Plants for Butterflies

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Other Considerations :

Water - Fill a shallow dish with sand approx. 1" from the top, add pebbles for the butterflies to land on; then add water.

- Do not use a sprinkler to water butterfly plants as the water falling on the plants can dilute the nectar or wash it away completely.

- Puddling: Butterflies feed at puddle margins seeking salts or amino acids.

Hibernation - Some species of butterflies hibernate as adults through the winter. They use cracks in logs, tree bark, fence posts, etc. as hibernating sites.

Basking - Butterflies need to soak up warmth and spend a lot of time basking in the sun. Place decorative rocks or logs in flower beds to provide a place to sit and spread their wings.

Life Cycle - Be careful not to destroy the other life stages of the butterfly (egg, larva, or pupa). Do not use pesticides on butterfly plants, especially Bt pesticides. Bt pesticides are bacterial, organic pesticides that ONLY kill caterpillars.

Plantings - Plan your butterfly garden to provide blooming plants throughout the seasons.

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