milk weed

UNDERSIDE OF A MONARCH BUTTERFLY (DANAUS PLEXIPPUS PLEXIPPUS) FEEDING ON NECTAR FROM AN ECHINACEA PURPUREA FLOWER Image via Wikipedia

Have you seen a couple of butterflies fluttering about your yard and would like to see more? With a butterfly garden you can grow both the plants that caterpillars like to eat and also the plants the adult butterflies enjoy as well.

By providing the right environment you can help them thrive. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Picking Your Plants

Your garden should include host plants and plants that contain flowers filled with nectar. You will want to research plants that will attract the types of butterflies local to your area.

Butterfly Weed, also known as Butterfly Plant is a type of milk weed that is a potential host for Monarch caterpillars. The plant also has flowers that are a nectar source for other butterfly species including the tiger swallowtail.

Some other host plants include herbs like parsley, dill, fennel and oregano. Other host plants include hollyhock, sunflowers, lupine, milkweed and violets, just to name a few.

There are numerous nectar bearing plants for those adults you want to attract such as: daylilies, peonies, delphiniums, echinacea, salvias, marigolds, morning glorys, petunias, zinnias, and allysum. (more…)