Nothing gives a gardener more satisfaction than seeing wildlife enjoying the effort, the ‘fruits’ (or nectar) of their labor. Groundhogs, rabbits & deer aside, I’m really speaking of birds & in this blog the butterflies. Below is an awesome link on all you need to know about nectar plant for adults, host plants for caterpillars, butterflies that can be found in your area, etc. This link is very well done & wonderful for kids too.
There are many ways to get a butterfly experience. When my daughter was in her butterfly catching phase, we would house them in the fridge for a short time, (thus disabling their ability to fly for a bit) then we carefully placed a couple tiger swallowtails on her head & hand for a treasured photo opportunity. Keep in mind that it needs to be warm in order for butterflies to fly their best (between 75-90 degrees F). (Soooo this does not harm them; just don’t forget about them! Place them back in the sun to warm their wings) Also, my daughter many years ago also created a butterfly environment indoors that was very successful. You can order your caterpillars in the mail! She saw all the stages up close & released six painted lady butterflies!
In this blog I also want to share my experience specifically on nectar plants for adults so you can attract these beauties to your yard. I have had the most success with a variety of plants: shrub, perennials & annuals. The most successful shrub is of course the butterfly bush, buddleia. It really is a magnet for those nectar loving ‘flying flowers’. I have read that the lighter colors of blooms attract more butterflies. I have the lighter purple color & the tiger & black swallowtails love it! Just remember to keep deadheading so you continually get the nectar loaded blooms through September! The best perennial to plant has to be the purple coneflower. Every variety of butterfly will bee-line right to these plants. With the staggered bloom time there’s plenty of nectar for the entire summer. Black-eyed susan is also wonderful choice. I also have luck with phlox, loosestrife & sedum. The top annual that is easy to grow (see past blog), colorful & a great choice is the zinnia. This is the number one plant in my garden for attracting monarchs. Sweet smelling heliotrope is also a fragrant choice & easy to grow. Lantana & calibrachoa are also beautiful, easy to grow magnet. All the above mentioned are great choices for attracting all pollinators. Especially important if you have a vegetable garden!
Lastly, if you can collect shallow puddles of water in some rock formations, this will give your butterflies an area for a much needed drink of water. Check out this link & enjoy these flying flowers & have a wonderful Fourth of July!
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