Hairstreak Butterfly Host Plants
of North America

View Host Plants for Butterflies for All butterfly families click here

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Hairstreaks are in the Lycaenidae Family, or Gossamer-Winged butterflies.  Included along with them are Blues and Coppers. Elfin's and Azure's also fall under these catagories.

A brief summary of host plants that each group prefers is as follows:

Blues

• Alfalfa
• Clovers
• Dogwoods
• Legumes
• Lupines
• Meadow Sweet
• Vetches
• Wild Cherry

Coppers

• Docks
• Knotweeds
• Sorrels
• Wild Buckwheat

Hairstreaks

• Bearberry
• Blueberries
• Butternut
• Hickories
• Legumes
• Mallows
• Oaks

Individual Hairstreak butterfly and their host plants

1) Achmon Blue

• Buckwheat (Eriogonum)
• Saffron (E. Crocatum)
• St. Catherines Lace (E. Giganteum)
  
  

2) American Copper

• Buckwheat (Polygonaceae)
• Curled/Curly Dock (Rumex Crispus)
• Mountain (Oxyria Digyna)
• Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa) especially Sheep (R. Acetosella)
  
  

3) Appalachian Azure

• Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga Racemosa)

4) Atala - Found in Tropical areas

• Zamia (Zamiaceae) especially Coontie

5) Banded Hairstreak

• Hickory (Carya) especially Shag Bark (C. Ovata)
• Oak (Quercus) especially Bluejack (Q. Marilandica), Bur (Q. Macrocarpa), Southern Red (Q. Falcata), White (Q. Alba)
• Walnut (Juglans) especially Black (J. Nigra), River/Texas (J. Microcarpa)

6) Blue Hairstreak - see Great Purple

7) Bronze Copper

• Dock (Rumex) especially curled/curly (R. Crispus), Water (R. Orbiculatus)

8) California Hairstreak

• Oak (Quercus) escpecially California White, Roble Oak, Valley Oak

9) Cassius Blue

• Bean (Phaseolus) especially Lima (P. Limensis), Garden (P. Vulgaris),
• Blackbead (Jiringa)
• Downy Milk-Pea (Galactia Volubilis)
• Indigo (Indigofera)
• Leadwort (Plumbago) especially Cape (P. Auriculata/Capensis)
• Rattlebox (Crotalaria) - I have also seen this as Rattle-Pod.
• Tick-Clover (Desmodium)
• Wild Plumbago (Plumbago Scandens)
• Wild Tamarind (Lysiloma Latisiliqua)

10) Common Hairstreak

• Hollyhock (Malva Alcea)
• Mallow (Malva)
• Marsh (Althaea Officinalis)
• Rose (Alcea Rosea)

11) Ceraunus Blue

• Bean (Phaseolus) especially Honey (P. Glandulosa), Lima (P. Limensis)
• Fern (Acacia)
• Least Snout Bean (Rhynchosia Minima)
• Mesquite (Prosopis) especially Honey (P. Glandulosa)
• Milk-Vetch (Astragalus)
• Mimosa (Acacia) especially Humble Plant (M. Pudica), Sensitive Plant (M. Sensitiva)
• Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista Fasciculata)
• Purging Cassia (Cassia Fistula)
• Rattlebox (Crotalaria)- I have also seen this as Rattle-Pod
• Sensitive Pea (Chamaecrista Nictitans)
• Wattle (Acacia)
• Wild Senna (Cassia Marilandica)

12) Coral Hairstreak

• Cherry (Prunus) including Black (P. Serotina)
• Chokeberry (Aronia)
• Plum (Prunus) including Sandhill Plum (P. Angustifolia)

13) Cyna Blue

• Acanthus family (Bear's Breeches)

14) Dusky Azure

• Goatsbeard (Aruneus Dioicus)
• Rose (Rosaceae)

15) Dusky-Blue Groundstreak

• Leaf detritus (or decomposing leaves) from many plant families.

16) Echo-Blue

• Buckeye (Aesculus) especially California (A. Californica)
• California Lilac (Ceanothus)
• Dogwood (Cornus)
• Oak (Quercus)
• Spirea (Spiraea)

17) Edwards Hairstreak

• Oak (Quiercus) especially Black (Q. Velutina), Bur (Q. Macrocarpa), White (Q. Alba)

18) Eastern Tailed Blue

• Alfalfa (Medicago)
• Bluebonnet (Lupinus)
• Bush Clover (Lespedeza) especially Hairy Bush (L. hirta), Round Head Bush (L. Capitata)
• Clover (Melilotus) especially Sour (M. Indicus), Yellow Sweet (M. Officinalis)
• Crown Vetch (Coronilla Varia)
• Deer Vetch (Lotus)
• False Mint (Dicliptera Brachiata)
• False Plains Indigo (Baptisia Australis)
• Legumes (Fabaceae)
• Medicks (Medicago)
• Milk-Pea (Galactia)
• Milk Vetch (Astragalus)
• Pea-Vines (Lathyrus)
• Pea family (Fabaceae)
• Red Feathers (Trifolium Rubens)
• Tick (Desmodium) including Hoary (D. Canescens), Maryland (D. Marilandica)
• Trifolium including Red (T. Pratense), White (T. Repens)
• Vetch (Hippocrepis) including Common (V. Sativa), Hairy (V. Villosa)

