Wildlife
Gardens

Wildlife Tips

Wildlife
Gardens

Plants For Butterflies

Plants For Butterflies: Adult butterflies may be attracted to feed on nectar provided by a wide range of garden plants. Micaelmas Daisy, Iceplants, Wild Candytuft, Vaerian, Hemp Agrimony and Hebe are among the species which will usally bring in the colourful members of the Nymphalid family like small tortoiseshell and peacock. In the autumn, rotting fruit like apples and split plums are irresistible to red admirals. Bramble flowers are popular with speckled wood and gatekeeper, while Knapweeds and Scabious are magnets for many species including marbled white, although this last is a rare garden visitor unless you live close to downland.

However it is also worth considering the needs of butterflies at other stages of their lifecycle. Sting nettle is the only foodplant of the catterpillars on small tortoiseshell and peacock and is also sought out by red admiral and comma , which also favours Hop. orange tips lay their eggs on Cuckoo flower and brimstone on Buckthorn or Alder Buckthorn. The holly blue needs both Holly and Ivy, while the larvae of brown butterflies such as wall, speckledwood, gatekeeper and meadow brown feed on common grasses such as annual Meadow Grass, Cocks Foot and Sheep Fescue.

List Of Plants Suitable For A Butterfly Garden

Plants For Butterflies