Butterfly Gardens
Robert A. Heinlein, science fiction writer, once commented, “Butterflies are not insects. They are self-propelled flowers.” Butterfly gardens have gained popularity perhaps due to the entrancing manner that butterflies flit about and pulse through the air. Or, maybe it is the enchantment that surrounds them from childhood fairy tales and fables. Whatever the attraction, butterflies are drawn to gardens with a few specific characteristics.
Butterflies are attracted to areas that provide for them throughout their life cycle. Supplying the right plants on which eggs can hatch and emerging caterpillars can feed is the first step. After metamorphosis, butterflies are attracted to nectar producing plants. Sometimes the same plant provides both nectar and food for caterpillars, but not always. For instance, black swallowtail butterflies will be attracted to various flowers in your garden, but they will only complete their life cycle there if you are growing dill or parsley for their caterpillars to eat. Butterflies are attracted to other food sources as well. Rotting fruit from trees, or even deliverately placed by a gardener, is a favorite.
Butterfly Attracting Plants:
| Fruiting Shrubs Annuals |
Perennials Herbs |
| Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) |
Columbine (Aquilegia) |
| Clethra (Clethra) |
Milkweed (Asclepias) |
| Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana) |
Mint (Mentha) |
| Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia) |
Oregano (Origanum) |
| |
Parsley (Petroselinum) |
| |
Yarrow (Achillea) |
Today's photo is from the 2002 butterfly garden planted at Reizenstein School in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh as part of WPC's School Garden Project.
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