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Biodiversity and Gardening - How to Attract Butterflies

How To Attract Butterflies

There are 63 native and regular migrant species of butterfly in the UK and almost all have been recorded in gardens at one time or another. However, typically a good butterfly garden might be visited by 22 different species each year.

Common Garden Butterflies

small tortoiseshell
peacock
large white
small white
red admiral
green-veined white
orange tip
meadow brown.

Butterflies are attracted to gardens to drink nectar from flowers situated in sunny sheltered positions. Nectar provides the fuel needed to keep them airborne, and can be found in a range of native and exotic plants. Early spring flowers are particularly important for butterflies emerging from hibernation, while in late summer and autumn some species need to build up their reserves in preparation for winter.

Spring Nectar Plants

Bluebell
Clover
Daisy
Dandelion
Primrose
Honesty
Sweet rocket
Wallflower.

Summer Nectar Plants

Phlox
Hebe
Mignonette
Verbena
Lobelia
Marjoram
Dianthus
African marigold
Teasel
Hyssop.

Late Summer/Autumn Nectar Plants

Buddleia
Golden rod
Ice Plant (Sedum spectabile)
Ivy
Knapweed
Lavender
Michaelmas Daisy
Mint
Scabious
Thyme.

To retain butterflies in a garden, it is important to provide food for the caterpillars. Different species of caterpillar feed on specific plants.

Caterpillar Food Plant

Stinging nettles
Holly and ivy
Cuckooflower Garlic mustard and Honesty
Cabbage family, Nasturtiums
Coarse grasses
Birdsfoot trefoil

Butterfly

Small tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, and Red Admiral
Holly blue
Orange tip and Green veined white
Large and Small whites
Skippers
Common blue

Tips

Leaving a wild corner which includes coarse grasses, stinging nettle and garlic mustard will attract a wide range of butterflies. In a small garden, nettles can be grown in a tub to prevent their spread. Pesticides will kill butterflies. Dilute common household detergent is an effective spray against green and blackfly and appears to be harmless to butterflies. If caterpillars are a nuisance on cabbages the caterpillars can be moved to a "sacrificial " plant or to nasturtiums grown for them. Without caterpillars though, there are no butterflies.

Other Insects

While many other insects are less attractive than butterflies they perform an important role in the garden, particularly as predators of garden pests such as ladybirds which are the natural aphid control. Others such as bumble bees, honey bees and hoverflies are important in pollinating flowers to produce fruit such as beans and apples.

Download the Biodiversity and Gardening - How to Attract Butterflies Leaflet