Butterflies are free to choose where they float and fly and they most always can be found in the sunny, fragrant colorful confines of an herb garden.
The first butterfly of the season for me is usually the mourning cloak which warms its dusky dark wings on our parking lot or the brick path of the herb garden. The upper side of the wings is purple-black, or brown-black, with a wide, bright yellow border on outer edges and a row of iridescent blue spots at the inner edge of the yellow border. This beauty is usually coming out of hibernation and looking for pussy willow on which to lay its eggs. They also like poplar and elm if available. These attractive creatures winter over, usually hidden under bark or in old sheds or barns. They need trees as the adult butterfly drinks sap. But they will also feed on decaying fruit. This butterfly is different from most in that it is not usually seen feeding on flowers. I find it fitting to mention first as it is the first butterfly to be seen in spring since it hibernates. Its wings heat up when the sun hits them on a spring day in March.
The next one that I usually see is the yellow swallowtail as it drinks nectar from the lilacs near my door. Once I see the swallowtail it seems there are always others to see each day. The swallowtail has already laid some eggs that hatched into fine caterpillars on nearby fennel. The plant at the herb society's garden at Scotland Run has many of these colorful striped critters on it.
It seems as different herbs bloom more and more butterflies seeking nectar visit the herb garden. They in turn lay eggs on parsley, dill, rue, fennel, mallow, fragrant violets and some others. These in turn hatch into caterpillars that eat the host plant and then make a cocoon in which to turn into a butterfly.
All flowers with broad petals provide important resting spots for butterflies. Purple Cone Flower is often shown in pictures with a butterfly resting on it. It is also a good source of nectar and is native to most of the United States.
Another mid summer bloomer is hyssop, which also provides summer nectar. Although this sun lover is hardy it usually dies to the ground in winter and returns in the spring. Plant Hyssop near mint, Bee Balm (Monarda) and lavender for great feeding station for butterflies.
Oregano is a real butterfly magnet in summer. Butterflies feast on the tiny flowers that combine in flower heads. When blooms are spent cut it back for a second bloom period.
Butterflies love mint blooms too. Mint flowers profusely and is easy to grow so it is a really fine way to attract more butterflies. Plant it as a ground cover to prevent weeds from growing under trees or in a field. Add some black eyed Susans for color because both the butterflies and the gold finch like them too. Mints like sun or shade and can handle lots of water. Cut mint to the ground to refresh it.
Butterflies like yarrow because blooms all the time. It is very hardy and is fairly drought tolerant. I like to use the blooms in flower arrangements and often perch an artificial butterfly on it. Shearing it back to the ground a couple of times a season and giving it some compost or food and a good long drink keeps it producing fresh blossom heads. It comes in shades of gold and pale yellow, deep pink, rust, white and lavender flowers.
I have even left a lot of native milkweed come up in my herb garden for the Monarch butterflies. They use this for a host plant and butterfly weed, another type of milk weed for nectar.
We have noticed that during this somewhat dry spring the butterflies shave been seeking the mud puddles. You might make a little mud puddle by placing a small plate in the garden and making some mud in it. They like this and get minerals from it. Don’t spray their garden with chemical pesticides or systemic. If you attract butterflies you need to make a commitment not to use sprays that will kill them.
Some of my favorite note cards show dainty butterflies on lavender blooms. Who would not love the sweetly scented lavender? It grows well in any sunny spot and needs little or no care once it is planted. Some lime and a sprinkle of food once a year is all it needs to be beautiful each spring and summer.
The butterfly herb garden might also include Hollyhocks, Anise Hyssop, Gaillardia, Rudbeckia, Bee Balm, and Rue. Many kinds of sage are also wonderful and there are hundreds of varieties from which to choose that include annuals, biennials and hardy perennials. Salvia will appeal more to both hummingbirds, and butterflies: Cherry Sage (Salvia greggi), Pineapple Sage (S. rutilans), Honeydew Melon Sage (S. elegans), and the annual variety, Scarlet Sage (S. splendens) are all great for both butterflies and hummingbirds.
Remember that the butterfly garden needs to supply nectar sources for adult butterflies and host plants for their larvae. Place a chair or bench near or in the herb garden and note which butterflies like which herb best. A back drop of shrubs such as butterfly bushes, lilac, vitex, and a few others are nice on the north side. Invite some pretty butterflies into your garden now, they are waiting to visit you!
Swallowtail Butterfly
Larval plants (butterfly species noted): Achillea millefolium (yarrow). Painted Lady Anethum graveolens (dill). Black Swallowtail; Anise Swallowtail Angelica spp. Black Swallowtail; Anise Swallowtail Artemesia absinthium (wormwood). Painted Lady Artemesia dracunculus 'sativa' (French tarragon). Oregon Swallowtail Borago officinalis (borage). Painted Lady Carum carvi (caraway). Black Swallowtail; Anise Swallowtail Dictamnus spp. (gas plant). Giant Swallowtail Foeniculum vulgare (fennel). Black Swallowtail; Anise Swallowtail Glycyrrhiza spp. (licorice). Silver Spotted Skipper Helichrysum angustifolium (curry plant). Painted Lady Humulus lupulus (hops). Gray Hairstreak; Comma; Question Mark; Red Admiral Levisticum officinale (lovage). Black Swallowtail; Anise Swallowtail Melissa officinalis (lemon balm). White Peacock Mentha spp. (mint). White Peacock, Painted Lady Petroselinum crispum (parsley). Black Swallowtail; Anise Swallowtail Pimpinella anisum (anise). Black Swallowtail; Anise Swallowtail Ruta graveolens (rue). Black Swallowtail; Giant Swallowtail. Salvia spp. (sage). Gray Hairstreak; Painted Lady; West Coast Lady Symphytum officinale (comfrey). Painted Lady Tanacetum vulgare (tansy). Painted Lady Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium). Cabbage white Viola odorata (sweet violet). Fritillaries
