Including host plants in a butterfly garden is the best way to see more butterflies. Do I Need Host Plants In My Butterfly Garden?
Learn more about how to select plants for your butterfly garden in our article on ‘Perfect Flowers for Butterfly Gardens’ which covers selecting the perfect flowers for butterfly habitats. And by planting the flowers in bunches you’ll help butterflies see them from a distance. To keep a steady stream of color and butterfly visitors to your garden all season long you’ll want to include a variety of plants that bloom at varying times. Also, many butterflies and other pollinators prefer certain native plants over non-natives. We focus on including native nectar plants in our butterfly gardens since they tend to be hardier, requiring less maintenance and care than non-natives. You will also be able to witness the miracle of a butterfly’s entire life cycle – complete metamorphosis – in your backyard! Are Some Nectar Plants Better Than Others? If you include both host plants and nectar plants in your garden you increase your chances of seeing many colorful butterflies come and go as they feed on the nectar plants you’ve provided. Once the eggs hatch the caterpillars will remain on the plant eating the leaves (and sometimes the stems) until the caterpillars are large enough to leave to form their chrysalises.Īdult butterflies need nectar plants to feed on for energy for flying and mating. Female adult butterflies need host plants to lay their eggs.