How to Attract Butterflies -

Butterflies are not only beautiful, they also serve as great pollinators. But it’s not just enough to have flowers that they can get nectar from because, in order to attract butterflies and keep them coming round your garden, you’ll need to provide for the whole of their life stages. This includes nectar, places to lay eggs, and then areas for forming chrysalides.

Provide Color

Butterflies are attracted to the colors red, yellow, pink, purple, and orange flowers. They also prefer a flat-topped flower.

Add a Puddler

Butterflies pull minerals and water from wet mud or sand in an activity called puddling. You can easily make a puddler or purchase one like this.

Plant Native Plants

It’s vitally important to add native plants to your garden. Butterflies in our various geographic areas depend on native sources of nectar and food.

Ditch the Pesticides

It goes without saying that if you use pesticides, you will kill butterflies and their caterpillars. Opt for organic methods. I discuss some ways you can go organic here.

Include a Rest Stop

Butterflies love to rest in the sun. Add some flat rocks to your garden where they can sit and warm their wings.

Grow Host Plants

Butterflies need flowers, but if you want them to stick around, plant what their caterpillars need to eat. I’ve listed some common butterflies and the plants their caterpillars eat below.