While your garden’s flowers are beautiful, they’re even more incredible when you add a bevy of butterflies to the mix. These fascinating creatures add so much life and interest to any garden – and they’re not difficult to welcome in. You just have send out the right invitation.
You’ll have better luck with your butterfly garden if you aim to attract butterfly species common to your area.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/Donna Krischan
Deep-throated flowers generally hold lots of nectar for hungry butterflies.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/Donna Krischan
You’re most likely to have the greatest success when you try to attract butterflies that are common native species in your region rather than rare, unusual or distant species. As a conscientious gardener, always keep in mind that exotic species may compete with native butterflies, and lacking resistance, your plants may be damaged by them. If you concentrate on butterflies that are common to your area, you’ll maintain a natural environment and still have encounters with many different species.
Now, about sending out the “right” invitation – you need to send it out in the form of a complete butterfly habitat. That means including a few simple elements: a shallow source of water, some wind protection and shelter, areas away from foot or pet traffic, and a sunny zone with an assortment of plants (including trees, shrubs and flowering plants for fragrance, color and nectar).
Of course, choosing the right plants is one of the most important aspects of a butterfly garden. Nectar-producing flowers attract butterflies with their color, scent and promise of food. Butterflies generally prefer flat, open-faced flowers that provide a good spot for resting and feeding, or deep-throated flowers that hold abundant nectar. You can grow plants with butterfly-attracting features by selecting from the six options shown in the pictures and described in their captions at the end of this article.
Remember, an attractively planned habitat is sure to bring butterflies to your garden, and the necessary host plants will encourage the adults to stay, mate and lay eggs. After all, this is the ultimate goal of all butterfly gardeners: to ensure butterfly reproduction, maturity and another generation – probably many – of the same species. An added bonus is that some migrating species emerging in your garden may also return the following year.
Finally, when it comes to caring for your butterfly garden – or for any wildlife garden – it’s important to use only organic and environmentally friendly techniques, which are essential to maintaining the health of all the life stages of the butterflies present in your landscape. With the right plants, layout and care program, your garden is sure to be filled with the flits and fancies of these amazing winged creatures season after season – adding charm, grace and life to your already gorgeous garden.
Brightly Colored Flowering Shrubs
Butterflies love brightly colored flowering shrubs with clusters of blooms borne midspring through summer. Consider including plants like
crapemyrtle (shown here),
wild cherry or
honeylocust – especially those with red, orange or violet-blue flowers.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Perennial Flowering Shrubs
For a booming butterfly garden, include perennial
flowering shrubs with strong, sweet scents and ample nectar in their flowers, like
butterflybush (shown here) and
lilac.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Flowering Vines
Don’t overlook flowering vines with large, deep-throated flowers, like
honeysuckle,
mandevilla,
morning glory (shown here) and
wisteria. Butterflies will love to stop in for a sip!
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Perennial Flowers
Be sure to add
perennial flowers with daisy-like faces to your garden – that means including blooms like
Shasta daisy and
purple coneflower (shown here).
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Annual Flowers
Annual flowers with open faces, like
black-eyed Susan (shown here), various daisies,
cosmos or
hollyhock are also enticing to butterflies.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
