Attracting insects to your garden may sound like an odd idea, but what if those bugs are beautiful butterflies? These winged creatures add a magical look and feel to your backyard landscape. And by planting a butterfly garden, you’ll be helping to ensure that they’ll be around for years to come. As New Jersey gets more and more densely populated, the healthy native habitats of butterflies are disappearing.
To get started, you’ll need a mix of “host plants” (which feed the caterpillars that will become butterflies) and flowers to provide nectar. Native nectar plants that work well in New Jersey include aster, black-eyed Susan, blue flag iris, goldenrod, sunflower and thistle. For host plants, try milkweed, violets, dill, fennel and rue.
Use a variety of plants that grow to different heights and have different bloom times, so you have a constant supply of nectar. And be sure that your garden will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Butterflies are cold-blooded insects that can’t fly without the heat and energy they absorb from the sun.
The North American Butterfly Association is located here in New Jersey, in Morristown, and offers a wealth of information for butterfly lovers and gardeners looking to attract butterflies. You can even certify your butterfly garden through the association. For more information, visit nababutterfly.com.