Bayscape Blog 9/27/10
Invite Butterflies to Your Garden
By Judy DeFiglio
The butterfly is one of the most unique and beautiful creatures on earth. Inviting these fascinating creatures into your garden is easy when you use native plants. To attract adult butterflies you need to grow a variety of nectar plants that bloom throughout the spring, summer and fall so that there is always something for them to feed on. You also need to grow a variety of plants to provide food for the caterpillar or larvae. They require a different food source than the adult and each species of butterfly larvae is very specific in their choice of host plant. Butterflies native to an area prefer native plants to feed on.
Probably the most recognized butterfly native to New Jersey is the Monarch. The larvae feed on a variety of milkweeds and the adults like the nectar of milkweeds and goldenrod. Asclepias turberosa (Butterfly Weed) is an excellent native plant to include in your garden. It will feed both larvae and adult butterfly.
Butterflies need a sunny location to enable them to fly. Luckily, many native plants like asters, goldenrod and Echinacea thrive in hot, dry locations and are the favorite plants of many species of butterfly.
One important thing to remember when gardening for butterflies, do not use pesticides. If insects are a problem in your landscape try some environmentally friendly methods to get rid of pests such as horticultural soaps, beneficial insects, or a simple blast from your garden hose. Also be careful to check that the damage is caused by some harmful insect before treating. The larval stage of the butterfly does eat the leaves of the host plant so learn to tolerate some damage.
Providing habitat for butterflies is becoming critical as more native habitat disappears. Adding the following native plants to your landscape will attract these beautiful, winged creatures to your garden: Asclepias, Aster, Agastache, Coreopsis, Echinacea, Eupatorium, Liatris, Phlox, Monarda, Rudbeckia, and Solidago.
Invite Butterflies to Your Garden
By Judy DeFiglio
The butterfly is one of the most unique and beautiful creatures on earth. Inviting these fascinating creatures into your garden is easy when you use native plants. To attract adult butterflies you need to grow a variety of nectar plants that bloom throughout the spring, summer and fall so that there is always something for them to feed on. You also need to grow a variety of plants to provide food for the caterpillar or larvae. They require a different food source than the adult and each species of butterfly larvae is very specific in their choice of host plant. Butterflies native to an area prefer native plants to feed on.
Probably the most recognized butterfly native to New Jersey is the Monarch. The larvae feed on a variety of milkweeds and the adults like the nectar of milkweeds and goldenrod. Asclepias turberosa (Butterfly Weed) is an excellent native plant to include in your garden. It will feed both larvae and adult butterfly.
Butterflies need a sunny location to enable them to fly. Luckily, many native plants like asters, goldenrod and Echinacea thrive in hot, dry locations and are the favorite plants of many species of butterfly.
One important thing to remember when gardening for butterflies, do not use pesticides. If insects are a problem in your landscape try some environmentally friendly methods to get rid of pests such as horticultural soaps, beneficial insects, or a simple blast from your garden hose. Also be careful to check that the damage is caused by some harmful insect before treating. The larval stage of the butterfly does eat the leaves of the host plant so learn to tolerate some damage.
Providing habitat for butterflies is becoming critical as more native habitat disappears. Adding the following native plants to your landscape will attract these beautiful, winged creatures to your garden: Asclepias, Aster, Agastache, Coreopsis, Echinacea, Eupatorium, Liatris, Phlox, Monarda, Rudbeckia, and Solidago.
No comments:
Post a Comment