Make your yard butterfly-friendly to bring color and movement to the landscape while aiding the pollination of flowers, fruit, and vegetable plants.
In attracting butterflies to your garden, it's important to understand that nectar is what they want most out of life. In addition, they need open sunny spaces, shelter from the wind, and fresh water. They also look for host plants where they will lay their eggs, which will later be the developing caterpillars food source, once the larvae has hatched. To encourage butterflies to your garden, we recommend providing food for both young and adults via host and nectar plants. Below is a listing of great perennial choices to attract butterflies.
Butterfly gardens can be planted in any shape or size, including patio containers, hanging baskets and window boxes if you're limited on space. Just make sure your garden is in a sunny location as butterflies need the sun to maintain body temperature, for orientation and to warm their wings for flight. A fun way to dress up your landscape is with flat stones, which will serve a dual purpose as space for butterflies to rest and soak up the mid-morning to mid-afternoon sun. Butterflies also enjoy puddles and damp areas in your garden so they can drink and extract minerals from the soil, so be sure to keep a puddle in the same spot so they'll keep coming back. You can make a puddle in a shallow pan with coarse sand placed among the nectar rich flowers and be sure to keep the sand moist.
All butterflies start out as caterpillars that require host plants to feed upon. These plants include trees, weeds and wildflowers that may be growing on or around your property already. To attract Monarch butterflies, milkweed is essential.
For a nectar-rich flower border designed to attract adult butterflies, consider the plants listed below and enjoy watching these beautiful creatures take residence in your yard.
In attracting butterflies to your garden, it's important to understand that nectar is what they want most out of life. In addition, they need open sunny spaces, shelter from the wind, and fresh water. They also look for host plants where they will lay their eggs, which will later be the developing caterpillars food source, once the larvae has hatched. To encourage butterflies to your garden, we recommend providing food for both young and adults via host and nectar plants. Below is a listing of great perennial choices to attract butterflies.
Butterfly gardens can be planted in any shape or size, including patio containers, hanging baskets and window boxes if you're limited on space. Just make sure your garden is in a sunny location as butterflies need the sun to maintain body temperature, for orientation and to warm their wings for flight. A fun way to dress up your landscape is with flat stones, which will serve a dual purpose as space for butterflies to rest and soak up the mid-morning to mid-afternoon sun. Butterflies also enjoy puddles and damp areas in your garden so they can drink and extract minerals from the soil, so be sure to keep a puddle in the same spot so they'll keep coming back. You can make a puddle in a shallow pan with coarse sand placed among the nectar rich flowers and be sure to keep the sand moist.
All butterflies start out as caterpillars that require host plants to feed upon. These plants include trees, weeds and wildflowers that may be growing on or around your property already. To attract Monarch butterflies, milkweed is essential.
For a nectar-rich flower border designed to attract adult butterflies, consider the plants listed below and enjoy watching these beautiful creatures take residence in your yard.
