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Butterflies & Plants Butterflies depend on plants. Plants meet the needs of Butterflies through the 4 stages of their life cycle: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, adult. After mating, female Butterflies search for plants on which to lay eggs. Some butterflies lay eggs on several types of plants while others use only one specific host plant. Eastern Tiger Swallowtails lay eggs on Tulip Trees or Wild Cherries, Monarchs lay eggs on Milkweed, and Black Swallowtails on Parsley. After a few days, caterpillars emerge from the eggs and begin to eat. The female Butterflies have laid eggs on the plants that caterpillars prefer to eat. If the desired plant is not available, caterpillars will starve to death rather than eat other vegetation. Most Butterfly caterpillars feed on native plants and are not considered agricultural or ornamental pests. In a few weeks when the caterpillars are fully grown, they shed their skin for the last time and change into a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis the body of an adult Butterfly forms. Chrysalises are often attached to plant items and protected by surrounding vegetation. After emerging from the chrysalis, adult Butterflies soon begin to search for nectar-rich flowers. A garden designed with this in mind attracts the largest number and greatest variety of visiting butterflies! Creating a Butterfly Garden 1. Choose a sunny location. Butterflies and most butterfly-attracting plants require full sun. 2. Plant nectar-producing flowers of bright colors. Butterflies prefer purple, yellow, orange, and red-colored flowers. Clusters of short and tubular or flat-topped flowers provide the ideal shapes for Butterflies to easily land and feed. 3. Select single rather than double flowers. The nectar of single flowers is more accessible to Butterflies. 4. Use large splashes of color, grouping plants together. Groupings are easier for Butterflies to find than isolated plants. 5. Plan for continuous flowering throughout the growing season.Butterflies are active from early spring (Azaleas), through summer (Buddleia), into late fall (Chrysanthemum). Include damp areas or shallow puddles in the garden. Butterflies need to drink and they also extract salts from moist soil. 7. Place flat stones in the garden. Stones hold heat, and Butterflies like to bask in the sun to raise their body temperature in order to fly and remain active. 8. Do not use pesticides in or near a Butterfly Garden. Pesticides are toxic to Butterflies. Instead use predatory insects, insecticidal soap, or hand- remove insects that are problems. e=early; m=mid; l=late; SP=spring; SU=summer; F=fall; W=winter PLANTS FOR NECTAR | | | | | | | | | | Ageratum -- SU-F | Ageratum houstonianum | | SHRUBS | | Alyssum | Lobularia maritima | | | | Bluebell -- lSP-F | Campanula species | | Abelia -- SU-eF | Abelia X Grandiflora | Calendula -- SP-mSU | Calendula officinalis | | Azalea | Rhododendron species | Cornflower -- SU | Centaurea cyanus | | Beauty Bush -- SP | Kolkwitzia amabilis | Cosmos -- SU-F | Cosmos species | | Blue Mist Shrub -- lSU-F | Caryopteris species | Dianthus -- SP-SU | Dianthus species | | Butterfly Bush -- mSU-F | Buddleai davidii | Egyptian Star-Cluster | Pentas lanceolata | | Cotoneaster -- SP | Cotoneaster species | French Marigold | Tagetes patula | | Deutzia -- SP | Deutzia species | Gaillardia -- SU-F | Gaillardia pulchella | | Flame Azalea -- SP | Rhododendron calendulaceum | Heliotrope -- Sp-SU | Heliotropium species | | Heather -- SU-F | Calluna species | Impatiens -- SU | Impatiens Walleriana | | Lantana | Lantana species | Lantana -- Sp-F | Lantana species | | Lilac -- SP | Syringa vulgaris | Lisianthus -- | Eustoma grandiflorum | | Mock