On 20/05/2011 09:14, Mike_stone wrote:
Jake;922119 Wrote:
On Thu, 19 May 2011 12:18:56 +0000, Mike_stone
wrote:
-

Hello all,

I'm new to the forum and this is my first post. I'm looking forward to
looking through the older posts to see what discussions have been going
on.

I've been working on creating a wildlife garden to attract birds and
animals to my urban back garden.

What flowers to people recommend to attract butterlfies?

Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards,-

There's a big long list at :
'Attract butterflies to your garden! Flowers for butterflies'
(http://tinyurl.com/674xtox)
(you don't have to buy from them but saves me listing a lot).

Shazzbat's suggestion will attract absolubtely loads of predominantly
white butterflies to your garden, followed by even more loads of
lovely green catterpillars. However you should have a continuing
reserve of cabbages growing indoors from which you will regularly
replenish the stock of cabbages growing outdoors.


Hi Jake,

Thanks for the link and advice.

A few of the things on that list are a bit on the world domination side
in terms of invasive tendencies. Be a bit careful what you choose.

You have to try and pick a selection of plants that are prolific with
small nectar rich flowers and span the entire season. Starting with pear
and apple blossom going right through to sedum spectabile at the end.
Some of the plants that butterflies love are a bit of a handful if you
don't keep on top of dead heading. Red valerian for instance which is
(too) easy to grow attracts many butterflies and hummingbird hawkmoths
for me, but it also comes up all over the place and I am pretty good
about not letting it set seed.

I still think it is well worth growing for the butterflies, but be a bit
careful not to introduce plants which are even more unruly. At the
moment the alliums are the main attraction - red valerian will be out in
a few days and then flowers continuously[*] until it gets frosted.
[*] provided that you religiously dead head it before it sets seed.

I let it grow along the base of a hedge and in clumps elsewhere.

Regards,
Martin Brown