Cirsium arvense

Aerulean®

Protected by U.S. Patents No. 8,301,389 & 8,577,616

🦋 US Butterflies! Click here for data and ℹ️

Butterflies in Mind -- Zinnia

Susan C. Dunlap

A collection of 50 images as if seen from a butterfly’s point of view. Includes the names of native Zinnia species and the most complete list of US butterflies that will feed on Zinnia blossoms.

Butterflies in Mind -- Asclepias

Susan C. Dunlap

“Milkweed is the single most important plant for Monarch butterflies. This lavishly illustrated book contains details about the structure and cultivation of native Milkweeds, information about the 139 nectar-feeding butterflies they...

Butterflies in Mind -- Monarch

Susan C. Dunlap

This abundantly illustrated volume enables you to select from a complete list of well described perennial nectar plants that are known to attract & feed Monarch butterflies. Over 40 genera are described that are suitable to be grown...

Butterflies in Mind -- Perennials

Susan C. Dunlap

Butterflies in Mind - Perennials. This book is a definitive guide to perennial nectar plants preferred by US butterflies. It empowers you to feed, attract, support (and help identify) nectar-feeding butterflies that reside in the US....

Cirsium arvense
(sold as Thistle)

Family: Compositae

Common name: CANADA THISTLE

Plant

Flower

Leaf

Horticulture

Attracts wildlife: specific butterfly species

Butterflies that feed on this plant

Achalarus albociliatus

Achalarus lyciades

Achlyodes pallida

Achlyodes thraso

Aglais milberti

Agraulis vanillae

Ancyloxypha numitor

Anteos clorinde

Anthocharis sara

Aphrissa statira

Apodemia virgulti

Asterocampa celtis

Asterocampa clyton

Astraptes fulgerator

Atalopedes campestris

Atrytone arogos

Atrytone deleware

Atrytonopsis deva

Atrytonopsis edwardsi

Atrytonopsis hianna

Atrytonopsis lunus

Atrytonopsis pittacus

Atrytonopsis python

Atrytonopsis vierecki

Autochton cellus

Battus philenor

Boloria epithore

Brephidium exilis

Celastrina lucia

Cercyonis meadi

Cercyonis oetus

Cercyonis pegala

Cercyonis sthenele

Chioides catillus

Colias christina

Colias occidentalis

Colias philodice

Copaeodes minima

Danaus gilippus

Danaus plexippus

Epargyreus clarus

Eresia aveyrona subsp. mylitta

Erynnis horatius

Euchloe ausonides

Euphydryas phaeton

Euphyes pilatka

Euptychia pyracmon

Eurema mexicana

Fixsenia favonius

Glutophrissa drusilla

Heliopetes ericetorum

Hesperia attalus

Hesperia comma subsp. colorado

Hylephila phyleus

Icaricia icarioides

Leptotes marina

Limenitis archippus

Mastor aesculapius

Mastor carolina

Mastor celia subsp. belli

Mastor exoteria

Mastor fimbriata

Neophasia menapia

Ochlodes sylvanoides

Ochlodes sylvanoides subsp. yuma

Oligoria maculata

Panoquina ocola

Papilio cresphontes

Papilio eurymedon

Papilio glaucus

Papilio machaon

Papilio machaon subsp. bairdii

Papilio multicaudata

Papilio polyxenes

Papilio rutulus

Papilio troilus

Papilio zelicaon

Parnassius clodius

Phoebis agarithe

Pieris marginalis

Piruna polingii

Poanes massasoit

Poladryas minuta

Polites themistocles

Pontia protodice

Protographium marcellus

Pyrrhopyge araxes

Speyeria adiaste

Speyeria atlantis

Speyeria callippe

Speyeria coronis

Speyeria cybele

Speyeria nokomis

Speyeria zerene

Thespieus macareus

Thorybes pylades

Thymelicus lineola

Vanessa atalanta

Wallengrenia otho

Zerene eurydice

Far and away the most appealing nectar plant for US butterflies is Cirsium. Our current butterfly nectar plant database contains 614 entries for this genus which represents 156 US butterfly species. If this were a garden plant, the butterfly species count would be even higher.

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