What is a Butterfly Garden?

By Bonnie Raymond

Introduction

Even though butterflies are insects, many of us want to encourage them to our landscapes.  We think of butterflies differently. Their brief visits to our gardens are a pleasure to witness. They silently flutter from flower to flower while sipping nectar. They are colorful, graceful, and harmless.

Beneficial Insects

Besides being a joy to watch, butterflies are beneficial insects. The dictionary’s definition of a beneficial insect is, “…insects that perform valued services like pollination and pest control.” Butterflies pollinate flowers while they search for food. Pollen clings to the legs of the butterfly and then is deposited inside another flower causing fertilization. All pollinators are essential to our food supply. Without pollination, plants do not reproduce, and fruits do not develop.

At Risk

Scientists tell us that butterflies are in danger. Their numbers are shrinking, and they need our help. Experts believe butterfly habitats and food sources are becoming scarce. The cause of this may be because of the clearing of native plants. We can help butterflies by planting vegetation that butterflies prefer for food and housing.  Including these plants in our landscape is called a “butterfly garden.” We can play a role in helping these small creatures find the plants they need to survive and thrive.

Kinds of Plants

Butterflies need food for energy from “nectar-producing flowers.”  They also need plants to lay their eggs. Plants that butterflies prefer for laying eggs are called “host plants.” Host plants provide butterfly larvae (caterpillar) with food as well. Certain species of butterflies will seek certain species of plants as a host plant for laying eggs. For example, Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants exclusively.   The milkweed plant is essential for Monarch butterfly’s reproduction. Gulf Fritillary butterfly will lay its eggs on the passion vine plant solely. Some species of butterflies are not as particular and will feed and lay eggs on a variety of plants.

How Do Butterflies Find Flowers?

What exactly draws a butterfly to a preferred nectar-producing flower or host plant? Bright colored flowers attract butterflies, especially the colors red, yellow, orange, pink and purple. Butterflies can smell through their antennas and can identify flowers by scent. Butterflies can also detect a preferred plant by taste. Females can taste a leaf through her feet to recognize the plant she prefers to lay her eggs.

What Flower Species Attract Butterflies?

Some flower types attract butterflies more than others do. However, most butterflies will drink nectar from a variety of flowers. Flower features that butterflies favor are plants that have clusters of small blossoms, such as phlox, pincushion, yarrow, lantana, verbena, catmint, sea holly, blazing star, and salvia. Also, they prefer nectar-producing flowers with single, flat petals for landing and resting, such as daisy, coneflower, black-eyed Susan, coreopsis, zinnia, and aster.

Fennel, dill, hollyhock, sunflower, and parsley are all common butterfly host plants. After the egg hatches, the caterpillar will eat the leaves of their host plant. However, butterfly caterpillars do minimal damage compared to many moth larvae.

Native plants are ideal for beneficial insects. They have evolved together for thousands of years. Include native plants in your garden, if possible. Some native plants that butterflies prefer for nectar are globe mallow, yarrow, goldenrod, and sunflower. The following are a few native plants favored by butterflies for egg-laying: buckwheat, milkweed, chokecherry, willow, rabbitbrush and even nettles.

Location of Plants

Place flowers for attracting butterflies throughout your landscape or dedicate an area if you like. Groupings of flower species may be helpful in assisting butterflies to spot a feast, but this is not necessary. Planting a butterfly-preferred flower in a pot on a balcony or patio is great! Your plants should be in the afternoon sun when butterflies are most active. Some gardeners prefer planting nectar-producing flowers only. However, you will attract more butterflies with plants that sustain their complete life cycle. Because the growing caterpillar will eat the leaves and stems of host plants, you may want to place butterfly host plants in outlining areas.

Other Ways to Welcome Butterflies

Keep your garden free from pesticides. These chemicals are harmful to all insects including beneficial insects. Provide shelters such as shrubs and bushy plants for them to hide easily for protection from predators or the wind. Other ways to make your garden welcoming to butterflies is to provide shallow puddles for them to drink mineral-rich water, boulders for sunning, and fruit feeders for additional eating of sugars for energy.

Butterfly Garden Certifications

You can obtain a certificate to recognize your landscape as meeting butterfly garden requirements. The National Wildlife Federation and the North American Butterfly Association will certify your garden as promoting habitat and nourishment for butterflies.

Conclusion

These creatures of beauty are delightful to see. As beneficial insects, they are essential in maintaining food availability for us too. Designing our landscapes for butterflies contributes to their survival.