Planting a Butterfly Garden

Spicebush swallowtails, zebra swallowtails, painted ladies, gulf fritillaries, mourning cloaks, monarchs, greater sulphurs, American ladies and various skippers are among the many butterfly species that flit through Mississippi and Louisiana. Butterflies are among the most fascinating and beautiful animals in the world. About 760 species occur in North America north of Mexico, and of these 147 species have been found in Mississippi. Many are quite common and may be found statewide, while others are quite rare. The Spicebush Swallowtail, the official Mississippi state butterfly, occurs throughout the state and is the most common swallowtail.

One lovely place to see them is at the butterfly garden planted by Master Gardeners of Adams County along with Friends of St. Catherine’s Wildlife Refuge in Sibley, Mississippi, not far from Natchez. When a new administration building was completed at this vast recreational property managed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Robert Strader, project leader for the Refuge, requested help from Master Gardeners to create and install a butterfly garden in front of it. After considerable research, planning and coordination with Monrovia Wholesale Nurseries, which provided most of the plants, the garden was installed by volunteers.

The project was an immediate success, as local butterflies were spotted sipping nectar from some of the plants on the day they were installed. Additional plants were added last April.  A map detailing plant placement is available to visitors.

This public display garden created specifically with host and nectar plants provides an excellent showcase for trees, shrubs, herbs, annuals and perennials suited to this region that will attract and feed butterflies and their larvae.

Here’s how to create your own butterfly garden:

If you’re tired of butterflies fluttering by your own garden, you can persuade them to linger by including a few of their favorite plants. Butterfly gardening doesn’t have to involve a total remake of an already existing garden. Just by adding some nectar rich plants, with flower colors and shapes that lure butterflies, you can entice butterflies into your own property.

“Give them plants with nectar that they can feed on and they will come, and plants for their larvae that they can grow on and they will stay,” said Drew Bates, Mississippi State University extension agent and butterfly expert.

There are two main types of butterfly plants—those that are rich with nectar and are sources of food for colorful winged adult butterflies and those that are host plants on which caterpillars feed. Nectar plants can attract different species of butterflies but host plants are species specific.

Plant “pizzas”—butterflies favor flowers with flat surfaces, on which they can perch while sipping nectar from their centers. Flat flowers are easy landing pads for them. Butterflies also need sunlight, so they are drawn to plants in sunny spots.

If you want to encourage butterflies to breed, you need to give them host specific plants, and be prepared for lots of chewed leaves because host plants are those which voracious larvae, popularly called caterpillars, chew almost non-stop as they mature. Sometimes they can strip a plant entirely; other cases may involve chewed leaves along the stems.  If this plant disfigurement disturbs your design sense, you can compensate by placing host plants in out-of-sight places or camouflaging with other plants around them.

Milkweed (Asclepius) is the host plant for monarch butterflies. Although disdained as a weed, there are many species of milkweed. Butterfly weed (Asclepius tuberose) is garden attractive because it produces tight clusters of red buds that open to small orange flowers. Not invasive, it is also a nectar plant for other butterflies, including painted ladies, fritillaries, hairstreaks and swallowtails.

Popular nectar plants include butterfly bush (Buddleia), whirling butterflies (Gaura), sunflowers and coneflowers (Echinacea).  When trying to attract these delicate creatures, select plants that have short tubular flowers so that butterfly proboscis, the mouth part that sucks nectar up as though through a straw, can actually reach the sweet nectar.  They prefer plants that produce their flowers in small clusters, like lavender, star flower and butterfly bush. This way they can feed more efficiently while clinging to the blossoms.  Plant these varieties in masses instead of ones or twos to make the most of these butterfly-attracting plants. The larger area of color and scent attracts them better.

Many butterfly experts advise attracting butterflies with strong-colored flowers such as orange, yellow and purple. Fragrance also draws butterflies into gardens, so include heavily perfumed plants like buddleia and honeysuckle. Color may play a larger role than fragrance, according to Nicholas Staddon, Director of New Plant Introductions for Monrovia Growers.

“In our Monrovia trial gardens, we observe more butterflies on trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens ‘Magnifica’), even though it has no fragrance, than, for example, Hall’s honeysuckle, which is sweetly fragrant. Magnifica has showy scarlet flowers and Hall’s flowers are white.”

When you design a butterfly garden, be sure to include a bench or comfortable seat in the midst of the sanctuary so you can enjoy the sight and movement of these colorful visitors. And once you’ve invited them into your garden, protect them from chemicals by avoiding toxic sprays.

Host Plants for Butterflies

Dill, fennel and parsley: These members of the carrot family are hosts to several species of swallowtails.

Hollyhock (Alcea rosea): Biennial with large flowers. Tall growth can reach six feet. Host to painted ladies and also nectar plant to more species.

Milkweed (Asclepias): Host plant for Monarch caterpillars that can ingest the poisonous milky sap without harm. Several cultivars with orange-red flowers in summer are available commercially.

Nectar Butterfly Plants

Butterfly bush: There are numerous versions in a variety of sizes and colors. Some are evergreen. Most have fragrance. For small gardens, use Petite series. Once established, prefers little to moderate water.

Coneflower: Summer flowering perennials native to North America, they produce large flowers in colors including white, red, purple and orange. Plant in full sun and deadhead to encourage more flowers. Moderate water.

Coreopsis: Annuals and perennials related to sunflowers, these easy-to-grow plants have large numbers of flowers in a wide range of colors. Varieties range from small to large flowered types. Shear after bloom to encourage more. Grow in full sun with little or moderate water.

Gaura lindheimeri: This lovely perennial produces delicate spires topped with tiny flowers that resemble butterflies. Plant in full sun with moderate water.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis: ‘Flamenco Flame’ is a new cultivar with very full flowers and sizzling color. This fast growing shrub is approximately six feet tall and five feet wide.

Honeysuckle: Semi-evergreen twining vine with scarlet flowers that grows 10 to 20 feet long in full to partial sun.

Lantana: Fast-growing evergreen shrubs that can grow upright or trail. Wide range of flower colors; some are fragrant. Needs full sun and moderate water.

Marigold: Whether you choose cultivars or species, annuals or perennials, these are easy to grow with little care. There’s a wide selection of plant sizes, flower shapes and colors, most in white, cream, yellow, gold and orange.

Sage, especially red flowered varieties: With more than 900 different species and many cultivars, there are a large number of these shrubs, perennials and annuals from which to choose. Most prefer dry, sunny conditions and bloom spring through fall.

Star flower: This woody perennial native to South Africa thrives in full sun with moderate water. Clusters of small, star-shaped flowers provide nearly year-round color. Choices are white, pink, lilac or red. Prune yearly to control shape and increase flowering.

Zinnias: Annuals that grow very easily from seed. Scatter seeds in sunny location. Flowers appear within eight weeks. Colors include pastels or bright oranges, reds, yellows. Varieties range from short to tall. Expect flowering in summer and reseed in late summer for fall flowers.

Verbena bonariensis: Upright perennial with thin, branching stems topped by small clusters of violet-blue flowers. Self-seeds. Full sun with little water.

Natchez resident Karen Dardick is a freelance writer and gardening enthusiast. She enjoys watching birds and butterflies.