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Butterflies in the Heartlands Part Two

© Sueann Ahrens

I hope all of the Suite101 readers had time to look over the web sites on butterflies that I posted in part one of this butterfly series. If you didn't get a chance to preview the websites I listed, they are still posted for you to look at them. Let's get started with part two of Butterflies in the Heartlands which will encompass food requirements for their larval stage and nectar plants for the adult stage. Butterflies go through a four stage developmental process known as metamorphosis. The four stages are egg, larva or caterpillar, pupa or chrysalis, and adult. Understanding a butterfly's life cycle can help make your butterfly watching more enjoyable. Also, the knowledge of each stage will be an important asset to you for attracting butterflies to your gardens. Depending on the species, the life cycle of a butterfly may take anywhere from about one month to an entire year.

Plants that attract butterflies are mainly classified as those that are a food source, a nectar source, or both. Some of these plants will also provide protection from predators, offer shelter, a place to lay eggs and a place for the pupa to attach to. Other information on plants for your butterfly garden to remember is that not many of us gardeners want weeds in our flowerbeds, but allowing them to grow under our gardening supervision is okay because these plants help attract butterflies too. Plants with clusters of flowers are often better than plants with a single small flower because it is easier for the butterfly to land on the clusters. Planting several plants of the same kind will usually attract more butterflies because there is more nectar available to them at a single stop.

Below is a list of plants to attract butterflies in your garden. I will list plants that are annuals, herbs, perennials, shrubs and trees. I will also, catergorize them into three areas: plants for the larval food stage, nectar plants, or plants which are useful for both the larval stage and nectar plants.

ANNUALS: Larval stage plants include--marigold, lamb's ear, cabbage, broccoli. Nectar plants include-- argeratum, cosmos, heliotrope, lantans, nasturtuim, salvia, statice, verbena, zinnia. Plants for both the larval stage and nectar plants--common sunflower and snapdragon.

HERBS: Larval stage plants include--dill. Nectar plants include--catnip, chives, lavender, mints. Plants for both the larval stage and nectar plants--parsley, sweet fennel.

PERENNIALS: Larval stage plants include--hollyhock, mallow. Nectar plants include--bee balm, coreopsis, daylily, gayfeather, goldenrod, phlox, purple coneflower. Plants for both the larval stage and nectar plants--alfalfa, aster, butterfly weed, clover, milkweed.

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