Gardening for Butterflies and Moths

Many of us try to attract butterflies by planting nectar sources, like buddleia, in our gardens. Planting flowers raises an expectation which often leads to the question, "Why don't I see many butterflies?". There are several reasons, but the most important is that nectar sources simply retain butterflies which would otherwise fly straight through your garden. Nectar sources alone do not increase the numbers of butterflies.
 
Unlike bees that really benefit from extra nectar sources (as all the stages of their life cycle feed on nectar), butterflies only feed on nectar in the adult stage. Every adult butterfly has spent weeks as a caterpillar, eating leaves. Unless the plants that caterpillars need are growing in or near your garden, you will not see the adults.
 
Some planting suggestions for various areas of the garden are listed below; click the appropriate boxed link to view them.
 
More information about gardening for butterflies and moths can be found on the Butterfly Conservation web site.
 
Finally, don't forget to submit your garden records, either during or at the end of the season.		  
Peacock on blackthorn flowers, which provide an excellent nectar supply early in the year. Blackthorn is the foodplant of several species of garden moth such as the Grey Dagger (below).

Long Grass Areas Short Grass Areas Borders and Containers Hedges and woodland edges Large Trees

Plants for borders and containers

Some plants do well in borders and containers, but struggle in grassed areas. It is worth considering the amount of sun they will get before positioning them, and how you will group the plants. A group of similar plants will be more likely to attract egg laying females than individual plants spread around the garden.
Many caterpillars will thrive in a semi-shaded spot but some will need to be in full sun, or full shade. Containers not only allow the growing of plants in spaces with no soil, or with a different acidity to the local soil, but also the movement of the plant during the year, including bringing them under cover for the winter. Plants with very invasive roots (e.g. nettles) can be restrained inside containers.

 
Species Frequently used as food plant by Occasionally used as food plant by Season (if nectar source) Image
Aster
(Asteraceae spp.)
      		Autumn
      Aubretia
      (Aubrieta spp.)
          		Spring
          Buddleia (dwarf vars)
          (Buddleja davidii)
          • Mullein moth
            		Summer
            Canadian Goldenrod
            (Solidago canadensis)
            • Common Wainscot
              		Autumn
              Foxglove
              (Digitalis purpurea)
              • Lesser Yellow Underwing
                		Summer
                Grape Hyacinth
                (Muscari spp.)
                    		Spring
                    Heathers
                    (Calluna vulgaris)
                    • Beautiful Brocade
                    • Common Plume
                    • Emperor moth
                    • Glaucous Shears
                    • Ingrailed Clay
                    		 Autumn/Winter
                    Hemp Agrimony
                    (Eupatorium cannabinum)
                        		Summer
                        Honesty
                        (Lunaria rediviva)
                        • Green-veined White
                        • Orange-tip
                          		Spring
                          Ice Plant
                          (Sedum spectabile)
                              		Autumn
                              Larkspur
                              (Delphinium spp.)
                              • Golden Plusia
                                		Summer
                                Lavender
                                (Lavandula spp.)
                                    		Summer/Autumn
                                    Lily of the Valley
                                    (Convallaria majalis)
                                    • Common Swift
                                      Lucerne
                                      (Medicago sativa)
                                        • Burnet Companion
                                        • Mother Shipton
                                        		 Summer/Autumn
                                        Meadowsweet
                                        (Filipendula ulmaria)
                                        • Hebrew Character
                                          Mullein
                                          (Verbascum spp.)
                                          • Mullein moth
                                            		Summer
                                            Nasturtium
                                            (Tropaeolum spp.)
                                            • Large White
                                            • Green-veined White
                                            • Small White
                                            Perennial Wallflower
                                            (Bowles Mauve)
                                            (Erysimum spp.)
                                                		Spring/Summer/Autumn
                                                Red Valerian
                                                (Centranthus ruber)
                                                • Angle Shades
                                                  		Spring/Summer/Autumn
                                                  Tufted Hair Grass
                                                  (Deschampsia caesiptosa)
                                                  • Dark Arches
                                                  • Ringlet
                                                  • Clouded Brindle
                                                  • Common Rustic
                                                  Verbena
                                                  (Verbena bonariensis)
                                                      		Summer/Autumn