Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Sunday - April 19, 2009
From: Berrien Springs, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Wildlife Gardens
Title: Plants for Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies in Michigan
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am wanting to raise Painted Lady butterflies and release them into my garden. I know that they like to eat Mallow plants, but I was wondering what kind of Mallow plant would be best for my garden?ANSWER:
Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) butterflies have certainly been recorded in Berrien County, Michigan and it sounds like a fun thing to do to raise and release them in your garden. You have lots of choices, including mallows, for both larval and adult Painted Ladies. The Painted Lady is also known as the Thistle Butterfly because of its preferences for those plants.LARVAE
Any of the thistles native to Michigan, including:
Cirsium discolor (field thistle), Cirsium muticum (swamp thistle) and Cirsium undulatum (wavyleaf thistle).
Here are some attractive mallows native to Michigan for your garden:
Hibiscus laevis (halberdleaf rosemallow)
Hibiscus moscheutos (crimsoneyed rosemallow)
Callirhoe involucrata (purple poppymallow)
Other plants for larvae:
Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)
Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine)
Helianthus annuus (common sunflower)
Vernonia gigantea (giant ironweed)
ADULTS
Liatris aspera (tall blazing star)
Vernonia gigantea (giant ironweed)
Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed)
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus (trumpetweed)
Eupatoriadelphus maculatus (spotted trumpetweed)
Cephalanthus occidentalis (common buttonbush)
You should realize that the plants listed above also attract other butterflies so you should have a garden filled with beauty.
More Wildlife Gardens Questions
Wildflowers for a pond in MO
September 10, 2011 - I have a spring fed pond in Missouri and would like to plant perennial wildflowers in the area around it. Are there any that would do better or others that are not recommended?
Thank you.
view the full question and answer
Native nectar plants for hummingbirds in Central Texas
April 24, 2008 - Ref: Cen.Tx. Hummingbird plants
I am seeking a list of appropriate plants with lots of nectar to attract hummingbirds in Central Texas. I live in Hays County between Kyle & Wimberley in a mostly ...
view the full question and answer
Plants for bird garden in Virginia
May 25, 2010 - I am expanding on a bird attracting garden and would like to know what plants to plant. It is a shade to partial sun area, in an approx. 9' circle, both small shrubs and flowers would be nice.
view the full question and answer
Looking for grasses for slope around retention pond in Florida
August 02, 2011 - I live in St. Petersburg, FL on a large retention pond. Most of my neighbors on the pond have seawalls. I do not nor do my neighbors to my left and right. I am interested in colorful grasses to put...
view the full question and answer
Bird attracting plants in Northeast U.S.
March 22, 2004 - What plants will attract birds in zone 6 (Northeast) in the spring and early summer?
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