Orange -- lSP-eSU | Philadelphus species | Lobelia -- SU-F | Lobelia species | | Rose of Sharon -- SU | Hibiscus syriacus | Mexican Sunflower | Tithonia rotundifolia | | Spiraea -- SP-F | Spiraea species | Milkweed | Asclepias species | | Viburnum -- SP | Viburnum species | Moss Verbena | Verbena tenuisecta | | Weigelia -- SP-F | Weigelia species | Nasturtium -- Sp-F | Tropaeolum majus | | | | Petunia -- SU | Petunia species & hybrida | | SHRUB/TREE | | Phlox -- SP-SU | Phlox species | | | | Salvia/Sage -- lSP-lF | Salvia species | | Buckeye -- SP | Aesculus species | Statice -- SP-SU | Limonium species | | Redbud -- eSP | Cercis species | Sunflower -- SU-F | Helianthus annus | | Vitex -- SU-F | Vitex species | Sweet Alyssum -- Sp-Su | Lobularia maritima | | | | Verbena -- SU | Verbena species | | VINES | | Zinnia | Zinnia elegans | | | | | | | Clematis -- eSP-F | Clematis | PERENNIALS | | | Honeysuckle-- lSP-F | Lonicera species | | | | Passion Flower -- SU | Passiflora species | Alyssum -- SP-F | Alyssum species | | | | Asclepias -- mSU-eF | Asclepias species | | HOST PLANTS | | Aster -- SP--F | Aster species | | | | Astilbe -- SP--eSU | Astilbe species | | Butterfly Weed | Asclepias tuberosa | Black-eyed Susan -- SU-F | Rudbeckia hirta | | Parsley | Petroselinum crispum | Blackberry Lily -- lSP-eSU | Belamcanda chinensis | | Dill | Anethum graveolens | Blazing-Star -- SU-F | Liatris species | | Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare | Bugleweed -- lSP-SU | Ajuga reptans | | Hollyhock | Alcea rosea | Butterfly Weed -- lSP-SU | Asclepias tuberosa | | Mallow | Malva moschata | Candytuft -- eSP-SU | Iberis sempervirens | | Milkweed | Asclepias species | Catmint -- eSU | Nepeta mussinii | | Passion Flower | Passiflora caerulea | Catnip -- eSU | Nepeta cataria | | | | Chives -- SP | Allium schoenprasum | | | | Cinquefoil -- SP-F | Potentilla species | | | | Comfrey -- lSP-F | Symphytum officinale | | | | Coneflower -- lSU | Echinacea purpurea | | | | Coreopsis -- lSP-F | Coreopsis species | | | | Eupatorium -- lSU-F | Eupatorium species | | | | Field Scabiosa -- lSP-F | Knautia species | | | | Fleebane -- eSu-F | Erigeron species | | | | Flowering Tobacco -- SU | Nicotinia X sanderae | | | | Forget-me-not -- SP-F | Myosotis species | | | | Gaillardia -- SU-F | Gaillardia X grandiflora | | | | Gazania -- lSP-SU | Gazania rigens | | | | Gloriosa Daisy -- SU-F | Rudbeckia hirta | | | | Golden Alexanders/Zizia -- SP | Zizia aurea | | | | Goldenrod -- SU-F | Solidago species | | | | Hyssop -- mSU-lF | Hyssop officinalis | | | | Jupiter's Beard -- lSP-eSU | Centranthus ruber | | | | Lavender -- SP-F | Lavandula species | | | | Lobelia -- SU-F | Lobelia species | | | | Loosestrife -- lSU | Lythrum species | | | | Mallow -- SP-F | Malva species | | | | Milkweed -- SP-F | Asclepias | | | | Mints -- SU | Mentha species | | | | Monarda | Monarda didyma | | | | Phlox -- SP-SU | Phlox species | | | | Pineapple Sage | Salvia rutilans | | | | Plumbago | Plumbago auriculata | | | | Red Hot Poker -- SP-SU | Kniphofia uvaria | | | | Rosemary -- SP-F | Rosmarinus officinalis | | | | Sage/Salvia -- lSP-lF | Salvia species | | | | Scabiosa -- lSP-lF | Scabiosa species | | | | Sedum -- lSU-F | Sedum species | | | | Selfheal -- SP-F | Prunella vulgaris | | | | Shasta Daisy -- SU-F | Leucanthemum maximum | | | | Sneezeweed -- SU-F | Helenium autumnale | | | | Spearmint -- SU-F | Mentha spicata | | | | St. Johnswort -- SU | Hypericum species | | | | Statice -- SP-SU | various species | | | | Stokesia | Stokesia laevis | | | | Sweet Rocket -- SP-SU | Hesperis matronalis | | | | Thyme -- eSU-F | Thymus species | | | | Verbena | Verbena species | | | | Yarrow -- Su-eF | Achillea species | | | |
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