Butterflies are one of a garden’s most beautiful insects, fluttering around the flowers from October to May.
They’re valuable for the pleasure they give us as alone we watch them flit from flower to flower, and they’re a rare find in suburban gardens.
But they also play an important role as pollinators and are a good indicator of a healthy ecosystem, providing food for many small birds, lizards and other animals If you’ve spotted a butterfly or two around your garden you might wonder how you can encourage more.
The good news is it’s relatively easy… but there are a few important things to keep in mind when creating a butterfly habitat at home.
LOCATION
Butterflies love a sunny spot in the garden.
They need protection from strong winds and enjoy sun-baking on flat, sheltered rocks.
They also need lots of nectar-rich, colourful flowers, a food source for their larvae and shallow mud puddles – full of essential salts – for them to drink from.
You can make your own butterfly feeder by filling a shallow terracotta dish with sand or compost, a few small flat rocks and water to create a mud puddle.
Remember to keep it moist and keep an eye on it in heavy rain – you may need to tip some water out!
LIFE CYCLE
If you want butterflies in your garden, you’re also going to have accept caterpillars.
Don’t let that pesky introduced white cabbage butterfly turn you off – local species will much prefer native plants, not your edibles! You will need to plant a mix of host and nectar plants and each butterfly will have its preferred species.
Two easy, local butterflies to start with are the Common Brown and William Kershaw’s Painted Lady – their larvae feed on native grasses such as Poa poiformis and Themeda triandra, and flowering ground covers such as Chrysocephalum apiculatum and Bracteantha bracteata.
Planting these species en-masse in your garden will help guide butterflies to your home.
COMMUNITY
Attracting butterflies to your garden can be addictive and it’s great to get your neighbours involved.
Researching which butterflies can be found in your area, and encouraging your neighbours to participate by planting their preferred species, is a great way to build community and help your local environment.
