Douglas Aster
Symphyotrichum subspicatum
A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
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California · Zones 5–10
Native Butterfly Plants in California
Nectar and host plants that bring butterflies to your garden — and give their caterpillars something to eat once they arrive. For California, the right natives are shaped by Coast Ranges, Central Valley & Sierra Nevada and a Mediterranean, summer-dry climate. Every species below, from Douglas Aster and Desert Marigold to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to California and hardy through zones 5–10. A real butterfly garden does two jobs: nectar for the adults and host leaves for the caterpillars. Flat-topped flowers make the best landing pads, and warm, sheltered, sunny spots out of the wind get the most visits. Tolerate a little leaf damage — those chewed leaves are the whole point, and a caterpillar today is a butterfly next month.
The plants
16 native species for California
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–10 · see this collection in other states.
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms Mar through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Oct
Gregg's Mistflower
Conoclinium greggii
A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms May through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii
Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms Apr through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Oct
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
Nectar for the adults and a caterpillar host for their young, in one plant, flowering as it blooms Jun through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Oct
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
A butterfly nectar plant that blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
California Lilac
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
Nectar for the adults and a caterpillar host for their young, in one plant — it blooms Mar through May.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–20 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
A host plant whose foliage raises the caterpillars; it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
A host plant whose foliage raises the caterpillars — it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Nectar for the adults and a caterpillar host for their young, in one plant; it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
A caterpillar host — its leaves feed the next generation.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in California
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.