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Sulphur Butterflies Bring Sunshine to Gardens!

© Naomi Mathews

Much attention is devoted every spring to the return of the famous monarch butterflies that overwinter in Mexico. Other popular butterflies such as the red admirals, buckeyes, and painted ladies are also seen migrating northward in early spring, although their trips aren't nearly as lengthy.

But what about those unassuming little beauties called "Clouded and Cloudless Sulphurs?" Sometimes it seems they are taken for granted by butterfly devotees and gardeners. And yet, they seem to be among the earliest butterflies to show their pretty yellow wings around my spring flowers every year.

Perhaps it's time we gave these dainty little sulphur butterflies some much-deserved attention. I don't know about you, but when I see that first pale yellow sulphur butterfly emerge in early spring, I know it won't be long until it's gardening time once again!

Sulphur butterflies aren't terribly picky about which flowers they prefer as nectar sources. They're quite happy just to flutter about in open fields of wildflowers imbibing nectar from whatever happens to be blooming. And, catch this -- they even like DANDELION blossoms! I always knew those dandelions served some great and wonderful purpose in my well manicured lawn!

It's also great to know that the sulphurs' caterpillars aren't nearly as persnickety about their host plants as those milkweed-munching monarch caterpillars! Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) caterpillars need only clovers and alfalfa to feed on, while Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) caterpillars enjoy cassia (senna). So guess where all of those female sulphur butterflies will be laying their eggs?

You say you don't want to grow dandelions, alfalfa, or clover just to attract little sulphur butterflies? Well, I can't say that I blame you, and neither do I! After all, a flower garden should be just that -- a flower garden.

Not to worry, my friend. There are a great many lovely flowers sulphur butterflies will frequent in their search for the sweet nectar they need for survival. Plant any number of them, and you'll soon have a garden of sunshine yellow "flying flowers" too!

Flowers Cloudless Sulphur Butterflies Can't Resist

Annual Vinca, Buddleia (Butterfly Bush), Cardinal Flower, Cosmos, Cushion Mum, Firebush, Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), Impatiens, Lantana, Marigold, Morning Glory, Obedient Plant, Penta, Petunia, Rose Verbena, Violet Sage, and Zinnias.

Flowers to Please Clouded Sulphur Butterflies

Clover, Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), Goldenrod, Grape Hyacinth, Legumes (Leguminosae), Marigold, Milkweed, Phlox, and Wildflowers.

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Some Interesting Highlights about Clouded Sulphur Butterflies

Clouded sulphurs, also known as "common sulphurs," are found in abundance in the entire United States, with the exception of Florida. Their range also includes Western Canada. The large population of this species of butterflies can be attributed to their plentiful larval food sources--alfalfa and clovers--that are found in these regions.