The butterfly garden at Oak Park has been designed specifically to attract butterflies by providing nectar plants for the adults and host plants for the caterpillars.  The garden can be found behind the tennis courts at Oak Park.

Native plants are essential to the successful lifecycle of numerous butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera).  Important not only for their nectar, but many native plants also play the important role of "larval host plant."  Host plants provide food during the caterpillar phase that is part of the butterfly/moth lifecycle.  Butterflies and moths need a host plant for their developing caterpillars and most adults need to fuel their flight and mating seasons with nectar from flowers.  They also need sites in which to overwinter and rest as well as areas free from insecticides.

For more information visit the Xerces society:  https://www.xerces.org/endangered-species/butterflies  

Here are some of the native plants you will find in the Butterfly Garden:

Grasses and Sedges Species: