Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Below is a list of the larval hostplants for butterflies in the UK and the species to which they are associated. Hostplants where species named are in bold are the main ones otherwise they are secondary. Novel or alien hostplants or those only recorded as used in captivity are not listed.
For list of hostplants at species level, click on one of the following links:
| Hostplants | Species |
|---|---|
| Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria | Grizzled Skipper |
| Alder Buckthorn Frangula alnus | Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue, Brimstone |
| Alpine Pennycress Thlaspi caerulescens | Orange-tip |
| Angelica, see Wild Angelica | |
| Annual Meadow-grass Poa annua | Scotch Argus, Marbled White, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown |
| Aspen Populus tremula | Large Tortoiseshell |
| Bastard Cabbage Rapistrum rugosum | Orange-tip |
| Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Green Hairstreak |
| Bell Heather Erica cinerea | Green Hairstreak, Silver-studded Blue |
| Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus | Green Hairstreak |
| Bird's-foot Ornithopus perpusillus | Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue, Chalk Hill Blue |
| Bird's-foot Trefoil, see Common Bird's-foot Trefoil | |
| Black Bent Agrostis gigantea | Wall |
| Black Medick Medicago lupulina | Common Blue, Chalk Hill Blue, Clouded Yellow |
| Black Mustard Brassica nigra | Large White, Small White, Orange-tip |
| Blackthorn Prunus spinosa | Brown Hairstreak, Black Hairstreak, Large Tortoiseshell |
| Bloody Crane's-bill Geranium sanguineum | Northern Brown Argus |
| Blue Moor-grass Sesleria caerulea | Scotch Argus |
| Bramble Rubus fruticosus | Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue |
| Bristle Bent Agrostis curtisii | Grayling, Small Heath |
| Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius | Small Copper |
| Bromes Bromus spp. | Wall, Marbled White, Meadow Brown |
| Broom Cytisus scoparius | Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue |
| Buck's-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus | Glanville Fritillary |
| Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica | Green Hairstreak, Brimstone |
| Cabbages Brassica oleracea | Large White, Small White, Green-veined White |
| Carline Thistle Carlina vulgaris | Painted Lady |
| Carrots Daucus carota | Swallowtail |
| Charlock Sinapsis arvensis | Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip |
| Cock's Foot Dactylis glomerata | Large Skipper, Essex Skipper, Small Skipper, Speckled Wood, Wall, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet |
| Common Bent Agrostis capillaris | Speckled Wood, Wall, Gatekeeper |
| Common Bird's-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus | Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue, Clouded Yellow |
| Common Comfrey Symphytum officinale | Painted Lady |
| Common Cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium | Large Heath |
| Common Couch Elytrigia repens | Large Skipper, Essex Skipper, Speckled Wood, Wall, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet |
| Common Cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense | Heath Fritillary |
| Common Cudweed Filago vulgaris | Painted Lady |
| Common Dog-violet Viola riviniana | Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary |
| Common Ivy Hedera helix | Holly Blue |
| Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra | Painted Lady |
| Common Mallow Malva sylvestris | Painted Lady |
| Common Nettle Urtica dioica | Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma |
| Common Restharrow Ononis repens | Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue, Chalk Hill Blue |
| Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium | Green Hairstreak, Silver-studded Blue, Brown Argus, Northern Brown Argus |
| Common Scurvygrasses Cochlearia officinallis | Orange-tip |
| Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa | Small Copper |
| Common Stork's-bill Erodium cicutarium | Brown Argus, Northern Brown Argus |
| Common Whitebeam Sorbus aria | Large Tortoiseshell |
| Cowberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea | Green Hairstreak |
| Cowslip Primula veris | Duke of Burgundy |
| Crack Willow Salix fragilis | Purple Emperor, Large Tortoiseshell |
| Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus | Green Hairstreak |
| Creeping Bent Agrostis stolonifera | Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath |
| Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans | Grizzled Skipper |
| Creeping Soft-grass Holcus mollis | Large Skipper, Essex Skipper, Small Skipper, Ringlet |
| Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense | Painted Lady |
| Creeping Yellowcress Rorippa sylvestris | Green-veined White, Orange-tip |
| Crested Dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus | Small Heath |
| Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix | Green Hairstreak, Silver-studded Blue |
| Crowberry Empetrum nigrum | Green Hairstreak |
| Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis | Green-veined White, Orange-tip |
| Cut-leaved Crane's-bill Geranium dissectum | Brown Argus |
| Dame's Violet Hesperis matronalis | Orange-tip |
| Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis | Marsh Fritillary |
| Dog Rose Rosa canina | Grizzled Skipper |
| Dogwood Cornus sanguinea | Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue |
