Gardening for Butterflies and Moths

Many of us try to attract butterflies by planting nectar sources, like buddleia, in our gardens. Planting flowers raises an expectation which often leads to the question, "Why don't I see many butterflies?". There are several reasons, but the most important is that nectar sources simply retain butterflies which would otherwise fly straight through your garden. Nectar sources alone do not increase the numbers of butterflies.
 
Unlike bees that really benefit from extra nectar sources (as all the stages of their life cycle feed on nectar), butterflies only feed on nectar in the adult stage. Every adult butterfly has spent weeks as a caterpillar, eating leaves. Unless the plants that caterpillars need are growing in or near your garden, you will not see the adults.
 
Some planting suggestions for various areas of the garden are listed below; click the appropriate boxed link to view them.
 
More information about gardening for butterflies and moths can be found on the Butterfly Conservation web site.
 
Finally, don't forget to submit your garden records, either during or at the end of the season.		  
Peacock on blackthorn flowers, which provide an excellent nectar supply early in the year. Blackthorn is the foodplant of several species of garden moth such as the Grey Dagger (below).

Long Grass Areas Short Grass Areas Borders and Containers Hedges and woodland edges Large Trees

Plants for hedges and woodland edges

Hedges and, in some gardens, woodland edges, are very helpful to butterflies and moths. They can provide foodplants and give shelter from intense sun, wind and rain and in winter, frosts. They provide places for the caterpillars, pupae and adults to hide away from predators and parasites. The tallest plants in the hedge, or stems protruding from it, may well act as sites where adults can congregate to find mates and, of course, many of the hedge plants, on whose leaves caterpillars feed, also have flowers with nectar, and can produce fruits and nuts for a range of wildlife.
The best hedges are 3m/10ft tall and at least as wide. They should not be trimmed to produce a vertical edge, but have small bays and promontories as various species in the hedge grow at different rates. The benefit of the hedge will be increased if a 0.7m/2.5ft wide strip of uncut grass borders its base.

 
Species Frequently used as food plant by Occasionally used as food plant by Season (if nectar source) Image
Apple
(Malus spp.)
  • Winter moth
    Blackthorn
    (Prunus spinosa)
    • Brown-tail
    • November moth
    • Pale Brindled Beauty
    • Yellow-tail
    • Dark Chestnut
    • Early Thorn
    • Emperor moth
    • Grey Dagger
    		 Spring
    Bramble
    (Rubus fructiosus)
    • Mottled Beauty
    • Peppered Moth
    • Angle Shades
    • Brown-tail
    • Emperor moth
    		 Summer
    Buckthorn
    (Rhamnus, Frangula spp.)
    • Brimstone
    • Mottled Beauty
    • Emperor moth
    • Pale Brindled Beauty
    Hazel
    (Corylus avellana)
    • Scalloped Hazel
      Honeysuckle
      (Lonicera spp.)
      • Yellow-tail
      • Buff Ermine
      • Early Thorn
      		 Summer
      Ivy
      (Hedera helix)
      • Holly Blue
      • Swallow-tail moth
      • Willow Beauty
      		 Autumn
      Privet
      (Ligustrum ovalifolium)
      • Privet Hawk-moth
      • Engrailed
      		 Summer
      Sallow
      (Salix spp.)
      • Eyed Hawk-moth
      • Pale Prominent
      • Early Thorn
      		 Spring