See the List of Plants in Our Gardens at MEG and view some photos of our Butterfly Gardens.
As meadows, hedgerows and open fields with their native plants give way to land development, butterflies rely increasingly on our gardens to provide a friendly habitat. They require plants during each stage of their life cycle – egg, caterpillar, chrysalis (or pupa) and butterfly. Supporting and maintaining a population of butterflies from spring to early fall requires a garden with plants for all stages of life. Attracting butterflies to your garden is easy to do.
WHAT DO BUTTERFLIES NEED?
- host plants where females lay their eggs and caterpillars will feed
- flowers that are a good source of nectar for the butterflies found in your area
- water, damp spots or puddles, where butterflies get necessary nutrients and moisture
- shelter, supplied by shrubs that provide a wind break, trees that provide nighttime roosts and protection from weather, or grasses on which caterpillars form their chrysalis
- an insecticide-free environment, since using these chemicals kills desirable insects as well as harmful pests
- sun, so that your plants will flourish and butterflies will have a longer period of warmth for flying and feeding. Since butterflies only fly well when their body temperature is over 85 degrees, large flat rocks for “basking” and warming themselves will add to the appeal of your garden.
A sunny display of colorful flowers is a good beginning. To attract a wide assortment of butterflies you need to provide a variety of flowers of diverse heights and different seasons of bloom. Planting each variety in clusters rather than individually makes them easier to locate. Including a mixture of annuals and perennials allows you to discover which varieties are most successful in your area. On the back of this sheet is a suggested list of host and nectar plants to get you started.
NECTAR PLANTS
| PERENNIALS | ANNUALS | ||
| Achillea – Yarrow | S-F | Cleome – Spiderflower | S-F |
| Agastache – Anise Hyssop | Sp-S | Cosmos – Cosmos | S-F |
| Anaphalis – Pearly Everlasting | S-F | Gaillardia – Blanketflower | S-F |
| Aster – Aster | LtS-F | Gomphrena – Globe Amaranth | S-F |
| Asclepias – Butterfly Weed | S-F | Helianthus – Sunflower | S-F |
| Chelone – Turtlehead | LtS-F | Heliotropum – Heliotrope | S-F |
| Coreopsis – Tickseed | S-F | Lantana – Lantana | S-F |
| Dianthus – Sweet William | Sp-F | Salvia – Sage | S-F |
| Echinacea – Coneflower | S-F | Tagetes – French Marigold | S-F |
| Echinops – Globe Thistle | LtS-F | Tithonia – Mexican Sunflower | S-F |
| Eupatorium – Joe Pye Weed | LtS-F | Verbena –Verbena | S-F |
| Gaillardia – Blanketflower | S-F | Zinnia – Zinnia | S-F |
| Helenium – Sneezeweed | LtS-F | ||
| Hesperis – Dame’s Rocket | Sp | SHRUBS | |
| Lavandula – Lavender | S-F | Abelia – Glossy Abelia | LtS-F |
| Liatris – Gay Feather | LtS-F | Buddleia – Butterfly Bush | S-F |
| Lychnis – Maltese Cross | S-F | Caryopteris – Blue Mist Spirea | LtS-F |
| Monarda – Bee Balm | S-F | Ceanothus – New Jersey Tea | S-F |
| Penstemon – Beard Tongue | LtS-F | Clethra – Sweet Pepperbush | LtS-F |
| Phlox – Phlox | S | Lindera – Spicebush | Sp |
| Pycnanthemum – Mountain Mint | S-F | ||
| Salvia – Sage | S-F | ||
| Scabiosa – Pincushion Flower | LtS-F |
KEY: SP – Spring, S – Summer, LtS – Late Summer, F – Fall
HOST PLANTS
Some caterpillars may feed on herbs or vegetables you have planted in your garden. If you grow fennel, parsley, dill, cabbage, broccoli or beans, plant extras to share with the caterpillars. Many feed on native vegetation, such as violets, Queen Anne’s lace, milkweed or red and white clover. Leaving wildflowers, grasses and weeds on part of your property can provide additional food sources and shelter. See the list below, as well as the Native Plant Society of New Jersey’s list of Native Butterfly Host Plants.
Host plants - pdf bw (2)INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE? TRY THESE:
Rutgers Master Gardener website resources:
| Title |
| Butterfly Identification Chart |
| Dealing with Deer |
Additional online resources:
| Incorporating Native Plants in Your Residential Landscape | Rutgers NJ Agricultural Experiment Station |
| Monarch Life Cycle | University of Minnesota Extension |
| Gardening for Monarchs | Monarch Joint Venture |
| Milkweed Bugs | Missouri Botanical Garden |
| Risks of Neonicotinoid Use to Pollinators | Monarch Joint Venture |
| Common Milkweed Insects | Wisconsin Master Gardeners |
| Alternative Pesticide Management | Colorado State University Extension |
| Monarch Fueling Zone Project | Pollinator Partnership |
Organizations:
| Title |
| North American Butterfly Association |
| Monarch Watch |
| Xerces Society |
Some of our favorite books:
| The Lifecycles of Butterflies, Burris and Richards |
| Learn About Butterflies in the Garden, Brenda Dziedzic |
| Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful Beneficial Insects, Xerces Society |
| Wildflowers in Field and Forest, Steven Clemants and Carol Gracie |
| How to Spot Butterflies by Patricia Taylor Sutton and Clay Sutton |
| National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies, Robert M. Pyle |
| Creating a Butterfly Garden: A Guide to Attracting and Identifying Butterfly Visitors, Marcus Schneck |
| The Complete Guide to Butterfly Gardening, Identification, and Behavior, Donald Stokes et al. |