There are some perennials that we place in the garden hoping that they aren’t eaten by rabbits, beetles, or caterpillars. But there are others that we plant, hoping that they will be munched, shredded or otherwise destroyed. The pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) is just such a plant. 

Pearly everlasting is a plant native to both Asia and North America, and it is the larval host for the American lady butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis) and the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui).  Although many people realize the value of having some milkweed or butterfly weed growing in their gardens for the monarch butterflies, few think of planting pearly everlasting for the slightly smaller but similar looking lady butterflies.

I bought my pearly everlasting from High Country Gardens two years ago and they have spread to fill an area between rose bushes very nicely. Right now the tops of many of the plants are being destroyed, and I’m thrilled. The larvae of the painted lady butterflies are chowing down! 

These are the buds on my pearly everlasting plants. Later in July and August they will be in bloom.

Yet many of those buds are being eaten by tiny, light green caterpillars, who hold the leaves and buds together with webs to protect themselves while they dine. These buds will probably be too damaged to bloom, and I’m happy about it!   

See the light green larva in the center of the photo? This will develop into a painted lady butterfly.

This is how pearly everlasting looks when in full flower. There are stems in this group that the painted lady larvae destroyed, but by August most of them aren’t so noticeable.