{"id":13056,"date":"2022-07-13T12:59:36","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T10:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=85787"},"modified":"2022-07-13T13:19:15","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T11:19:15","slug":"the-best-plants-for-butterflies","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/the-best-plants-for-butterflies\/","title":{"rendered":"The best plants for butterflies"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Gardens Illustrated Team\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 13 July 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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With the climate emergency, having a garden comes with responsibility. We should all be encouraging insects and pollinators<\/a> to our plots, creating a safe, fertile home for them to enjoy nectar and more. It\u2019s good for the environment and it\u2019s good for the garden. With a buzzing ecosystem your plants will thrive and the natural order of insects will mean your plants are less likely to be attacked by pests<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As well as attracting various types of wildlife to your garden<\/a>, including frogs, bats and spiders<\/a>, there\u2019s lots of work to be done for butterflies and moths.<\/p>\n

Below are a selection of plants which butterflies will love, and which you should too. Let\u2019s look for plants which work for us\u00a0and<\/em> for biodiversity<\/a>, that way everyone\u2019s happy.<\/p>\n

For more suggestions of bee friendly plants, head to our guide.\u00a0<\/a> And why not learn how to make a bug hotel while you\u2019re at it?<\/a><\/p>\n

The best plants for butterflies<\/h2>\n

Buddleja davidi<\/em>i<\/h3>\n
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Photo: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Buddlejas<\/a> famously attract insects \u2013 especially butterflies. This cultivar flowers latest in the season, when the largest numbers of butterflies are on the wing. If you\u2019ve got\u00a0Buddleja davidii<\/em>\u00a0you can delay it by pruning later in spring. Extend the season by deadheading to encourage side flowers. Deadheading<\/a> also decreases the risk of self-seeding<\/a> as buddleja is increasingly considered as an invasive plant.<\/p>\n

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Centaurea nigra<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Photo: Jason Ingram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

A native plant, common knapweed is easy to grow in borders as well as meadows. Provides pollen and nectar for a wide range of foraging insects \u2013 bees, butterflies and moths. Finches devour the abundant seed. Forms vary considerably and some, such as\u00a0Centaurea nigra<\/em>, are particularly garden-worthy.Height<\/strong> 60cm. Hardiness ratings<\/strong> USDA 7a-10a. Season of interest<\/strong> Summer<\/p>\n

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Agastache<\/em>\u00a0\u2018Blackadder\u2019<\/h3>\n
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Photo: Jason Ingram<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Also known as giant hyssops, these spires tend to be short-lived, requiring excellent drainage and sun. \u2018Blackadder\u2019 is an outstanding cultivar with a dark calyx and bluish-purple flowers beloved by bees<\/a> and butterflies. Aromatic foliage<\/a> is an extra bonus and it flowers throughout the summer months.Height<\/strong> 90cm. Hardiness ratings<\/strong> USDA 6a-9b.<\/p>\n

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Aster<\/em>\u00a0\u2018Little Carlow\u2019 (cordifolius<\/em>\u00a0hybrid)<\/h3>\n
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Photo: Jason Ingram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

A superb, easily grown, mildew-resistant,\u00a0small-flowered aster<\/a> for September providing myriad blue daisies with yellow centres. Once fertilised the boss turns red, a colour bees cannot see, so they save energy by visiting\u00a0only unfertilised flowers. It is also popular with butterflies.Height<\/strong> 90cm. Hardiness ratings<\/strong> RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b. Season of interest<\/strong> September. Discover our plant profile on asters here.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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Cenolophium denudatum<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Photo: Jason Ingram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

A cow parsley relative flowering in May and June attracting hoverflies to its creamy white umbels over mounds of dark green dissected foliage. Easy in dappled shade or sun, perhaps best suited to the wild garden where it can\u00a0seed around.Height<\/strong> 1m. Hardiness rating<\/strong> USDA 6a. Season of interest<\/strong> Early Summer.<\/p>\n

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Centranthus lecoqii<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Photo: Jason Ingram<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Marina Christopher<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

An endemic from the South of France and Spain, Centranthus<\/em>\u00a0lecoqii<\/em> is a variation on the theme of our native red valerian with lilac-coloured flowers. It is attractive to bees, hoverflies, butterflies and hummingbird hawk moths, growing vigorously in sun and poor soils.Height<\/strong> 50cm. Hardiness rating<\/strong> USDA 5a-6a.<\/p>\n

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Ligusticum lucidum<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Photo: Maayke de Ridder<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Another cow parsley relative with fresh-looking shiny green leaves and an upright habit, topped with umbels of white flowers in June and July. It is often biennial, although it can be a short-lived perennial. Attracts hoverflies, tolerating sun or dappled shade<\/a>.Height<\/strong> 90cm. Hardiness ratings<\/strong> USDA 4a-8b.<\/p>\n

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Veronicastrum virginicum<\/em>\u00a0\u2018Lavendelturm\u2019<\/h3>\n
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Veronicastrum virginicum \u2018Lavendelturm\u2019. Photo: Jason Ingram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Long spires of lavender flowers appear in June and July on this tall perennial. Useful for vertical accents in a border, it is beloved by bees, hoverflies, moths and butterflies. Leaves a graceful skeleton through the late summer months. Read more about veronicastrum in our plant profile.\u00a0<\/a>Height<\/strong> 1.5m. Hardiness ratings<\/strong> USDA 5a-9b. Season of interest<\/strong> Summer<\/p>\n

Eupatorium cannabinum<\/em><\/h3>\n
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

One of the best plants to grow for butterflies. 1.2m.<\/p>\n

For more on gardens and wildlife, head to our piece on how to attract wildlife to your garden.\u00a0<\/a><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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By Gardens Illustrated Team Published: Wednesday, 13 July 2022 at 12:00 am With the climate emergency, having a garden comes with responsibility. We should all be encouraging insects and pollinators to our plots, creating a safe, fertile home for them to enjoy nectar and more. It\u2019s good for the environment and it\u2019s good for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":13057,"template":"","categories":[1,51],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/the-best-plants-for-butterflies.jpg",968,1452,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/the-best-plants-for-butterflies-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/the-best-plants-for-butterflies-200x300.jpg",200,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/the-best-plants-for-butterflies-768x1152.jpg",768,1152,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/the-best-plants-for-butterflies-683x1024.jpg",683,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/the-best-plants-for-butterflies.jpg",968,1452,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/the-best-plants-for-butterflies.jpg",968,1452,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Gardens Illustrated Team Published: Wednesday, 13 July 2022 at 12:00 am With the climate emergency, having a garden comes with responsibility. We should all be encouraging insects and pollinators to our plots, creating a safe, fertile home for them to enjoy nectar and more. It\u2019s good for the environment and it\u2019s good for the…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/13056"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}