Read on to learn about important tips to help you create a productive butterfly garden.
What Is Butterfly Gardening?
Plant Butterfly-Friendly Flowers
It’s tough to find a flower that repels a butterfly.
The Spruce / Joules Garcia
However, manyflowers that attract butterflieswill alsoattract beesand quite possiblyhummingbirds.
For the most vibrant, healthy garden, you’ll want all of these creatures flittering about!
The following plants and shrubs all thrive in full sun, which butterflies need to maintain their metabolism.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Plant nectar flowers in groups instead of singly.
In nature, butterflies fill specific feeding niches by focusing on flowers at certain heights.
For example, tiger swallowtail butterflies seek tall flowers likeJoe Pye weedandhoneysuckle vines.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Host plants provide females a place to lay eggs and also offer necessary food for growing caterpillars.
Thankfully many butterflies are attracted to alternate food sources such as sweet liquids or mushy fruits.
Replace the fruit frequently to discourage wasps andants from taking overthe buffet.
Lorenza Marzocchi / Getty Images
you might also cover the fruit with a window screen to block wasps and bees.
With their long proboscis, butterflies will still be able to feed.
Include the following alternative foods in your butterfly garden.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Avoid Pesticides That Harm Butterflies
When it comes to pest control, butterfly gardeners must tread lightly.
Evenorganic pest controloptions like insecticidal soap orneem oilcan kill butterflies or disrupt their feeding and mating habits.
However, this doesn’t mean you have to hand your flowers over to theaphids.
DebraLee Wiseberg / Getty Images
Only use pesticides to treat insect outbreaks, not as a preventative treatment.
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos).
University of South Florida.
Native Passionflower Vine Shares Special Relationship with Two Florida Butterfly Species.University of Florida.
The Basics of Butterfly Gardening.North American Butterfly Association.
Supplementary Feeding for Butterflies.
City of Austin, Parks & Recreation, Zilker Botanical Garden.
