|
 When
designing a butterfly garden, expand and balance plant selection to
provide more than nectar plants for adult butterflies.
As the growing season winds down, pollinators are busy feeding and
laying eggs in preparation for winter. Most butterflies overwinter
locally, but several generations of monarch butterflies migrate
thousands of miles to Mexico for the winter and need fuel for the
journey.
A nectar plant has flowers that create a carbohydrate-rich food
source for pollinators in exchange for pollination services by adult
butterflies. A larval host plant allows caterpillars, or larvae, to
feed on this plant. Because of the integral relationship between
host plants and butterflies, gardeners must be strategic when
picking a caterpillar host plant to attract a particular butterfly
species.
It is helpful to remember that a female butterfly can
travel long distances, but their caterpillars cannot. This balance
tip lets you observe a garden where butterflies can feed, lay their
eggs, and provide food for their newly hatched larvae, that then
pupate and create their cocoons, emerge, and begin a lifecycle or
migrate to a new region.
Planting important pollinator larva and nectar plants creates a fun
and colorful buffet for your butterfly garden. With good selections,
hungry caterpillars will eventually devour parts of these plants,
but no worries, the larva host plants will grow back. [to top of second
column] |
Consider these selections to add and balance a
butterfly garden. More resources about pollinators and starting
a pollinator garden are available from University of Illinois
Extension at illinois.pollinators.edu. For questions, connect
with a local Extension office at
https://extension.illinois.edu/lms.
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) larvae only
eat milkweed plants. One option is Butterfly weed milkweed (Asclepias
tuberous). The common buckeye butterfly (Junonia
coenia) is commonly attracted to snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus).
Herbs can make a great edible addition to your
butterfly garden. Consider adding dill, fennel, or parsley, which
may attract more black swallowtail butterflies (Papilio polyxenes).
[Christina Lueking, Horticulture
Educator, University of Illinois Extension]
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