Quick answer: 48 butterfly and moth host plants are native to Kentucky, 46 with a live listing as of 16 Sep 2026.
48 species
- American holly Ilex opaca · 24 states
- American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana · 29 states
- American wisteria Wisteria frutescens · 14 states
- Bald cypress Taxodium distichum · 16 states
- Black cherry Prunus serotina · 32 states
- Black walnut Juglans nigra · 33 states
- Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta · 42 states
- Boxelder Acer negundo · 14 states
- Chinkapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii · 14 states
- Chokecherry Prunus virginiana · 35 states
- Common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata · 12 states
- Common persimmon Diospyros virginiana · 17 states
- Coral honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens · 16 states
- Eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis · 22 states
- Eastern red columbine Aquilegia canadensis · 36 states
- Flowering dogwood Cornus florida · 22 states
- Fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica · 14 states
- Loblolly pine Pinus taeda · 14 states
- Maypop passionflower Passiflora incarnata · 13 states
- Mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa · 13 states
- Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia · 17 states
- Nannyberry Viburnum lentago · 23 states
- New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · 18 states
- New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus · 31 states
- Northern spicebush Lindera benzoin · 16 states
- Pagoda dogwood Cornus alternifolia · 25 states
- Pawpaw Asimina triloba · 17 states
- Pin oak Quercus palustris · 18 states
- Pitch pine Pinus rigida · 12 states
- Post oak Quercus stellata · 9 states
- Red maple Acer rubrum · 30 states
- Sassafras Sassafras albidum · 22 states
- Shortleaf pine Pinus echinata · 9 states
- Smooth hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens · 12 states
- Smooth sumac Rhus glabra · 34 states
- Southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum · 13 states
- Southern live oak Quercus virginiana · 13 states
- Southern wax myrtle Morella cerifera · 8 states
- Sundial lupine Lupinus perennis · 25 states
- Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata · 25 states
- Sweet-fern Comptonia peregrina · 10 states
- Sweetbay magnolia Magnolia virginiana · 12 states
- Trumpet vine Campsis radicans · 24 states
- Tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera · 17 states
- White ash Fraxinus americana · 31 states
- White fringetree Chionanthus virginicus · 14 states
- White oak Quercus alba · 33 states
- Willow oak Quercus phellos · 16 states