Hello,
I am new to DG and also to gardening - although I have been around plants most of my life - I am just beginning to landscape a 4 acre yard - and want to attract lots of hummers and butterflies. I was reading lots of links on this forum - didn't realize people captured the butterflies to raise them..... Obviously I have a LOT to learn! But, can you suggest some good plants to get started that will attract the butterflies without taking over my yard?? I have read that some of the butterfly weed spreads really bad - and i don't need that.... but I am interested in attracting as many butterflies as I can to my yard.
I would appreciate any and all input. I assume it would be better to try to plan for the butterflies from the start so that is what I am trying to do. I did a search on the website about what butterflies are in my area - and it doesn't seem that we have very many.............odd. I remember seeing lots of different types of butterflies as a small child - but maybe they no longer pass this way.
I am in zone 7b located in So Arkansas.
Thanks!
Genna
Newbie with questions
Welcome Genna :o)
Check out the sticky thread for this forum by beckygardener :o)
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/744103/
It has many links to the questions you might have. A few of them will let you search by species or map location - so you can get an idea of what is in your area and what you need to do to attract them to stick around.
Different folks will give you a list of different nectar and larval host plants but you need to find out first what is native to your location or what will grow in your zone.
Once you are familiar with the plants you can hop onto the seed or plant exchange to add color, shape, height and variety to your garden.
One man's flower is another man's weed :o) I happen to let some of my plants grow rampant...as in they are taking over my flower beds...but that's my choice...might not be what works best for you.
There is a great book on Butterflies and Moths of Arkansas...can't remember the exact name as I'm not at home right now ...but will look it up and let you know. It's one of my favorite books as ya'll have lots of the same leps we get here.
~ Cat
This message was edited Mar 20, 2008 7:45 PM
Hi, gen! Very exciting and challenging project ahead of you with four acres to work with!
You mentioned 'butterfly weed' and I'm guessing you are talking about the different Milkweeds (Asclepias) that are popular with the butterflies. (Asclepias are of particular interest to butterfly gardeners and to the beautiful Monarch butterfly since it is the one plant the Monarch will lay her eggs on.) Here are the three I have in the garden:
One of the most popular milkweed and often used in gardens is Asclepias tuberosa. A very nice orange perennial that the butterflies will nectar on and the monarchs will use it as a host plant to lay their eggs.
Another asclepias that is popular in gardens is A. currassavica. This one is treated as an annual (although perennial in the warmest zones) but it is easy to grow from cuttings or seed and is available in garden centers. This one is the favorite of the butterflies in my garden.
The third asclepias of special interest (to me) is A. incarnata. Incarnata has some very pretty garden worthy cultivars available--cindarella and ice princess are two to consider.
I would not call any of these 'invasive' although I would do research on them confirm this for your growing habitat. There are many other Asclepias to consider for your garden and most can be grown from seed. But it is true, some are very invasive, either through roots or by seeding and you do want to choose carefully.
Other basic butterfly nectar plants for gardens include lantanas, buddlieas (In some areas of the south 'butterfly bush' is considered invasive), liatris, asters, verbenas, zinnias, coneflowers. Most basic butterfly gardens have some of these flowers in them. Many well-known herbs such as parsley and dill are also very nice nectar and host plants for butterflies. Of course, many butterlfy gardeners focus on native plants (only) for their gardens and that will require some additional research and careful selection.
As you develop your butterfly garden interests and do a little more research on the butterflies in your region you will want to include specific host plants for your local butterfly population and other favorite nectar plants.
And then pretty soon you will be obsessed!
Good luck and we will want to see photos next summer! Don't forget! t.
Thanks so much for your help -specifically on the types of asclepias that I can safely pursue without being overrun! I would also love to know that book title TexasPuddyPrint when you get a chance to look that up. I have a lot to learn - but I have always loved butterflies and hummingbirds - and my daughter is crazy about them too, so we should have lots of fun.
Thanks again for your suggestions and help! The link was apprecaited as well.
Genna
Hey T -- for the A. incarnata .... are they easy to transplant?
I think there are some growing in a field near me ... and i dont have any seeds from this variety yet ... if i dug one up, would it survive?
thanks,
Terese
Can't say, tcs. Haven't tried it. You could probablly start some from cuttings...(maybe).
thanks... maybe if i get to it early enough... not to cause too much trauma.