CAUTION:The information and recommendations in this article are applicable to Harnett County, NC and may not apply in other areas.

 ATTRACTING BUTTERFLIES TO YOUR GARDEN, 09/26/97

Many butterflies are having a tougher time these days due to loss of habitat. As gardeners, we can help out these lovely creatures and benefit from their beauty in the process. As an added bonus, many of the plants which attract them just happen to be wonderful additions to the landscape.

In general, butterflies are attracted to sunny locations. Also, you will have better luck attracting them if you use large plantings, rather than a single plant.

The key to attracting butterflies is plant selection. This means knowing what they like in a plant.

Butterflies use plants for two important functions. First, they need caterpillar host plants where they can lay their eggs and the caterpillars can feed. Secondly, the adults need sources of nectar to feed on.

A number of herbs serve as caterpillar hosts, including parsley, fennel, and dill. Plant these near your kitchen door as a source of fresh herbs for cooking!

Mint is another good herb choice, providing nectar for the adults. When the mint at my front steps bloomed this summer, it attracted an abundant variety of colorful moths. Mint spreads quickly, so it is wise to plant it in pots.

Asclepias tuberosa, or butterfly weed, blooms from early spring to summer with distinctive orange, red, and yellow flowers. This is an herbaceous perennial, which means it dies back in the winter, then regrows next spring. This plant is highly prized by the beautiful monarch butterfly as it provides a food source for the caterpillar as well as the adult butterfly.

Other host plants for the caterpillar stage include a few weeds, such as thistle, Queen-Anne's lace, goldenrod, and vetch. I don't recommend that you plant these, but at least you'll know they serve an important purpose when growing on the roadside.

Probably the most well known of nectar plants is the butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii. This deciduous shrub makes an excellent addition to the landscape, growing to a height of 6 feet or more. Choose from white, pink, or purple flowered varieties. The blossoms are attractive and fragrant.

Lantana, an herbaceous perennial, has striking orange, pink, or yellow blossoms. It is drought tolerant and blooms for an extended period. The "Miss Huff" cultivar is recommended due to its cold hardiness.

Moss verbena, another candidate for the perennial flower garden, has bright purple flowers and is a nectar source. This is a low- growing, spreading plant which looks great by the curbside, or at the front of a perennial border.

Other good nectar sources include annual flowers, such as impatiens, petunias, marigolds, verbena, and snapdragons. Additional perennial flower selections include purple coneflower and coreopsis.

To go the extra mile in making your landscape butterfly friendly, consider placing boards or stones in a sunny spot for butterflies to bask on. They also enjoy damp areas, as they cannot drink from open water.

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