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Butterfly Gardening Tips
 Grow Lots of Nectar Plants
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- Plant a variety of perennials and annuals that will bloom early in the spring and throughout the summer season.
- Cluster each variety in groups.
- Plant different heights of plants.
- Grow Caterpillar Food Plants (Host Plants)
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- Many larval plants are wildflowers and weeds that you will want to plant in a separate area. Butterfly
weed, dill, and parsley are good larval plants.
- Do not use pesticides.
- Choose a Sunny Location
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- Butterflies are cold blooded and need the sun to fly.
- Nectar plants grow well in full sun and well drained soil.
- Rocks and evergreens will absorb heat for basking.
- Shelter Your Garden from the Wind
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- Shelter from wind can be provided by a row of trees or shrubs, a fence or trellis with honeysuckle or other flowering vine.
- Provide a Place for Roosting
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- Mount your butterfly shelter to a tree or stake about 18" high in a shady area among your garden nectar plants.
- Butterflies naturally roost in shrubs, tree crevices, under bark or in log piles. Some species (Mourning Cloak,
Question Mark, and Comma) will hibernate over the winter.
- Allow For Water
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- Create a mud puddle in your garden and occasionally add salt to the water for puddling butterflies
such as Swallowtails.
- Suggested Plants for Attracting Butterflies
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- Perennials -- Aster, Black-eyed Suzan, Chrysanthemums, Coreopsis, Dahlias, Daylilys, Lantana,
Mother of Thyme, Nasturtium, Phlox, Primrose, Purple Coneflower, Yarrow, Joe-pye-weed.
- Annuals -- Cornflower, Cosmos, Impatiens, Marigolds, Petunia, Sweet William/Pink, Zinnia.
- Shrubs -- Azalea/Rhododendron, Butterfly Bush, Honeysuckle, Lavender, Lilac, Viburnum, Wisteria.
OC105 -- Butterfly Shelter
25" x 6"
$39.95
More Details
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