Butterfly Friendly Plants

With careful selection of plants you need not go out into the countryside to see butterflies. Instead draw them into your garden. There are two reasons moths and butterflies will be attracted into the garden, to feed or to lay eggs.

Whatever you decide to plant, it is important to restrict the usage of pesticides and herbicides which as well as killing pests will affect butterflies, moths and caterpillars.

   Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii

   Nettles Urtica dioica

   Fruit

   Honey Suckle Lonicera periclymenum

Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii  

A plant that had to be included in this section, is the buddleia. The reason being the high profile it provides for butterflies with the general public.

Caterpillars are seen but usually they have to be looked for. However with the relatively recent introduction of the buddleia, butterflies sometimes in large numbers can now be seen feeding on this plant within town gardens.

Buddleia is a recent introduction, brought to the UK at the end of the 19TH century. Buddleia is not a native plant but an introduction from China, it has surprisingly become widespread.

They are a deciduous plant but tend not to lose their leaves during the winter in Cornwall. With their penchant for lime rich soils, man has provide a niche that had been sparsely utilised by other plants, old derelict building sites. They will readily establish on buildings with failing pointing. In Cornwall buddleia are commonly seen growing on buildings even the roofs and chimneys.

Buddleia flowers are individually small, but are clusted in spikes of over a foot long. They are popular with butterflies due to their attractive scent and the quantity of nectar they provide.

Varieties of Buddleia

It is hardy and easy to grow, an attractive way for gardners to help the UK's butterfly population. The common variety is attractive, but now there are several more attractive new varieties developed specifically for gardens.

Nettles Urtica dioica

This may be an unpopular plant with the keen gardener, however it is a food plant to the caterpillars of several beautiful butterfly species; Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell.

A small clump can be placed in an out of way spot even in flower pot, along as it is in the sun. You may be fortunate and one of these species may lay eggs in this nettle patch.

Fruit

Leaving fallen fruit such as rotting apples will attract butterflies such as the Red Admiral.

The rotting apples begin to ferment and the butterflies feeding on them, become ''drunk''.

Also if growing raspberries do not pick them all, leave some on the plant.

Honey Suckle Lonicera periclymenum

Honey suckle is a night scented flower and will attract moths particularly hawkmoths.

Attracting night flying insects can have the knock on effect of encouraging bats into the garden.