17 plants to draw butterflies to your garden

17 plants to attract butterflies to your garden

The presence of Lepidoptera, or butterflies, is crucial for a healthy, pleased garden. This will not be only due to their aesthetic and colourful character, but additionally because of their pollinating function. These flying insects, along with bees and hummingbirds, carry pollen forwards and backwards while feeding on nectar. Because of this, it’s necessary to have plants to draw butterflies to your garden.

Creating an environment conducive to their visit involves providing them with a water source, moist areas, and well-lit spaces. Nonetheless, it’s essential to have some specimens of lavender, lantana, or milkweed. As well as, the Asteraceae family has several options that attract them. Read on and discover which plants to ask butterflies to remain and feed in your garden!

1. Lantanas

Lantana camara es una de las plantas para atraer mariposas. Lantana camara is referred to as Spanish banderita due to its colours.

Lantana is a species that draws butterflies due to its nectariferous nature – that’s, it offers the nectar on which these holometabolous insects feed. As well as, it’s a plant that’s easy to handle and boasts extensive flowering that can fill your garden with colours.

There are variants in yellow, pink, and orange tones, but essentially the most really helpful to bring Lepidoptera, including the monarch butterfly, are the camara and the trifolia.

One other advantage is that these species act as mosquito repellent.

Care

  • Sunlight: it requires 4 to 6 hours of sunshine or semi-shade every day.
  • Watering: sporadically, but with good drainage and moisture within the substrate.
  • Pruning: you may do it in the beginning of spring to favor a greater flowering.
  • Temperature: tolerates drought and high temperatures well, but not extreme cold.

2. Verbenas

Verbena. Verbenas even have beautiful flowers that may adorn a garden.

Verbenas are also stuffed with nectar and present a beautiful bloom, various between white, red or pink. You may pick from any of its species to brighten your garden or terrace, while providing a feeding space for butterflies.

Similarly, verbenas also attract other pollinators, similar to hummingbirds and bees. It’s versatile when it comes to climatic conditions and only needs a number of hours of sunshine.

Care

  • Substrate: it’s necessary that it has good drainage and stays humid.
  • Watering: it’s higher to do it whenever you observe that the substrate is dry, because it doesn’t need frequent watering.
  • Temperature: like lantana, it prefers warm climates, tolerates drought well, and never temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius.
  • Light and site: it needs many hours of sun, although this varies in line with the climate. In very warm environments, indirect sunlight is healthier, while in cold places it’s convenient to reveal it directly.

3. Asclepias

Planta asclepia o algodoncillo. Milkweed is the most effective plants for attracting butterflies.

Asclepias belong to the Apocynaceae family and grow on roadsides and fields. Its presence in a garden with Lepidoptera is crucial, because it’s considered one of the host plants for butterflies; especially the mellodora and curassavica variants, also referred to as milkweed.

Because of this butterflies, especially the monarch, known for his or her size and migratory capability, lay their eggs there for the caterpillars to feed on.

Care

  • Fertilizer: mineral fertilizer is really helpful in spring.
  • Substrate: it ought to be permeable, with humus, peat, and good humidity.
  • Watering: with a frequency of 4 to 5 days per week. It’s necessary to avoid waterlogging.
  • Sunlight: in cold climates, it could possibly be exposed on to the sun. Nonetheless, in hot environments, shade is really helpful.

4. Mariposera (Austroeupatorium inulifolium)

Planta mariposera.This nectariferous plant is common in several countries of America.

Native to Argentina, it’s able to attracting butterflies of assorted species. It’s also a number of the genus Actinote. It has small and aesthetic white flowers that attract quite a few pollinators with their perfume. It grows as a shrub and is common in lots of South American countries, similar to the next:

  • Peru
  • Brazil
  • Uruguay
  • Paraguay
  • Colombia

Care

  • Soil: to locate it in those which are permeable.
  • Irrigation: it prefers sporadic irrigations, of moderate intensity.
  • Sunlight: it needs between five and 6 hours of sunlight every day.

5. Salvias are the most effective plants for attracting butterflies

Las flores de la salvia atraen mariposas.The characteristic scent of sage also attracts pollinators.

The varieties of salvias, belonging to the Lamiaceae genus, are known for his or her fragrant and healing properties. Nonetheless, they may also be attractive to butterflies, especially large specimens similar to Papilio and Battus.

Flowering colours range from white and red to blue and violet, and are more likely to appear in any season. Also, salvias are plants that attract hummingbirds to the garden.

