Large and stately, trees shouldn't be overlooked as butterfly plants, especially in public garden settings. In fact, there are many butterflies that only host on trees. Nowhere near extensive, this list describes trees that attract several butterflies; all do well in SoCal.
Cassia bicapsularis; Winter Cassia, Winter Senna
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Characteristics:
Host plant
Host plant to: Cloudless Sulfur; Sleepy Orange
Deer tolerant.
Flowers are not fragrant.
Water Requirements: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not over water.
Height: 10-12 ft.
Spacing: 8-10 ft.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun, partial shade.
Bloom Color: Bright yellow.
Bloom Time: Late fall/early winter.
Foliage: Evergreen. Green.
Does well in large enough containers.
Care Notes: I placed it here under Trees, as it can get big if left to its own resources, and can be trained into a small tree, or cut way back to manageable proportions. Most notable for its beautiful display of flowers in winter, hence Winter Cassia or Winter Senna; names cassia and senna are freely interchangeable. Moderately drought tolerant, needs little fertilizer once established. Normally a large shrub or sub tree, C. bicapsularis can be pruned and trained into a nice little tree. Somewhat cold tolerant, if it dies back, cut back to the ground; will resprout. Plant this one if you have kids, as its size makes it easy to view the many Cloudless Sulfurs that will visit. Also, one can make a game out of who can find the first sulfur caterpillar, be it a green or yellow-phase body color. Easily propagated from seed. This one's a keeper!
Read more: http://acontainerbutterflygarden.blogspot.com/search/label/cassia%20plants
Characteristics:
Host plant
Host plant to: Cloudless Sulfur; Sleepy Orange
Deer tolerant.
Flowers are not fragrant.
Water Requirements: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not over water.
Height: 20-30 ft.
Spacing: 15-20 ft.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun.
Bloom Color: Bright yellow.
Bloom Time: Mid summer.
Foliage: Evergreen. Green.
Grows too large for garden containers.
Care Notes: Drought tolerant once established, the well behaved, medium sized C. leptophylla is one tree to consider for its beautiful flower display. Relatively pest free. Does well as a lawn tree, in residential parkways, and as urban street trees. The City of San Diego, California has planted many C. leptophylla along its streets. Also makes a good patio tree. I've seen dozens of Cloudless Sulfur butterflies at one time flitting about the crowns of those growing within the Laguna Beach, California Sawdust Festival grounds. Fairly cold tolerant; if this tree interests you, first make sure it will grow in your climate zone, as it won't take sustained, heavy frosts.
Read more: http://acontainerbutterflygarden.blogspot.com/search/label/cassia%20plants
Characteristics:
Host plant
Host plant to: Western Tiger Swallowtail
Deer tolerant.
Flowers are not fragrant.
Water Requirements: Drought tolerant. Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not over water.
Height: Over 40 ft.
Spacing: Minimum 20 ft.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to partial shade.
Bloom Color: Yellow-orange to brown/bronze. Nondescript.
Bloom Time: Late winter/early spring.
Foliage: Decidous.
Grows too large for garden containers.
Care Notes: California native. Better suited for larger lawns, many city parks, industrial parks, and shopping centers include P. racemosa in their landscapes. Without it, we wouldn't see Western Tiger Swallowtails flying about.
Characteristics:
Host plant
Host plant to: California Sister
Deer tolerant.
Flowers are not fragrant.
Water Requirements: Drought tolerant. Do not over water.
Height: Over 40 ft.
Spacing: Minimum 40 ft.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to partial shade.
Bloom Color: Nondescript.
Bloom Time: Mid spring.
Foliage: Evergreen. Shiny/glossy-textured.
Grows too large for garden containers.
Care Notes: Very drought tolerant, already established Q. agrifolia will succumb to root rot if watered during the summer months. Will adapt and thrive in well draining lawn areas if planted as a small tree. Creates dense shade. Leave plenty of room around it to grow into, as the limbs are thick and beefy, supporting large, spreading canopies. Great for spacious fringe areas that receive little water. California Sister butterflies are rarely seen even when present, as they tend to stick to flitting about the top of the tree canopies.
Ulmus parvifolia; Chinese Elm, Lacebark Elm
Characteristics:
Host plant
Host plant to: Mourning Cloak
Deer tolerant.
Flowers are not fragrant.
Water Requirements: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not over water.
Height: Variable. Over 40 ft. Differing genetics dictate height and shape.
Spacing: Minimum 40 ft.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to partial shade.
Bloom Color: Chartreuse (yellow/green) .
Bloom Time: Late summer/early fall.
Foliage: Evergreen. Semi-deciduous. Deciduous.
Grows too large for garden containers.
Care Notes: Fairly drought tolerant once established. Size and shape can be variable from tall and round to wide and pendulous, regulated by genetics. Can be evergreen to deciduous also dependent upon genetics, and sustained cold temperatures too. Mourning Cloak butterflies tend to deposit large amounts of eggs, creating a squirming ball of black caterpillars that tend to move en masse about the branches as they feed. Mourning Cloaks will also use various willow species as host plants.
Host plant
Host plant to: Mourning Cloak
Deer tolerant.
Flowers are not fragrant.
Water Requirements: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not over water.
Height: Variable. Over 40 ft. Differing genetics dictate height and shape.
Spacing: Minimum 40 ft.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to partial shade.
Bloom Color: Chartreuse (yellow/green) .
Bloom Time: Late summer/early fall.
Foliage: Evergreen. Semi-deciduous. Deciduous.
Grows too large for garden containers.
Care Notes: Fairly drought tolerant once established. Size and shape can be variable from tall and round to wide and pendulous, regulated by genetics. Can be evergreen to deciduous also dependent upon genetics, and sustained cold temperatures too. Mourning Cloak butterflies tend to deposit large amounts of eggs, creating a squirming ball of black caterpillars that tend to move en masse about the branches as they feed. Mourning Cloaks will also use various willow species as host plants.
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