UK Butterflies

Building a Community of Responsible Butterfly Enthusiasts in Britain & Ireland

Nectar Sources

This page lists the larval foodplants used by British and Irish butterflies. The name of each foodplant links to a Google search and secondary food sources are greyed out. The information on this page is taken from Life Cycles of British and Irish Butterflies (Eeles, 2019). Plant names are taken from New Flora of the British Isles, 4th edition (Stace, 2019).

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Plant NamePlant Scientific NameNectar Source ForQualification
Autumn GentianGentianella amarellaSilver-spotted Skipper
Bell HeatherErica cinereaNorthern Brown Argus
Silver-studded Blue
BetonyBetonica officinalisBrimstone
Green-veined White
High Brown Fritillary
Marsh Fritillary
Peacock
Small Skipper
Small Tortoiseshell
White Admiral
BilberryVaccinium myrtillusMountain Ringlet
bird's-foot-trefoilsLotus spp.Dingy Skipper
Grayling
Wood WhiteBoth broods
Bitter-vetchLathyrus linifoliusWood WhiteFirst brood
BlackthornPrunus spinosaPeacockPost-hibernation
Red AdmiralSpring
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scriptaBrimstone
Chequered Skipper
Green Hairstreak
Green-veined White
Large White
Orange-tip
PeacockPost-hibernation
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small White
Swallowtail
bramblesRubus spp.Black Hairstreak
Brown Hairstreak
Comma
Dark Green Fritillary
Gatekeeper
Grayling
Heath Fritillary
High Brown Fritillary
Holly Blue
Large Skipper
Meadow Brown
Northern Brown Argus
Orange-tip
Painted Lady
Peacock
Purple Hairstreak
Red AdmiralSummer
Ringlet
Scotch Argus
Silver-studded Blue
Silver-washed Fritillary
Small Heath
Small Skipper
Small Tortoiseshell
Speckled Wood
White Admiral
White-letter Hairstreak
buckthornsFrangula alnus and Rhamnus catharticaPurple Hairstreak
BuddlejaBuddleja spp.Comma
Dark Green Fritillary
Grayling
Large White
Painted Lady
Peacock
Red AdmiralSummer
Small Tortoiseshell
BugleAjuga reptansBrimstone
Chequered Skipper
Common Blue
Dingy Skipper
Green-veined White
Grizzled Skipper
Heath Fritillary
Holly Blue
Large Skipper
Large White
Marsh Fritillary
Orange-tip
Painted Lady
PeacockPost-hibernation
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small White
Wood WhiteFirst brood
Bush VetchVicia sepiumCryptic Wood White
buttercupsRanunculus spp.Brown Argus
Dingy Skipper
Duke of Burgundy
Green-veined White
Grizzled Skipper
Heath Fritillary
Holly Blue
Marsh Fritillary
Meadow Brown
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Copper
Small Heath
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
CarrionN/APurple Emperor
cloversTrifolium spp.Common Blue
Dark Green Fritillary
Essex Skipper
Large Skipper
Marbled White
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatusBrown Argus
Chalk Hill Blue
Common Blue
Cryptic Wood White
Glanville Fritillary
Green Hairstreak
Grizzled Skipper
Large Skipper
Lulworth Skipper
Northern Brown Argus
Painted Lady
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Silver-spotted Skipper
Silver-studded Blue
Small Blue
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Skipper
Small White
Small White
Common FleabanePulicaria dysentericaBrimstone
Brown Hairstreak
Clouded Yellow
Common Blue
Essex Skipper
Gatekeeper
Green-veined White
Large White
Meadow Brown
Painted Lady
Peacock
Red AdmiralSummer
Ringlet
Silver-washed Fritillary
Small Copper
Small Heath
Small Skipper
Small White
Speckled Wood
Wall
Common Rock-roseHelianthemum nummulariumBrown Argus
Green Hairstreak
Common VetchVicia sativaCryptic Wood White
CowslipPrimula verisBrimstone
Green Hairstreak
Cross-leaved HeathErica tetralixLarge Heath
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensisGreen-veined White
Marsh Fritillary
Orange-tip
PeacockPost-hibernation
Speckled Wood
DaisyBellis perennisGreen Hairstreak
