   Pacific Dotted Blue Euphilotes enoptes (1) May-Oct Buckwheat Eriogonum ssp. Buckwheat Eriogonum ssp. Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (1-3) May-Oct Red Thistle Globe mallow Cirsium proteanum or occidentale Sphaeralcea ambigua Flower nectar   Pale Swallowtail Papilio plilenor Several Mar-Aug CaliforniaLilac Coffeyberry Hollyleaf Cherry Redberry   Ceanothus ssp. Rhamnus californica Prunus ilicifolia Rhamnus crocea Flower nectar Coffeyberry Yerba Santa     Rhamnus californica Eriodictyon ssp.   Saltbush Sootywing Hesperopsis alpheus (2) May-Sep California Goosefoot Chenopodium californicum Flower nectar   Small Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus scriptura Several Mar-Nov Globe Mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua Flower nectar   Western Pygmy Blue Brephidium exilis Jul-Sep Saltbush Goosefoot Atriplex Chemopodium Flower nectar   Yucca Giant-Skipper Megathymus yuccae (1) Feb-May Soaptree Yucca Yucca elata Males sip moisture from mud.  Females never feed.