Many people wonder how to attract butterflies into your garden. It’s really not that difficult and by everyone doing their bit in their garden it’s a really great way to help restore the declining butterfly population. All you have to do is simply add a few different plants to your garden which will help you attract many different butterflies.

Butterflies are very much like honeybees they are excellent pollinators, so having butterflies in your garden will help increase your vegetable, fruit and flower production. All you need to do is provide the butterflies with a mixture of different flowers and shrubs. And you too can start seeing these beautiful insects in your garden very soon.

How to attract butterflies

Here are some ideas to help you get or increase butterflies in your garden.

• You can start by seeding a part of your garden to wildflowers or get a special butterfly seed mix. These types of seeds are available through online seed catalogues and garden centres.
• Always try and provide a different range of flower colours. Because some butterflies like yellows, oranges or reds – while other butterflies are drawn towards whites, purples or blue flowers. Also try and choose simple flowers as these make it easier for the butterflies to reach the nectar source of the plant.
• When planting flowers or shrubs try and plant them in clusters as this will make it easier for butterflies to recognize them as a nectar food source.
• Some of the widely known food sources for the common caterpillar are: borage, clover, asters, chickweed, hollyhocks, lupines, mallows, marigold, nasturtium, parsley, ragweed, thistle and wisteria. Many caterpillars also thrive on trees as a food source such as: birch, ash, elm, black locust and oak.
• Good perennial plants to grow for nectar plants are: chives, chamomile, daisies, thistles, sea holly, purple coneflower, lavender, marjoram, mints, sage, dandelion and valerian.
• Apart from the perennial plants it also a good idea to grow an annual food supply of nectar plants for the butterflies – some of which are: ageratum, alyssum, dill, cosmos, pinks, verbena and zinnia.

Remember, butterflies are cold-blooded insects they need to bask in the sunshine. This warms their wings, which is needed for flight and also to familiarize themselves with their surroundings. Butterflies also appreciate shelter from the wind, (though it’s more important to give them a good nectar food supply) – they also like to have a source of water.