Gardening For The Butterflies

Butterflies and pollinators alike form an important part of garden ecosystems. In an urbanised world where nature often takes a backseat, butterfly gardening emerges as a captivating attempt to reconnect with the environment.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, butterfly gardening serves as an educational platform for children and holds ecological significance. Butterflies in your garden signify the link to the local ecosystem. Establishing a butterfly garden can attract insectivorous birds, creating a natural corridor that bridges forests with urban spaces. This therefore is a way of fostering biodiversity.

Contrary to assumptions, such gardens are low-maintenance, embodying the elegance of simplicity and aligning with nature’s self-sustaining rhythm. Our idea is to encourage gardeners to view their gardens as more than ornamental spaces. This is why we emphase the importance of indigenous plants for a harmonious and diverse ecosystem.

The importance of some plants for butterflies

The intricate relationship between butterflies and plants is often overlooked, leading to misconceptions and unintended harm. Many perceive caterpillars as pests and swiftly eradicate them without realising they transform into the delicate butterflies they admire.

Some gardens, laden with pesticides, become barren landscapes, devoid of wildlife. Recognising butterfly preferences for specific plant families aids in creating a diverse environment.

Go local

My planned butterfly garden emphasizes the strategic use of common butterfly host plants. The guiding principle is to ‘choose local plants for the local ecosystem’. This will allow you to foster a symbiotic relationship between butterflies and the environment.

The landscaping approach caters to butterfly needs, ranging from large trees to delicate shrubs and groundcovers. Some overlooked butterfly-friendly plants, often deemed weeds, can be sourced from disturbed environments like backyards and roadsides.

Start with three ‘weeds’

Here are three easily propagated species that serve as host plants for various butterfly species. Balloon cotton bush (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) for African tiger butterflies. Fishbone Dwarf Cassia (Chamaecrista mimosoides) for grass yellow butterflies, and burr bush (Triumfetta rhomboidea) for acraea butterflies. Despite their unassuming appearance, these plants contribute to the conservation of local butterfly populations and create a vibrant and inviting garden.

Gomphocarpus physocarpus flowers will attract butterflies to your garden — ***Gomphocarpus physocarpus***

4 Sections to landscape for the butterflies

Creating a garden fully landscaped with butterfly plants involves dividing the space allocated for your garden into four sections.

1. The forest

One section that we can call a ‘butterfly forest’ accommodates trees as host plants. These include horsewood (Clausena anisata) and white ironwood (Vepris lanceolata) that attract swallowtails. To attract charaxes, plant the Natal mahogany (Trichilia emetica), lavender croton (Croton gratissimus) and dune false-currant (Allophylus natalensis) among many others. These trees provide shade necessary for soft grasses underneath needed for the ‘browns’ butterflies. This grass can be basket grass (Oplismenus hirtellus), dwarf basket grass (Pseudechinolaena polystachya) and Lamarck’s grass (Ehrharta erecta). You can add water features surrounded by wild impatiens (Impatiens hochstetteri) as a nectar source for swallowtails.

2. Forest margin

Another section of your garden that could be adjacent to the forest area should be devoted to attracting commodores. Including the gorgeous gaudy commodores and garden commodores. For that purpose, you can plant blue boys (Pycnostachys urticifolia) and spur flower species such as Herero spur flower (Plectranthus hereroensis). In more on the open areas, plant long-spiked spur flowers (Plectranthus spicatus).

pink flowers of Barleria obtusa that can be planted for butterflies — ***Barleria obtusa***

3. Groundcovers

The following area is designed as a groundcover with some bushy spots. It is ideal for pansy-like butterflies such as mother of pearl, brown pansy, and yellow pansies. Dyschoriste species, including purple bells (Dyschoriste thunbergiiflora) and fairy stars (Dyschoriste setigera), serve as excellent host plants for pansy butterflies. Other groundcovers suitable for hosting include veld violet (Ruellia cordata) and bush violet (Barleria obtusa). Wild purslane (Portulaca quadrifida) can be used for flat, shallow groundcover, providing habitat for common diadem butterflies. This section contributes to the diverse ecosystem, enhancing the appeal of your butterfly garden.

4. Nectar plants

To attract a variety of butterflies to your garden, focus on creating well-exposed and visible flower beds filled with nectar-rich plants. Select indigenous plants that cater to the preferences of different butterfly species, favouring mauve, violet, blue, and red hues. Red pentas (Pentas lanceolata) and veld justicia (Justicia protracta) are consistent favourites. Paper plume (Justicia betonica) attracts not only butterflies but also various other kinds of pollinators year-round like bees, wasps, and even Sunbirds.

To establish nectar feeding points, strategically place these plants in sunny areas, considering their size when fully grown. Seasonal nectar plants, such as tree vernonia (Gymnanthemum coloratum) and canary creeper (Senecio tamoides) for autumn and winter blooms as hot spots for butterflies, while tinderwood (Clerodendrum glabrum) as a hot spot for summer.

Additionally, create a permanent all-year around nectar place with indigenous flowers like pink mallow (Anisodontea elegans), red pentas (Pentas lanceolata), white wild pentas (Pentas micrantha) and paper plume (Justicia betonica).

Visiting your local indigenous nursery

To kick-start your butterfly garden project, a crucial initial step is visiting a local indigenous plant nursery prepared with a plant list. This visit forms the foundation of your garden’s success, with insights from knowledgeable nursery owners aiding in plant selection.

While attempting to procure as many species as possible, it’s crucial to acknowledge that nurseries might cover only 20-30% of your desired plants, as they prioritise indigenous trees and shrubs. To ensure a diverse garden, explore multiple nurseries in your area.

This not only broadens your plant collection but also deepens your understanding of butterfly-attracting plants. Pay attention to leaf morphology, fruit characteristics, and floral structures.

Beyond nurseries, venture into natural environments to observe these plants in the wild, providing a holistic perspective on their growth patterns.

Senecio tamoides is a good flower for butterflies — ***Pentas lanceolata***

Hard landscaping for butterflies

Creating a butterfly garden involves aligning the needs of humans, plants and butterflies within a cohesive environment. For visitors, a meandering path strategically positioned offers immersive experiences for closer butterfly observation, while seating areas provide relaxation amid fluttering wings. Plant placement based on sunlight patterns addresses the needs of vegetation.

To attract more butterflies to your garden, integrate features like mud puddling areas, where they gather to drink moisture and extract minerals from damp soil.

Use an old bird bath as a fruit bar, offering fermented fruits to attract species like charaxes and the browns. Additionally, consider adding a rockery area for optimal basking spots, promoting a harmonious ecosystem for human and butterfly enjoyment in your garden.

A variety of these butterfly-friendly plants are available at the Butterfly Garden Nursery located within the Eshowe Butterfly Dome.