Gardening Styles :: The Butterfly Garden

How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden:

Butterflies are synonymous with wonder and delight. Their whimsical flight traced through the air with my ever-gazing eyes makes me recall childhood memories. These delicately winged creatures capture the merriment of life through their constant fluttering. Bringing butterflies into your garden can be equaled to the simplest pleasures of youth.

To properly welcome butterflies and make them feel at home, several key steps and their preferred flora are required.

It is important to plant your garden in full sun. Think of butterflies as sun loving divas basking on the beach; they definitely do not desire shade or cold. Butterflies are exothermic and need an external source for body heat. Furthermore, the majority of plants which attract butterflies are equally fond of the sun.

When butterflies land on flowers, they become pollinators. They are not only beautiful, but useful as well. As they puddle jump from one bloom to the next, they will contribute to your garden. It is necessary to provide shelter from the wind as they make their flowery rounds.

Gardens made to attract butterflies are full of color and fragrance. Butterfly gardens tend to be unruly, yet exhilarating to the senses.  Imagine yourself as a butterfly – what attracts you? Is it the pinkish orange blossoms of the Fragrant Mist Flower or the delicate Turk’s Cap? Whichever you prefer, ensure the plants you choose have high nectar content.

Research Which Butterflies are Native to Your Area:

To maintain a constant butterfly presence throughout the year, include plants necessary for caterpillars. The Monarch butterfly caterpillar prefers to eat Milkweed. Other caterpillars prefer the Fern Acacia or Honeysuckle. Optimally, study which butterflies are native to your area and then select plants based on caterpillar needs.

Plants are not the only items needed for a butterfly garden. Flat stones are necessary for resting. Shallow ponds and puddles supply minerals and water. Fresh fruit can attract butterfly varieties not interested in flowers’ nectar.  A bench for the garden wanderer makes a nice addition and encourages nature observation.

Plants that Attract Butterflies and Their Caterpillars:

By properly preparing your butterfly garden, you will enjoy it for many years to come. Below is a list of plants attractive to butterflies and their caterpillars.

• Shrubs: Bee Brush, Honeysuckle, Fairy Duster, Lantana, Sage, Lavender, Heliotrope, Turk’s Cap, Buttonbush
• Wildflowers: Aster, Coneflower, Mist Flower, Goldenrod, Cowpen Daisy, Cosmos, Fleabane, Poppy, Lobelia, Lupine, Primrose, Marigold, Zinnia, Bachelor’s Button
• Trees: Texas Olive, Anacua, Standing Cypress
• Caterpillar Food Plants: Prairie Parsley, Pipevine, Milkweed, Fern Acacia, Honeysuckle, Cowpen Daisy