Some hosts really know how to lay out a banquet, and buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is one of them. Its alternate common name, ‘honey ball’, is a clue to the allure it holds for pollinators. The unique, Sputnik-shaped white flowers are a veritable fountain of pollen and nectar for many butterflies and bees. Blooming throughout the summer, it draws the attention of people and pollinators alike, and is an excellent native alternative to butterfly bush (Buddleia).
When the blooms are spent, they transform into round red seed heads (or ‘buttons’), which contain pairs of nutlets that are eagerly sought by birds and other wildlife. And the leaves of this deciduous shrub are host to the striking hydrangea sphinx moth (Darapsa versicolor) https://bugguide.net/node/view/5367 and Titan sphinx moth (Aellopos titan).
Button bush loves wet feet, and can even withstand flooding. It’s tolerant of all soil types and grows in sun or shade (though blooms will be more abundant in a sunny location). It quickly grows to its mature height of 6-8 feet, and can be pruned right down to the ground in spring to control any tendency towards legginess.
This undemanding and rewarding native really is a host with the most!
​Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: MaryAnne@Adobe Stock

Pussy willow (Salix discolor) is a welcome sight as one of the earliest signs of spring, and it’s perhaps the only shrub prized for it buds rather than its flowers. The fuzzy catkins provide cheer for us as we endure the last days of cold weather; even more crucially, they provide essential food for the earliest of emerging pollinators, such as bumble bees.
Queen bumble bees have spent the winter solo in a shallow tunnel dug just an inch or two beneath the surface of the soil. In early spring, they emerge to search for food, gaining the strength to lay eggs, build a nest, and found a new family colony. The pollen and nectar of pussy willow provide a rich source of nutrition for them. In addition, pussy willow hosts more than 18 species of lepidoptera, including viceroy and hairstreak butterflies and the stunning cecropia and io moths. Leafrollers, sawflies, borers, midges and gnats also enjoy the foliage, and in turn are enjoyed by many birds and their nestlings. Thus pussy willow does double duty—as a bird feeder!
This large shrub thrives in wet areas and is a perfect choice for rain gardens or wet areas in the landscape. (It’s not fussy though, and adapts well to drier conditions.) Salix discolor is easily confused with French pussy willow or goat willow (Salix caprea) which is native to Europe and Asia. Even experts concede that identification can be difficult: as Thoreau said, “The more I study willows, the more I am confused.” However, once leaves appear, accurate ID is a little easier: the leaves of Salix discolor feature a deep green surface and pale underside, and tend to be broader and longer than those of goat willow.
Stop by the SBG this week and enjoy our pussy willow—it’s truly a host with the most!
​Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: Fotowasti@Adobe Stock

Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp) AKA shadblow, juneberry or saskatoon, is a small tree/ large shrub which grows to 25 feet. A member of the Rose family, it’s one of first native woody plants to flower in spring—and what flowers! The short-lived (but entirely fabulous) cloud of white blossom is followed by small, edible fruits that are enjoyed by birds and humans alike.
The common name serviceberry reflects the timing of its bloom: Historically, the flowers appeared at about the same time that traveling preachers could begin to get around the countryside again, to hold burial services for those who had passed away during the long winter months.
Serviceberry plays host to over 124 caterpillars, including the red-spotted purple, several sphinx moths, and the trickster viceroy butterfly (Limenitis Archippus).
The viceroy is perhaps the best-known example of ‘mimicry’ in the butterfly world. Adult viceroys look very similar to monarchs, with their striking orange and black wings. This strategy serves the viceroy well, as predators such as birds assume that this color pattern means a bitter mouthful laced with the toxic glycosides of milkweed! However, if you look closely, you can easily tell them apart: the viceroy has an additional thick black band intersecting the veins of the hindwings.
Viceroy caterpillars, which don't actually eat milkweed, but feed on the leaves of trees such as serviceberry, can’t rely on the same defense mechanism. These lumpy, bumpy larvae resemble bird droppings—nothing like the classic striped monarch caterpillar—and rely instead on camouflage for protection as they enjoy their ‘host with the most’.
Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: Pixabay

A North American native, Pawpaw (Asiminia triloba) could once be found growing all over the eastern half of the US, especially favoring the rich alluvial soils of river valleys from the Missouri to the Potomac. It’s a small tree, rarely exceeding 20 feet, and in the wild it forms dense colonies (the “pawpaw patch” of the old folk song). The burgundy flowers, with their rather unpleasant odor, are not the first choice of butterflies or bees; instead, they’re mainly pollinated by flies, gnats and beetles. But the leaves of the pawpaw are essential to one butterfly: the zebra swallowtail.
Pawpaw leaves are the sole food source for the larvae of the zebra swallowtail (Protographium marcellus), and adults are often seen nectaring near the trees. Females choose fresh young leaves upon which to lay their eggs. The developing larvae feed on these leaves but may drop off the tree if disturbed by an enemy; older caterpillars may even hide in the leaf litter at the base of the tree. They’ll pupate on the pawpaw leaves, well-camouflaged as a dead leaf. (Photos of all life stages here: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/.../bfly/zebra_swallowtail.htm...,)%2C%20is%20the%20only%20host
Although pawpaw trees are too small to have any value as timber, they produce edible fruits that resemble small, lumpy bananas. Also known as Hoosier bananas or custard apples, pawpaw fruits have a creamy texture and a tropical flavor. (If you’d like to try your hand at growing some, be sure to plant more than one tree, as cross-pollination is necessary to produce fruit.) In recent years, chemicals extracted from the twigs and seeds of pawpaw have been found to have promising anti-cancer and pesticidal properties.
Pawpaw is a wonderful smaller native tree that would be a fine addition to any landscape. (The zebra swallowtail will thank you, too!)
​Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: Gajus@Adobe Stock

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