Creating a butterfly garden is a wonderful way to attract these beautiful creatures and support their life cycle. When planning your butterfly garden, it’s important to choose flowering plants that bloom at different times throughout the growing season, especially in mid to late summer when butterflies are most active. By including fall bloomers such as aster, goldenrod, and Joe Pye weed, you can also support migrating monarch butterflies.
Here are some flowering plants that you can include in your butterfly garden:
1. Spring Bloomers:
– Lilac: The fragrant blooms of lilac are not only beloved by humans but also attract butterflies with their nectar.
– Bleeding Heart: This delicate perennial produces heart-shaped flowers that are irresistible to butterflies.
– Phlox: With its vibrant blooms, phlox is a favorite of many butterfly species.
2. Summer Bloomers:
– Coneflower (Echinacea): This hardy perennial not only adds a splash of color to your garden but also provides a reliable source of nectar for butterflies.
– Black-eyed Susan: These bright yellow flowers are a magnet for butterflies and other pollinators.
– Butterfly Bush (Buddleja): As the name suggests, this shrub is a favorite of butterflies, attracting them with its fragrant and nectar-rich flowers.
3. Fall Bloomers:
– Aster: Asters are a late-season bloomer and provide an essential food source for migrating monarch butterflies.
– Goldenrod: This native wildflower is often unfairly blamed for allergies but is actually a valuable late-season nectar source for butterflies.
– Joe Pye Weed: Another favorite of monarch butterflies, Joe Pye weed produces clusters of pinkish-purple flowers in late summer and early fall.
In addition to these plants, it’s also important to provide other elements in your butterfly garden to create a suitable habitat for butterflies. Here are some ideas:
– Host Plants: Include specific host plants that caterpillars of certain butterfly species rely on for food and shelter. For example, milkweed is essential for monarch butterflies as it is the only plant their caterpillars can eat.
– Water Source: Butterflies need water for drinking and puddling, so consider adding a shallow dish or birdbath with some rocks or sand for them to perch on.
– Shelter and Resting Spots: Butterflies need places to rest and seek shelter from harsh weather conditions. Planting taller grasses, shrubs, or installing butterfly houses can provide them with suitable resting spots.
– Avoid Pesticides: To create a butterfly-friendly environment, it’s important to avoid using pesticides, as they can harm butterflies and other beneficial insects.
Remember that creating a butterfly garden takes time and patience. It may take some time for butterflies to discover your garden and establish it as a regular feeding spot. By providing a variety of flowering plants that bloom throughout the growing season, you can increase the chances of attracting different butterfly species and enjoy the beauty they bring to your garden.
