{"id":23617,"date":"2023-06-29T16:31:14","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T14:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=110859"},"modified":"2023-06-29T16:35:04","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T14:35:04","slug":"planting-to-support-butterfly-and-moth-caterpillars","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/planting-to-support-butterfly-and-moth-caterpillars\/","title":{"rendered":"Planting to support butterfly and moth caterpillars"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Wildlife Trusts recommend ways to plant to best support butterflies and moths and their caterpillars. <\/p>

By Molly Blair\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 29 June 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

We all know how important butterflies and moths are for pollinating plants and gardeners are often keen to provide as many plants as possible to attract them. Caterpillars on the other hand are often more unwelcome visitors to the garden as they can strip plants and eat crops.\u00a0However, the more caterpillars you can support in your garden, the more moths and butterflies there will be too.<\/p>\n

Although a whole range of flowers provide nectar for butterflies<\/a>, most species only have a short list of \u2018host\u2019 plants that will provide food for their caterpillars. Experts at The Wildlife Trusts<\/a> have provided us with their top larval plants and tips on how to plant a butterfly garden.<\/p>\n

Read our piece on the top ten garden butterflies<\/a> to look out for.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Best plants for butterfly and moth larvae<\/h2>\n

Here we have recommendations for the best plants to support butterfly and moth larvae as recommended by The Wildlife Trusts. Alongside these plants, it is also a good idea to include an open area for wildflowers and grasses that will attract egg-laying females. An area with low soil fertility is ideal for this.<\/p>\n

Lady\u2019s smock (Cardamine pratensis<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\""Cardamine\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Richard Bloom<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Supports orange-tip butterfly<\/p>\n

Bird\u2019s foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus<\/em>)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\""Common\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Getty Images \/ Sandra Standbridge<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Supports common blue butterfly<\/p>\n

Common sorrel (Rumex acetosa<\/em>)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\""Limited\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Wildflowers and grasses, including sorrel.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Getty Images \/ Al Hedderly<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Supports small copper butterfly<\/p>\n

Fescue grass (Festuca<\/em> sp.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Getty Images \/ Irina Pislari<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Supports meadow brown butterfly<\/p>\n

Holly (Ilex aquifolium<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\""Ilex\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Supports holly blue butterfly<\/p>\n

Read our piece on\u00a0Ilex: holly bushes to grow for berries and evergreen leaves<\/a><\/p>\n

Ivy (Hedera helix<\/em>)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\""Solid\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Getty Images<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Supports holly blue butterfly<\/p>\n

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\""Close-up\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Getty Images \/ Jenny Dettrick<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Supports large white, small white and green-veined whit butterflies<\/p>\n

Yorkshire fog grass (Holcus lanatus<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\""Holcus\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Getty Images \/ skymoon13<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Supports marbled white, speckled wood and small skipper butterflies<\/p>\n

Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\""Stinging\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Getty Images \/ Robert Pickett<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Supports comma, peacock, red admiral and small tortoiseshell butterflies<\/p>\n

Planning a butterfly garden<\/h2>\n