Butterflies Food - Providing a wide variety of flowers is the easiest way to attract butterflies. Because of the design of the proboscis, or tube which draws up the nectar, the best flower designs for butterflies are tubular. Also, the overall size of the flower can determine which butterflies will feed at which flowers. A skipper is too small to feed at a large-flowered sage, but a swallowtail will do just fine. Many of the best butterfly flowers are clusters of small single blossoms, arranged on a horizontal plane, such as Queen Anne's Lace or yarrow.
Fragrance is an important quality of butterfly flowers.
Water - Provide water in shallow dishes throughout the garden. Butterflies also get moisture from ripe fruit and decaying animals. Shelter - Recently, butterfly boxes have become commercially available. The jury is still out on whether they are useful. Most butterflies need sun.