Butterflies are such a delight.  Most of us start gardening without a thought about butterflies.  Soon, though, they catch our attention and we wish to attract more butterflies to our yards. 

We plant brightly colored flowers and enjoy our guests as they enter and drink from these flowers.  Then one day we discover a treasure; host plants!  From that point on, butterflies multiply and our dream garden becomes a reality.  Butterflies are picky!  While a caterpillar, they can usually eat only one species or one family of plants.  For example, Monarchs caterpillars eat only milkweed.  Monarch butterflies lay their eggs upon milkweed, the caterpillar hatches and eats only milkweed.  Gulf Fritillaries lay their eggs on or near passionvine and their caterpillars eat only passionvine.  Eastern Black Swallowtails and Anise Swallowtails lay their eggs on plants in the carrot family and their caterpillars eat only those plants. 

For Butterflies offers Butterfly Gardening Courses with certification.  Simply sign up and take a course and learn how to create a habitat which not only attracts but also produces butterflies.  Join the Association for Butterflies and receive a discount on course fees as well as other advantages including discounts from various stores.

The butterfly lifecycle is fascinating and reveals what they need.  We can learn how to not only attract them to our yards but to produce them in our yards!

The adult butterfly lays an egg on or near its host plant.  The caterpillar hatches and proceeds to eat its eggshell first before eating the host plant.  After growing for two or more weeks, it pupates into a chrysalis.  A week or more later, the adult butterfly emerges. 

This is the secret to a successful butterfly gardening, host plants!

That is, host plants without insecticide.  Because butterflies are insects, if you spray your yard and garden with insecticide to kill those ‘worms’ or other insects you will kill your butterflies.  Herbicides (weed killer) can harm or kill your butterflies.

You can research to learn which butterflies are natural in your area.  In the United States, a good resource is Butterflies and Moths.  You can not only check your state, but also see which butterflies have been reported in your county.  Planting host plants for butterflies in your garden will attract and grow butterflies in your own yard.

Nectar plants provide food for adult butterflies.  One of the best ways to choose nectar plants is visits to your local nurseries.  Wander among the flowers.  Which are being used by butterflies for nectar?  Those are the plants you need for your garden. 

What else attracts butterflies?  Not only do they visit host and nectar plants, other items are attractive to them also.

Read books and ask those who have successful butterfly gardens to learn more about which plants are best for your area. 

Join a butterfly club or association in your local area and interact with other butterfly gardeners.  Local gardeners usually have plants to give away or trade, an added benefit.

Would you like to talk to other butterfly gardeners? Subscribe to the Butterfly Gardening mailing list by joining the Association for Butterflies at our $15 Supporter Level. 

 Benefits of a For Butterflies supporter membership are:

• Discount from various businesses, retail
• One-quarter off association courses 
• Free milkweed and other host and nectar plant seed
• May join the Butterfly Gardening mailing list.
• Knowledge that your money is also being used to help support research, conservation, and promoting the industry.             

Join a free mailing list for butterfly enthusiasts at Butterfly Farming Enthusiasts

Join a “Seed Exchange List”  to obtain seed for plants for you butterfly garden.

As For Butterflies grows, more information about butterfly gardening will be linked to this page. 

Coming soon:
Links to sources for host plants
Lists of host plants
Nectar plant recommendations

Other butterfly needs