These are some of the backyard native plants we enjoy in spring. All of them are an important source of nectar for early butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Most of them are also host plants for butterfly or moth caterpillars.
Celandine Poppies
Redbud
Southern Blue Flag
Spicebush - Shrub
Trumpet Honeysuckle Vine
Sundrops and Wood Mint
Arrow-wood Viburnum - Shrub
Columbine Blossoms
Wild Geranium
Virginia Sweetspire - Shrub
Blueberry Blossoms
Blue False Indigo
Hi Betty! I found your website when looking for pictures of Black Swallowtail chrysalises. I’ve got 8 right now, and it’s my first time raising them- and I have no idea what they will look like when the butterfly is just about to emerge! Your caterpillar images came up in my Google searching.
Your native plant photos are beautiful and a great resource- I live in Virginia and primarily plant for pollinators, focusing on natives. Native gardening is new to me, and it’s useful to see such wonderful pictures of all these great plants in one place. We share a lot of the same natives as you, so I’ll definitely pass along your site to other native gardening (and pollinator) enthusiasts!
Samantha,thanks for your email. Always glad to connect with others who are interested butterflies, other pollinators, native plants, and nature in general. As to the black swallowtail chrysalises, they “usually” will turn darker shortly before the butterfly emerges. At any rate, good luck and best wishes for seeing the adults fly free. If I can be of further help, please let me know.