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Browse Articles: Wildlife
Butterfly Gardens
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Reference: Ohio State University Extension
Landscaping even the smallest areas will provide habitat for many butterfly species. You can create suitable habitat for butterflies in your yard by selecting the appropriate flowering plants. Not only will you attract beautiful butterflies, but your yard also will be filled with colorful flowers throughout spring, summer, and fall. Creating butterfly gardens is easy and fun; learn how to spice up your yard to attract butterflies.
How to create butterfly habitat
Only a small amount of space is needed to provide butterfly habitat. You can create butterfly-friendly habitat by providing food (nectar plants), cover, water, and larval plants.
- Before you start, plan ahead.
- Map your yard and determine what environmental conditions you have (i.e., soil type and amount of sun).
- Locate gardens near areas that are sheltered from wind.
- Select areas that receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.
- Plant flowers in large diverse groups.
- Choose plants that vary in color, season of bloom, and height to provide different foraging opportunities and maximum year-round habitat for butterflies.
- Choose flowers with different structures. Butterflies have different length proboscises (tongues) that determine which flowers they can feed from.
- Provide cover and shelter such as broad-leaved trees, shrubs, and log piles.
- Provide several landing pads or sunbathing perches in open and sunny areas throughout the garden. Butterflies rely to a large degree on thermal heating and sunbathe in these open spots.
- Provide a water source or puddle for butterflies. Bury a bucket or shallow lid in the ground and fill it with equal ratios of sand and soil, then periodically saturate the sand/soil mixture with water.
- Provide access to the water puddle by placing a few large rocks around the bucket or lid.
Which kinds of flowers should I plant?
Choosing a diverse array of flowers and shrubs will ensure that butterflies visit your garden while creating a bright, diverse, and colorful yard throughout the seasons. Adding a variety of flowering and fruiting shrubs to your butterfly garden also will undoubtedly attract several birds (including hummingbirds) to your yard. The table below lists the plant species, which butterfly species it attracts, what environmental conditions are needed to grow it, and which season the plant produces flowers. An asterisk (*) indicates that the plant also attracts hummingbirds.
| Plant Species | Season | Description | Growth Requirements | Butterflies It Attracts |
| New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae) | Summer-Fall | 3-7', perennial, violet 1" flowers | Moist low fertile soils, full sun | Variety; red admiral, painted lady, monarch, pearl crescent, whites, sulphurs |
| Sky Blue Aster (Aster azureus) | Summer-Fall | 24-36", perennial, blue flowers | Moist or dry soils, shade tolerant | Pearl crescent, whites, sulphurs |
| Smooth Aster (Aster laevis) | Summer-Fall | 2-4', perennial, violet flowers | Well drained soils, sunny areas | Red admiral, pearl crescent, whites, sulphurs |
| Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)* | Summer | 2-5', perennial, scarlet flowers in tubular whorls | Rich to moist soils, full sun to light shade | Variety; painted lady, cabbage, milbert's tortoise shell, mourning cloak, eastern tiger swallowtail |
| Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)* | Summer | 2-4', perennial, lavender-pink flowers | Dry calcareous soils, full sun cabbage, to light shade | Variety; painted lady, milbert's tortoise shell |
| Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) | Summer-Fall | 18-48", perennial, yellow flowers | Moist soils, sunny areas | Whites, sulphurs, brushfoots, skippers, blues |
| Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) | Summer | 1-6', perennial, purple flowers in spikes | Moist, acidic soils, full sun | Painted lady, fritillaries, skippers, sulphurs, coppers, checkerspots |
| Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera) | Summer-Fall | 2-4', perennial, purple flowers, broad flower head | Dry sandy soils, full sun | Painted lady, fritillaries, skippers, sulphurs, coppers, checkerspots |
| Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)* | Late Summer-Early Fall | 1-2', perennial, various flower colors, drought tolerant | Grows well in most any area | Variety; monarch, red admiral, swallowtails, skippers, larvae |
| Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)* | Summer-Fall | 2-5', perennial, red flower | Moist soils, partial shady areas | Best for hummingbirds, bound to attract variety of butterflies |
| Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)* | Spring-Summer | 1-3', perennial, red to pink, unique flower structure | Sunny to shady areas | Best for hummingbirds, bound to attract variety of butterflies |
| Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) | Summer-Fall | 2-4', perennial, white flowers in flat cluster | Moist soils, open areas | Variety; painted lady, red admiral, tiger swallowtail, monarch, silver-spotted skipper |
| Greater Coreopsis (Coreopsis major)* | Summer | 18-36", yellow flowers, long bloom | Dry soils, sunny areas | Variety; eastern tailed blue, spring azure, pearl crescent, viceroy, red admiral |
| Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) | Spring-Summer | 1-2', perennial, pink flowers | Moist well-drained soils, partial shade | Skippers, eastern tailed blue |
| Goat's Beard (Aruncus dioicus) | Spring-Summer | 3-7', white flowers in branching cluster | Rich soils, light shade, shade tolerant | Variety; spring azure |
| Goldenrod (Solidago) | Summer-Fall | 1-5' perennial, yellow flowers | Well drained soils, sunny areas | Sulphurs, whites, coppers, monarch, hairstreaks, viceroy, painted lady |
| Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) | Summer-Fall | 3-4', yellow flowers, rigid and upright | Well drained soils, full sun | Monarch, viceroy |
| Iron Weed (Vernonia noveboracensis) | Summer-Fall | Up to 6', perennial, purple flowers | Various moist soils, full sun | Variety; tiger swallowtail, monarch, great spangled fritillary, silver-spotted skipper, spicebush swallowtail |
| Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) | Fall | 5-10', perennial, large yellow flowers | Moist fertile soils | Variety; monarch, painted lady, checkerspots |
| Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)* | Summer-Fall | 2-5', perennial, orange and yellow flowers | Moist soils, tolerates full sun to full shade | Best for hummingbirds, bound to attract variety of butterflies |
| Joe Pye Weed (Lupinus perennis) | Late Summer | 2-6', perennial, pink to lavender flowers | Moist soils, open areas | Variety; painted lady, red admiral, monarch, silver-spotted skipper, swallowtails |
| Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis) | Spring | 8-24", perennial, blue pea flower | Dry acidic soils | Larvae |
| Maximillian's sunflower (Helianthus maximilianii) | Summer-Fall | 3-7', perennial, large yellow flowers | Drought tolerant, full sun | Variety; monarch, painted lady, checkerspots |
| Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum) | Summer-Fall | 1-3', perennial, light purple flowers | Dry soils, full sun | Variety; red admiral, eastern tailed blue, pearl crescent, spring azure, sulphurs, whites |
| Ox-eye Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) | Summer | 3-6', yellow flowers | Moist soils, full sun | Variety; atlantis fritillary, European skipper, early hairstreak |
| PawPaw (Asiminia triloba) | Spring | Small broad-leafed tree | Moist soils, sun to light shade | Larvae, swallowtails |
| Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) | Summer | 12-36", perennial, flat clusters of white flowers | Dry soils, sunny areas, drought tolerant | Small butterflies, painted lady |
| Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)* | Spring | 10-20", perennial, blue to purple showy flowers | Fertile soils, well-drained, partial shade | Larvae, swallowtails, sulphurs, painted lady, viceroy |
| Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata) | Spring | Creeping ground cover, pink flowers | Dry acidic soils, shady areas | Small butterflies |
| Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) | Summer-Fall | Up to 4' hardy perennial, purple flowers, heat tolerant | Rich, well drained soil sunny areas | Variety; tiger swallowtail, viceroy, great spangled fritillary, whites, hairstreaks, blues, skippers |
| Royal Catchfly (Silene regia)* | Summer | 3-4', perennial, red flowers | Sandy, dry soils, full sun | Best for hummingbirds, bound to attract variety of butterflies |
| Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) | Spring | Fragrant shrub, white flowers, produces fruit | Moist soils, sunny areas | Variety; spring azure, larvae |
| Sweet White Violet (Viola blanda) | Spring | 3-5", perennial, white flower | Moist, fertile areas, light shade | Larvae |
| Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia) | Spring | 3-8", perennial, blue-white flowers | Moist soils, sunny or partial shady areas | Larvae |
| March Blue Violet (Viola cucullata) | Spring | 3-8", perennial, blue flowers, groundcover | Moist to wet soils, shade tolerant | Larvae |
| Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica) | Spring | 1-2', purple | Rich soils, sunny nodding flowers to shady areas | Variety |
| Yarrow (Achillea species) | Summer-Fall | 12-24", small white flowers | Dry soils, full sun | Variety; coppers, hairstreaks, skippers, sulphurs |
Plant Natives! Celebrate Diversity!
Beware of exotic species! Exotic plant species have found their way into many gardens, and although several species do have showy flowers, care should be taken to avoid planting exotic species because they can cause local extinction of native flora. Exotic plant species may also negatively interact with wildlife species. Below is a list of common exotic species to avoid.
- Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera species)
- Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
- Asian Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
- Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
- Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
- Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota)
- Dames Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
- Day Lily (Hemerocallis fulva)
- Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
- Lantana (Lantana camara)
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20 Common Butterflies of Ohio
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| Butterfly species | Nectar Plants | Larvae Plants |
| Spicebush Swallowtail | Milkweed, butterfly weed, purple coneflower, joe-pye weed | Spicebush, sassafras |
| Eastern Black Swallowtail | Milkweed, butterfly weed, phlox | Parsley |
| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | Butterfly weed, bee balm, phlox, milkweed, blazing star | Black cherry, tulip tree, ash, spicebush |
| Cabbage White | Mints, asters, bee balm | Cabbage, mustards |
| Checkered White | Mustards | Cabbage, mustards |
| Clouded Sulphur | Phlox, milkweed, goldenrod, asters, blazing star | Leguminous plants |
| Orange Sulphur | Yarrow, asters, mints, goldenrods | Alfalfa, clovers |
| Eastern Tailed Blue | Mints, yarrow, milkweed, wild geranium | Leguminous plants |
| Spring Azure | Mints, milkweed, spicebush | Dogwoods, viburnums, black cherry |
| Great Spangled Fritillary | Milkweed, purple coneflower, joe-pye weed, ironweed, black-eyed susan, bee balm | Violets |
| Pearl Crescent | Black-eyed susan, milkweed, geranium, mints, asters | Asters |
| Question Mark | Feeds on rotten fruits, milkweed | Elm, hackberry |
| Comma | Feeds on rotten fruits | Nettles, elm |
| Mourning Cloak | Milkweed, bee balm | Cottonwood, elm, hackberry |
| Red Admiral | Milkweed, mints, asters, phlox, coreopsis | Nettles |
| Painted Lady | Joe-pye weed, blazing star, bee balm, goldenrod, phlox, asters | Pearly everlasting |
| Red-spotted Purple | Feeds on rotten fruits | Black cherry, hawthorn |
| Viceroy | Asters, joe-pye weed, goldenrod, phlox | Willow, poplars, black cherry |
| Monarch | Milkweed, butterfly weed, joe-pye weed, goldenrod, asters, blazing star | Milkweed |
| Silver-Spotted Skipper | Milkweed, blazing star, purple coneflower, joe-pye weed | Leguminous plants |
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