What essential plants should every butterfly garden include?

Three categories of plants are necessary for butterfly gardens. Native nectar plants are responsible for the diet of adult butterflies. Host plants are used by caterpillars so they may develop into adults. Shelter plants protect butterflies from wind and other stresses, providing safe resting places for them. By selecting plants that are appropriate for your local area, the garden will function as a habitat year-round. Each category of plant fulfills a different biological purpose that butterflies require.

As a requirement for nectar plants, they must offer an ongoing series of blooms. In my garden, I stagger the blooms by planting at different times of the year. For example, I have spring-blooming plants, including phlox, that feed the spring butterflies. Blooms that occur in the summer include zinnias that support mid-season populations of insects. For the late bloomers, I have asters to support fall migrants. I advise planting a minimum of three of each type clustered together.

Reproduction will not happen without a viable host plant. Monarch caterpillars will only eat milkweed! Note: it should be five or more stalks of milkweed to ensure they do not defoliate the plant. Swallowtails will depend on a carrot family plant, like parsley. Eggs can be found on the leaf, so check daily. If you see the foliage eaten, do not try and pull it off, because that=s a sign of a successful development for the caterpillars.

Shelter plants generate microclimates. I have buttonbush planted along the north edge of my garden, which provides a nice windbreak during winter winds. My lilac bushes give summer shade, while my evergreens provide gripping protection for emerging chrysalises in cold zones. Give shrubs a three-foot spacing. Prune them only after investigating them for overwintering insects.

Stay away from invasive species: butterfly bush. Some states will not allow certain varieties. Native alternatives better support local ecosystems than non-natives do. For example, milkweed feeds monarchs in all life stages, and goldenrod is very attractive to beneficial insects. Be sure to research which plants your area and state prohibit before purchasing.

Today, begin integrating these few essentials into your life by planting three milkweeds for future monarch butterflies. Add a parsley cluster for future swallowtail butterflies. Add one shrub for shelter. For the first three weeks after planting, water your new plants daily. You will create a fully functional butterfly garden within a few months!

Read the full article: How to Create Butterfly Garden in 7 Easy Steps