How to Attract Butterflies to your Backyard
The landscaping staff at America's largest private residence, Biltmore in Asheville, NC, is busy preparing the 75 acres of formal and informal gardens and grounds surrounding the 250-room chateau for the estate's annual Festival of Flowers, scheduled this year from April 5 to May 18. During this time, the Biltmore Butterfly Garden stands out as a particular favorite among guests and staff alike. Biltmore staff offers the following tips for home gardeners who want to attract butterflies to their own backyards.
- Pick a sunny spot for your butterfly garden, preferably one protected from wind by a wall, fence, trees or other tall plants or shrubs. Ideally select a spot that will be undisturbed but will provide opportunities for viewing the butterflies.
- Try to incorporate a variety of plants into the garden including some that are indigenous to your region. Butterfly bush, Joe-Pye weed, phlox, red salvia, bee balm, zinnias and coreopsis may be good choices. A number of written guides, available at bookstores and libraries, provide information about plants that will attract specific species of butterflies.
- Add a few host plants, like parsley, dill or butterfly weed to encourage butterflies to lay their eggs. Don't become alarmed when the larvae begin eating the plants.
- Provide a source of moisture for the butterflies. Although they prefer mud puddles, bird baths or a sponge dipped in a shallow bowl works very well.
- Try to keep your butterfly garden free of pesticides. Instead, introduce natural controls such as ladybugs.
- When plants are still very young, try using a very ripe piece of fruit to initially lure the butterflies to your garden.
- Extend the active season for the butterfly garden by choosing a variety of plants with overlapping seasons.