Butterfly

BUTTERFLY GARDENS

You can encourage many beautiful butterfly species to hang out in your yard and garden by growing flowers that supply the food and nectar they need. If you have a wildflower garden, alfalfa, clovers, Queen Anne's Lace, and teasel will be particularly attractive to butterflies. Planting parsley will attract swallowtails (their larvae will eat the plants; so plant extra for your kitchen needs!). Other butterfly favorites include:

ageratum, hollyhock, asters, buddleia, daisies, coreopsis, zinnias, daylilies, bee balms, phlox, lavender.

If you want to be selective, you can purchase a butterfly identification book that tells you the specific types of plants each species favors. You'll also boost the butterfly population overall by providing sheltered spots, low-growing groundcovers for them to sun themselves, and shallow sources of moisture for drinking.

Policies, Usage, & Disclaimer Statement