host plant
A host plant is a plant that provides food and habitat for the early life stages of an insect, especially the caterpillars of butterflies and moths.
Many native insects rely on specific native plants to lay their eggs and feed their larvae. Without these host plants, the insects cannot complete their life cycle. For example, the California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) is a host plant for the Variable Checkerspot butterfly, and Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis) supports dozens of native moth species whose caterpillars are a vital food source for birds.
Including host plants in your garden helps rebuild insect populations, supporting pollinators, songbirds, and the entire food web.
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