Plants That Attract Butterflies to Your Backyard Landscape
When you’re envisioning the perfect garden or outdoor space, what is it that you see? Most of us see vibrant green plants and trees and a garden just bursting with an array of color and light!
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In addition to the flora in your space, you could also envision small animals and insects coming to visit your yard. To encourage these visits, many homeowners focus on specific plants that attract butterflies to turn their landscapes into a private oasis. By being strategic with your plant and flower selection, you can have a garden that butterflies love to call home.
Here, we’re taking a closer look at these beautiful insects and why you’ll want a few floating around your garden and landscape. We also run through some of the most common—and eye-catching—plants to incorporate in your landscape to attract butterflies throughout the entire year.
Benefits of Butterflies in Your Garden
It’s no secret that butterflies are beautiful to watch as they float on the breeze. But in actuality, these little insects can offer so much more to your backyard and property. There are many reasons why you should want butterflies in your yard and why you should implement certain plants to promote their visits.
In addition to adding a touch of beauty, here are some additional benefits to having butterflies visiting your garden:
* Butterflies are important pollinators that can help your garden thrive.
* Since they’re extremely sensitive to change, butterflies can serve as a warning sign when something is amiss in your local environment.
* Gardening for butterflies can reduce your reliance on pesticides and encourage the presence of other beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and dragonflies.
* Butterflies serve as an important food source for other animals and insects.
* Butterflies can encourage your family and friends to spend more time outdoors and appreciate the wonders of nature.
Plants That Attract Butterflies in Your Backyard Landscape
If you’re looking to encourage more colorful, flying visitors to your garden and yard, then you should consider incorporating some common plants and flowers that naturally attract butterflies. Not only are many of these plants beautiful and adaptable to a variety of climates, but they also serve as habitat for various butterfly species. Planting some of these flowers is one of the easiest ways to turn your yard into a butterfly oasis.
Here are some of the most popular plants that attract butterflies:
1. Butterfly Bush
The name here probably gives this one away. These larger shrubs grow quickly in various environments and attract many different types of butterflies. Butterfly bushes are easy to care for; however, they are considered invasive in some areas. Be careful where you plant these, too, since they can grow up to 12 feet tall and tend to sprawl out as they grow. If you’re looking for a clean, organized garden, you may want to opt for a different plant to attract butterflies.
2. Phlox
This common plant grows across North America and thrives in hardiness zones from 4 to 8 (on the USDA scale). Blooming in bright shades of purple, pink, red, and orange, this low-growing plant spreads out like a blanket and is perfect for transforming an open field into something magnificent.
3. Coneflowers
These colorful flowers are ideal for encouraging butterfly activity. Common in gardens and landscapes throughout the entire United States, coneflowers are renowned for their ability to survive harsh winters and are a solid drought-tolerant option for your landscape and garden. Coneflowers can be found in a variety of hues and colors to fit any landscape design.
4. Lantana
If you really want a boost of color to go with your new butterfly garden, you’ll definitely want a few lantanas. These vibrant flowers grow annually and tolerate the heat rather well. Easy to care for, they only need about an inch of water per week and work well as an accent shrub throughout your garden.
5. Blazing Star Flowers
These unique flowers can be the perfect addition to a butterfly-friendly garden or yard. Bursting with a purple hue, the blazing star grows between 1 to 3 feet tall with the colorful flowers shooting practically straight up (guess that’s where they got this unique name). Easy to grow and maintain, blazing star flowers will encourage more butterflies to hang around.
6. Lavender
A favorite plant for gardeners all over the world, lavender offers a beautiful purple color and an alluring, recognizable fragrance. While lavender is popular in an array of healthcare and beauty products, it’s also beneficial to attract butterflies to your garden. These purple spikes grow well in a variety of environments and are especially known for being resistant to drought and extreme heat.
7. Swamp Milkweed
One of the more common families of plants in North America, there are over 100 varieties of milkweed. One in particular, however, is particularly effective at attracting butterflies. Swamp milkweed brings in the butterflies and is the only food source for Monarch caterpillars. This plant prefers to grow in moist conditions.
Conclusion – 7 Plans That Attract Butterflies to Your Backyard Landscape
Are you looking for an easy and affordable way to transform your yard into a magnificent butterfly garden? It’s easier than most people think to attract a variety of butterfly species to your outdoor space to add a sense of wonder to your yard. Not only do butterflies look beautiful on the breeze, but they also help pollinate your plants, reduce your need for pesticides, and can serve as an important food source for other critters.
If you’re looking to create a butterfly habitat in your yard, consider planting butterfly bush, coneflowers, phlox, lantana, or blazing star flowers in your yard and garden. These colorful and beautiful plants will enhance your landscape and provide a natural home for all sorts of local butterflies. For more ideas on how to attract butterflies to your yard, reach out to a local nursery or gardening expert to learn about building the perfect butterfly habitat.
