Bringing Butterflies to Your Garden

If you want to add a splash of color and life to your garden, attracting butterflies is a wonderful way to do it. Butterflies not only brighten up your outdoor space but also play an important role in pollination. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you create a garden that butterflies will love.

Know Your Local Butterflies

Start by finding out which butterfly species are common in your area. This will help you choose the right plants that cater specifically to those butterflies, making your garden more inviting and successful. For those on Vancouver Island, I highly recommend checking out the excellent online guide at www.VancouverIslandButterflies.com. It offers simple, clear information and photos to help identify the most common butterfly species you’re likely to see around here.

Choose Nectar-Rich Plants

Butterflies are attracted to a variety of flowering plants that provide nectar. When selecting plants, focus on those with bright colors and strong fragrances, as these are especially appealing to butterflies. Including a diverse mix of nectar plants will help attract more species and keep them visiting your garden throughout the season.

Create a Diverse and Welcoming Space

Plant a variety of flowers with different shapes, colors, and bloom times to ensure there’s always something in flower. Grouping plants together makes it easier for butterflies to find nectar without having to fly far. If space is limited, consider adding vertical elements like vines or trellises to increase planting area.

Shrubs and trees can help by providing shelter from wind and places for butterflies to rest or roost at night. Just be mindful of shade, as butterflies need sunny spots to warm up.

Provide Water and Sunlight

Butterflies need moisture but not much. They get water from dew, nectar, and puddles. You can create a simple puddling station by adding a shallow dish with small stones and water in it to a sunny area of your garden sheltered from wind. Also, you can provide sunny spots with flat stones or exposed soil where butterflies can bask and warm up.

Six Perennials Butterflies Love

• Echinacea (Coneflower)

• Liatris (Blazing Star)

• Milkweed

• Coreopsis

• Phlox

• Sedum (Stonecrop)

• Agastache (Licorice Mint)

  
  

Happy gardening!