#28 How to Attract Caterpillars & Butterflies by Growing their Host Plants - Recognizing Host Plants

Butterflies, caterpillars, and their host plants. In this video I talk about some of the host plants I have in my garden & on our property. I share some of the things I have learned while growing host plants for monarchs & discovering host plants unintentionally. Plus some great flower choices to attract butterflies. Looking forward to a new garden year & maybe I will discover a new host plant this year!
Chas
Heirloom Leaves and Seeds
@heirloomleavesandseeds
#gardening #flowers #garden #cutflowers #flowerfarmer #plants #flowerfarm #bouquet #farmersmarket #locallygrown #butterflies #caterpillar #hostplants #monarch #swallowtail #milkweed #tennessee

[@reneinei4183]

Hello great video. Fellow Tennesseean here. Just wanted to point out that native thistles are heavily relied upon by bees and butterflies. The native species are less prickly and quite beautiful. Painted lady butterflies love to lay their eggs on them.

[@Heirloom_Leaves_and_Seeds]

Hello fellow Tennessean! That is good information to know. We definitely have some thistles, I will keep an eye out for their eggs this year and will read more about the Painted Lady. 😊

[@deepost2604]

Violets believe they are ground cover in my VA yard. I was pulling them out of my flower beds until I found out they are host plants for fritillaries. I’m fine with violets taking over the grass. Have at it. I still want to have some room for other plants in the beds!

[@Heirloom_Leaves_and_Seeds]

I know what you are talking about. The violets love the shaded areas around our house & are everywhere. I checked & two types of fritillary caterpillars use violets as their host plant in Tn. I will have to keep an eye out for them! 🌸