19) Frosted Elfin

• Baptisia family especially Blue Wild Indigo (B. Australis), Green Wild Indigo (B. Sphaerocarpa)
• Rattlebox (Crotalaria) - I have also seen this as Rattle-Pod
• Wild Lupine (Lupinus Perennis)

20) Great Copper

• Dock (Rumex) especially Curled/Curly (R. Crispus), Fiddle/Fiddleneck (R. Pulcher), Veined (R. Venosus)
• Mountain Sorrel (Oxyria Digyna)
• Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa)

21) Great Purple Hairstreak Butterfly

• Atkinsonia Ligustrina (Loranthaceae with Mistletoe habit)
• Gaiadendron Punctatum (Loranthaceae with Mistletoe habit)
• Mistletoe Family including Borer (Phoradendron Tomentosum)
• Nuytsia Floribunda (Loranthaceae with Mistletoe habit)

22) Gray Hairstreak Butterfly

• The Gray Hairstreak Butterfly is so widely spread throughout North, Central and South America it is considered a pest. Probably because it feeds on so much, as this list shows..
• Alfalfa (Medicago)
• Alkali (Malvaceae)
• Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum Halicacabum)
• Beggarweed (Desmodium Genus)
• Broomweed (Malvaceae)
• Bush Clover (Lespedeza) including Hairy-Bush (Lespedeza Capitata), Round-Head (Lespedeza Capitata)
• California Coffeeberry (Rhamnus Californica)
• Candlestick Tree (Senna Alata)
• Common Clover (Trifolium Arvense)
• Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum)
• Cowpea (Vigna Luteola)
• Crimson (Trifolium Incarnatum)
• Dock Family (Rumex)
• Doveweed (Croton Setigerus)
• False Indigo (Amorpha Fruticosa)
• Garden Bean (Phaseolus Limensis)
• Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea ssp)
• Ground Plum (Astragalus Crassicarpus)
• Heart Seed (Cardiospermum Halicacabum)
• Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea Bracteata) Also known as Southern Hog Peanut
• Hollyhock (Alcea)
• Hops (Humulus Lupulus)
• Lantana (Verbenaceae)
• Lead Plant (Amorpha Conescens)
• Legumes (Fabaceae)
• Lima Bean (Phaseolus Limensis)
• Maize (Zea Mays)
• Mallows (Malvaceae) especially Common (M. Neglecta), Little (M.Parviflora), Running (M Rotundifolia)
• Mints (Mentha)
• Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus)
• Parsley Hawthorn (Crataegus Marshallii)
• Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista Fasciculata)
• Prostrate Milk-Pea (Galactia Regularis)
• Rabbit Clover (Trifolium Arvense)
• Rattlebush (Sesbariia Drummondii)
• Red Feathers (Trifolium Rubens)
• Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus Syriacus)
• Sage (Salvia ssp)
• Scarlet-Pea (Indigofera Miniata)
• Small-Fruited Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum Halicacabum)
• Soapbush (Guaiacum Angustifolium)
• Strawberry (Fragaria)
• Swamp Hibiscus/Texas Star (Hibiscus Coccineus)
• Swamp Rose (Hibiscus Moscheutos)
• Tall Winecup (Callirhoe Leiocarpa)
• Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus Texensis)
• Tick Clover (Desmodium ssp)
• Turkey Mullein (Croton Setigerus)
• Velvet-Leaved Tick-Trefoil (Desmodium Viridiflorum)
• Vetch (Vicia spp)
• White Clover (Trifolium Repens)
• White Sweet Clover (Melilotus Albus)
• Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum ssp)
• Willow Smartweed (Polygonaceae Lapathifolium)
• Woolly Croton (Croton capitatus)
• Yellow Bells (Tecoma Stans)

23) Gray Ministreak

• Catclaw (Mimosa spp)

24) Harvester

• In North America this is the only carnivorous butterfly but it also eats plants.

  
  

• Wooly Aphids (by far the preferred cuisine for the caterpillar. As an adult butterfly they enjoy Aphid Honeydew.)
• Alder (Alnus)
• Ash (Fraxinus)
• Beech (Fagus)
• Hawthorn (Crataegus)
• Wild Currant (Mahonia Trifoliolata)
• Witch Hazel (Hamamelis)

25) Henry's Elfin

• Redbud (Cercis Canadensis) Also known as Eastern Redbud.

