Consideration will have to be taken for the two stages of the butterflies life: adult and caterpillar. Many butterfly species will drink nectar from a variety of flowering plants, but their caterpillars often are greatly limited in the number of plants on which they can feed.

Typical plants that caterpillars feed on are: herbaceous plants, such as herbs and vegetables, pine leaf milkweed, Baja fairy duster, desert senna, black dalea, passion flower, velvet mesquite, and desert hackberry.

Typical plants that the adult butterflies feed on are: brightly colored simple flowers that are not too deep and that are wide enough for good perching platforms. Some universal nectar favorites include: zinnias, marigolds, daisies, thistles, and butterfly bush.

Some native and desert adapted plants that provide nectar for butterflies include: red bird of paradise, yellow cosmos, yellow lantana, purple verbena, Mexican sunflower, dalea, catclaw acacia, and chaste tree.

Be sure to check out the Spring Butterfly Exhibit at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens March 7 to May 31, 2009. They will have areas featuring butterfly host plants and a discovery station where you can view our scaly winged friends up close.