In choosing a location for a butterfly garden, you should select a sunny spot that offers protection from strong winds. Butterflies need warming rays of sun to propel them in flight.

The most popular colors to attract butterflies appear to be pink, purple, and lavender; however, a variety of colors is best to attract the widest variety of butterflies. Butterflies have an excellent sense of smell, so use varieties with greater scent.

Provide stones for basking and water for drinking. Water can be provided by a birdbath, pool of water, or a saucer of moist sand or mud.

You must provide a location and food for caterpillars to have butterflies. Some plants that are good for caterpillars include: parsley, asters, verbenas, snapdragon, milkweeds, passion vine, butterfly weed, clover, and Queens Anne's lace.

The number one plant used to attract butterflies is the butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii. This plant comes in assorted colors of pink, red, purple, white, and gold. The white varieties produce the most nectar.

Once you start attracting butterflies to your garden, obtain a butterfly book and try to identify what types visit your garden.

Emily L. Revels
Extension Agent
Consumer Horticulture
Cumberland County
(910) 321-6870

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Created by Susan Johnson, System Administrator, November 28, 2004