ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES
Certain plants draw them in
While the decline of the honey bee is high on our radar, butterflies are come in a close second.
And so they should. The monarch butterfly population is in steep decline (although there are reports of a slight recovery this spring). Why, you might ask, should you care?
First, reflect on what butterflies represent — natural beauty, freedom, a fragile strength that gets them to Mexico and back to Canada each year and, of course, metamorphosis from a caterpillar into the most magnificent winged pollinator.
The good news is that you can make a measurable, positive difference to the population of butterflies and moths by making smart gardening choices.
Many plants attract butterflies very effectively. Here are some of my favourite butterfly plants. I recommend that you plant them now. Perennials will put down roots while the soil is still warm and burst out of the soil next spring ready to grow and bloom. Information relating to nectar value is quoted from the book Garden Butterflies of North America. Butterfly bush (Buddleia): A butterfly magnet. Indeed, if you visit a garden centre early in the morning you will find the butterfly bush that are in bloom covered in butterflies. The fragrance and pollen-rich nature of the flower of Buddleia is powerful, indeed. Hardy to Zone 5, it often dies back to the base in the winter in my Zone 5 garden. If I’m patient, it throws up new growth in June and grows to beat the band in time for midsummer blossoms. Hummingbirds love it, too. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): This reliable perennial provides the classic daisy-shaped flower that butterflies so enjoy. Like a helicopter pad, this plant provides the perfect landing place for butterflies. The classic yellow flower is unmistakable as it seems to be taking over the planet. I love this aggressive self-propagator, but I do cut out many roots each spring to keep it from spreading throughout my entire garden. It blooms for up to 10 weeks, prefers the sun and grows about a metre high. Hardy to Zone 3. Joe-pye weed (Eupatoriadel-phus): High in nectar value, this perennial attracts milkweed tussock moths, monarch butterflies and many other colourful pollinators. Cultivated varieties grow aggressively up to two metres high, while the native plants mature to about 1½ metres. Another plant that I tame before it takes over my yard. Hardy to Zone 3. Blazing star (Liatris): This great late summer performer features tall spikes of white or purple flowers in clumps that behave themselves (they don’t travel all over your garden). Look for the native plant or attractive cultivars. Grows to 1.2 metres and is nectar-rich. Hardy to Zone 4. Yarrow (Achillea): An easy-to-grow, aggressive bloomer that puts on quite a show for up to eight weeks late each summer. The native yarrow grows to almost a metre, but there are many brightly coloured cultivars available that are great garden performers. I like the pastelcoloured ones, but some more brightly coloured varieties are also available. Nectar-rich, according to the book. Hardy to Zone 2. Blanket flower (Gaillardia): Not a reliable perennial, so plan on replanting every couple of years. But it makes up for its relatively short life by hosting a wide range of butterflies, such as the bordered patch and the painted Schinia moth. Prefers a sunny position. Hardy to Zone 4.
There are many other butterfly-attracting plants available. You should look carefully at the label when buying. Some garden retailers use a butterfly icon on their signage to indicate that a plant attracts butterflies.
And finally, a word in defence of moths: As night flyers, moths get a bad rap. Perhaps they do not advertise well as they bodyslam into the porch light. Truth is, they are not only harmless to humans, they are also very useful pollinators.
The difference between a butterfly and moth? A butterfly stands with its wings together or slightly parted, while a moth tucks its wings into its body when still.
Both are necessary parts of a landscape that is rich with biodiversity. And we all need more of that.