by Rebecca Schlofner

Created on: November 23, 2011

Butterfly Friendly Landscaping

When trying to decide what to plant in your garden to encourage butterflies to come around for a visit you need to keep in mind that these insects have more than one cycle to their life.  In other words, at different times in their lives butterflies will be attracted to different things.

The first rule of thumb to butterfly landscaping is that the little critters love the warmth so it’s best plant in the sun.   Make sure that you also have some shelter over that sunny area, however.  Another rule of thumb: when you plant you want to plant flowers so that there is something for the butterflies to enjoy year-round. 

Since they live as caterpillars and morph into the butterflies there is going to be a variety of flowers to plant.

In the Spring into late Summer and early Fall nectar plants abound.  Of course, it depends on where you live on what will grow best.  Some of the better flowers for your garden to encourage butterflies include:  ivy, bluebells, ice plant, lavender and lilac, primrose and pansy and chrysthanemums.  Plants that flower and also work as herbs include thyme, chives and mint.   Flowering trees to surround your garden that attract butterflies include the willow.

An example of your yard, therefore, could go thusly: holly and ivy, stinging nettles in the sun and garlic mustard along with thistles to shelter flowers.  Throw in a patch of wildflowers and not only will the caterpillars have food, but they’ll keep the butterflies in the neighborhood throughout the year and each subsequent year.  Be aware that in the winter the butterflies are still around, they just like to hide out in denser vegetation. So, don’t clean up the garden too much so they have that hiding place they’re looking for.

Are there particular butterfly species that are your favorite?  You can actually plant your garden to encourage butterflies specific to your favorites.  The Serviceberry line of trees and shrubs will attract the Striped Hairstreak species in its larvae and caterpillar form.  The Butterfly Bush is named for the fact that it encourages several different species in the butterfly form to come along for a visit.  This bush will bring along the Monarch, Buckeye, Black Swallowtail, Tiger Swallowtail, and Pearl Crescent among others. Cherry, Plumb and Wild Blackcherry will give a home to the Viceroy, White Admiral and Tiger Swallowtail as larvae or caterpillars.

Certain perennials will also encourage different species to stick around.  The Common Milkweed, for instance, encourages the Monarch in its young life. Then as adults the Milkweed will bring in several other species including Eastern Tailed-Blue, American Copper, Checkered White and the Silver-Spotted Skipper.

Annuals can do the same thing.  Snapdragons and Viper’s Bugloss give a home to the young Buckeye; Lantana is another flower that encourages the Tiger Swallowtail and Cornflower is attracts the American Painted Lady caterpillars.

Perhaps you wish to plant an herb garden rather than a flower garden.  Common Hops attract the larvae and caterpillars that become the Question Mark and Gray Hairstreak butterflies.  All Swallowtail species are encouraged by Russian Tarragon. Mint is especially welcoming to the Cabbage White butterfly.

There is still a wide variety of other herbs, plants, shrubs, trees and flowers that you can plant in your garden to encourage butterflies.  Make sure they’re tubular in nature and plant them in clusters for best results. Enjoy the annual visits of the beautiful butterflies!

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