Butterfly Attracting Perennials: Top Picks for a Floral Haven for Butterflies
In the world of gardening, Glen, a renowned expert with over 15 years of experience, is making waves with his vibrant and biodiverse butterfly gardens. His latest creations are not just visually stunning, but they also serve as essential habitats for a variety of butterfly species.
Glen's focus is on perennials that provide both nectar and serve as host plants for butterfly larvae. He chooses nectar-rich plants like coneflowers, lavender, and salvia, which attract a diverse range of butterflies. For caterpillars, Glen selects host plants such as milkweed, parsley, dill, and fennel, which are favourites for Black Swallowtail caterpillars and the only host plant for Monarch caterpillars, the milkweed.
Glen designs his garden to provide a continuous source of attraction throughout the seasons. He plants a succession of blooms, starting with spring flowers, transitioning to summer bloomers, and finishing with autumn heroes. This thoughtful approach ensures that butterflies have a steady source of nectar throughout the year.
In addition to the usual suspects, Glen includes native plants in his butterfly garden. Native milkweeds, such as butterfly weed and swamp milkweed, are highly recommended for supporting monarch butterflies and a variety of native bees. Native shrubs like Northern spicebush, American hazelnut, witch-hazel, and native honeysuckles provide shelter and additional food sources.
Glen's colourful garden boasts a palette of bright pinks, purples, and whites, using plants like phlox paniculata, bee balm, and asters. His latest posts include tips on using garden fungicides, picking candy cane peppers, and picking watermelons, demonstrating his versatility as a gardening expert.
A sustainable butterfly habitat should consider the life cycle of butterflies, including what caterpillars require in addition to what adult butterflies need. By focusing on native plants and a mix of host and nectar plants, Glen's gardens not only attract adult butterflies but also provide a nurturing environment for caterpillars to thrive.
In conclusion, for those seeking to create a sustainable butterfly habitat, focusing on native milkweeds and native shrubs for shelter and larval food plants aligns with expert advice. Glen's personal recommendations can be found in his more specific publications or local native plant societies. Until then, these recommendations provide a solid foundation for a vibrant and biodiverse butterfly garden.
| Plant Type | Examples | Benefits | |---------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Native Milkweeds | Butterfly weed, Swamp milkweed | Monarch larval host, supports native bees | | Native Shrubs | Northern spicebush, American hazelnut, Witch-hazel, Native honeysuckles | Shelter and additional food sources | | Native Prairie Plants | Various prairie perennials | Foliage and nectar through seasons |
Glen's home-and-garden focus revolves around designing sustainable butterfly habitats, integrating native plants such as milkweeds, spicebush, and honeysuckles to cater to both adult butterflies and their caterpillars. His lifestyle includes a gardening approach that provides a diverse range of nectar plants, like coneflowers, lavender, and salvia, as well as host plants, such as milkweed, parsley, dill, and fennel, ensuring a steady source of food throughout the lifestyle shifts in butterflies' life cycles.
