Attracting Butterflies To Our Gardens

Butterflies always look beautiful in our gardens and they play a vital role in the pollination of plants and fruit trees. With the butterfly population declining, it is becoming even more important for us to be encouraging them into our gardens. Attracting butterflies is about providing food and nectar as well as shelter and breeding. See below how to make your gardens more attractive to these pollinators.

1 - Plant flowers that are rich in nectar

Butterflies, especially adult ones, love plants that are rich in nectar. Butterfly season tends to start around March and extends right through until the first frost in Autumn. Throughout these months, you should be selective with the flowers you plant to encourage them into your garden. Plants like Eryngium, Astrantia, Buddleia and Cosmos will be well loved by butterflies as they are rich in nectar.

2 - Avoid pesticides

Pesticides are incredibly harmful to all wildlife not just butterflies and it is important that we limit the use of them in our gardens.

3 - Plant host plants for caterpillars

Butterflies require host plants where they can plant their eggs and the caterpillars can feed. Salix (willow), Cirsium (thistle) and grasses are perfect examples of host plants.

4 - Leave fallen fruit under trees

The juices from fallen fruit is a great food source for certain types of butterflies.

Everyone should do their bit to ensure that the butterfly population increases as it has many benefits for the environment as well as our own plants in our gardens. It is not essential to have a large garden to plant nectar rich flowers, you can simply plant some Cosmos or Lavendula (Lavender) in a pot and sit it on your patio or door step. Hopefully this blog has influences you to encourage butterflies in your gardens.