Grizzled Skipper
Small Copper
Small White
Wall
dandelionsTaraxacum spp.Brimstone
Brown Argus
Clouded Yellow
Glanville Fritillary
Green Hairstreak
Grizzled Skipper
Large Skipper
Large White
Marsh Fritillary
Orange-tip
PeacockPost-hibernation
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Silver-spotted Skipper
Small Copper
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Skipper
Small Tortoiseshell
Small White
Speckled Wood
Devil's-bit ScabiousSuccisa pratensisBrimstone
Brown Hairstreak
Gatekeeper
Large Skipper
Large White
Meadow Brown
Painted Lady
Peacock
Scotch Argus
Small Heath
Small Skipper
Small Tortoiseshell
Swallowtail
Dog-roseRosa caninaBlack Hairstreak
DungN/APurple Emperor
Field ScabiousKnautia arvensisChalk Hill Blue
Large Skipper
Large White
Scotch Argus
Silver-spotted Skipper
Small Tortoiseshell
forget-me-notsMyosotis spp.Holly Blue
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolataOrange-tip
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrysCryptic Wood White
GorseUlex europeausGreen Hairstreak
Greater KnapweedCentaurea scabiosaLulworth Skipper
Greater StitchwortStellaria holosteaGreen-veined White
Orange-tip
Small Heath
Small Tortoiseshell
Small White
Wood WhiteFirst brood
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederaceaGrizzled Skipper
Orange-tip
PeacockPost-hibernation
hawkbitsLeontodon spp.Small Skipper
hawkweedsHieracium spp.Dingy Skipper
Glanville Fritillary
Large Heath
Marsh Fritillary
Mountain Ringlet
Orange-tip
Painted Lady
Peacock
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Scotch Argus
Small Copper
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Tortoiseshell
Small White
Wall
hawthornsCrataegus spp.Duke of Burgundy
Green Hairstreak
Red AdmiralSpring
Heath BedstrawGalium saxatileMountain Ringlet
HeatherCalluna vulgarisScotch Argus
heathersCalluna and Erica spp.Essex Skipper
Grayling
Heath Fritillary
Large Heath
Painted Lady
Small Copper
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Tortoiseshell
Hemp-agrimonyEupatorium cannabinumBrown Hairstreak
Gatekeeper
Green-veined White
Large White
Meadow Brown
Painted Lady
Peacock
Purple Hairstreak
Red AdmiralLate summer
Ringlet
Small Tortoiseshell
Small White
White-letter Hairstreak
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianumWood WhiteFirst brood
Hoary WillowherbEpilobium parviflorumCryptic Wood White
HollyIlex spp.Green Hairstreak
Holly Blue
HoneydewN/ABlack Hairstreak
Brown Hairstreak
Holly Blue
Purple Hairstreak
Speckled Wood
White Admiral
White-letter Hairstreak
Horseshoe VetchHippocrepis comosaAdonis BlueSpring brood
Brown Argus
Green Hairstreak
Small Blue
IvyHedera spp.Comma
Holly Blue
Painted Lady
Red AdmiralLate summer
Small Tortoiseshell
Kidney VetchAnthyllis vulnerariaCommon Blue
Large Skipper
Northern Brown Argus
Ringlet
Small Blue
Small Heath
knapweedsCentaurea spp.Adonis BlueSummer brood
Brimstone
Chalk Hill Blue
Clouded Yellow
Comma
Common Blue
Dark Green Fritillary
Green-veined White
Heath Fritillary
High Brown Fritillary
Large Skipper
Large White
Marbled White
Marsh Fritillary
Meadow Brown
Northern Brown Argus
Painted Lady
Scotch Argus
Silver-spotted Skipper
Silver-washed Fritillary
Small Skipper
Small Tortoiseshell
Small White
Wall
Wood WhiteSecond brood
Marsh ThistleCirsium palustreChequered Skipper
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acrisCryptic Wood White
Mountain Ringlet
Meadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensisCryptic Wood White
Wood WhiteSecond brood
Michaelmas-daisiesAster spp.Red AdmiralSummer
Small Tortoiseshell
PrimrosePrimula vulgarisBrimstone
Small Tortoiseshell
Ragged-RobinSilene flos-cuculiBrimstone
Cryptic Wood White
Dingy Skipper
Green-veined White
Grizzled Skipper
Large Skipper
Large White
Marsh Fritillary
Orange-tip
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small White
Swallowtail
