Tag Archives: Butterfly Host Plants

Oregon Native: Ribes sanguineum (Red flowering Currant)

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Plant Name:  Ribes sanguineum
Common name:  Red Flowering Currant
Plant Type:  Deciduous Multi-Stemmed Shrub
Plant Height: 8’ – 10’
Spread: 6’ – 8’
Bloom Time: Early Spring
Flower Color: Rich Red to Pink & White
Exposure: Sun
Soil Requirements:  Tolerated poor soil.
Water Needs: Drought Tolerant once established.
Attributes:  Hummingbirds attracted to flowers; Birds attracted to fruit; Host for butterflies & moths; Deer Resistant.
Note: Little pruning required; suckering will form a small patch.
Uses: Single Filler Shrub; Hedge
Native to:  British Columbia to California
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Photo credit: Walter Siegmund / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

Oregon Native: Ribes aureum (Golden Currant)

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Plant Name:  Ribes aureum
Common name: Golden Currant
Plant Type: Deciduous Shrub
Plant Height: 3’ – 7’
Spread: 2’ – 6’
Bloom Time: Early to Mid Spring
Flower Color: Golden Yellow
Exposure: Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Tolerates Variety of Soils with Medium to Slow Drainage.
Water Needs: Low to High.
Attributes:  Attracts Hummingbirds, Monarch Butterflies; Red Autumn Color; Attracts Bees & Birds; Deer Resistant; Fragrance of Cloves or Vanilla.
Note: Surround with Mulch.
Uses: Bee, Bird, Butterfly Gardens
Native to:  North America
Oregon Native:   YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Photo Credit: U.S. Forest Service – Al Schneider

Oregon Native Plant: Rubus ursinus (Pacific Blackberry)

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Plant Name:  Rubus ursinus
Common name:  Pacific Blackberry, or Dewberry
Plant Type:  Evergreen, Semi Evergreen Shrub or Low Trailing
Plant Height: 6’ – 10’
Spread:  6’
Bloom Time: February to May
Flower Color: White to Pink
Exposure: Sun to Shade
Soil Requirements:  Medium to Slow Drainage.
Water Needs: Moderate to High
Attributes:  Hosts several Butterflies & Moths. Leaves can be used to make herbal tea. Produces Edible Berries.  Sometimes plants are referred to as ground berries. 

Note: 1st Year Stems (Primocanes) produce only leaves;                                 2nd Year Lateral Branches (Floricanes) produce flowers & fruit.                 Canes are very prickly; Prune during winter dormancy.

Uses: Ground Cover; Bird Garden; Native Gardens; Pollinator Gardens, Native Berries.
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford & Carlotta Lucas, AGC Members

Photo Credit:  Wikipedia / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

Native Plants: Western Joe Pye Weed

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Plant Name: Ageratina occidentials ( Aster Family)
Common names: Western Snakeroot, Western Joe Pye Weed

This low subshrub, which rarely grows taller than 2 ft., is covered with short, broad, pointed, bright green aromatic leaves topped by masses of red-purple flower heads.

Plant Characteristics: Perennial Herb
Size: 1-3 ft.
Bloom Color: Red, Purple
Bloom Time: July, Aug , Sep
Light Requirement: Sun
Water use: medium – high
Propagation Description: Propagate by division or seed
Note Seed Treatment: Stratify
Native to: Western United States
Native Habitat: Open, rocky places; 6500-11,000 ft.
Host plant to: Hitched Arches Moth (Melanchra adjuncta)

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/

Oregon Native: Monardella odoratissim (Coyote Mint)

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Plant Name:  Monardella odoratissima
Common name: Coyote Mint, Mountain Pennyroyal
Plant Type:  Evergreen Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 1’
Spread: 3’
Bloom Time: June – August
Flower Color:  Whitish to Pale Purple to Pink.
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Sandy, Well-Draining.
Water Needs:  Drought Tolerant
Attributes: Aromatic; Hosted by Butterflies & Moths.
Note: Short-lived species; Deadhead spent blossoms; Cut back in fall.
Uses:  Bee, Butterfly, Hummingbird Gardens; Container.
Native to:  Western US & Canada
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo by: Orchid Black / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)

Oregon Native Plant: Ceanothus cuneatus (Buckbush)

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High risk plant for wildfire, so not a good choice for homes in wildfire  regions!

Plant Name:  Ceanothus cuneatus
Common name:  Buckbrush
Plant Type:  Native, Perennial, Evergreen Shrub
Plant Height:  3.3’ – 11.5’
Spread:  2.5’ – 3.5’
Bloom Time: February – April
Flower Color:  Creamy White to Pale Blue to Lavendar
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Tolerates Sand, Clay, & Serpentine, but needs fast drainage.
Water Needs:  Very Low Moisture.
Attributes:  Pollen/Nectar for Native Bees; Host for some Butterflies; Drought Tolerant; Deer Tolerant.
Note:  Mature Plants are highly flammable.
Uses:  Fragrant Flowers; Hedge/Screen or Small Tree.
Native to:  Western States to Baja CA
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  7b – 10b

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo by: Eric in SF [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]