Care

  • Substrate: well-drained and fresh is really helpful.
  • Watering: it’s best to water sporadically and check that the substrate stays moist.
  • Sunlight: it prefers warm climates, above 15 degrees, and several other hours of sunlight.

6. Lavender

La lavanda atrae a los lepidópteros. Lavender has multiple uses, similar to attracting pollinators.

A flexible species that brings elegance, beautiful colours, and wealthy scents, hence, it’s often applied in flavoring products. These same characteristics are what enchant the Lepidoptera that come to hunt its nectar.

It’s also a natural repellent for insects, similar to moths and mosquitoes. Lavender oil also has a wide range of uses. For instance, to heal wounds or reduce hair loss.

Care

  • Substrate: it have to be alkaline and have good drainage. In truth, it uses sandy and dry soils.
  • Watering: a couple of times per week is enough. In winter, reduce the frequency.
  • Temperature: it’s best with high temperatures, because it resists heat and drought well.
  • Sunlight: it’s necessary to offer it direct exposure, each for outdoor and indoor specimens.

7. Poet’s Key

Ornamental plants are also attractive to hummingbirds.

Dianthus barbatus is a quite common plant in gardens due to its ornamental character. Along with its colourful flowers, with shades of pink, white, and burgundy, it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. This also occurs because of its charming fragrance.

Care

  • Substrate: it should have good drainage and be alkaline.
  • Fertilizer: include organic matter or compost to favor its growth.
  • Watering: it needs frequent watering, but at all times with the precaution of not generating puddles.

8. Echinacea purpurea

Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea purpurea has a ravishing purple color and blooms throughout the summer.

That is a ravishing plant of the Asteraceae family, with a big flowering that persists throughout the summer and a part of the autumn. It’s a decorative species, which provides off a beautiful scent and displays purple flowers.

Care

  • Humidity: it provides a damp substrate that may resist the times of drought.
  • Sunlight: it ought to be exposed to 5 to 6 hours of sunlight every day, even though it also supports semi-shade.
  • Watering: it’s necessary to water it moderately. It’s enough to water it a couple of times per week, except recent planting, when it needs every day watering.

9. Centaurea nigra L.

Centaurea nigra L. Centaurea nigra attracts mainly meadow butterflies.

That is one other specimen belonging to the Asteraceae family, whose violet and white flowers bring brightness and color to the garden. They attract quite a few species of butterflies, similar to meadow brown butterflies.

Care

  • Substrate: Perlite facilitates drainage and keeps it cool. For these reasons, it’s really helpful to incorporate it within the substrate.
  • Sunlight: it requires loads of sunlight. To have abundant and shiny flowers, at least five hours a day.
  • Watering: in hot weather, water it two to 3 times per week. In winter, reduce the frequency to at least one watering per week.

10. Marigolds are plants to draw butterflies

La caléndula atrae las mariposas a los jardines. The marigold is a colourful plant that beautifies the garden.

The marigold will not be only an fragrant, ornamental plant with health advantages. Its orange and yellow flowers attract pollinators because of the abundant nectar. It’s fast-growing, easy to grow at home, and blooms consistently throughout the spring and summer.

Care

  • Sunlight: prefers direct sunlight for several hours a day.
  • Temperature: it resists cold temperatures higher than warm ones.
  • Watering: water it sporadically and with great caution in order to not cause water stagnation.
  • Substrate: it could possibly be versatile, however it should have good drainage. Add fertilizer only in the course of the warm months.

11. Buddleja davidii (butterfly bush)

Arbusto de mariposas. Buddleja davidii is referred to as the butterfly bush.

The nickname of this plant leaves no room for doubt: this can be a shrub whose purple, pink, and yellow flowers attract butterflies of assorted species. They provide nectar in quantity, so it’s enough to position them in a sunny space for them to bloom and the Lepidoptera to come back to the garden.

Care

  • Light: it requires many hours of direct sunlight, since flowering is determined by it.
  • Substrate: it have to be permeable and with humus. Be certain it has good drainage and fertilize only in early spring, before flowering.
  • Watering: weekly watering is sufficient. Through the first yr after planting, it could possibly be twice per week, in addition to in the nice and cozy months.

12. Passiflora caerulea

Passiflora caerulea. Passionflower is a number species.

Often known as mburucuyá or passionflower, this plant has aesthetic blue flowers, that are combined with white and purple tones. That is one other specimen of a number character, whose flowering begins in summer and lasts until late fall.

Care

  • Substrate: it requires well-drained soils with good drainage and humidity.
  • Temperature: it likes a temperate climate, with temperatures around 20 degrees.
  • Light: it needs spaces with good sunlight, although in the course of the summer you may place it in a semi-shaded area.
  • Watering: it’s really helpful to extend its frequency in warm months, as much as 3 times per week. The remainder of the yr, once is enough. Wet the leaves sporadically with a twig bottle.

