Butterflies Among the Herbs

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

How Sweet It Is

Butterflies are attracted by varying degrees to a flower’s color, shape or smell, but the biggest draw is nectar. These insects taste with their feet, which have special receptors for sweetness. When those receptors find a nectar-laden treasure, they uncoil their tubular tongues (called proboscises) and enjoy their dinner through their very own straw. Once a butterfly discovers its favorite flowers, it will return to that location again and again.

An abundance of flowering herbs will invite butterflies to come explore. Maintain the attraction by growing various herbs that bloom at different times. Include spring bloomers such as pinks, lilac (Syringa spp.), phlox and dame’s-rocket (Hesperis matronalis); span the warm-weather season with sunflowers, oregano, echinacea, goldenrod (Solidago spp.) and coreopsis; then wrap up the season’s end with fall flowers such as aster, chrysanthemum and sedum.

While many herbs are ideal for the butterfly garden, not every herb is successful at attracting a variety of butterflies. Composites—which have a circle of ray petals around a pollen-laden center—are great for the masses, providing an excellent all-around nectar source for many butterflies. Herbs with composite flowers include echinacea, calendula (Calendula officinalis), feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), chamomile, yarrow, sunflowers and goldenrod, as well as asters, zinnias, African daisies (Osteospermum spp.) and chrysanthemums

Caterpillar Cafeteria

With a season-long smorgasbord of flowering herbs to keep butterflies content, they may want to stay on and start a family. Butterflies are mostly host specific. In other words, each species seeks out a specific plant on which to lay its eggs that will feed its caterpillars.

Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed (Asclepias spp.), while the pearl crescent and field crescent dine primarily on asters. Fritillaries adore violets, while red admirals feast mainly on nettles. Umbelliferous plants—among them are fennel, dill, caraway, anise, cilantro and parsley—are shared by the anise swallowtail and black swallowtail alike. Other caterpillar host plants and trees include sunflowers, birches, willows, wild plum, ash, penstemons, vetch, passion vine and grasses.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print