Butterfly Pollinator – As a gardener, there’s nothing more rewarding than creating a space that attracts beautiful butterflies to your outdoor space. Not only do they add natural beauty to your garden. But they play an essential role in pollinating your plants as they flit from one flower to the next. If you’re interested in attracting butterfly pollinators to your garden, there are a variety of plants to choose from. In this blog post, we’ll go over the best herbs, flowers, bushes, and trees to plant to create the perfect butterfly habitat.
Herbs for Butterfly Pollinator
Butterflies love herbs of all kinds, but some of the best ones to plant include lavender, oregano, mint, parsley and thyme. These herbs produce small flowers with plenty of nectar that attracts butterflies, and their aromatic leaves also make them natural landing pads for butterflies. Herbs also provide host plants for butterflies to lay their eggs on. This way you can attract more diverse species to your garden.
Best Flowers for Butterfly Pollinator
Typically, butterflies are drawn to brightly colored flowers that are simple to land on for a quick drink of nectar. Some of the best flowers to plant for butterfly pollinators include zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, sunflowers, marigolds, coneflowers, daisies, hollyhocks, and black-eyed Susans. It’s important to choose native varieties of these flowers, as they’re better adapted to your local climate. This can also help attract native butterfly species that may be more adapted to your region.
Best Bushes for Butterfly Pollinator
While herbs and flowers provide great nectar sources for butterflies, bushes provide a habitat for them to hide in when the weather turns bad. Some of the best bushes for butterfly pollinators include the Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) it is a great choice as the long arching branches offer excellent shelter for butterflies. Butterfly bushes provide plenty of flowers from which to drink nectar, and they’re tall enough to give butterflies a place to roost during the night. For butterflies to lay their eggs and for caterpillars to feed on, bushes are essential. Other popular choices include butterfly weed, rhododendrons, viburnums, and lilacs.
Trees for Butterfly Pollinators
Trees provide a majestic addition to your garden, and they’re great for attracting butterfly pollinators as well. Ones that produce plenty of flowers, such as lilac, cherry, and apple trees, are an excellent choice for attracting butterflies. Finally, trees provide a great source of nectar for butterflies and shade for their eggs. In the U.S., oak, and elm trees are favored by many species of butterflies. While in Europe, birch is a popular choice. If you live in an area with a warm climate, consider planting eucalyptus or jacaranda trees.
Additional Items for your Butterfly Garden
Shallow bird baths, butterfly puddlers or butterfly watering stations with stones added giving your butterflies a place to land and drink.
Butterfly feeders can also be a great way to attract butterflies to your garden. Specially formulated butterfly feeders provide butterflies with the nectar they need. These feeders are available in many different shapes and colors.
Butterfly houses are another great way to attract butterflies. The houses provide a safe habitat for them to hide in and roost during the night. They can also be used as nesting sites for certain species of butterflies.
Happy Gardening!
One of the best ways to attract butterflies to your garden is to create a pollinator garden. This type of garden includes a variety of plants that provide nectar, host plants, and a habitat for butterflies to thrive. Be sure to include native plants in your garden, as they’re better suited to attract native butterfly species. It’s also important to create different layers of plants, including tall trees, bushes, and plenty of flowers at different heights. Also don’t forget to add a water source, include small saucers filled with water and stones so they can land on the rocks/stones and drink water.
By planting a variety of herbs, flowers, bushes, and trees, you’ll have a garden that’s alive with activity, as butterflies flit from one plant to the next. Remember to choose native varieties, create a pollinator garden, and enjoy watching these captivating creatures thrive in your outdoor space.
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