Butterfly nectar plants for the winter months

[Susie]

I am always pleased to hear of butterflies being spotted in the winter months and this seems to be happening more often now but I do wonder what they have to feed on. I would like to plant more nectar-rich winter flowering plants on the off chance that this might help sustain any passing lep. Can anyone advise me of some good plant choices, please?

I heard recently of a hummingbird hawk moth being spotted on a daphne and I remember I saw Red Admirals feeding on the daphne Bhula (sp?) at Wakehurst Place last year.

[naturelover]

Hi susie i think there is a winter flowering vibernum,smells beatifull so butterflys should like it,what about witch hazel i think that flowers in the winter too,then that bright yellow prickly shrub with leaves a bit like holly,cant think of its name yet again sorry.

[UB4 gardener]

last year when i had a mahonia there seemed to be red admirals and flies whenever the sun came out,

Chris

[naturelover]

Thats the name mahonia,never can remember that one.

[aeshna5]

Winter flowering Ericas are always a magnet for butterflies (particularly vanessids), bees + hoverflies; presumably night flying moths too!

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by UB4 gardener

last year when i had a mahonia there seemed to be red admirals and flies whenever the sun came out,

Chris

The blue tits ate all the flower off mine early on..It was nice watching the though..We normally get black caps on them as well but the blue tits beat everything to it this year..I have winter heather It so pretty..It is only just coming into flower. This was taken last week when it was spring..

[Susie]

I have a Mahonia but it is still fairly small and I know Viburnum is good choice (thanks Naturelover) but I am not keen on them, I am not sure why. I like witch hazel but I am not sure if it has the right shaped flowers for butterflies. I don't think Ericas would thrive on the soil here so that is another one that isn't going to work for me.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Susie

I have a Mahonia but it is still fairly small and I know Viburnum is good choice (thanks Naturelover) but I am not keen on them, I am not sure why. I like witch hazel but I am not sure if it has the right shaped flowers for butterflies. I don't think Ericas would thrive on the soil here so that is another one that isn't going to work for me.

My heather isn't grown in acid soil Susie..It grows with my lavender in a very dry, very poor soil in a stone wall..Looks like iv broken the rules and got away with it..

[Susie]

I promise not to tell the plant, Kayleigh, if you won't.

I think I am going to get an Acacia. It looks like it should do the trick.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

My heather isn't grown in acid soil Susie..It grows with my lavender in a very dry, very poor soil in a stone wall..Looks like iv broken the rules and got away with it..

Hmmm ? Haven't we had this discussion somewhere before

There certainly are Ericas that will tolerate alkaline soils - it's just question of making sure which you acquire the right species. Also (for Susie) West Sussex does have areas of acid soil - basically anywhere away from the chalk and the Upper Greensand is likely to have neutral to acid soil. Of course for anyone who is on Chalk there is no sensible room for manouvre - nothing ericaceous is likely to survive. That also applies to Witch Hazel. I'm also doubtful about how Acacia's would perform on Chalk - A. dealbata will tolerate slight alkalinity but may need a lot of soil preparation before it grows well on a Chalk subsoil.

CM