Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden

If you’re an admirer of butterflies and would like to attract them to your home, you may not be aware that planting certain species of flora in your garden will draw them. Butterfly gardening has become a popular pastime in America, not only for aesthetic reasons, but many are trying to assist the butterfly population by growing plants fed upon by rare or endangered butterflies.

Butterflies like nectar-producing flowers and there are literally dozens from which you may choose, depending on your location and the time of year. Spring, being the growing season, is an ideal time to plant. Keep in mind that most plants commonly found in gardens do not attract butterflies. You will need to do some research as to what species of butterflies are native to your area, in order to determine what flowers you’ll need. Some plants that attract butterflies are azaleas, purple cone flowers (Echinacea purpurea), yellow cone flowers, sunflowers, marigolds, poppies, lilies, daisies and milkweed, among others.

The more colorful your garden, the more butterflies you’re likely to attract. Believe it or not, butterflies have the ability to see more colors than we humans see. Give your plants full sun and never plant just one nectar-producing species. Growing a variety of nectar sources will attract the most butterflies to your garden. Remember to plant a few host plants (willow, black cherry, fennel, pawpaw), where adults may lay their eggs and the caterpillars will feed on the leaves. There are other methods used to attract and keep butterflies, once you’ve got your garden established. They include butterfly houses to provide shelter and shade, puddles of water and sand, rotting fruit, and other food items butterflies enjoy.