Butterfly gardening basics
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EmailCreating a safe haven to attract butterflies can be a joyful hobby that is good for the environment. Here are some key tips for butterfly gardening success.
Butterflies fascinate young and old alike across the globe. The best way to observe butterflies and their captivating behaviors is to create a butterfly garden using plants native to Michigan that will attract them for both food and as a nursery for their young. A butterfly garden also supports other pollinators and does not have to be complex or large to attract and sustain your favorite butterflies.
The most important element in a butterfly garden is the plants. There are two different kinds of plants that attract butterflies, larval host plants and nectar plants.
Larval host plants
Each species of butterfly lays its eggs on a specific native plant or group of native plants, and these are the larval host plants. If you want to experience the entire life cycle of the butterfly and the magic of metamorphosis, i.e., the caterpillar feeding on the plants, forming the chrysalis, and then the emerging as the adult butterfly, you must plant some of these larval host plants. For example, the monarch butterfly will only lay its eggs and monarch caterpillars will only feed on plants in the milkweed family or Asclepias genus. Please remember that planting the larval host plant is no guarantee you will attract the butterfly. It may take a few years for them to show up, but if you are lucky, they may show up immediately. You can find a list of which butterflies use which native plants to raise their young through this resource prepared by WildType.
Nectar plants
These are plants that adult butterflies can feed on and are typically more available at your local nurseries. Sometimes larval host plants can function as both nectar and larval host plants. For example, swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata, is the larval host plant for monarchs, but its flowers also provide nectar to all species of adult butterflies. Nectar plants do not have to be Michigan native plants, although they can be.
Both larval host plants and nectar plants can attract many different pollinators. Most butterfly larval host plants are native plants found in Michigan, and these plants are not widely available at most retailers. Typically, they can be found at specific nurseries that carry native plants. They may also be available at local native plant sales that are common in the spring. A fairly comprehensive list of Michigan native plant producers can be found at the North Oakland Wild Ones Native Plant Nursery List where you should be able to find a native plant nursery within your region.
Many commercial nurseries also carry native plant species or cultivars of native species, but they may or may not be bred from plants that are well-adapted to local conditions. To learn more about plant genotypes, check out the Smart Gardening tip sheet, “Using Native Plants is a Smart Choice for Michigan Landscapes” by Barslund Judd and Lindsey Kerr for Michigan State University Extension.
Another consideration when gardening for butterflies is whether plants have been treated with pesticides that can have negative effects on caterpillars, butterflies and other wildlife. To create an inviting home for butterflies, be sure to leave pesticides out of your garden, as even organic products can sometimes harm wildlife. Wherever you get your native plants from, make sure they are not treated with pesticides!
A butterfly garden should be located in a sunny area and ideally protected from the wind. Using a 2-3 inch layer of natural mulch helps to conserve water and cut down on weeds. Install your plants in groups of at least 3 plants (or more!) to make it easier for butterflies to find them. Fences, edging, raised beds and well-defined paths can reduce damage caused to plants by pets and excited kids. Another important element to include is fist-sized or larger rocks for butterflies to sun themselves when the weather is cool. Butterflies also benefit from a shallow source of water.
Beyond feeding on flowers, butterflies also need a source of minerals and salt (sodium). They can get this from low, moist bare soil or fermenting fruit. The behavior of ingesting the salts, minerals and amino acids that the liquefied source provides is a behavior called puddling. A low, moist, sandy area without plants or a plate with rotting fruit can be the perfect addition to your garden from a butterfly’s point of view. The addition of a puddling site makes the garden an all-around great place to watch butterflies and observe butterfly behavior.
