The Practiced Perennial Gardener

Butterfly Attractions

Most people are not aware of the number of Butterflies they already have fluttering around in their yards. With over 700 species in the US you are bound to have a few lingering around somewhere. The trick is to get them out into your garden where they can be appreciated.  Sadly that 700 number is getting smaller each year due to the destruction of the insects habitat and the over use of pesticides.

Now that we have assumed that there are butterflies visiting your yard we need to figure out a way to increase their numbers. This can be done by simply providing them with the things they naturally need.  To successfully attract numerous butterflies you will need to grow plants that are both sweet in nectar but also a place for laying eggs. Butterflies prefer native plants and will often ignore hybrids. This is why a wildflower garden attracts butterflies more so than a formal one.

While butterflies do prefer the untidy look of a wildflower garden they can be lured into any style of garden with the right type of flowering plants. Plants that are highly fragrant and rich in nectar are always butterfly favorites, but keep in mind that just because a plant is fragrant does not mean it is ripe with nectar. A rose for instance is one of the sweetest scents in the garden but the flowers don’t produce any nectar. The best flowers for attracting butterflies are ones with simple blooms and bright, vivid colors.

One thing not often mentioned about attracting butterflies is a term called “puddling”. This involves providing a shallow pool of water or birdbath in order to help create and even more inviting atmosphere. Butterflies frequent shallow pools of water in order to extract minerals from the water. To create a puddling area simply put some dirt or sand in the basin you plan to use and allow some of the dirt to be above the water to give the butterflies a spot to rest.  To really spoil your fluttering neighbors put out plates or bowls of rotting fruit like apples, grapes or over ripened bananas — they love these sweet snacks.

Advice:
> Place the garden in full sun
> Select as many native varieties as you can find
> Use flowers that have large blooms and bright colors
> Do not use pesticides in the garden or on the lawn
> Use plants with different heights
> Create a puddling area

Annuals for Butterfly Gardens:
> Lantana
> Geranium
> Impatiens – (Not New Guineas)
> Verbena
> Heliotrope
> Pentas
>Zinnas
> Salvia
>Ageratum

Perennials for Butterfly Gardens:
> Buddleia (Butterfly Bush )
> Yarrow
> Shasta Daisy
> Phlox
> Rudbeckia ( Black Eyed Susans)
> Monarda ( Bee Balm )
> Echinacea ( Purple Coneflower )
> Coreopsis