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2012 HOME & GARDEN MAGAZINE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com May 25, 2012
23
the composite or aster family are ideal. Examples
are coneflowers, zinnias, marigolds, cosmos,
black-eyed Susans and asters. Other good plants
have clusters of small flowers, like butterfly weed,
butterfly bush, alyssum, mint, verbena and phlox.
Most butterflies favor pink, lavender or purple
blossoms, but some may visit other colors. For
instance, swallowtails like reds and have been seen
on yellow lantana.
Butterflies have a well-developed sense of smell
and are attracted to heavily perfumed flowers. They
will pass over lightly scented varieties in favor of the
most fragrant. Heirloom and old-fashioned varieties
tend to have a stronger scent. If
you are interested in attracting
moths, add sweet-smelling,
night-blooming flowers like
nicotiana.
Although a mix of flower
types is good, large masses of
one type are better than a bed
with lots of varieties but only
one or two plants of each type.
For example, an entire bed of
purple coneflowers will draw
more butterflies than a single coneflower mixed in
with other butterfly plants.
Butterfly gardens should have full sun and
protection from strong winds. An ideal location
is on the south or southeast side of a tall building
or fence on a south-facing slope. You can also use
tall shrubs to achieve a similar effect. Butterflies,
like all insects, are cold-blooded and need to warm
themselves in the sun before they are able to fly. A
brick or stone pathway or a few dark-colored stones
scattered in the garden are good butterfly warmers.
The final thing you may wish to add is a small
wet spot. A large rock with a depression that can be
kept full of water is one option. Another is filling a
small container with sand, sinking it into the ground
and keeping the sand wet. In the wild, butterflies
gather around these small wet sites, probably for
salt.
By Barbara Larson, University of Illinois
Extension, unit educator, horticulture, Winnebago
and Boone counties
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources
recommends the following as good choices for the
home gardener:
Plants commonly used by various adult
butterflies as nectar sources:
• Black-eyed Susan
• Blazing star
• Boneset
• Butterfly weed
• Clover
• Coneflower
• Dogbane
• Goat’s beard
• Goldenrod
• Ironweed
• Joe-pye weed
• Milkweed
• New England aster
• Phlox
• Spearmint
• Thistle
• Verbena
• Wild bergamot
Plants commonly used as both nectar sources for
adults and as food sources for larvae:
•
Goldenrod
•
Spicebush
•
Milkweed
•
Thistle
The Butterfly Site also offers
extensive information on how to
attract specific butterflies to your
garden:
1. Butterflies that live in
Illinois:
http://www.thebutterflysite.
com/illinois-butterflies.shtml
2. Nectar plants for the specific butterflies you
would like to attract:
http://www.thebutterflysite.com/butterfly-food.
shtml
3. Host plants that provide a site for the butterfly
to lay eggs and that act as a food source for hungry
caterpillars:
http://www.thebutterflysite.com/create-butterfly-
garden.shtml
You will find more links to moth and butterfly
pictures and other useful information at this Illinois
Department of Natural Resources site:
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/education/moth/index.
htm