A butterfly garden is a wonderful project for any gardener. If you are just starting out, don’t worry about complicated do’s and don’ts. Attracting butterflies is as simple as planting flowers with nectar. In this article, we discuss the top plants that will add beauty and plenty of butterflies to your garden!
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Butterfly Flower Tips
Besides nectar, the plants for butterflies all have a few other things in common. To invite more butterflies to your garden, make sure that most or all of the plants are also long-lasting (especially the flowers).
You can even establish plants that are suitable for butterfly eggs and caterpillars. Some of the top “nursery” plants include asters, violets and dill. If you want to attract monarch butterflies in particular, then plant lots of milkweeds. Monarch butterfly caterpillars exclusively dine on this plant.
A final tip is to provide large swathes of flowers. Butterflies do not have the best eyesight. Plenty of flowers provides enough colors and fragrance to guide them to your garden.
1. Buddleja Plumes
An elegant choice for any garden, Buddleja is flamboyant and exotic. This plant is perfect for garden borders or that corner that needs brightening up. The flowers are shaped like large plumes and come in different colors including white, lavender, mauve and purple.
These blooms showcase their stunning shape in summer and here is the good news – Buddleja plants keep their flowers not just for the entire summer but also the fall. During the fall, the foliage turns from green to a soft yellow which will add another element of beauty to your garden.
They are accomodating plants that do not compete with other flowers. So, if you want a non-invasive, long-lasting flowering bush, then this could be a wonderful addition.
2. The French Marigold
Some argue that all marigold varieties are butterfly magnets. Unfortunately, things are more complicated. Sure, some of the more colorful varieties will undoubtedly catch the butterfly’s attention but such hybrids either do not have enough nectar or their frilly flowers make it difficult for the butterflies to feed.
The French marigold (Tagetes patula) may be an old-fashioned type and not the prettiest. But butterflies will love your garden. The French marigold’s flower allows the insect to perch comfortably and drink plenty of nectar from its many florets.
3. The Cornflower
If you love a sea of flowers reminiscent of a wildflower field, then cornflowers are a must. These flowers display an amazing blue color, several layers of petals and they are available in annual or biennial varieties.
Also known as the bachelor’s button (Centaurea cyanus), these flowers attract butterflies, bees and ladybugs – which in environmental terms is a triple threat! So, how long can you expect to feed your winged friends? Cornflowers bloom from May through September and if you don’t like blue, no biggie. They are also available in white, purple and pink varieties.
Cornflowers can get large, up to 3 feet high and a foot wide. They are hardy; just perfect for that patch in your garden where nothing else wants to grow. Just make sure that your buttons get full sun and they will flourish!
4. Beebalm
Related to mint, beebalm (Monarda didyma) is a delicate and exotic flower. They resemble a person with a fancy hat or hairdo! This perennial plant is another great choice if you want to attract both butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.
Flowering from June through August, the tubular flowers grow in clusters. Gardeners have developed different colors for beebalm including violent, white, orange and red. Beebalm is also perfect if you are looking to add tall flowers to your garden. Under perfect conditions, including many hours of direct sunlight and moist soil, these plants can grow as tall as 4 feet and the bush can swell as wide as 3 feet.
5. Catmint
Catmint is a herb with aromatic lavender-colored flowers. The blooms appear in clusters and have a delicate appearance, thanks to the long stalks and sparse leaves. You can plant catmint in your garden during the spring where there is semi-shade and well-draining soil. Once established, these flowers are super-easy to care for, making them perfect for the low-maintenance gardener.
Are you worried that you might attract cats instead of butterflies? Don’t worry. While catmint is indeed very closely related to the infamous catnip, it does not have the same euphoric effect on our feline friends.
6. Black Cherry Tree
Are you looking for a large shrub or tree instead of flowers? Then a black cherry tree could be the answer. Also known as the rum or wild black cherry, early spring brings clusters of lovely white flowers that attract butterflies. You can also enjoy the fruit later in summer.
The black cherry tree is hardy and easy to grow. However, if you are looking forward to tasting your own homegrown cherry jelly, you might want to consider buying an older tree from a gardening centre. When grown from seed, a cherry tree normally takes up to 10 years to produce fruit for the first time.
7. False Indigo
False indigo is a lovely plant, one that grows up to 5 feet tall. Its name comes from the indigo-colored flowers that appear in April and last through June.
While this is a remarkably stunning addition to any garden and relatively easy to care for, it’s a slow grower. When cultivated from seeds false indigo can take up to four years to produce flowers for the first time. Plants obtained from nurseries might flower sooner.
Do you have kids and pets? Keep in mind that false indigo is mildly toxic to both people and animals and can lead to nausea or vomiting.
8. Dianthus Flowers
There are several dianthus varieties available, even creepers! But overall, these plants are valued for their star-shaped flowers that bloom throughout the summer. They are available in white, red, pink and purple. Some varieties come with petals that are fringed with white and when planted in large numbers, the result is truly beautiful. You can cultivate dianthus plants in containers and large flower beds in the garden.
The flowers attract butterflies in abundance but will also lure hummingbirds and other important pollinators like bees to your garden. The main attraction might be the scent of dianthus flowers, a heady fragrance that some compare to cloves.
9. Fleabane
You can be forgiven for staring at fleabane and thinking that it is some kind of weird daisy. Indeed, fleabane is related to daisies and has a similar appearance. You can choose varieties with different lifespans including annuals, biennials or perennials.
Not only do they attract butterflies but fleabane also brightens up borders, containers and rock gardens. You can select colors like white, yellow, purple and pink. While these flowers are quite capable of lifting one’s spirits, keep an eye on this friendly-looking flower! It can spread to other areas of the garden and for this reason, fleabane is viewed by some as a semi-invasive species.
10. Grey Dogwood Tree
The grey dogwood tree might be a good choice if you want butterflies but also more foliage for your visiting deer friends. Indeed, deer love to nibble on the leaves and berries. Other wildlife that loves this tree include squirrels and countless bird species.
The tree has a bridal look (when it flowers). The flowers are small, white and legion. When they bloom, clusters of these flowers are sprinkled across the whole tree. While this is certainly magical to see, there is a drawback. The flowers are not long-lived. During late May or early June, the flowers will appear and last roughly 7 to 10 days.
FAQ
Q: What conditions are ideal for butterfly gardens?
Butterflies love sunny weather. Since they are cold-blooded, they need warmth to stay active – and to fly. The best butterfly garden is sunny and filled with sun-loving flowers.
Q: What time of day are butterflies most active?
Keep an eye on your garden during the afternoon or the hottest part of the day. That is when butterflies are the most active.
Q: Where do butterflies go in the rain?
When it rains, butterflies take shelter under large leaves, rock crevices and other similar areas where the rain cannot reach them.
Q: How do you give butterflies water?
Fill a saucer with sand. Keep the sand moist but not soggy. Place it where butterflies are frequently seen. In other words, if butterflies flock to your catmint, place the saucer on the ground near that container or flower bed.
