Love butterflies?
Want them in your garden?
Plant these 6 native flowers and create a butterfly haven.
It’s simple and rewarding!
Ready to attract butterflies?
Let’s begin!
1. Milkweed
- Critical for Monarchs: This plant is the exclusive host for their eggs.
- Caterpillar Nourishment: Hatching caterpillars find food on the plant.
- Nectar Source: Attracts diverse butterfly species.
- Garden Tip: Select region-specific varieties for optimal growth.
Asclepias spp. serve as a key element in your butterfly habitat.
2. Purple Coneflower
- Preferred by Butterflies: You’ll notice butterflies, specifically the Painted Lady and American Lady, flocking to these blooms.
- Nectar-Rich Blossoms: Offers a continuous supply of nectar during summertime.
- Visual Appeal: Showcases vibrant violet petals and a distinctive central cone shape.
3. Black-Eyed Susan
- Eye-catching flowers with golden petals and deep brown centers.
- Effortless cultivation, ideal for butterfly gardens.
- Attracts a diverse range, notably the energetic skipper butterflies.
4. Butterfly Weed
- Color: Bright orange blooms
- Wildlife: Nourishes monarch larvae; attracts butterflies
- Maintenance: Low; tolerates drought well
- Gardening Tip: Ideal for adding vivid color and supporting butterfly populations without frequent care.
5. Joe-Pye Weed
- Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
- Thrives in wet conditions
- Tall growth with purple flowers
- Attracts butterflies such as swallowtails
6. Phlox
Phlox is renowned for its vibrant variety of hues, enticing an array of butterfly species, including the common thread-waisted wasp. These perennials bear fragrant bunches of blossoms that release their most potent aroma in the evening, transforming your garden into a round-the-clock oasis for butterflies.
Key Benefits:
- Variety of Colors: Garden phlox offers a spectrum of color to your green space.
- Attracts Pollinators: Specially favored by butterflies and certain wasps for its aroma.
- Evening Appeal: The flowers’ scent is most prominent after sundown.
To fashion a dynamic butterfly habitat just steps from your home, thoughtfully choose native flora such as garden phlox. By integrating these plants, you contribute to supporting the life cycles of local butterfly populations. Cultivate them now for a summer garden alive with fluttering wings.