Butterflies Among the Herbs

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Keep in mind that these host plants will be nibbled on— a good thing in the butterfly garden. Think of it as a sacrifice to new life. Most caterpillars depend on only one or two host plants anyway (here’s where knowing the butterfly species common to your area comes in handy), so if you plant extra you probably won’t notice the damage. You’ll certainly take note of the newly emerged butterflies.

Love at First Site

Situate your butterfly garden in a sheltered area that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. For cold-blooded creatures such as butterflies this is especially important during cooler springtime weather. At 60 degrees they begin to flutter and launch their colorful flight, painting your garden with a living tapestry of stripes and circles. Their flight improves as the warm sun dries their wings. You may notice them basking in the sun, absorbing the heat with outstretched wings. Place large rocks throughout your garden, providing a solar-heated sunbathing area. A windbreak of trees or shrubs will give butterflies a place to hide from the elements and a roost at night. (A raindrop on a butterfly is like a barrel of water poured on your head.) Let fallen leaves, pieces of bark and rocks stay on the ground to provide shelter. A log pile stacked crosswise also creates a safe haven with its many open nooks and crannies.

Male butterflies engage in a behavior called “puddling,” which transfers beneficial nutrients that enhance the viability of the female’s eggs. You can create an artificial puddle by burying a bucket filled with wet sand or soil, then placing a few sticks or rocks on top of the sand as butterfly perches. Be sure to refill the bucket when it runs dry.

My herb garden is frequented by a captivating clan of butterflies, from painted ladies, anise swallowtails and fritillaries to red admirals and skippers. Ever since I was a child watching skippers on a lantana bush bordering our front walk, I have enjoyed watching these miracles of nature, a dependable, remarkable part of my world.

Ten terrific butterfly herbs

The following herbs will draw many species of butterflies; the species listed here are only the most common. * st= swallowtails; bf = brushfoots; wh = whites; su = sulphurs;hs = hairstreaks; bl = blues; cp = coppers; pl = painted ladies; sk = skippers.

Calendulas (Calendula officinalis): also known as pot marigold; grow 15 to 30 inches tall; bloom during the cool season—late fall through spring in mild winter areas, summer in colder climates—in full sun and well-drained soil; *attract su, bf, st, sk.

Bee balms (Monarda spp.): Zones 3–9; summer-blooming hardy perennials growing 2 to 4 feet tall in rich, moist soil in full sun to light shade; *attract st, bf, su, sk, pl.

Butterfly bushes (Buddleja davidii): Zones 5–9; deciduous shrubs growing 8 to 15 feet in height; bloom in summer and fall in full sun and average soil; *attract st, wh, su, bf, pl.

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