| Dove-s-foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle | Brown Argus |
| Downy Birch Betula pubescens | Large Tortoiseshell |
| Downy Oat-grass Helictotrichon pubescens | Meadow Brown |
| Dwarf Gorse Ulex minor | Green Hairstreak |
| Dwarf Thistle Cirsium acaule | Painted Lady |
| Dyer's Greenweed Genista tinctoria | Green Hairstreak |
| Early Dog-violet Viola reichenbachiana | Dark Green Fritillary |
| Early Hair-grass Aira praecox | Scotch Argus, Grayling |
| English Elm Ulmus procera | White-letter Hairstreak, Large Tortoiseshell |
| False Brome Brachypodium sylvaticum | Chequered Skipper, Large Skipper, Essex Skipper, Small Skipper, Speckled Wood, Wall, Grayling, Meadow Brown, Ringlet |
| False Bromes Brachypodium spp. | Small Heath |
| False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius | Essex Skipper, Small Skipper |
| Fescues Festuca spp. | Scotch Argus |
| Fiddle Dock Rumex pulcher | Small Copper |
| Field Pepperwort Lepidium campestre | Orange-tip |
| Field Scabious Knautia arvensis | Marsh Fritillary |
| Foxglove Digitalis purpurea | Heath Fritillary |
| Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata | Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip |
| Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys | Glanville Fritillary, Heath Fritillary |
| Goat Willow Salix caprea | Purple Emperor, Large Tortoiseshell, Comma |
| Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa | Comma |
| Gorse Ulex europaeus | Green Hairstreak, Silver-studded Blue, Holly Blue |
| Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil Lotus pedunculatus | Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue |
| Greater Burdock Arctium lappa | Painted Lady |
| Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa | Painted Lady, Marsh Fritillary |
| Greater Plantain Plantago major | Marsh Fritillary, Heath Fritillary |
| Grey Willows Salix cinerea | Holly Blue, Purple Emperor, Large Tortoiseshell |
| Hairy Bird's-foot Trefoil Lotus subbiflorus | Clouded Yellow |
| Hairy Bitter-cress Cardamine hirsuta | Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip |
| Hairy Brome Bromopsis ramosa | Speckled Wood |
| Hairy Rockcress Arabis hirsuta | Green-veined White, Orange-tip |
| Hairy Violet Viola hirta | Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary |
| Hare's-foot Clover Trifolium arvense | Silver-studded Blue |
| Hare's-tail Cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum | Large Heath |
| Heath Dog-violet Viola canina | Pearl-bordered Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary |
| Heath False-Brome Brachypodium pinnatum | Chequered Skipper, Large Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Essex Skipper, Small Skipper, Wall, Marbled White, Grayling |
| Heath Speedwell Veronica officinalis | Glanville Fritillary |
| Heather Calluna vulgaris | Green Hairstreak, Silver-studded Blue, Holly Blue |
| Hedgerow Crane's-bill Geranium pyrenaicum | Brown Argus |
| Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale | Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip |
| Hoary Rock-rose Helianthemum oelandicum | Silver-studded Blue |
| Holly Ilex aquifolium | Holly Blue |
| Hawkbits Leontodon spp. | Marsh Fritillary |
| Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum | White Admiral, Marsh Fritillary |
| Hop Humulus lupulus | Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma |
| Hop Trefoil Trifolium campetsre | Common Blue, Chalk Hill Blue |
| Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa | Dingy Skipper, Silver-studded Blue, Chalk Hill Blue, Adonis Blue, Clouded Yellow |
| Horse Radish Arnoracia rusticana | Orange-tip |
| Ivy, see Common Ivy | |
| Ivy-leaved Speedwell Veronica hederifolia | Glanville Fritillary, Heath Fritillary |
| Jointed Rush Juncus articulatus | Large Heath |
| Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria | Small Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Chalk Hill Blue, Clouded Yellow |
| Knapweed, see Common Knapweed | |
| Koeleria spp. | Grayling |
| Large Bittercress Cardamine amara | Green-veined White, Orange-tip |
| Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium | Common Blue, Chalk Hill Blue |
| Lombardy Poplar Populus nigra | Large Tortoiseshell |
| Mallow, see Common Mallow | |
| Marjoram, see Wild Marjoram | |
| Marram Ammophila arenaria | Grayling |
| Marsh Mallow Althaea officinalis | Painted Lady |
| Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre | Painted Lady |
| Marsh Violet Viola palustris | Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary |
| Mat-grass Nardus stricta | Small Mountain Ringlet, Small Heath |
| Meadow Crane's-bill Geranium pratense | Brown Argus |
| Meadow Fescue Festuca pratensis | Large Heath |
| Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis | Essex Skipper, Small Skipper |
| Milk Parsley Peucedanum palustre | Swallowtail |
| Mountain Pansy Viola lutea | Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary |
| Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris | Painted Lady |
| Musk Thistle Carduus nutans | Painted Lady |
| Narrow-fruited Watercress Rorippa microphylla | Green-veined White |
| Nettle, see Common Nettle | |
| Osier Salix viminalis | Large Tortoiseshell |
| Oxlip Primula elatior | Duke of Burgundy |
| Pale Dog-violet Viola lactea | High Brown Fritillary |
| Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur | Purple Hairstreak |
