![]() This nectar-rich plant is unappealing to many people but the butterflies love it. When searching for nectar, butterflies do not always seek out those flowers that smell good to humans. Some good perennials that will serve as nectar sources include black-eyed Susan, blazing star ( Liatris), butterfly bush, coneflower, New England aster, and phlox. Some annual plants for butterflies include alyssum, ageratum, gomphrena, heliotrope, lantana, pentas, salvia, Verbena bonariensis and zinnia. Verbena bonariensis is attractive to many butterflies. Plant several different plants with different flowering times to make nectar available throughout spring, summer, and fall. Lantana is an annual plant that is very attractive to butterflies. Each species of butterfly needs a specific type of food plant for its caterpillars to eat many of our native trees, shrubs and other plants are important host plants for certain species of caterpillars. The plants you select need to provide plant tissue (food) for when they are caterpillars and/or nectar sources for when they are butterflies. Food sources for caterpillars and butterflies.Įvery species needs it own type of food, such as milkweeds for this monarch caterpillar.Large masses of a single color are more attractive than plantings with many colors mixed together. Also, butterflies can see ultraviolet light (which we can’t) so the color we perceive may be different than what they’re seeing. Some cultivars of the same plant may be more attractive to butterflies than others because of their color. ![]() ![]() Most butterflies prefer pink, purple, orange, yellow, or red flowers. Butterflies must land in order to feed, so they prefer plants with either clusters of short tubular flowers or flowers with large, flat petals. Butterflies like pink, purple, orange, yellow, or red flowers.įlower type.Water is not needed for each grouping of “butterfly plants” but should in the immediate area of all groupings. Natural or man-made shallow puddles or damp areas may help attract groups of certain butterflies. Butterflies need flowers with a place to land.Provide flat rocks or surfaces for sunning. Butterflies rest on rocks, exposed soil, or grasses to capture the sun’s rays to warm their bodies. An eastern comma butterfly basks on a warm rock.Make sure it is also sheltered from harsh winds and is in a place where you will be able to easily watch the butterflies. Most plants that are attractive to butterflies need full sun and butterflies also need sun to warm their bodies for flight, so site your butterfly garden accordingly. Site butterfly gardens in sunny, protected spots.Ī garden needs to include several important features to attract a variety of butterflies. You can just incorporate more nectar-producing flowers in an existing garden to lure in additional adult butterflies or you can create a specific garden that utilizes plants chosen for their value to both adults and caterpillars of selected species. In fact, it has been found that butterflies prefer scattered groupings of “butterfly plants” rather than one large butterfly garden. A butterfly garden does not have to be big. With a little extra planning and proper plant selection you can increase the number and variety of butterflies that visit your yard this summer! Providing plants that supply plenty of nectar will encourage these fragile creatures to visit your garden.īutterfly gardens can be any size – a few containers in a sunny spot, small beds, or large open fields. Besides the well-known monarch, there are over 150 different butterfly species that may be seen in the Midwestern United States. Colorful butterflies can add beauty, color, life, and interest to your backyard.
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