One good way to enjoy the company of butterflies, and attract swarms of them, is by planting a butterfly garden, or habitat. The perfect butterfly habitat is a simple one, and even the smallest garden can provide the food, water, perches, and shelter butterflies need. It's easy to lure these beautiful insects into your backyard - and keep them coming back year after year.
Planning & Designing Your Butterfly Garden / Habitat
Plant Selection: Use the Plant Search as a research tool. When you get to the Plant Search page, start by choosing your ZONE, then select "Butterflies" under the ATTRACTIONS category. A list of plants that butterflies love will appear below the Search board. While investigating, and for future reference, make sure to write down a list of plants that you like, note height, width and other feature.
After making your list of plants, spend some time to sketch a basic plan out on paper.
Garden Shape & Location: An important consideration when designing your butterfly garden is its shape and where it will be located. Sites that receive all day sun or morning sun with afternoon shade are preferred, as many of the plants that produces the flowers butterflies like prefer sun. Curved, narrow flower beds are best, because the butterflies can access the blooms from all sides of the plants. Plant your garden near decks, patios, porches or just outside windows of your home so you can view them in upclose in action.
Don't crowd your garden with large trees or shrubs, but do arrange to have several in or near the garden. Butterflies need room to accommodate their wings as they flutter about the blossoms. Select a variety of flowers and shrubs, from low to medium to tall in height.
If you plan carefully and select a variety of plants that flower at successively later dates, you will be rewarded with butterflies throughout the season. Before starting on your garden, visit your local nursery and garden center, taking your sketch and plant list with you. Purchase plants that are available and special order any that aren't. If you have trouble finding certain plants locally, try finding them through online mail-order plant suppliers. Plants purchased online are usually smaller and more expensive, but this may be the only route to go to get the plants you really want to see in your garden.
