Butterfly garden

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Home : 2003 : February : 26

Butterfly garden
By Ros

I will try to help some but I am definately not an expert. One of the things you need to do is look at the types of butterflies in your area as different butterflies prefer different types of flowers. Look for species of
flowers with "nectar guides", lines going into the nectar area on the flower. Flowers should also have a fragrance as that attracts them also. The area that you choose needs to have sun as well as some shelter. Now I do not know what growing zone you are so I will list some of the choices the book that I have says are good. Buddleia (or butterfly bush), orange milkweed (or butterfly

weed) and lantana. Also, daisies, asters, lobelia, sweet alyssum, verbena, phlox, scabiosa, and coreopsis. You can also include wild flower varieties such as goldenrod, Joe-Pye-weed, boneset, wild bergamot and good old dandelions attract them also. Some larger choices that would also act as shelter include hawthorn, sumac, lilac, buckeye and New Jersey tea. Another consideration to attract them is to find out what the larva eat so as to keep them there. Oh and it is also good to have some form of water around for them. Anyway, I don't know how much this helps but I hope that it helps some.