Northern White Skipper - Heliopetes ericetorum
Northern White Skippers are busy in the garden, rarely resting for long. This male Northern White Skipper is feeding on nectar from the Purple Sage, Salvia leucophylla. Along with the sages, Northern White Skippers will eat nectar from plants in the Daisy family, the Verbena family and the Buckwheat family. It is rare to find a natural landscape that doesn't have these plant groups in abundance. Several species of butterflies have found advantage by using this same suite of plants for nectar. This makes these popular plants for use in Butterfly Gardens. Northern White Skippers larval food includes plants in the mallow family. We have an extensive list of plants that will attract these beauties to your butterfly garden. What at first looks like a plain white butterfly zinging from flower to flower is revealed to have more intricate patterns if you can get close enough to see them, with intricate brown and white markings oun the lower side of the wings and near black markings on the outter edge of the upper wing surface. The capper for me is the pale blue hair on the head and shoulders.
Northern White Skipper feeding on nectar from the Purple Sage. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.
Northern White Skipper feeding on nectar from Aster chilensis, Symphyotrichum chilense. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.
Northern White Skipper with open wings feeding on nectar from Star Thistle and showing off the dark on white markings on the upper wings. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.
Northern White Skipper with open wings feeding on nectar from Star Thistle and showing off the tan and white pattern on the bottoms of its wings. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.
Plants to include in your Butterfly Garden to attract the Northern White Skipper:
Achillea Apple Blossom * Apple Blossom Yarrow
Achillea Cerise Queen * Cerise Queen Yarrow
Achillea clavennae * Silver Yarrow
Achillea Desert Paprika * Desert Paprika Yarrow
Achillea filipendulina Coronation Gold * Coronation Gold Yarrow
Achillea Hoffnung * Hoffnung Yarrow
Achillea kellereri * Keller's Yarrow
Achillea lanulosa * Mountain Yarrow
Achillea Moonshine * Moonshine Yarrow
Achillea Paprika * Paprika Yarrow
Achillea Pomegranate * Pomegranate Yarrow
Achillea ptarmica * Pearl Yarrow
Achillea Salmon Beauty * Salmon Beauty Yarrow
Achillea Sonoma Coast * Sonoma Coast Yarrow
Achillea Terracotta Terracotta Yarrow
Achillea The Beacon * The Beacon Yarrow
Achillea tomentosa * Woolly Yarrow
Alyogyne hakeifolia * Red Centered Hibiscus
Alyogyne Monterey Bay * Monterey Bay Blue Hibiscus
Alyogyne Mood Indigo * Mood Indigo Blue Hibiscus
Alyogyne Santa Cruz * Santa Cruz Blue Hibiscus
Anisodontea hypomandarum * Cape Mallow
Anisodontea Tara's Wonder
Anthemis tinctoria * Dyer's Chamomile, Golden Marguerite
Arctotis acaulis Torch Purple * Torch Purple African Daisy
Arctotis gumbletonii * Gumbleton African Daisy
Arctotis Opera Rose * Opera Rose African Daisy
Arctotis Pink Sugar Pink Sugar African Daisy
Arctotis stoechadifolia * Cream African Daisy
Arctotis Sun Spot Orange * Sun Spot Orange African Daisy
Argyranthemum Chelsea Girl * Chelsea Girl Silver Marguerite, Chelsea Girl Paris Daisy
Argyranthemum Madeira Cherry Red * Madeira Cherry Red Marguerite, Madeira Cherry Red Paris Daisy
Argyranthemum Silver Lady * Silver Lady Marguerite, Silver Lady Paris Daisy
Aster chilensis * California Aster, Pacific Aster
Asclepias angustifolia * Arizona Milkweed
Asclepias californica * California Milkweed
Asclepias cordifolia * Purple Milkweed
Asclepias curassavica * Tropical Milkweed
Asclepias curassavica Red Butterflies * Red Butterflies Tropical Milkweed
Asclepias curassavica Silky Gold * Silky Gold Tropical Milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa * Woollypod Milkweed, Indian Milkweed, Kotolo Milkweed
Aslepias erosa * Desert Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis * Narrow Leaf Milkweed
Asclepias linaria * Pine Needle Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa * Showy Milkweed
Asclepias subulata * Rush Milkweed, Skeleton Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa * Butterfly Weed
