Black Cherry (Prunus serotinus) is a hardy, widespread native tree with many virtues. Its lustrous wood is prized as a source of veneers for floors and cabinets. Long, white, sweetly scented floral racemes provide an abundance of pollen and nectar in spring. Shiny green leaves change to brilliant shades of yellow and red in the fall, and its small fruits (though unpalatable to humans) are eagerly consumed by many birds. In addition to this impressive list of accomplishments, it’s also the host plant for many gorgeous moths and butterflies—including an SBG favorite, the eastern tiger swallowtail.
Eastern tiger swallowtails (Papilio glaucus) are strong fliers, and can often be found right at the top of black cherry’s canopy (as high as 80 feet). Tiny green eggs are laid on the tree’s twigs and newly hatched larvae arrive cleverly disguised as bird droppings! Later instars turn green, with false eyespots to deter predators. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of black cherry, often spinning a silken mat on a leaf and curling up inside for shelter. The pupa is also well-camouflaged, resembling a dead leaf. Adults are frequently seen nectaring on a variety of flowers at the SBG, and males extract minerals from damp soil by puddling. (Photos of all life stages here: https://ipm.missouri.edu/garden/spring_newcomer_insect1.cfm)
Black cherry plays host to a wide array of wildlife, including over 400 species of butterflies and moths. In fact, according to the research of Dr. Douglas Tallamy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0_3BNFv_hY), native Prunus is second only to oaks in supporting lepidoptera. Now that’s a host with the most!
​Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: Ihorvozdetskiy

When we think of choosing plants for the pollinator garden, many people immediately think of flowering perennials such as milkweed, rudbeckia or echinacea, which provide nectar during the growing season. But did you know that 2/3 of all butterfly host plants are native trees and shrubs? In the coming weeks, we’ll take a look at some of our SBG favorites, and the insects that call them home sweet home.
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
The eastern red cedar is an ancient tree, dating to aboriginal America, where fossil evidence indicates it covered large portions of the continent. It’s prized for its fragrant, durable wood, and its branches and berries provide important food and shelter for songbirds throughout the winter—all good reasons to include it in a landscape. But Dr Robert “Butterfly Bob” Snetsinger planted this species at the SBG for a special purpose: attracting the juniper hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus).
This beautiful member of the Lycaenidae (or ‘gossamer winged’) family depends on the Eastern red cedar as its host plant. Eggs are laid singly on the tip of leaves; the vividly green larvae are perfectly camouflaged against the needles, as are the adults, which can be hard to spot. Adult males perch on the foliage and wait for females, who nectar nearby on plants such as milkweed, mountain mint or clover. Often, the best technique for the juniper hairstreak hunter to employ is to shake the tree gently and watch for a cloud of male butterflies to flutter into the air. (Stunning photos can be found here: https://www.naba.org/.../construct-species-page.asp...)
Eastern red cedar thrives in sunny, open spots and a wide variety of soils. It’s a deep-rooted tree that’s insect and disease tolerant, and makes an excellent windbreak or screen. (One note of caution: if there are apple or crabapple trees nearby, choose a different evergreen, since Eastern red cedar does carry the pathogen that causes cedar apple rust.) Last but not least, it provides excellent habitat for more than 50 types of birds and many other garden friends. What’s not to love?
​Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: Paul Roedding

Some insects lay eggs which survive the winter.
Hairstreak butterflies are one example. Banded Hairstreak females (Satyrium calanus) lay their eggs on the twigs of trees such as oak, hickory, walnut, ash and boxelder. The eggs remain dormant (in diapause) through the winter and hatch in spring. The caterpillars will then feed on the leaves of the trees where the female laid the eggs.
If you needed another reason to include native trees in your pollinator garden, these pretty blue eggs are surely it!
​Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: Stephan Morris

Many insects successfully pass the winter as immature larvae, or caterpillars. Some caterpillars stay cozy by hiding under a blanket—of fallen leaves.
The larvae of the Great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele) are an example of this.
In the fall, when she’s ready to lay her eggs, the female GSF searches for violets (Viola sororia), which are the host plant for fritillary caterpillars --the only food the little larvae will eat. She carefully lays her eggs at the base of the violets. The eggs hatch in a few weeks, and the tiny caterpillars go into hiding under leaf litter.
And there they will stay, all winter long—hidden in plain sight! Having entered diapause, these larvae won’t eat, or even move much, until spring comes.
When the temperature warms and the violets begin to grow, the caterpillars will crawl up to the plants and begin to chow down! But even then, they do so only at night, under cover of darkness.
Leaf litter is an essential part of a pollinator habitat, providing shelter for many overwintering guests. It's a good reason to rake leaves into flowerbeds in the fall, rather than bagging them for disposal. The Great spangled fritillary will thank you!
​Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: Lenora Larson

Some insects overwinter in the pupal stage, emerging as adults in the spring. For example, many butterflies and moths spend the winter in their chrysalis or cocoon in a protected location. The eastern black swallowtail is a good example of this. Before the chrysalis is formed, the caterpillar spins a thin band or 'saddle' of silk to hold it to the stem, as well as attaching to a silk pad at the head. It may look like a delicate arrangement, but it's very strong, able to withstand months of icy blasts.
The chrysalis is well-camouflaged against the tree bark, looking like a dead leaf. However, it can be vulnerable to parasitization by some species of flies and wasps. The swallowtail's strategy is to literally 'throw them off the scent' by doing a little cleaning--tossing its frass (fecal pellets) off the plant before settling in. This makes it harder for the predatory insects to detect. Come spring, this beautiful butterfly will emerge from its winter haven.
So when you pass a native tree or shrub with a few curled-up leaves clinging on, look closely! You just might discover unexpected treasure.
​Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: S.Detwiler, wikimedia commons