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Planting a Butterfly Garden

by Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor,University of Vermont    

If you enjoy watching butterflies, encourage them to visit your garden by planting the flowers that they find most attractive.

The first step in creating a butterfly garden is to choose the proper site. Butterflies are most active in bright sunlight, so pick a spot that gets plenty of sun and is sheltered from the wind such as the south side of your house. You also might want to make sure it's a place where you can easily observe these winged visitors.

When planning your garden, include space for a flat, light-colored rock for sun basking. Butterflies also need a ready supply of water and protection against predators. One way to keep birds away is with the use of inflatable snakes. Or you can place birdbaths and feeders a distance from the garden.

Sticky tape and flytraps will help catch preying insects. Avoid use of insecticides as the same products that kill undesirable insects also kill the butterflies.

A wide variety of plants attract butterflies. Although most species have specific nectar preferences, in general, butterflies like daisies, lilacs, lavender, phlox, heliotrope, zinnias, candytuft, coreopsis, lilies, and snapdragons.

A "must-include" plant is the butterfly weed, so named for its popularity with butterflies. It is a perennial noted for its clusters of bright orange flowers and blooms in early summer. Butterfly weed may be purchased at many garden centers.

Butterfly bush is another good choice although it is only marginally hardy in zone 5 (but could be grown in zones 3 and 4 as an annual). It is a large shrub with spikes of purple, pink, white, or lavender flowers that bloom in late summer.

To encourage butterflies to stay all summer long, select plants that flower at different times of the year to provide a continual supply of nectar. Deadheading faded flowers will promote vigorous growth and new blooms.

To ensure future generations of butterflies near your garden, you'll need to provide larval food or sacrifice plants. Most species are fussy about where they lay their eggs, selecting plants from specific families that will provide appropriate food for hatching caterpillars. Preferred plants include asters, daisies, violets, honeysuckle, and fennel.

Caterpillars also like weeds such as clover, thistle, and milkweed. If possible, leave a few weeds along the edge of the garden or nearby areas for the caterpillars.