Aster Chilensis Purple Haze * Purple Haze California Aster, Purple Haze Pacific Aster
Catananche caerulea * Cupid's Dart
Centaurea cyanus * Bachelor's Button
Centaurea cyanus Black Gem * Black Gem Bachelor's Button
Centaurea gymnocarpa * Pink Dusty Miller
Centaurea montana * Perennial Bachelor's Button, Mountain Bluet
Chaenactis artemisiifolia * White Pincushion
Chrysactinia mexicana * Damianita
Chrysothamnus nauseosus * Rabbitbrush
Cirsium occidentale * Cobwebby Thistle
Coreopsis bigelovii * Bigelow's Coreopsis, Desert Coreopsis
Cosmos atrosanguineus * Chocolate Cosmos
Cosmos sulphureus * Sulfur Cosmos
Dahlia imperialis Tree Dahlia
Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit * Cheyenne Spirit Cone Flower
Echinacea purpurea * Purple Cone Flower
Echinacea Salsa Red * Salsa Red Cone Flower
Echinacea Sunset * Sunset Cone Flower
Echinacea White Swan * White Swan Cone Flower
Encelia californica * California Brittlebush, Coast Sunflower
Encelia californica El Dorado * El Dorado Brittle Bush
Encelia farinosa * Brittlebush
Encelia Paleo Yellow * Paleo Yellow Brittlebush
Encelia ventorum * Baja Bush Sunflower
Eremalche rotundifolia * Desert Five Spot
Ericameria linearifolia * Narrow Leaf Goldenbush
Ericameria nauseosa * Rabbit Brush
Erigeron argentatus * Silver Fleabane
Erigeron blochmaniae * Blochman's Erigeron
Erigeron foliosus foliosus * Leafy Fleabane, Hartweg's Fleabane
Erigeron glaucus Bountiful * Bountiful Seaside Daisy
Erigeron glaucus Cape Sebastian * Cape Sebastian Seaside Daisy
Erigeron glaucus Sea Breeze * Sea Breeze Seaside Daisy, Pink Seaside Daisy
Erigeron glaucus Wayne Roderick * Wayne Roderick Seaside Daisy
Erigeron glaucus White Lights * White Lights Seaside Daisy
Erigeron karvinskianus * Santa Barbara Daisy, Mexican Daisy
Erigeron speciosus * Aspen Fleabane, Showy Fleabane, Oregon Fleabane
Eriogonum arborescens * Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat
Eriogonum cinereum * Ashy Leaf Buckwheat, Coastal Buckwheat
Eriogonum crocatum * Saffron Buckwheat, Conejo Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum * California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum Warriner Lytle * Warriner Lytle Buckwheat
Eriogonum giganteum * Saint Catherine's Lace
Eriogunum grande rubescens * Red Buckwheat, Pink Buckwheat
Eriogonum incanum * Frosted Buckwheat
Eriogonum latifolium * Seaside Buckwheat, Coast Buckwheat
Eriogonum parviflorum * Sea Cliff Buckwheat, Coastal Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum * Sulphur Buckwheat
Eriogonum wrightii * Bastardsage, Wright's Buckwheat
Eriophyllum confertiflorum * Golden Yarrow
Eriophyllum staechadifolium * Seaside Golden Yarrow
Euryops virgineus * Honey Euryops
Gaillardia aristata Arizona Apricot Arizona Apricot Blanketflower
Gaillardia grandiflora Blanketflower
Gaillardia grandiflora Mesa Red * Mesa Red Blanketflower
Geraea canescens * Hairy Desert Sunflower
Gnaphalium californicum * California Everlasting, California Cudweed
Grindelia camporum * Great Valley Gumweed, Great Valley Gumplant
Grindelia stricta * Coast Gumweed, Coast Gumplant
Hibiscus lasiocarpos * Wooly Rose Mallow
Hibiscus sabdariffa * Roselle
Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc * Double White Rose of Sharon
Hibiscus syriacus Lavender Chiffon * Semi Double Pink Rose of Sharon
Hibiscus syriacus Minerva * Minerva Rose of Sharon
Isocoma menzeisii * Coastal Goldenbush
Lavatera assurgentifolia * Tree Mallow, Island Mallow
Lavatera Barnsley Baby
Lavatera bicolor * Bush Mallow
Lavatera purisima * Purisima Tree Mallow
Lavatera trimestris Pink Blush * Annual Mallow
Lavandula angustifolia Hidcote * Hidcote English Lavender
Lavandula dentata * French Lavender
Lavandula dentata candicans * Gray Leaved French Lavender
Lavandula Fred Boutin * Fred Boutin Lavandin
Lavandula Goodwin Creek Grey * Goodwin Creek Lavender
Lavandula Grosso * Lavandin Grosso
Lavandula heterophylla * Sweet Lavender
Lavandula multifida * Fern Leaf Lavender
Lavandula pinnata buchii * Jagged Lavender
Lavandula Provence * Blue Lavandin
Lavandula stoechas Atlas * Atlas Spanish Lavender
Lavandula stoechas Coco Blue White * Coco Blue White Spanish Lavender
