Butterflies in May
Butterflies are without a doubt amongst the most beautiful creatures to come calling in our gardens. We all have fond memories of admiring and chasing them down the garden paths when we were youngsters! So why not make reminiscing easier, by planting flowers that butterflies love most in your garden? If you’re not sure what plants to grow, this guide is sure to help bring the wildlife to the garden.
There are around 50 different species of butterflies to be found in this country and several of these are likely to visit us at home. Butterflies look to our gardens for two primary needs; the caterpillars require food plants and after hatching, the butterflies require nectar from their favourite flowers.
Nettles are the most favoured food plant of many of our caterpillars and butterflies such as the Red Admiral. It’s well known defence mechanism ensures it is left alone by grazing animals and so provides a safe haven for eggs to be laid and young caterpillars to graze.
Butterfly Top Tip:
Try and retain at least one patch in a sunny site somewhere in your garden; at least it will mean they are less likely to visit your more prized plants! Other common food plants preferred by some species include the buckthorn and some wild grasses.
Butterfly Fun Fact:
As butterflies don’t have jaws (unlike caterpillars) they have to source all their food as liquid. Their hollow tongues suck up nectar, just as if drinking from a straw. But, butterflies actually taste to distinguish their favourite foods with sensitive hairs on their feet of all places! Their eyes can distinguish different colours which also helps them single out their favourite breakfasts.
The buddleia or also known as the famous “butterfly bush” is the butterfly’s favourite food source, but we should include many other plants too which will extend the season and make sure we see as great a list of visitors as possible.
Don’t forget:
There is another species of the buddleia, lochinch, it might less well-known, but butterflies love it equally as much. It has decorative soft grey foliage and long panicles of lavender blue flowers with an orange eye. Watch out too for Notcutts special range of dwarf buddleias, aptly named purple emperor adonis blue peacock and camberwell beauty; all named after some of our favourite butterflies!
Sweet william is one of the butterfly’s favourite plants, particularly Large Skippers. You can buy annual sweet williams’ in bedding packs any time now or sow biennials in June.
The aubrietia is of course a most popular plant and very evident right now. It’s extremely valuable for its early blooms, which can attract the Orange Tip butterfly that will only be seen at this time of year.
Another plant that will help with the encouragement of butterflies is the verbena bonariensis, which is also a highly fashionable plant these days.
You can also watch butterflies all year round with Notcutts