{"id":261,"date":"2022-02-25T09:00:57","date_gmt":"2022-02-25T08:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=53214"},"modified":"2022-02-25T09:27:12","modified_gmt":"2022-02-25T08:27:12","slug":"best-flowering-plants-for-butterflies-throughout-the-year","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/best-flowering-plants-for-butterflies-throughout-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Best flowering plants for butterflies throughout the year"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Kate Bradbury\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 25 February 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Butterflies and flowers go together like jam and cream \u2013 each is wonderful in its own right, but combined they make something so incredibly special that, when I see them together, my heart does a little leap. Watching butterflies flit around my mini meadow, and tumble over more ornamental plants in the border, is one of the many rewards of gardening for wildlife. Providing food and habitats for them is important, but seeing them in our gardens is good for the soul \u2013 butterflies make us happy!<\/p>\n

No matter how small, our gardens and outside spaces can provide food and shelter for butterflies. Small gardens and balconies, roof gardens and even window sills can provide stepping stones for butterflies to fuel up as they search for breeding habitats and a mate, while larger spaces can provide more complete habitats, including caterpillar foodplants, basking spots, overwintering opportunities, and of course nectar.<\/p>\n

Whatever your space, clothe it in plants \u2013 climbers such as ivy and hops, pots of nectar plants such as wallflower and chamomile and, if you have grass, let it grow long. These may seem like small steps, but they could be a lifeline to our precious butterflies, which really need our help.<\/p>\n

Visit our wildlife gardening hub<\/a> to get more advice, including how to sow a wildflower mini-meadow<\/a>,\u00a0how to make a bee hotel<\/a>\u00a0and the best wildlife gardening books<\/a>. Plus, find out how to download our free wildlife gardening digital magazine.<\/p>\n

Learn more about butterflies:<\/h4>\n