Create a Butterfly Garden

It's easy to create or convert your garden into a private retreat for native butterflies. Butterflies use plants during each stage of their life cycle -- egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis and adult (butterfly). A butterfly garden that includes plants for the entire life cycle will attract the greatest number and variety of native butterflies. Many flowers provide a good source of nectar to attract the adults. When the butterfly detects something sweet, it will extend its coiled proboscis and probe into the flower for nectar. CHOOSE A VARIETY OF PLANTS from the list that will BLOOM AT DIFFERENT TIMES of the season to make your garden more attractive to a wider assortment of butterflies. PLANT THE FLOWERS IN CLUSTERS of each species, and create a garden that includes several DIFFERENT COLORS AND FLOWER HEIGHTS. Clusters of flowers are easier for the butterflies to locate than individual plants. A MIXTURE OF ANNUALS, PERENNIALS, AND BIENNIALS will allow you to experiment with different flower combinations each year as you discover which species work best for your area. Most caterpillars are specific about the plants they feed on, and female butterflies will only lay their eggs on the caterpillar food plant. Since you cannot have butterflies without caterpillars, be sure to PROVIDE A VARIETY OF CATERPILLAR FOOD PLANTS IN YOUR GARDEN. Tall trees can provide a place for butterflies to roost at night or during cloudy weather (willows, ash and chokecherry are also caterpillar food plants for some species). PLANT YOUR GARDEN IN A SUNNY PLACE to increase blooming and PROVIDE ROCKS for butterflies to bask in the sun. Butterflies bask to heat up their wing muscles for flight. Also, be sure NOT TO USE PESTICIDES in or near your garden. Butterfly Links USGS - Colorado Butterflies - with photo and textual information Extensive Butterfly information Web Site Other Butterfly Garden Information Botanical Gardens Schedule The following list of plants and shrubs includes nectar sources and caterpillar food plants that are available in the Rocky Mountain region that should work well in a butterfly garden. Butterfly Garden Plants P - Perennial S - Summer A - Annual LtS - Late Summer B - Biennial F - Fall Sp - Spring Recommended Plants P / S-F Achillea - Yarrow P / LtS-F Aster P / S-F Asclepias - Milkweed A / S-F Cleome - Spider Plant P / S-F Coreopis - Tickseed A / S-F Cosmos B / Sp-F Dianthus - Sweet William P / LtS-F Echinacea - Coneflower P / S-F Erigeron - Fleabane P / LtS-F Eupatorium - Joe Pye Weed P / S-F Gaillardia - Blanket Flower A / S-F Gomphrena - Globe Amaranth P / LtS-F Helenium - Sneezeweed A / S-F Helianthus - Sunflower A / S-F Heliothropum - Heliotrope A / S-F Lantana P / S-F Lavendula - Lavender P / LtS-F Liatris - Gayfeather P / Sp-F Lupinus - Lupine P / S-F Lychnis - Maltese Cross P / S-F Monarda - Bee Balm P / LtS-F Penstemon - Beard Tongue A / S-F Pentas - Starflower P / LtS-F Phlox P / S-F Rudbeckia - Black-Eyed Susan P / S-F Salvia - Sage P / S-F Scabiosa - Pincushion Flower P / LtS- F Sedum - Stonecrop P / LtS-F Solidago - Goldenrod A / S-F Tithonia - Mexican Sunflower B / Sp-S Viola - Pansy P / Sp-F Veronica - Speedwell A / S-F Zinnia A-P / S-F Verbena Caterpillar Food Plants A / S-F Anethum - Dill P / S-F Asclepias - Milkweed P / S-F Petroselinum - Parsley P / Sp Prunus - Chokecherry Shrubs P / LtS-F Buddleia - Butterfly Bush P / LtS-F Caryopteris - Blue Mist Spirea P / Sp-S Viburnum P / Sp Syringa - Lilac P - LtS-F Chrysothamnus - Rabbitbrush

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