Butterfly Forest
Watch colorful butterflies break free of their chrysalises to soar and glide among beautiful Phipps blooms.
An annual favorite for guests of all ages, Butterfly Forest awes visitors with an up-close look at some of nature's most prized pollinators alongside the blossoming flowers that feed them. You’ll stroll along a winding forest path over a bridge, past ponds and through a tunnel, to discover beautiful butterflies as they flutter, eat and rest inside our Stove Room. Enjoy the majesty of a multitude of butterfly species surrounded by the plants that provide them with nectar, see live metamorphoses as butterflies transform and emerge from their chrysalises and delight in the fluttering array of vivid colors, shapes, sizes, patterns and motions. See how many species you can identify as you explore the garden — if you take your time and move slowly, one of these beauties might even land on your shoulder!
Butterflies to Watch For
gulf fritillary
(Agraulis vanilla)
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goatweed leafwing
(Anaea andria)
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white peacock
(Anartia jatrophae)
great southern white
(Ascia monuste)
hackberry emperor
(Asterocampa celtis)
tawney emperor
(Asterocampa clyton)
great purple hairstreak
(Atlides halesus)
pipevine swallowtail
(Battus philenor)
Polydamas swallowtail
(Battus polydamas)
queen
(Danaus gilippus)
monarch
(Danaus plexippus)
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Julia longwing
(Dryas iulia)
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sleepy orange
(Eurema nicippe)
zebra swallowtail
(Eurytides marcellus)
zebra longwing
(Heliconius charithonia)
buckeye
(Junonia coenia)
viceroy
(Limentis archippus)
red spotted purple
(Limenitis arthemis)
mourning cloak
(Nymphalis antiopa)
giant swallowtail
(Papilio cresphontes)
Palamedes swallowtail
(Papilio palamedes)
black swallowtail
(Papilio polyxenes)
spicebush swallowtail
(Papilio troilus)
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orange barred sulphur
(Phoebis philea)
cloudless sulfur
(Phoebis sennae)
eastern comma
(Polygonia comma)
question mark
(Polygonia interrogationis)
tiger swallowtail
(Pterourus glaucus)
malachite
(Siproeta stelenes)
red admiral
(Vanessa atalanta)
painted lady
(Vanessa cardui)
Our relationship to butterflies is more complex and interconnected than we often acknowledge and our endeavor with Butterfly Forest is to provide a closer look at both the beauty and the importance of butterflies. With that relationship in mind, we at Phipps want to remind our guests that looking, not touching, is the best way to experience Butterfly Forest; petting or rubbing a butterfly’s delicate wings can harm them and we want our flying friends to thrive in their glasshouse home. Also, our butterflies must remain in the Stove Room, so remember to check your person in the mirror on the way out to be sure that one is not trying to sneak away!
Butterfly Forest runs through Mon., Sept. 2. Come and celebrate the return of our winged wonders and learn about their unique characteristics and amazing life cycles. The experience will set your heart aflutter!
Select photos © Paul g. Wiegman, Phil Johnson II, Bill Bouton, Kevin D. Arvin, Mary Keim, Andrew Neild
More Events You’ll Enjoy
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Spring Botanical Boutique and Native Plant Sale
Sat., May 4; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phipps’ Garden Center Transforms Into a Botanical Boutique for Native Plants, Houseplants, Artwork and Many More Natural Treasures! -
May Market
May 10 – 11; Friday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phipps' celebrated open-air market returns! Stock up on unique plants, landscaping materials to botanical art, natural body care products and more. -
Jazz in the Garden
Wed., June 12; 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Join Pittsburgh jazz drummer Roger Humphries and the R.H. Factor Band for a night of smooth music set against a gorgeous botanical backdrop!
