California Tortoise Shell butterfly, Nymphalis californica
Nectar sources used by the California Tortoise shell The California Tortoise shell likes Manzanita flowers for nectar. There are even more Manzanitas in California then Ceanothuses. The can be any where from six inches tall, Carmel Sur Manzanita to twenty foot, the Big berry Manzanita. They are also evergreen. The flowers are pink or white. Return to California Butterfly main page Go to Butterfly Plants Page Go to Wildlife Page Las Pilitas Nursery	Larval food of the California Tortoise shell The Larva of the California Tortoise Shell Butterfly feeds on Ceanothus plants. There are over 50 species of Ceanothus found in California. They range in size from two foot anywhere to twenty foot and have flowers anywhere from white, to blue, to lavender. One of this plants common names is wild lilac. It is also evergreen making it an excellent garden plant! The California Tortoise Shell butterfly has large fluctuations in population. Some years there is a huge burst in population ans in some there are very few to be seen. In years where the populations are greater there is more migration and these butterflies can be found in the mountains and northern portions of California.

California Tortoise Shell butterfly, Nymphalis californica

Nectar sources used by the California Tortoise shell

The California Tortoise shell likes Manzanita flowers for nectar. There are even more Manzanitas in California then Ceanothuses. The can be any where from six inches tall, Carmel Sur Manzanita to twenty foot, the Big berry Manzanita. They are also evergreen. The flowers are pink or white.

Return to California Butterfly main page
Go to Butterfly Plants Page
Go to Wildlife Page
Las Pilitas Nursery

Larval food of the California Tortoise shell

The Larva of the California Tortoise Shell Butterfly feeds on Ceanothus plants. There are over 50 species of Ceanothus found in California. They range in size from two foot anywhere to twenty foot and have flowers anywhere from white, to blue, to lavender. One of this plants common names is wild lilac. It is also evergreen making it an excellent garden plant!

The drab coloration and bark like pattern of the California Tortoise shell butterfly when it is closed helps it to hide from predetors

The California Tortoise Shell butterfly has large fluctuations in population. Some years there is a huge burst in population ans in some there are very few to be seen. In years where the populations are greater there is more migration and these butterflies can be found in the mountains and northern portions of California.