| Pellitory-of-the-wall Parietaria judaica | Red Admiral, Painted Lady |
| Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne | Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper |
| Perennial Wall-rocket Diplotaxis tenuifolia | Large White |
| Petty Whin Genista anglica | Green Hairstreak, Silver-studded Blue |
| Primrose Primula vulgaris | Duke of Burgundy |
| Purple Moor-grass Molinia caerulea | Chequered Skipper, Large Skipper, Scotch Argus, Large Heath |
| Purging Buckthorn, see Buckthorn | |
| Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria | Holly Blue |
| Raspberry Rubus idaeus | Grizzled Skipper, Holly Blue |
| Rat's-tail Fescue Vulpia myuros | Grayling |
| Red Clover Trifolium pratense | Common Blue, Clouded Yellow |
| Red Fescue Festuca rubra | Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Heath |
| Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata | Painted Lady, Marsh Fritillary, Glanville Fritillary, Heath Fritillary |
| Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis | Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown |
| Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor | Grizzled Skipper |
| Sand Lucerne Medicago sativa | Clouded Yellow |
| Sea Kale Crambe maritima | Large White, Small White |
| Sea Plantain Plantago maritima | Glanville Fritillary |
| Sea Rocket Cakile maritima | Green-veined White |
| Sessile Oak Quercus petraea | Purple Hairstreak |
| Sheep's Fescue Festuca ovina | Silver-spotted Skipper, Wall, Small Mountain Ringlet, Marbled White, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath |
| Sheep's Sorrel Rumex acetosella | Small Copper |
| Shepherd's Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris | Small White, Orange-tip |
| Silverweed Potentilla anserina | Grizzled Skipper |
| Slender Thistle Carduus tenuiflorus | Painted Lady |
| Smaller Cat's-tail Phleum bertolonii | Small Skipper |
| Small Cow-wheat Melampyrum sylvaticum | Heath Fritillary |
| Small Nettle Urtica urens | Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock |
| Small Scabious Scabiosa columbaria | Marsh Fritillary |
| Smith's Pepperwort Lepidium heterophyllum | Green-veined White |
| Smooth Meadow-grass Poa pratensis | Scotch Argus, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath |
| Spear Thistle Cirsium palustre | Painted Lady |
| Spiny Restharrow Ononis spinosa | Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue |
| Spindle Euonymus europaeus | Holly Blue |
| Spotted Medick Medicago arabica | Clouded Yellow |
| Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum | Gatekeeper |
| Sweet Violet Viola odorata | Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary |
| Swine-cress Coronopus squamatus | Small White |
| Thale Cress Arabidopsis thaliana | Orange-tip |
| Thyme-leaved Speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia | Heath Fritillary |
| Timothy Phleum pratense | Large Skipper, Essex Skipper, Small Skipper, Speckled Wood, Marbled White |
| Tormentil Potentilla erecta | Grizzled Skipper |
| Tower Mustard Arabis glabra | Orange-tip |
| Tufted Hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa | Silver-spotted Skipper, Wall, Scotch Argus, Grayling, Ringlet |
| Ulmus minor agg. | Large Tortoiseshell, Comma |
| Velvet Bent Agrostis canina | Speckled Wood, Scotch Argus |
| Viper's-bugloss Echium vulgare | Painted Lady |
| Watercress Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum | Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip |
| Water Dock Rumex hydrolapathum | Small Copper |
| Wavy Hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa | Wall, Large Heath |
| Wayfaring Tree Viburnum lantana | Holly Blue |
| Weld Reseda luteola | Large White, Small White, Orange-tip |
| Welted Thistle Carduus crispus | Painted Lady |
| Western Gorse Ulex gallii | Green Hairstreak, Silver-studded Blue |
| White Clover Trifolium repens | Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Clouded Yellow |
| White Willow Salix alba | Large Tortoiseshell |
| Wild Angelica Angelica sylvestris | Swallowtail |
| Wild Cherry Prunus avium | Large Tortoiseshell |
| Wild Marjoram Origanum vulgare | Large Blue |
| Wild Mignonette Reseda lutea | Large White, Small White, Orange-tip |
| Wild Pansy Viola tricolor | Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary |
| Wild Radish Raphanus raphanistrum | Large White |
| Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca | Grizzled Skipper |
| Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus | Silver-studded Blue, Large Blue |
| Wintercress Barbarea vulgaris | Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip |
| Wood Avens Geum urbanum | Grizzled Skipper |
| Wood Meadow-grass Poa nemoralis | Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown |
| Wood Millet Milium effusum | Ringlet |
| Wood Sage Teucrium scorodonia | Marsh Fritillary, Heath Fritillary |
| Wood Sedge Carex sylvatica | Ringlet |
| Wood Small-reed Calamagrostis epigejos | Large Skipper, Ringlet |
| Wych Elm Ulmus glabra | White-letter Hairstreak, Large Tortoiseshell, Comma |
| Yarrow Achillea millefolium | Heath Fritillary |
| Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus | Large Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Essex Skipper, Small Skipper, Speckled Wood, Wall, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet |
Reference: Roger L.H. Dennis (2010), A Resource-based Habitat View for Conservation – Butterflies in the British Landscape, Wiley-Blackwell