Gardening for Butterflies:

Life Cycle

Although many people enjoy watching butterflies, few realize these fragile insects begin life as minuscule eggs deposited on host plants. Most “baby butterflies,” otherwise known as caterpillars, feed on only one plant species. Adult females seek these plants, laying eggs here and there to nourish dozens of offspring. Caterpillars feed voraciously and grow quickly. After several weeks, they leave the host plant, shed their skin, and transform into a camouflaged chrysalis.

Developing butterflies remain in the chrysalis stage a few weeks, or the entire winter, depending upon the species and time of year. Once they emerge, mature butterflies spend a couple of hours drying their wings. Then adult males locate an area with abundant flowers. They linger and feed, patrol for other males, and sometimes drive competitors away. Adult females concentrate on drinking nectar. They mate with males and search for appropriate host plants on which to lay eggs.

Nectar Plants
Masses of color attract butterflies. Eye-catching hues include lavender, pink, yellow, and white. Concentrate plants so they can be seen from a distance. Butterflies need landing platforms – such as the wide tops of asters or zinnias – to rest while sipping nectar. The following are among our favorite nectar plants. They require little care and attract many types of butterflies.

Butterfly Milkweed
Swamp Milkweed
Garden Phlox
Purple Coneflower
Joe-pye Weed
Butterfly Bush

Gardening Tips
1. Caterpillars often depart from food plants to pupate. When cleaning your garden, allow scattered sturdy plant stalks to remain for them to attach. Some pupae also overwinter in leaf litter.
2. In cool weather, butterflies perch on dark surfaces to absorb heat. Place a few flat rocks in sunny places to provide basking stations.
3. Male butterflies visit mud puddles, where they imbibe salts derived from soil minerals. To attract them to your garden, set out a saucer filled with sandy soil and keep it moist.

A complete butterfly garden offers host plants, nectar plants, protected places for pupating caterpillars, basking sites, and moisture. Contact us via email for more details about wildlife habitat landscaping workshops that emphasize gardening for butterflies and about photo classes with opportunities to photograph these lovely insects.