Butterfly gardening Butterfly gardening Butterflies are a very beautiful insect that many of us would like to attract to our garden. But it takes more than just having flowers in order to become a haven for butterflies. When thinking of a butterfly garden, one must not think just about what butterflies need but also what caterpillars need.
Butterflies feed on flower nectar and prefer bright and simple flowers.
These flowers need to be shallow and have an adequate perching surface. Flowers with stronger scents generally produce more nectar. Butterflies need nectar year-round, so it is important to have flowers in bloom for each season. Some adults choose to feed on manure, rotting fruit, mud, or sap instead of nectar. This means that you may wish to also have a compost pile for your butterflies to feed on.