Designing a butterfly garden requires a bit of research. You first need to determine which species of butterfly lives in your area. Look at who visits your neighbors’ yards, or watch in nearby parks, natural areas, roadsides, or gardens and write down the species you see. Consult the North American Butterfly Association or local conservation organizations for more information.
Butterfly gardens require 3 things; food (nectar), water and shelter.
In your garden plan, include plants* that flower at different times so that your garden provides nectar from spring through autumn. Clumping flowers together based on species and color is most effective. As butterflies search for food, they’ll see large splashes of color more easily than the small points of individual flowers. Butterflies are particularly attracted to red, orange, yellow, and purple flowers. During the first season observe the butterflies that visit the garden and record their preferences. This will help with plant selection in the future.
To create the kind of environment that they find attractive, you will also need to provide water. Birdbaths work well. They look attractive and keep the butterflies up off the ground, away from stray cats. A shallow dish on a post or hung in a tree will do just as well.
As you maintain your garden, avoid the use of pesticides, especially insecticides. Insecticides kill butterflies too. Even if you spray , the insecticide may drift into your butterfly garden. Planting a diversity of species will keep pest levels down, but sometimes it’s best just to tolerate a few pests. Avoiding insecticides also allows the populations of natural predators to increase, and these hunters will help reduce the number of unwanted pests.
Be sure to create a safe habitat for them. Butterfly gardens should receive at least six hours of sunlight per day. Butterflies are cold-blooded and tend to prefer locations which are warm and sheltered. Plan for some wind protection in your design. Tall evergreen shrubs create effective wind breaks. The ideal spot for a butterfly garden is on the sunny side of your home with protection from the prevailing winds. Also, try and locate your garden close to a window so you can view the butterflies from indoors.
The design your butterfly garden is a matter of personal preference. Typical points to consider are the size of your garden and the types of flowers and plants you want to grow. Pick a style of garden that appeals to you, be it formal or informal, just be sure that it contains the flowers which attract to the species of butterflies which live in your area.
*Butterfly are attracted to the following.
Shrubs: Butterfly Bush, Summersweet, Beauty Bush, Privet, Spicebush, Potentilla, Rose, Common Lilac
Perennials: Achillea, Aster, Coreopsis, Lavender, Liatris, Dianthus, Echinacea, Lipinus, Monarda, Nepeta, Sedum
Vines: Wisteria
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