Butterfly Garden Ideas

Butterflies feed on tubular flowers and they especially love those with "landing strips." Yarrow, stonecrop, coneflower, verbena, phlox, butterfly bush, butterfly weed (Asclepias), bee balm, cardinal flower (Lobelia), coreopsis, black-eyed Susan, Joe Pye weed, pentas, and various asters and sedums can keep your garden

How do you make a simple butterfly garden?

7 Steps for Creating a Butterfly Garden

1. Choose the right location.
2. Select flowers that attract butterflies. ...
3. Use organic, homemade bait. ...
4. Add a water source. ...
5. Build butterfly shelters. ...
6. Stay clear of toxic pesticides. ...
7. Keep a diary.

What is the best plant to attract butterflies?

For butterflies, Joe-Pye weed, ironweed, coneflowers, goldenrod, and brightly-hued asters are nectar-filled favorites.

Where is the best place to plant a butterfly garden?

Begin by finding a garden location that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight and is sheltered from the wind. Your spot also needs to provide nighttime hiding places for butterflies such as small trees or large shrubs, and places for them to attach while in their chrysalis.

How do you layout a butterfly garden?

7 STEPS TO A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY GARDEN

1. Make a plan. Determine which species you want to attract and are most likely to be in your area.
2. Provide food. Adult butterflies rely solely on liquid food sources. ...
3. Create shelter. ...
4. Offer water. ...
5. Keep it sunny. ...
6. Plant in drifts. ...
7. Go organic.

When should I start a butterfly garden?

It depends on the weather — but milder temps, cloudy days and rain tend to make new plants very happy. Just because spring and fall are the best time to garden, doesn't mean it's impossible to start your first butterfly garden in the summer. It just won't be quite as easy.

How do you make a nice butterfly habitat?

How to Make a Monarch Butterfly Habitat

1. Common milkweed plants.
2. Tomato cage or a small section of wire fencing.
3. A few yards of tulle fabric — this fine netting lets in light and water but keeps out hungry critters.
4. Scissors.
5. Twist ties or clamps to secure the tulle.

Do butterflies like lavender?

Lavender. Who isn't familiar with the sweet scent of lavender? This beautiful perennial is popular with butterflies and people. Lavender grows best well-drained soil and full sun, and thrives with minimal care.

What kind of sand do you use for butterfly puddlers?

Sand from the beach works extremely well because it already contains salts and other nutrients. You can also mix some manure or compost in with the sand. Add a few pebbles and rocks that can be used for the butterflies to rest upon.

What flowers attract butterflies a lot?

Butterfly Garden Flowers

• Phlox. Phlox is a low-growing, spreading plant that forms a blanket of blooms all summer.
• Coneflower (Echinacea) Coneflower is one of the best flowers for attracting butterflies. ...
• Lantana. ...
• Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) ...
• Pot Marigolds. ...
• Black-Eyed Susan. ...
• Blazing Star Flowers (Liatris spicata) ...
• Heliotrope.

How do I attract a lot of butterflies?

How to attract butterflies to your garden

1. Butterflies are a common sight in gardens, but several species are in decline as they battle habitat loss.
2. Provide food. ...
3. Create warmth. ...
4. Think about your area. ...
5. Maximise window boxes. ...
6. Leave fallen fruit on the ground. ...
7. Cut down on weeding. ...
8. Avoid pesticides.

Which herb is ideal to place in a butterfly garden?

One example is the milkweed plant. This nectar-rich plant is unappealing to many people but the butterflies love it. Some weeds, such as dame's rocket, dandelion, Queen Anne's lace and thistles are also good butterfly plants, as are some herbs, such as anise hyssop, catnip, dill, and lavender when in bloom.

Do butterfly plants come back every year?

Butterfly bushes are great assets in the garden. They bring vibrant color and all kinds of pollinators. They are perennials, and they should be able to survive the winter in USDA zones 5 through 10. Sometimes they have a harder time coming back from the cold, however.

Do butterfly bushes come back year after year?

Butterfly bushes are perennial plants that die back to the ground every winter. They then send out new growth from the roots in the spring. You can prune them either in the late fall or in the early spring before the new growth starts.

How far off the ground should a butterfly house be?

Place your butterfly house approximately four feet high on a post, fence, or tree in an area sheltered from strong winds. Wind movement makes butterflies feel unsafe, so it is not a good idea to hang the house where it might sway.

Do you put mulch in a butterfly garden?

Mulch your new butterfly garden with a 2" layer of shredded wood mulch or pine straw. We prefer wood mulch at a depth of 1 to 2 inches deep as it provides a better barrier against weed growth.

What is a good size for a butterfly garden?

A butterfly garden can range from a large plot of land, to a 5' x 10" strip near a walkway to a window box or a container garden. Since butterflies tend to be more active in the sun, large open sunny areas are an important factor for the garden.

Should butterfly houses be in sun or shade?

Your butterfly house should be placed in a sunny location in the garden away from prevailing winds. It should be mounted on a pole or tree about 4 feet off the ground. Inside the house, place a couple slabs of tree bark in a vertical position. This is to provide the butterflies more shelter and something to cling to.

How do you winterize a butterfly garden?

The best solution in cold climates is to put a light layer of mulch over the roots but instead of applying it all the way up to the main stem like you would on other plants, taper off the thickness so that the few inches immediately surrounding the center of the plant are bare and free of mulch.

Do banana peels attract butterflies?

Place the peels in a shallow dish with a little water to help draw out the juices. Butterflies will flock from all over to dine. If you have bananas that are overly ripe, don't toss them. Butterflies love mushy bananas and will devour them.