Butterfly Flowers and Plants

Southeastern Arizona Butterfly Flowers and Plants

Butterflies are day-flying insects in the Order Lepidoptera, and many of them are quite colorful. Hummingbird moths, which are also known as Hawk Moths or Sphinx Moths, are also in the Order Lepidoptera, but these large, sometimes colorful moths in the Family Sphingidae are primarily night-flying. Butterflies and hummingbird moths will visit a wide variety of flowers, but some flowers are particular favorites.

Listed below are some of the southeastern Arizona wildflowers and plants that are especially good for attracting butterflies, butterfly caterpillars, or nocturnal hummingbird moths. Some of these plants can be grown in butterfly gardens and are commercially available in native plant nurseries, either as plants or as wildflower seeds.