How to Attract Butterflies

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Last Updated: September 16, 2021 Approved

Butterflies are a natural ornament you may want to adorn your garden with, or maybe you only want to enjoy watching these delicate and beautiful of creatures while working around your yard. In either case, attracting these pollinating pixies can be done through a knowledge of butterfly tastes and optimal garden planning.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Knowing Butterfly Preferences

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Discover local butterflies. Though you might imagine that one butterfly is like the rest in all but color, species of butterfly differ drastically in terms of size, migration, and diet. Learn the native species of butterfly in your area and coordinate your efforts at attracting these.^{[1]
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- The species of butterfly in your area will be specific to your state/region, but among these species you might find the following: Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), California Sister (Adelpha bredowii), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), Baltimore (Euphydryas phaeton), Common Mestra (Mestra amymone), Isabella's Heliconian (Eueides isabella), 'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax), American Snout (Libytheana carinenta), Northwestern Fritillary (Speyeria hesperis), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa).^{[2]
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2
Coordinate your colors. Adult butterflies have a palette for specific pigments. These winged wonders appreciate reds, yellows, oranges, pinks, and purples. Blossoms these colors, especially those with flat tops or short flower tubes, are among the butterflies' favorites.^{[8]
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Research source} Some examples include:
- Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (blue porterweed)
- Buddleia davidii ("Miss Molly")
- Cosmos sulphureus (orange "cosmic" cosmos)^{[9]
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Butterflies are most likely to frequent nectar sources that receive plenty of sunlight from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Fully matured butterflies tend to avoid feeding in the shade.^{[10]
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Research source} Choose flowers that enjoy lots of sunshine and plant these where the best light can be received.
4
Stagger bloom cycles. Keeping your garden thickly blooming with the butterfly's favorite colored flowers will improve your chances of appealing to this lovely insect. Nectar is needed throughout an adult butterfly's life cycle.^{[11]
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- To plot your bloom cycles, note the date you plant your seeds, bulbs, or seedlings on a calendar. Then, using the information on the plant packaging (like on a seed packet), and find the time it takes your flower to bloom and how long it will bloom. Mark this on your calendar, too, and try to keep your bloom dates for various flowers overlapping.
- If your plant or its seed packet/packaging did not include blooming details, this information can be found easily by doing a general Internet search of the plant name online.
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Veto chemicals and insecticides. This includes insecticides that are marketed as environmentally friendly. Butterflies, and butterfly caterpillars, are sensitive to many of these. A list of common chemicals to avoid are:
- Bacillus thuringiensis
- Diazinon
- Malathion
- Sevin^{[12]
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Construct a landing strip for a butterfly lounge. You may have seen butterflies in nature resting on branches and twigs, basking in the sunlight. This is because the sun provides orientation and warmth to the wings, helping these colorful friends fly.^{[13]
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- Flat stones spread throughout your garden in areas that receive good sunlight are excellent places for butterflies to land and rest.
Mud and wet sand are optimal places for butterflies to suck up water without the danger that accompanies a large body of water, like a stream, fountain, or water feature. Coarse sand in a pan kept moist can provide your colorful little friends a convenient watering hole.^{[14]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Growing a Butterfly Garden

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Offer protection butterflies can't refuse. Pollinators like butterflies often need a place to hide from predators, and a small tree or shrub can be just the thing to make your garden more accommodating.^{[15]
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Research source} Some plants to consider:
- Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
- Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla)
- New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
2
Prepare a butterfly buffet. Certain plants are more widely popular among the different kinds of butterfly. No plant will appeal to all butterflies - not even butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Some plants to consider to attract more of your brightly colored friends to your garden are:
- Butterfly Bush (Buddleja officinalis)
- Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
- Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
- Passionflower (Passiflora)
- Willow (salix)^{[16]
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- Don't forget to ask staff at your local nursery any questions you may have about planting and growing any of these flowers. Most of these plants are available at local nurseries at a reasonable cost.
When butterflies try to lay eggs on non-native plants, their offspring have trouble surviving.^{[17]
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Research source} Maps with a distribution of plants native to your areas can be found at http://www.wildflower.org/collections.
These tiny structures are similar to hummingbird feeders in that nectar is provided, but the shape is more like that of a bat house. The small slots on the side allow butterflies entrance while deterring predators and providing shelter from the elements.^{[18]
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There are many local factors that might be influencing butterfly populations in your areas, so if you see that a neighbor has a larger than average butterfly population in her garden, you may want inquire what she has planted or how she has her garden set up.

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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Attracting a Preferred Species

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Determine a specific butterfly you want to attract. Out of the likely many beautiful species in your area, choosing one and catering to it may make sightings more frequent. Do an Internet search for "local butterfly species near me" to find potential candidates, or search by state.^{[19]
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Research source} Some common species of North American butterfly include:
- Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
- Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)^{[20]
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Depending on species, your butterfly may migrate hundreds of miles north to south.^{[22]
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Research source} Now that you know the butterfly you want to attract, you can plan your flower plantings according to migration cycle, thereby increasing the odds of attracting your favorite butterfly.
There are certain plants that each species of butterfly prefer, and planting several that your butterfly of choice appreciates will be an open invitation to come visit your garden.^{[23]
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There are many different recipes available for you to try on the internet, but to find which works for you, you'll likely have to experiment.^{[25]
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Research source} Some formulas are reported to work well in one region, but not another. Don't let a few duds get you down!

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Where can I order a butterfly stand?

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You can order them from Amazon.com.

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How do I attract them if I'm in an area with a drought?

Karen Eve

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Grow host and nectar flowers that are drought tolerant. See what butterflies are in your area and what plants they like. If it's very hot in your area, grow plants in a shady area and water every couple of days. You can always start flowers indoors and then place them in a shady place.

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How can I catch, but not hurt, a butterfly?

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Use a butterfly net. Then put it in a jar or something with a lid and poke holes in the top. Put some leaves and flowers in it too.

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Warnings

Don't use any fertilizers or pesticides that are potentially harmful to butterflies.

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Be careful around bees and other dangerous insects, especially if you are allergic.

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