13. Cosmos annuals

Cosmos anuales. The Cosmos bipinnatus variant attracts large butterflies.

The tropical cosmos flower belongs to the Asteraceae family. Specifically, the variants bipinnatus and sulphureus are butterfly-attracting plants because of their abundant flowers, in shades of white, pink, and orange.

Each bloom in the beginning of the summer and extend into the autumn.

Care

  • Sunlight: it needs direct exposure, so it’s advisable to order a sunny corner.
  • Watering: a couple of times per week is enough. In the nice and cozy months, it could possibly be up to a few waterings.
  • Substrate: common garden soil with good drainage is sufficient for its growth.

14. Elk flowers

Alcea rosea es una planta que atrae mariposas a los jardines. The royal mallow has several color variants, although pink is essentially the most common.

The genus alcea has greater than 80 species, although the rosea variant is often chosen among the many plants to draw butterflies. Also referred to as royal mallow, it has flowers of assorted shades of pink, but can range from purple to yellow.

Care

  • Watering: moderate in the course of the cold season and more abundant in the course of the summer.
  • Sunlight: it needs several hours of direct exposure or semi-shade. If abundant flowering is desired, it ought to be exposed to at the very least six hours of sunshine every day.
  • Substrate: it prefers humid soils, so this condition ought to be maintained within the substrate. Avoid waterlogging and excess moisture in winter.

15. Dahlias

Dalias en un jardín. The dahlia is native to Mexico and has pink, violet, and white tones.

That is the national flower of Mexico. A variant of the Asteraceae family with abundant flowering, whose nectar attracts butterflies and bees. Its pink, purplish, and white flowers appear in the nice and cozy months and last until autumn.

Care

  • Light: it needs good sunlight and direct exposure, especially within the cold months.
  • Substrate: like other species, it favors well-drained soil with abundant organic material.
  • Watering: That is considered one of the plants that tolerates heat and drought, but requires abundant watering. Water it twice per week in winter and 3 times per week in summer. Avoid wetting the leaves.

16. Rudbeckia

La Ruckbeckia atrae a las mariposas. Rudbeckia is analogous to daisies and blooms through fall.

Also referred to as beetle flower or coneflower, its beautiful blooms in shades of yellow and orange add aesthetics to the garden. Also they are very attractive to pollinators generally. The form of the flowers is analogous to daisies and so they appear during spring to last until fall.

Care

  • Substrate: it needs soil with regular conditions and good drainage.
  • Temperature: Even though it prefers warmth, it’s proof against cold climates.
  • Light: it requires an excellent amount of sunshine, although it could possibly be indirect or semi-shade.
  • Watering: water it ceaselessly, but at all times to the soil and without wetting leaves or flowers. Avoid waterlogging.

17. Asters

Áster con mariposa posada sobre ella. Its appearance is analogous to daisies.

The last genus of plants to draw butterflies that we are going to see also has flowers just like daisies. Nonetheless, these autumn specimens have a really delicate violet hue. Asters have white, blue, and even pink variants that delight Lepidoptera of assorted species.

Care

  • Watering: moderate, more ceaselessly in summer and fewer ceaselessly in winter.
  • Substrate: keep it humid, however it’s necessary to avoid puddles and take a look at to have good drainage.
  • Light: flowering is determined by the quantity of sunlight. It needs several hours of exposure, direct if possible.

Other tricks to bring butterflies

In case you are also focused on some tips about tips on how to have a garden stuffed with butterflies at home, we recommend making this space friendly for pollinators, by combining plants with the next conditions:

  • Sunny corner: leave an empty space with soil and stones for the butterflies to rest.
  • Water: like several species, butterflies seek refreshment and can accomplish that in your garden in the event you provide small drinking troughs for his or her comfort.
  • Low wind: leave water troughs and water features in spaces where there’s little wind. Otherwise, they’ll not give you the option to stop and refresh themselves.
  • Variety: mix different specimens among the many 17 options described. Try to incorporate some shrubs, some potted plants, and a few vines.

Why are plants necessary for attracting butterflies?

Butterflies, and pollinators generally, are essential for maintaining balance within the ecosystem. Lots of them are affected by conditions similar to deforestation and pollution, along with pesticides.

Subsequently, making a space suitable for his or her visit not only makes your garden more beautiful, but additionally collaborates with their survival. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to fill your patio or terrace with a diversity of colours and butterflies!