Attracting Butterflies

I always loved watching butterflies and how gracefully they would go from flower to flower and flutter in the air. The simplicity would make me feel good and smile inside and out. A couple of years ago we had Folks Butterfly Farm come out and do a butterfly class. I learned that not only is it important to have food for the butterflies but also for the caterpillars as well. In my garden the parsley attracted the swallowtail year after year and I would find eggs and then pretty soon little caterpillars. They would eat (alot) and get so big so fast. Then one year I planted Milkweed and sure enough I had 2 diff cycles of Monarch Butterflies. So I wanted to share with you this list of plants that you can plant and enjoy these beautiful creatures as well. You can click directly on the flower name it will take you to that flower to make your shopping easy (please note some of the flowers are coming soon so you may not find it linked).
You can download a pdf version of this list right off Folk's website. http://www.folksbutterflyfarm.com
Have some new friends growing this year but not sure what they are.. Don't worry Folks website has a caterpillar and butterfly identifier tool to help figure out which graceful friend you made.
;0)
PERENNIALS
Asters – late summer to fall
Bee Balm – Bergamot – summer to fall
Butterfly bush (buddleia)- mid-summer to fall
Butterfly weed – summer to fall
Coreopsis – all summer
Hollyhock – summer
Lavender – summer
Lupine – late summer to early spring
Mints – all summer
Passionflower – summer to fall
Phlox – all summer
Purple coneflower – late summer into fall
Salvia – summer into fall
Shasta Daisy – summer
Violet – spring
Yarrow – mid to late summer
ANNUALS
Alyssum – summer to mid-fall
Candy Tuft – Spring to summer
Common Stock – spring to summer
Cornflower – summer
Cosmos – late summer to fall
Dianthus – spring to fall
Heliotrope - late spring to summer
Impatients – summer to fall
Lobelia - summer into fall
Marigold – summer into fall
Mexican Sunflower
Nasturtium – late summer
Parsley – green from spring to fall
Sage – summer to fall
Salvia – summer through fall
Scabiosa – summer through fall
Sweet William – summer into fall
Verbena – spring to fall
Zinnia – mid summer to fall
BIENNIALS
Black-eyed Susan – summer to fall
Red Clover – summer
Queen Anne’s lace – late spring to fall
Sweet William – spring through early summer
VINES
Wisteria
Trumpet Vine
CONTAINER PLANTS FOR FULL SUN Container Gardening extends the formal garden onto the deck and surrounding pool areas. Not only do they add very useful splashes of color where needed, but serve an important purpose for butterflies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Center Middle Edge Heliotrope Verbena Alyssum Aster Snap Dragon Vinca Vine Hibiscus Marigold Straw Flower Lantana Zinnia Portulaca Pentas Nicotiana Gypsophila Globe Thistles Dahlia Pincushion Foxglove Stonecrop Violet Lavendar Thrift Pansy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HERBS FOR BUTTERFLIES Herbs are as popular as ever but unfortunately butterflies love them as much as we do. So add extra to your garden or containerize them for easier hand maintenance.
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