Bring on the Butterflies
The Problem
Butterflies and other pollinators are in trouble. Loss of habitat and overuse of pesticides are the partly to blame. Our yards and roadsides are filled with invasive plants that provide no benefit to wildlife, yet crowd out the local plants that support those creatures. Our yards are filled with flowers grown for the commercial trade, but often lack the native flowers that butterflies rely on for food. The problems are even more complicated than that. For instance, bees are disappearing and scientists don’t know why.
What You Can Do
Many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved over time. They depend on each other for survival and reproduction, so planting native flowers and shrubs is especially important. You can help by keeping your yard pesticide-free and growing plants that are attractive to butterflies and other species. Adult butterflies spend their short lives looking for mates and laying eggs. By providing the nectar plants that adult butterflies need for food and the host plants where they lay their eggs, we can provide small islands of biological diversity.
Many fritillary butterflies are attracted to violets, violas and pansies. Plant some extra parsley in your yard for black swallowtail butterflies. Chives with their purple flowers also attract butterflies. New England aster and related species provide nectar for many butterflies and host the caterpillars of clouded sulfurs, checkered whites, and pearl crescents. Monarchs are attracted to common milkweed. Butterfly weed and butterfly bush are, as their names suggest, magnets for many kinds of butterflies. Other important nectar plants include zinnia, goldenrod, Joe Pye weed, and sedums.
If you can, let your garden go wild around the edges. Try leaving a small part of your yard unmowed for butterflies and other creatures with room for wild grasses, clover, nettles, willows, sassafras, and milkweed.
Find Out More
Check out some popular pollinator plants for your garden. Find out more about gardening with native plants at the Connecticut Botanical Society. Learn about gardening to attract butterflies and go on local butterfly hikes with the Connecticut Butterfly Association.
Butterflies and other pollinators are in trouble. Loss of habitat and overuse of pesticides are the partly to blame. Our yards and roadsides are filled with invasive plants that provide no benefit to wildlife, yet crowd out the local plants that support those creatures. Our yards are filled with flowers grown for the commercial trade, but often lack the native flowers that butterflies rely on for food. The problems are even more complicated than that. For instance, bees are disappearing and scientists don’t know why.
What You Can Do
Many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved over time. They depend on each other for survival and reproduction, so planting native flowers and shrubs is especially important. You can help by keeping your yard pesticide-free and growing plants that are attractive to butterflies and other species. Adult butterflies spend their short lives looking for mates and laying eggs. By providing the nectar plants that adult butterflies need for food and the host plants where they lay their eggs, we can provide small islands of biological diversity.
Many fritillary butterflies are attracted to violets, violas and pansies. Plant some extra parsley in your yard for black swallowtail butterflies. Chives with their purple flowers also attract butterflies. New England aster and related species provide nectar for many butterflies and host the caterpillars of clouded sulfurs, checkered whites, and pearl crescents. Monarchs are attracted to common milkweed. Butterfly weed and butterfly bush are, as their names suggest, magnets for many kinds of butterflies. Other important nectar plants include zinnia, goldenrod, Joe Pye weed, and sedums.
If you can, let your garden go wild around the edges. Try leaving a small part of your yard unmowed for butterflies and other creatures with room for wild grasses, clover, nettles, willows, sassafras, and milkweed.
Find Out More
Check out some popular pollinator plants for your garden. Find out more about gardening with native plants at the Connecticut Botanical Society. Learn about gardening to attract butterflies and go on local butterfly hikes with the Connecticut Butterfly Association.