Creating a Butterfly Garden

Creating a Butterfly Garden.

Want to add to the color and variety in your yard ?

You might want to entice some “flying flowers” to visit you by creating a butterfly garden.

A butterfly garden contains both host and nectar plants, as well as a few other things that butterflies require, such as a water source.

The butterfly garden may occupy a corner of your yard, or could be extended throughout — it’s up to you. It can be a lovely and unique focal point for your outdoor environment.

Another plus to butterfly gardening is knowing that you’re making a safe haven for these beautiful insects, which have had their habitat severely impacted by human development and pesticides.

If we all had butterfly gardens, it might help stop the current decline in their populations.


Here are some tips on how to grow a butterfly garden:

• Provide plants that butterflies like. They need nectar plants to feed on, and host plants on which to lay their eggs. You’ll have to do a little research on host plants, depending on what area you’re in and which kinds of butterflies live there.

Some caterpillars will eat several different types of plants; others are picky and will only eat one. An example of this is the monarch butterfly larva, which will only dine on milkweed.

Many host plants are also good nectar sources, such as passionflower, sunflower, hollyhock, and snapdragon. Some other colorful nectar plants to consider are lantana, salvia, lavender, buddleia (butterfly bush), coneflower, black-eyed Susan, coreopsis, daylily, and daisies.

• Make the garden organic. Pesticides kill insects you don’t want, but will also harm the desirable ones, like butterflies. So going all natural in the yard is essential.

• Supply shelter and warmth. Butterflies seek less windy areas and a warm spot where they can rest. Some taller shrubs can make a windbreak, and by setting some flat rocks in your butterfly corner, you’ll give them a place to light and sun themselves.

• Give them a drink. Butterflies need a source of water as well as nectar. That’s why you often see them gathered at puddles. A shallow place that holds a little water, like a pie tin, will be enough to slake their thirst.

And what will you get for providing these simple requirements? A pretty hideaway where you can sit and watch the butterflies flutter by.