Butterfly Host Plants: Nettles and Red Admiral Butterflies--SoCalNPG Ep. 38

This is about the Red Admiral butterfly and its host plants, stinging nettle and other nettles. I noticed it in our California native plant garden. Learn about the best host plants and habitat for the Red Admiral.
This is one in a series on attracting butterflies to our native plant gardens by planting host plants -- plants that attract female butterflies to lay eggs on them and support the caterpillars when they hatch. It adds to our gardening pleasure while adding native plants to our garden is good for the environment.
Oops! My apologies to the 126ers whose intro "On My Way Home" I used at the beginning of the video.They deserved to be credited at the end of the video but I forgot.

[@wellnessbabe9081]

Thank you for posting about this butterfly. Maybe I’ll add nettle to my herb garden in the spring.

[@southerncalnativeplantgard3777]

Yes, please, give it a try. I'm curious to know how it turns out.

[@Wilson-bg4cg]

I enjoyed your video! I started some false nettle ( Boehmeria cylindrica) this summer here in southeast Louisiana. I have some nice looking plants but no Red Admirals yet. Hopefully next year! Thanks for sharing Rob!

[@southerncalnativeplantgard3777]

Thanks for the comment. Let me know if you have any luck!

[@TamyB1000]

Ran across one of these today. Was very friendly and sat all over me. Sat on my hand, my shorts and my feet. I have some nettle plants in my yard, but not stinging nettle.

[@southerncalnativeplantgard3777]

I saw one in my yard a week or two ago, but not so friendly that it would sit on my hand!
In what part of the country do you live?

[@TamyB1000]

@@southerncalnativeplantgard3777 Texas

[@capicuaaa]

Great stuff! I myself was really surprised that the Red Admiral in Western Europe also uses stinging nettle as a host plant! Since I'm doing my part in helping raise butterfly numbers, I have relocated a few stinging nettles in the garden. I know they use them because I just recently encountered a caterpillar going off to pupate!

[@southerncalnativeplantgard3777]

Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you're doing your part! You've made me reconsider adding stinging nettle to my garden. I do have a slope where it would be out of the way & therefore harmless. I think I'll try it there.

[@capicuaaa]

@@southerncalnativeplantgard3777 That sounds promising! It's definitely rewarding to see them grow and give them a helping hand. Best of luck!