TREES AND SHRUBS: BUTTERFLY HOST PLANTS

Common name	Scientific name	Zone	Habit	Exposure	Height	Comments
Alder	Alnus spp.	4-7	D	Sun to partial shade	40 to 60'	Prefers moist to damp soil but tolerates dry sites; attractive male catkins
Anise	Illicium floridanum	6-9	E	Sun to partial shade	7 to 14'	Fragrant, light green foliage; small creamy-yellow flowers in late spring; soil and moisture tolerant
Ash, Green	Fraxinus pennsylvanica	3-9	D	Sun	50 to 60'	Transplants well; grows in a variety of locations and soils; yellow fall color; many cultivars
Ash, White	Fraxinus americana	4-9	D	Sun	60 to 80'	Tolerates adverse conditions; yellow to purple fall color; reseeds itself
Ash, Prickly	Zanthoxylum americanum	3-7	D	Sun to partial shade	15 to 25'	Long prickles; yellowish green flowers; black seeds on female plants
Basswood; Linden	Tilia americana	3-8	D	Sun to partial shade	60 to 75'	Useful as shade tree in urban areas; yellow fall color
Birch, River	Betula nigra	6-8	D	Sun to partial shade	25 to 40'	Multi-trunk is desired; native tree; graceful branching; cultivar: Heritage, Duraheat
Boxelder	Acer negundo	3-9	D	Sun to partial shade	30 to 50'	Considered a weedy tree; attracts boxelder bugs
Cedar, Eastern red	Juniperous virginiana	3-9	E	Sun	30 to 40'	Native evergreen; good for screening; blue berries on female trees
Cherry, Black	Prunus serotina	3-9	D	Sun	50 to 60'	White flowers in spring; black fruit in summer; good fall foliage
Chokecherry	Aronis spp.	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	6 to 10'	White to pink flowers in spring; scarlet and wine-red fall color; bright crimson berries in fall/winter
Cottonwood, Eastern	Populus deltoides	3-9	D	Sun	75 to 100'	Short lived tree; messy - drops leaves, twigs, branches
Dogwood, Flowering	Cornus florida	6-8	D	Partial shade	15 to 30'	White flowers in spring; red fruit in fall; maroon to red fall foliage
Elm, Winged	Ulmus alata	6-9	D	Sun	30 to 40'	Small foliage; twigs usually have corky ridges or wings; yellow fall color
Elm, American	Ulmus americana	3-9	D	Sun to partial shade	75 to 125'	Beautiful growth habit, but Dutch Elm disease limits use; yellow fall color; 'Valley Forge' and 'New Harmony' are disease resistant
Hackberry	Celtis spp.	3-9	D	Sun	60 to 80'	Native; bark tends to be warty; orange to blue-black fruit
Hercules' club	Aralia spinosa	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	10 to 20'	Native; white flowers in spring; purple-black berries; yellow, red orange fall foliage; thorns
Holly, American	Ilex opaca	5-9	E	Sun to partial shade	15 to 45'	Must have both sexes for berry production; native
Holly, Yaupon	Ilex vomitoria	7-8	E	Sun to shade	10 to 20'	Use for background or naturalizing; 'Pendula' weeping form
Hoptree	Ptelea trifoliata	3-9	D	Sun to shade	15 to 20'	Native
Indigo bush	Amorpha fruiticosa	4-9	D	Sun	6 to 15'	Native; deep purple flowers with gold stamens
Ironwood	Carpinus caroliniana	3-9	D	Sun to partial shade	20 to 30'	Native; smooth fluted bark
Lilac	Syringa spp.	3-7	D	Sun to partial shade	4 to 15'	Fragrant flowers in spring
Locust, Honey	Gleditsia triacanthos	4-9	D	Sun	50 to 75'	Casts light shade; easy fall cleanup; use improved thornless cultivars, var.: Shademaster, Intermis, Sunburst
Locust, Black	Robinia pseudoacacia	4-8	D	Sun	30 to 50'	White flower cluster in spring; drought tolerant
Magnolia, Sweetbay	Magnolia virginiana	6-8	E to semi-E	Sun to shade	10 to 60'	Leaves have silvery underside; creamy white flowers in May September; will grow in wet sites; often multi-trunk
Maple	Acer spp	4-9	D	Sun	20 to 75'
New Jersery tea	Ceoanothus americanus	4-8	D	Sun to partial shade	3 to 4'	Long lasting creamy white to light pink flowers in summer; drought tolerant
Oak, Live	Quercus virginiana	7-8	E	Sun to partial shade	30 to 50'	Excellent for coastal areas
Palm, Cabbage	Sabel palmetto	8	E	Sun to shade	20 to 30'	Not hardy in piedmont or mountains
Pawpaw	Asimina triloba	5-8	D	Sun to partial shade	20 to 30'	Native; marron flowers in spring; yellowish green fruit
Persimmon, Common	Diospyros virginiana	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	30 to 60'	Yellow to orange fruit; orange to mauve fall foliage; native
Plum, Wild	Prunus americana	5-9	D	Sun	12 to 20'	White flowers in spring; red fruit; native
Poplar, Tulip	Liriodendron tulipifera	5-8	D	Sun	60 to 150'	Branches are brittle; yellow fall color
Privet	Ligustrum spp.	6-9	E	Sun to partial shade	20 to 25'	White flowers in spring; blue black fruit
Redbay	Persea borbonia	8-9	E	Sun to partial shade	20 to 30'	Native; nonshowy flowers; range of soil types
Rose-of-Sharon	Hibiscus syriacus	5-8	D	Sun to partial shade	8 to 12'	Showy summer flowers; cultivars: Aphrodite (rose), Diana (white), Helene (white/purple), Minerva (lavender)
Sassafras	Sassafras albium	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	30 to 60'	Yellow flowers in spring; yellow, orange, pink to scarlet fall foliage
Sparkleberry	Vaccinum arboreum	6-9	D	Sun to partial shade	6 to 10'	Fragrant white flowers in spring; gritty nonjuicy berries last into winter
Spicebush	Lindera benzoin	5-9	D	Sun to partial shade	6 to 12'	Greenish yellow fragrant flowers; scarlet red fruit in fall; brilliant yellow fall foliage
Sumac	Rhus spp.	3-9	D	Sun to partial shade	10 to 25	Native; greenish white flowers; red to brown fruit; good fall foliage
Viburnum, Mapleleaf	Viburnum acerifolium	4-8	D	Sun to partial shade		Native; yellowish white flowers in summer; black fruit
Walnut, Black	Juglans nigra	4-9	D	Sun	50 to 75'	Often defoliates; black fruit
Willow, Weeping	Salix babylonica	5-9	D	Sun to partial shade	30 to 50'	Weeping; invasive roots; avoid planting near sewers and water lines
Willow, Black	Salix nigra	4-9	D	Sun	15 to 25'	Brittle wood