Host plants are special plants on which butterflies, such as the Hummingbird hawk-moth, lay their eggs. When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars eat those plants. In this way, the caterpillars grow until they are large and strong enough to change into butterflies. This is why host plants are essential for the survival of butterfly species, because without host plants there are no caterpillars and therefore ultimately no butterflies.

Each butterfly species has its own favourite plants. The caterpillar feeds on the following host plants: Lady’s bedstraw (Galium verum), Rose madder(Rubia tinctorum) and Hedge bedstraw (Galium mollugo).

Most butterfly species, such as the Hummingbird hawk-moth, need nectar to survive. The butterflies get nectar from nectar plants. Nectar is a viscous fluid that comes from flowers. This fluid contains a lot of sugar, small amounts of proteins and vitamins. Nectar provides the energy that the Hummingbird hawk-moth needs to be able to fly.

The Hummingbird hawk-moth feeds on Lavender (Lavandula), Common vervain (Verbena officinalis), Buddleja (Buddleja), Red valerian (Centranthus ruber), Viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare), Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Common soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), Eupatorium (Eupatorium), Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus), Phlox (Phlox), Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana) and Plumeless thistles (Carduus).

To help the Hummingbird hawk-moth, plant nectar-rich plants with long and tubular flowers in the garden. This is because the Hummingbird hawk-moth has a long proboscis and it gets nectar from the deeper flowers. The Hummingbird hawk-moth lays eggs on Bedstraw (Galium). Plant these plants in a corner of your garden to give the caterpillars a place to develop. In addition, Hummingbird hawk-moths like warmth. For this reason, you should provide sheltered, sunny spots where the plants will flower well.