26) Hickory Hairstreak Butterfly

• Ashes (Fraxinus)
• Hickories (Carya)
• Oaks (Quercus)
• Walnuts (Juglans)

27) Juniper Hairstreak Butterfly

• Red Eastern Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana)

28) Lilac-Bordered Copper

• Knotweed family (Persicaria)

29) Lustrous Copper

• Dock (Rumex)especially Alpine (R. Alpinus)
• Sorrel (Rumex) especially Sheep's (R. Acetosella)

30) Mallow Scrub Hairstreak Butterfly

• Alkali (Malvaceae)
• Rose Mallow (Hibiscus Moscheutos)
• Indian Mallow (Abutilon Theophrasti)

31) Marine Blue

• Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa)
• Bean (Phaseolus)
• Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria Sinensis)
• Honey Mesquite (Prosopis Glanduloosa)
• Leadworts (Plumbago)
• Milk-Pea (Galactia)
• Milk Vetch (Astragalus)
• Plumbago (Plumbago Auriculata)
• Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea Purpurea)

32) Mournful Duskywing

• Oaks (Quercus)

33) Northern Willow Hairstreak

• Willows (Salix)

34) Olive Juniper Hairstreak

• Cedar's (Juniperus) especially Eastern Red (J. Virginiana), Mountain (J. Ashei)

35) Purplish Copper

• Common Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa)
• Dock (Rumex) especially Curled/Curly (R. Crispus), Veined (R. Venosus)
• Mountain Sorrel (Oxyria Digyna)

36) Red Banded Hairstreak Butterfly

• Leaf detritus (or decomposing leaves) from many plant families.

37) Reakirt's Blue

• Acacia (Mimosoideae)
• Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa)
• Bundle Flower (Desmanthus)
• Catclaw (Mimosa spp)
• Deer-Vetch (Lotus)
• Honey Mesquite (Prosopis Glandulosa)
• Milk-Vetch (Astragalus)
• Mimosa (Albuzia Julibrissin)
• Purplish Prairie (Dalea Purpurea)
• Scarlet Pea (Indigofera)
• White Clover (Trifolium Repens)
• White Prairie Clover (Dalea Candida)
• White Sweet Clover (Melilotus Albus)
• Yellow Sour Clover (Melilotus Indicus)
• Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus Officianlis)

38) Ruddy Copper

• Dock (Rumex) especially Curled/Curly (R. Crispus), Veined (R. Venosus)
• Mountain Sorrel (Oxyria Digyna)
• Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa)

39) Small Copper

• This butterfly is found in the Northern Hemisphere all over the world. Included are North America, Europe, Asia, North Africa, India and Japan.
• Sorrel family (Rumex Acetosa)

40) Soapberry Hairstreak

• Western Soapberry (Sapindus saponaria)

41) Southern Hairstreak

• Oaks (Quercus) especially Blackjack (Q. Marilandica), Live (Q. Virginiana), Southern Red (Q. Falcata)

42) Spring Azure

• Apple (Malus)
• Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga Racemosa)
• Blueberry (Vaccinium Arboreum)
• Buckthorne (Rhamnaceae)
• California Buckeye (Ceanothus spp)
• California Lilac (Ceanothus spp)
• Cherry (Prunus) especially Black (P. Serotina), Wild (P. Avium)
• Dogwood (Cornus spp)
• Meadowsweet (Filipendula Ulmaria)
• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus Americanus)
• Redroot (Ceanothus Herbaceus)
• Spirea Family
• Sumac (Rhus spp) Can also be spelled Sumach
• Viburnum Family
• Wingstem (Verbesina Actinomens)
• Plum (Prunus)

43) St. Christopher Hairstreak

• Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum Halicacabum)
• Heart-Seed (Cardiospermum Halicacabum)
• Small-Fruited Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum Halicacabum)

44) Striped Hairstreak Butterfly

• Azaleas (Rhododendron)
• Black Cherry (Prunus Serotina)
• Blueberries (Vaccinium)
• Crabapple (Malus Coronaria)
• Hawthorn (Crataegus)
• Oak (Quercus)
• Service-berries (Amelanchier)

45) Summer Azure

• Apple (Malus)
• Blueberry (Vaccinium Arboreum)
• Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae)
• California Buckeye (Ceanothus spp)
• California Lilac (Ceanothus spp)
• Cherry (Prunus) especially Wild (P. Avium)
• Dogwood (Cornus)
• Frostweed (Verbesina Virginica)
• Meadowsweet (Filipendula Ulmaria)
• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus Americanus)
• Redroot (Ceanothus Herbaceus)
• Spirea Family
• Viburnum Family
• Plum (Prunus)

46) Tailed Copper

• Currant - Black, Red and White Currants (Ribes)
• Gooseberry (Ribes)

47) Western Pine Elfin

• Pines (Pinus) especially Monterey (P. Radiata), Ponderosa (P. Ponderosa), Western Yellow (P. Ponderosa)

48) Westrn Pygmy-Blue

• Desert Horse-Purslane (Trianthema Portulacastrum)
• Four-wing Saltbush (Atriplex Canescens)
• Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium Album)Also known as White Goosefoot
• Slim-Leaf Goosefoot (Chenopodium Leptophyllum)
• Tumbleweed (Salsola spp)

49) White Mountain Hairstreak

• Oak (Quercus) especially Blackjack (Q. Marilandica), Chapman's (Q. Chapmanii), Laurel (Q. Hemispaerica), Live (Q. Virginiana), Myrtle (Q. Myrtifolia), Shumard's (Q. Shumardii), Turkey (Q. Laevis), Water (Q. Nigra), White (Q. Alba)

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