How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden

Create a butterfly-friendly garden by planting native flowering plants, providing water sources, avoiding pesticides, and including host plants where butterflies can lay eggs.

1. Find Your Sunniest Spot. Select a sunny spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Butterflies are cold-blooded and need warmth to fly. Pick an area protected from strong winds, as butterflies struggle in gusty conditions. A south-facing location with some natural windbreaks like shrubs or fencing works best.
2. Stock the Nectar Bar. Focus on native flowering plants that bloom at different times throughout the growing season. Plant flowers in clusters of the same species rather than scattering single plants. Good choices include purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, bee balm, and native asters. Aim for continuous blooms from spring through fall to provide steady food sources.
3. Feed the Caterpillars First. Add plants where butterflies can lay eggs and caterpillars can feed. Different butterfly species need specific host plants. Plant native milkweed for monarchs, parsley for swallowtails, and native grasses for skippers. Research which butterflies are common in your area and plant their preferred host species.
4. Build Butterfly Watering Holes. Set up shallow water areas where butterflies can drink and get minerals. Fill a shallow dish with sand or pebbles and add water until it just covers the surface. Place these puddling stations in sunny spots throughout the garden. Change the water every few days to prevent mosquito breeding.
5. Go Chemical-Free Now. Stop using chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers that can harm butterflies at all life stages. Even organic pesticides can be harmful to caterpillars. Instead, encourage beneficial insects and practice companion planting to manage pests naturally. Hand-pick larger pests when necessary.
6. Create Cozy Hideaways. Include shrubs, tall grasses, or brush piles where butterflies can take shelter during bad weather and overnight. Leave some areas of your garden a bit wild with native plants and fallen leaves. Butterflies also use these spaces to overwinter as chrysalises or eggs.
7. Protect the Overwintering Spots. Avoid cutting back plants in fall, as many butterfly eggs and chrysalises overwinter on stems and leaves. Wait until late spring to clean up your garden. When you do prune, leave some areas undisturbed. Mow paths and high-traffic areas but let border areas grow naturally.