Attracting butterflies to garden.

[demicav]

Just wondering how to attract Butterflies to my garden. We get some already but wanted to do what I can for them. I know that nettles are good for some species. What else can be done to attract them and support them ??

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by demicav

Just wondering how to attract Butterflies to my garden. We get some already but wanted to do what I can for them. I know that nettles are good for some species. What else can be done to attract them and support them ??

well having walked through more and more lovely chalk grassland that seems to teem with butterflies, other than having a garden consisting of miles of ancient, unimproved, flower- rich herb scented bliss for you back garden you could try adding bird's foot trefoil, knapweed, wild basil and wild marjoram seem to be very popular.

I have put in lots of baby marjoram this year in my new garden and will be round collecting seed from birds foot trefoil later in the summer too

[demicav]

Thanks for that.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by demicav

Thanks for that.

No probs, sometimes they just seem to appear of their own accord, Three years ago I had never seen a common blue butterfly in my parents garden, they're in the village valley but not in the garden and then as if by magic, one male showed up two years ago and last year two males and a female!! Fingers crossed they keep multiplying such a pretty butterfly almost an etherel glow to them incidentally I saw all of these foraging on mum's oregano - which seems to be pretty much the same things as marjoram anyway!

[James M]

Ok you might have already thought about these as they are so common, and many people hate them and they aren't native and they are classed as a weed by lots of people and they have no other benefit other than nectar. But "The Butterfly Bush" Buddleia davidii is very attractive to butterflies, I have seen Peacocks, Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Painted Ladies, Commas, Large Whites, Small Whites, Meadow Browns and Small Skippers aswell as many moths all visiting the sweet scented flowers.

[GuyF]

As James says, Buddleia is excellent for most butterflies and you should attract some if you plant some in. Also, if you create a small un-mown meadow patch with some of the wildflowers Gill mentions that should also be good in attracting them.
Guy

[Davidg]

Do a Google search for 'wildlife gardening' and you'll find a huge amount of information and advice on how to attract all sorts of things to your garden, not just butterflies. Some of the sites even sell seed/plant packs specially selected for the purpose and it is far easier to find specific plant varieties on the internet than by trolling around your local garden centres.

Don't bother with the things marketed as 'butterfly feeders' - they don't work.

Hope this helps,

David

[demicav]

Thank you for all your replys. It has been helpful.