Wall
ragwortsJacobaea spp.Adonis BlueSummer brood
Brown Argus
Brown Hairstreak
Clouded Yellow
Common Blue
Essex Skipper
Gatekeeper
Green-veined White
High Brown Fritillary
Large White
Meadow Brown
Northern Brown Argus
Painted Lady
Peacock
Ringlet
Scotch Argus
Silver-washed Fritillary
Small Copper
Small Heath
Small Tortoiseshell
Small White
Speckled Wood
Wall
White-letter Hairstreak
Red CampionSilene dioicaBrimstone
Green-veined White
Orange-tip
Small White
Red CloverTrifolium pratenseCryptic Wood White
Gatekeeper
Grayling
Northern Brown Argus
Painted Lady
Silver-spotted Skipper
Small Copper
Small Skipper
Small White
Swallowtail
Red ValerianCentranthus ruberNorthern Brown Argus
restharrowsOnonis spp.Small Skipper
Rotting fruitN/AComma
Red AdmiralLate summer
SainfoinOnobrychis viciifoliaSmall Skipper
Small White
sallowsSalix spp.Small Tortoiseshell
SapN/APeacock
Purple Emperor
Red Admiral
Speckled Wood
sedumsSedum spp.Small Tortoiseshell
SelfhealPrunella vulgarisBrimstone
Chalk Hill Blue
Large Blue
Meadow Brown
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Skipper
Wood WhiteSecond brood
Small ScabiousScabiosa columbariaNorthern Brown Argus
thistlesCarduus spp. and Cirsium spp.Adonis BlueSummer brood
Brimstone
Brown Hairstreak
Chalk Hill Blue
Clouded Yellow
Comma
Common Blue
Dark Green Fritillary
Essex Skipper
Gatekeeper
Grayling
Green-veined White
High Brown Fritillary
Holly Blue
Large Skipper
Large White
Lulworth Skipper
Marbled White
Marsh Fritillary
Meadow Brown
Northern Brown Argus
Painted Lady
Peacock
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Purple Hairstreak
Red AdmiralSummer
Ringlet
Scotch Argus
Silver-spotted Skipper
Silver-washed Fritillary
Small Copper
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Skipper
Small Tortoiseshell
Small White
Swallowtail
Wall
White Admiral
White-letter Hairstreak
ThriftArmeria maritimaGlanville Fritillary
TormentilPotentilla erectaDuke of Burgundy
Heath Fritillary
Large Heath
Marsh Fritillary
Mountain Ringlet
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Heath
Tufted VetchVicia craccaCryptic Wood White
Wood WhiteSecond brood
umbellifersApiaceae spp.Brown Hairstreak
White Admiral
White-letter Hairstreak
vetchesVicia spp.Brimstone
Clouded Yellow
Common Blue
Dingy Skipper
Green-veined White
Large Skipper
Orange-tip
Small Skipper
Water MintMentha aquaticaGatekeeper
Holly Blue
Peacock
Silver-washed Fritillary
Small Tortoiseshell
Wall
White CloverTrifolium repensBrown Argus
Large Heath
Wild BasilClinopodium vulgareSilver-spotted Skipper
Wild MarjoramOriganum vulgareAdonis BlueSummer brood
Brimstone
Brown Argus
Clouded Yellow
Common Blue
Essex Skipper
Grayling
Green-veined White
Large Blue
Large White
Lulworth Skipper
Marbled White
Meadow Brown
Painted Lady
Peacock
Ringlet
Scotch Argus
Small Skipper
Small Tortoiseshell
Small White
Wall
White-letter Hairstreak
Wild PrivetLigustrum vulgareBlack Hairstreak
Comma
Gatekeeper
Green Hairstreak
Holly Blue
Large Skipper
Meadow Brown
Painted Lady
Peacock
Red AdmiralSummer
Ringlet
Silver-washed Fritillary
Small Tortoiseshell
Small Tortoiseshell
Speckled Wood
White Admiral
White-letter Hairstreak
Wild StrawberryFragaria vescaGreen Hairstreak
Grizzled Skipper
Wild TeaselDipsacus fullonumBrimstone
Large White
Meadow Brown
Peacock
Red AdmiralSummer
Swallowtail
Wild ThymeThymus polytrichusBrown Argus
Chalk Hill Blue
Common Blue
Gatekeeper
Grayling
Grizzled Skipper
High Brown Fritillary
Large Blue
Marbled White
Mountain Ringlet
Northern Brown Argus
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Tortoiseshell
Wood SpurgeEuphorbia amygdaloidesDuke of Burgundy
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
YarrowAchillea millefoliumLarge Skipper
Marbled White
Meadow Brown
Peacock
Small Copper
Small Heath
Wall
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorusSwallowtail