Some of the caterpillars are as intriguing as the butterflies. Butterflies and their caterpillars tend to have very specific plant requirements. Despite their porky appearance, caterpillars are often picky eaters and only feed on the leaves and sometimes flowers and seeds of specific plants or group of plants. Butterflies are important plant pollinators and because of their specific requirements for certain plants, they are good indicators of environmental quality. A butterfly garden should provide a few basics such as food plants for the caterpillars and nectar sources for the butterflies.
Butterflies are sun worshipers preferring a sunny spot away from strong winds.
Sandy puddles of water for moisture and basking areas of rocks and logs are also favorite hangouts. Good butterfly flowers are generally flat topped for a landing pad, have single petals and clusters of little flowers. Rather than single plants, butterflies enjoy large masses of flowers which coincides nicely with the garden style many of us enjoy. Perennial flowers include purple coneflower, liatris, sedum, butterfly weed, asters, chives, ironweed, phlox, milkweeds, Joe Pye weed and butterfly bush. The annual flowers include alyssum, zinnias, heliotrope, marigolds, lantana and Mexican sunflower.