Butterflies contribute to the health of ecosystems as pollinators, playing a role in plant reproduction. The interaction between butterflies and flowers is a partnership where butterflies find nourishment and plants achieve reproduction. This relationship supports biodiversity and natural systems.
How Butterflies Pollinate
Butterflies are nectar feeders, using a specialized mouthpart called a proboscis to access sweet liquid within flowers. This long, slender tube unfurls to reach deep into the flower. As the butterfly feeds, its body, legs, or proboscis can inadvertently brush against the flower’s reproductive organs, picking up pollen grains.
When the butterfly moves to another flower, the pollen attached to its body transfers to the new bloom. This transfer facilitates fertilization, leading to the production of seeds and fruits. While butterflies are not as efficient at gathering pollen as some other pollinators, their frequent visits to numerous flowers make them effective at cross-pollination.
Flower Characteristics that Attract Butterflies
Flowers have specific characteristics that attract butterflies. Bright colors like red, orange, pink, yellow, and purple are particularly attractive, acting as visual signals. Butterflies have good vision and can perceive ultraviolet light, which helps them locate flowers with nectar guides.
Flower shape also attracts butterflies. They often prefer flat-topped clusters or broad surfaces that provide a stable landing platform. Tubular flowers are also suitable, especially for species with longer proboscises, allowing access to deep nectar reserves.
Nectar richness is another important factor, as butterflies seek flowers with abundant nectar. While some flowers rely on strong scents, butterfly-pollinated flowers often have a light or subtle fragrance, as butterflies do not have a highly developed sense of smell compared to their vision.
Common Butterfly-Pollinated Flowers
Common garden flowers attract butterflies due to their appealing characteristics. Milkweed, especially clustered varieties, provides nectar for adult butterflies and serves as a host plant for monarch larvae. Coneflowers, with their large, flat, daisy-like blooms, offer easy landing spots and rich nectar for various butterfly species.
Zinnias are favored by butterflies, especially taller varieties with yellow centers. These flowers bloom continuously from summer through frost, providing a steady food source. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) produces abundant, small, fragrant flowers in compact clusters that are attractive to many butterfly species.
Asters are late-season bloomers, offering nectar when many other flowers have faded, and come in various colors. Phlox, with its showy blooms and sweet fragrance, is another popular choice, attracting species like the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Monarch. Lantana features vibrant, clustered blooms that change color as they mature, providing a landing pad and sweet nectar that attracts numerous butterflies.
Cultivating a Butterfly-Friendly Garden
Creating a garden that welcomes butterflies involves strategic plant selection and care practices. Planting native species is beneficial because they are adapted to the local environment and provide suitable nectar and host plant resources for regional butterfly populations. Offering a variety of nectar plants that bloom at different times ensures a continuous food supply throughout the butterfly season, from spring until fall.
Including host plants is important, as these are specific plants where butterflies lay their eggs and caterpillars feed. For example, milkweed is essential for Monarch caterpillars. Providing a shallow water source, such as a “puddling” area with wet sand or mud, allows butterflies to drink water and extract minerals. Avoiding pesticides is necessary, as these chemicals can harm butterflies and their larvae.