Top native legumes, milkworts, and allies
23 species, native to the US, ranked by caterpillars, then bees and other hosts, food, flowers and shelter.
-
Black Locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
caterpillars
72
hosts
11
food
34
flowers
68
-
Honey Locust
Gleditsia triacanthos
caterpillars
47
hosts
13
food
32
flowers
35
shelter
2
-
Bristly Locust
Robinia hispida
caterpillars
33
hosts
2
food
1
flowers
3
-
Canadian Milkvetch
Astragalus canadensis
caterpillars
28
bees
8
food
9
flowers
63
-
Sundial Lupine
Lupinus perennis
keystone
caterpillars
25
bees
2
food
3
flowers
58
-
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
caterpillars
19
bees
1
hosts
9
food
25
flowers
114
-
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
caterpillars
19
bees
3
food
5
flowers
114
-
Slender Bush Clover
Lespedeza virginica
caterpillars
15
hosts
1
food
5
flowers
37
-
Partridge Pea
Chamaecrista fasciculata
caterpillars
11
food
10
flowers
97
-
Carolina Vetch
Vicia caroliniana
caterpillars
11
food
7
flowers
69
-
Spiked Wild Indigo
Baptisia albescens
caterpillars
11
flowers
12
-
False Indigo Bush
Amorpha fruticosa
caterpillars
10
bees
4
food
5
flowers
10
-
Maryland Senna
Senna marilandica
caterpillars
7
food
1
flowers
23
-
Eastern Milk-pea
Galactia regularis
caterpillars
6
food
1
flowers
17
-
Kentucky Coffeetree
Gymnocladus dioicus
caterpillars
5
food
1
flowers
16
-
Butterfly Pea
Centrosema virginianum
caterpillars
5
food
1
flowers
13
-
White Prairie Clover
Dalea candida
caterpillars
4
bees
6
food
3
flowers
50
-
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
caterpillars
4
bees
6
food
2
flowers
77
-
American Senna
Senna hebecarpa
caterpillars
3
flowers
19
-
Pigeonwings
Clitoria mariana
caterpillars
3
flowers
5
-
Arizona Redbud
Cercis orbiculata
caterpillars
2
hosts
1
food
2
flowers
11
-
Naked-flowered Tick-trefoil
Hylodesmum nudiflorum
caterpillars
2
-
Kentucky Yellowwood
Cladrastis kentukea
flowers
5