Lavandula stoechas Javelin Forte White * Javelin Forte White Spanish Lavender
Lavandula stoechas Madrid Purple * Madrid Purple Spanish Lavender
Lavandula stoechas Otto Quast * Otto Quast Spanish Lavender
Lavandula stoechas Silver Anouk * Silver Anouk Spansih Lavender
Lavatera assurgentifolia * Tree Mallow, Island Mallow
Lavatera Barnsley Baby
Lavatera bicolor * Bush Mallow
Lavatera purisima * Purisima Tree Mallow
Lavatera trimestris Pink Blush * Annual Mallow
Layia platyglossa * Tidy Tips
Leonotis leonurus * Lion'a Tail
Leonotis leonurus alba * White Lion's Tail
Leonotis menthifolia * Dwarf Lion's Tail
Lepechinia calycina * White Pitcher Sage, California Pitcher Sage, Woodbalm
Lepechinia fragrans El Tigre * Island Pitcher Sage
Lepechinia hastata * Mexican Pitcher Sage
Lepechinia salviae * Chilean Pitcher Sage
Leptosyne bigelovii * Desert Coreopsis
Lessingia filaginafolia * California Aster
Leucanthemum superbum Shasta Daisy
Malacothamnus clementinus * San Clemente Bush Mallow
Malacothamnus davidsonii * Davidson's Bush Mallow
Malacothamnus densiflorus * Yellow Stem Bush Mallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus * Chaparral Bush Mallow
Malvaviscus arboreus * Turks Cap, Sleepy Hibiscus, Wax Mallow, Sleeping Mallow
Monarda didyma * Bee Balm, Bergamont, Oswego Tea
Monarda fistulosa * Wild Bergamont
Monardella lanceolata * Mustang Mint
Monardella odoratissima * Desert Mint
Montanoa grandiflora * Daisy Tree
Osteospermum Blue Eyed Beauty * Blue Eyed Beauty African Daisy
Osteospermum Bright Lights * Red Freeway Daisy
Osteospermum ecklonis Spider White * Spider White African Daisy
Osteospermum fruticosum * Freeway Daisy
Pavonia missionum * Red Mallow
Pavonia praemorsa * Yellow Mallow
Pseudognaphalium californicum * California Everlasting, California Cudweed
Rafinesquia neomexicana * Desert Chicory, New Mexico Plumeseed
Ratibida columnifera * Mexican Hat Flower, Upright Prarie Coneflower
Rudbeckia Tiger Eye * Black Eyed Susan, Gloriosa Daisy
Salvia Allen Chickering * Allen Chickering Sage
Salvia apiana * White Sage
Salvia brandegeei * Brandegee's Sage, Santa Rosa Island Sage
Salvia carduacea * Thistle Sage
Salvia Celestial Blue * Celestial Blue Sage
Salvia clevelandii * Cleveland Sage
Salvia columbariae * Chia Sage
Salvia Desperado
Salvia dorrii * Purple Desert Sage
Salvia leucophylla Amethyst Bluff
Salvia leucophylla Bee's Bliss
Salvia leucophylla Point Sal * Purple Sage
Salvia mellifera * Black Sage
Salvia mellifera Green Carpet * Green Carpet Creeping Sage
Salvia mellifera Skylark * Skylark Black Sage
Salvia mellifera Terra Seca * Terra Seca Dwarf Sage
Salvia munzii * San Diego Sage, Munz's Sage
Salvia munzii Emerald Cascade * San Miguel Mountain Sage, Munz's Sage
Salvia officinalis Tricolor * Tricolored Culinary Sage
Salvia Pozo Blue * Grey Musk Sage
Salvia sclarea * Clary Sage
Salvia sonomensis Dara's Choice * Dara's Choice Creeping Sage
Salvia sonomensis Green Carpet * Green Carpet Creeping Sage
Salvia sonomensis Mrs Beard * Mrs Beard Creeping Sage
Salvia spathacea * Hummingbird Sage
Salvia Winnefred Gilman * Blue Sage
Sphaeralcea ambigua Desert Globemallow, Apricot Mallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua Louis Hamilton * Louis Hamilton Apricot Mallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua rosacea * Rosy Apricot Mallow, Rose Globemallow
Sphaeralcea fulva de luna * La Luna Globemallow, White Mallow
Spaeralcea phillippiana * Trailing Globemallow
Symphyotrichum chilense * California Aster, Pacific Aster
Stokesia Blue Danube Blue Danube Stokes Aster
Stokesia Peachies Pick * Peachies Pick Stokes Aster
Stokesia Purple Parasols * Purple Parasols Stokes Aster
Symphyotrichon chilense * California Aster, Pacific Aster
Tagetes lemmonii * Bush Marigold
Tagetes lucida * Mexican Tarragon
Tetraneuris acaulis * Angelita Daisy, Stemless Four Nerve Daisy
Tithonia rotundifolia * Mexican Sunflower
Venegasia carpesioides * Canyon Sunflower
Verbena bonariensis * Purpletop Vervain
Verbena bonariensis Little One * Dwarf Purpletop Vervain
Verbena lilacina De La Mina * Cedros Island Verbena
Verbena lilacina Paseo Rancho * Pink Cedros Island Verbena
Verbena rigida * Sandpaper Verbena