Gardening is for the Butterflies!!

An abundance of flowers of any kind is almost certain to attract butterflies to your garden!

Butterflies are attracted by large splashes of color. Butterflies are a welcome sight in any garden not only for the beauty they bring but also because they serve as a valuable pollinator in our perennial beds. As butterflies develop through their life cycle, egg, larva (caterpillar), chrysalis, and adult, they rely on different types of plants for food and shelter. Each stage in the butterfly life cycle has its own special requirements.

Creating a Butterfly Garden

To develop a butterfly garden, you must include plants which will provide an accessible source of nectar which is the main interest of butterflies. The more food you provide, the more butterfly species your garden will attract.

Plant to create large splashes of color in your garden.

• The most appealing plants are those that have flower heads which are composed of short, tubular blossoms and are flat-topped to provide a good landing platform e.g. Achillea (Yarrow), Asclepias (Butterfly Weed), Buddleia (Butterfly Bush), Echinacea (Coneflower), Monarda (Bee Balm).
• Plant single rather than double blooming varieties as the nectar is more accessible in these forms.
• Plant your garden to provide continuous bloom as butterflies are active from early spring through fall. Aster, Sedum, Solidago, and Vernonia are perennials which provide a valuable source of nectar late in the season.
• Herbs are especially attractive to butterflies. Sage, Rosemary, Oregano, and Thyme provide not only a source of nectar but are also a favored host plant for butterfly eggs.
• Plant annuals among your perennials to ensure a continuous supply of nectar throughout the season. Excellent varieties include Cosmos, Lantana, Pentas (Star-cluster), French Marigold, and Zinnia.

Provide "baby food" for your butterflies.

For a successful butterfly garden you must make sure to include host species for the adults to lay their eggs on and which will provide food for the larvae or caterpillar stage. You must be willing to allow some plants to be eaten by caterpillars!

• There are only a few perennial species which act as larval hosts. Most butterfly species prefer to lay their eggs on trees and shrubs.
• The following are a few of the annual and perennial host plants: Asclepias, Cleome, Alcea (Hollyhocks), Asters, Chelone (Turtlehead), Viola, Verbena, Parsley, Humulus (Hopvine).
• Perennials damaged by caterpillars can be cut back after the larvae pupate and reach adulthood. This will cause the plants to bush out and will actually improve the look of your garden.
• The following are a few of the trees and shrubs which act as host plants: Apple, Cherry, Plum, Birch, Dogwood, Poplar, Elms, Ash, Hackberry, Willow, Hornbeam, Viburnum, Lindera, Lilacs.

Perennials Which Attract Butterflies

Because color plays a vital role in attracting butterflies, you should group several plants of the same species and color.

• Achillea millefolium
• Agastache
• Alcea - Hollyhock
• Allium spp.
• Alyssum saxitale
• Aquilegia spp.
• Armeria maritima
• Arabis spp.
• Asclepias tuberosa
• Aster spp.
• Astilbe
• Boltonia asteroides 
• Buddleia davidii - Butterfly Shrub
• Caryopteris - Shrub 
• Centaurea spp.
• Centranthus ruber
• Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
• Chelone spp.
• Chrysanthemum
• Coreopsis spp.
• Crocosmia
• Delphinium
• Dianthus spp.
• Echinacea purpurea
• Echinops ritro
• Eryngium
• Eupatorium spp.
• Filipendula rubra
• Gaillardia
• Helenium autumnale
• Helianthus spp. 
• Heliopsis helianthoides
• Hemerocallis - Daylily
• Iberis - Candytuft
• Iris pseudacorus
• Kniphofia uvaria
• Lavandula angustifolia
• Liatris spicata 
• Lilium spp.
• Lobelia spp.
• Monarda didyma
• Nepeta faassenii
• Origanum spp. - Oregano
• Phlox spp.
• Physostegia virginica
• Primula
• Rosmarinus officinalis - Rosemary
• Rudbeckia spp.
• Salvia spp.
• Scabiosa spp. 
• Sedum spp.
• Solidago spp.
• Spiraea japonica
• Stokesia laevis
• Vernonia noveboracensis
• Verbena spp.
• Veronica spp.
• Veronica virginica ‘Alba’

Attracting Hummingbirds to the Garden

It is truly a joy to see a hummingbird skipping from flower to flower to obtain nectar. Only certain flowers will attract these beautiful iridescent birds. The following is a list of perennials which should bring them to your garden.

• Ajuga spp.
• Alcea ficifolia
• Aquilegia hybrids - Columbine
• Asclepias tuberosa
• Begonia grandis
• Buddleia davidii - Butterfly bush
• Chelone lyonii
• Chelone oblique
• Crocosmia
• Delphinium spp.
• Digitalis spp.
• Heuchera sanguinea - Coralbells
• Hibiscus moscheutos
• Hosta plantaginea
• Lilium spp.
• Lobelia cardinalis
• Kniphofia spp.
• Monarda didyma - Bee balm
• Nepeta x faassenii - Catmint
• Penstemon digitalis
• Phlox paniculata
• Rosmarinus officinalis
• Scabiosa spp.
• Verbena ‘Homestead Purple’
• Verbena canadensis