Butterfly Magic!Adult butterflies visit flowers to obtain nectar. They make use of a wide range of flowers and other sweet substances, such as the juices of over-ripe fruits.
The butterflies most likely to be seen in gardens are the large cabbage white, small cabbage white, green-veined white, brimstone, small tortoiseshell, peacock, comma, painted lady and red admiral, as shown here on a beautiful Lilac.
The numbers of painted lady and red admiral butterflies can vary considerably from year to year since they are migratory butterflies which breed in Britain but generally do not survive the winter.
The butterflies most likely to be seen in gardens are the large cabbage white, small cabbage white, green-veined white, brimstone, small tortoiseshell, peacock, comma, painted lady and red admiral, as shown here on a beautiful Lilac.
The numbers of painted lady and red admiral butterflies can vary considerably from year to year since they are migratory butterflies which breed in Britain but generally do not survive the winter.
To help support butterflies in your garden make sure you have lots of plants that attract butterflies and plant them together in clumps. Nectar-providing flowers are also used by other insects, such as bees and moths. Suitable plants include:
Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), Scabious (Knautia arvensis and Succisa pratensis). Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), African marigold (Tagetes erecta), Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum), Alyssum (Lobularia maritima and Aurinia saxatilis), Stocks (Matthiola incana and hybrids), Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus), Verbena (Verbena rigida)Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri), Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii), Golden rod (Solidago species), Ice plant (Sedum spectabile - dark red cultivars are less attractive), Phlox (Phlox paniculata), Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii, also B. globosa, B. alternifolia),Caryopteris (Caryopteris x clandonensis), Heather (Erica species, Daboecia species, Lavender (Lavandula species) an Thyme (Thymus species) to name ony a few.
The plants listed above will attract the more common species of butterfly, but most are unsuitable as food plants for the larvae. The caterpillars eat leaves and often have a narrow range of suitable host plants often wild plants. Stinging nettles Used by peacock, red admiral, comma and small tortoiseshell. Needs to be grown in a sunny position to encourage egg laying. Prevent seeding by cutting down in mid-summer after the first brood of the small tortoiseshell has developed.
Thistles - Painted lady lays eggs on plants such as welted thistle and creeping thistle.
Cabbages, other brassicas and nasturtiums - Large cabbage white and small cabbage white butterflies.
We know that having an entire wildlife garden is not to everyone's taste as it is commonly seen as too wild and messy but just a patch of your garden left to nature can support hundreds of wildlife species, potentially endangered ones too. St Bridget Nurseries in Exeter is devoted to using nature as a gardener's friend. Both garden centres are approved by the Devon Wildlife Trust so to find out more about encouraging wildlife into your garden, give them a call today.
Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), Scabious (Knautia arvensis and Succisa pratensis). Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), African marigold (Tagetes erecta), Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum), Alyssum (Lobularia maritima and Aurinia saxatilis), Stocks (Matthiola incana and hybrids), Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus), Verbena (Verbena rigida)Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri), Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii), Golden rod (Solidago species), Ice plant (Sedum spectabile - dark red cultivars are less attractive), Phlox (Phlox paniculata), Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii, also B. globosa, B. alternifolia),Caryopteris (Caryopteris x clandonensis), Heather (Erica species, Daboecia species, Lavender (Lavandula species) an Thyme (Thymus species) to name ony a few.
The plants listed above will attract the more common species of butterfly, but most are unsuitable as food plants for the larvae. The caterpillars eat leaves and often have a narrow range of suitable host plants often wild plants. Stinging nettles Used by peacock, red admiral, comma and small tortoiseshell. Needs to be grown in a sunny position to encourage egg laying. Prevent seeding by cutting down in mid-summer after the first brood of the small tortoiseshell has developed.
Thistles - Painted lady lays eggs on plants such as welted thistle and creeping thistle.
Cabbages, other brassicas and nasturtiums - Large cabbage white and small cabbage white butterflies.
We know that having an entire wildlife garden is not to everyone's taste as it is commonly seen as too wild and messy but just a patch of your garden left to nature can support hundreds of wildlife species, potentially endangered ones too. St Bridget Nurseries in Exeter is devoted to using nature as a gardener's friend. Both garden centres are approved by the Devon Wildlife Trust so to find out more about encouraging wildlife into your garden, give them a call today.
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