site index: select a sectionHOMEAsk an Expert  Birding  Ranger Rick Q&A  WildlifeBackyard Wildlife Habitats  About  Create your own  Gallery  ResourcesBirding Focus  Regional Birding  Backyard Birding  Bird-watching  Bird AudioeCardsField Guides  Amphibians  Birds  Butterflies  Fishes  Insects  Mammals  Native Plants  Reptiles  Seashells  Seashore Creatures  Spiders  Trees  WildflowersHelp CenterJoin eNatureNature TheaterNewsOutdoor Planner  Bird Habitats  Habitats  ParkfinderScreen SaversShop.eNatureWildlife ListsZipGuides  LocalGuides  Mammal Tracks  Poisonous & Dangerous  Threatened & EndangeredAbout Us  Contact Info  Media Kit  NewsroomAbout This Site  Copyright  Free Content  Links  Member Services  Privacy  Log In   wildlife search: Field GuidesNews ArticlesExpert AnswersPhotographersThe Web    Home  |  Wildlife Lists  |  Backyard Habitats  |  Nature Theater  |  Member Services  |  Help    Field Guides  |  ZipGuides  |  Parks & Refuges  |  Birding  |  eCards  |  Experts  |  Newsletters  |  shop.eNature.com  Backyard bwh home > Backyard Wildlife Habitat home page. gallery > Take a look at other Backyard Wildlife Habitats. about > Information about Backyard Wildlife Habitats — the basics, certification, and more. resources > More about creating your own Backyard Wildlife Habitat. - Resources - Garden Patrol - Butterfly Gardening - Scavenger Hunt ask an expert > Back to Butterfly Gardening Rocky Mountains These are some of the common, showy butterflies of this region and the food plant (or plants) appropriate for caterpillars of each species. Butterfly Species Caterpillar Plants Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Scrophularia, Mimulus Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa Willow, Poplar, Elm Weidemeyer's Admiral Limenitis Willow, poplar Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice Clovers Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme Clovers and other legumes Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus Many legumes, mallows, and others Melissa Blue Lycaeides melissa Many legumes Clodius Parnassian Parnassius clodius Bleeding Hearts Western Tiger Swallowtail Papilio rutulus Willow, Poplar, Elms Anise Swallowtail Papilio zelicaon Foeniculum, various other parsleys Nectar Plants These are the best flowers to plant in this region to attract a wide variety of butterfly species. The plants listed here have been shown to be tolerant of the local climate and particularly attractive to the butterflies mentioned above. Butterfly Weed (native) Asclepias tuberosa Pincushion Flower Scabiosa species Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii Buckwheats (native) Eriogonum species Verbena Verbena species Lantana Lantana camara and others Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Newsroom | About Us | Media Kit | Links | Copyright | Privacy | Help | Member Services | Unsubscribe