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‘Waltz of the Flowers’

By Kristi Hendricks - Garden Inspirations | Aug 11, 2023

They float, they glide, they hover and they land (but not for very long) — the butterflies of West Virginia, that is. When composing “Waltz of the Flowers,” Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky must have been describing how a Russian sage invites such delightful creatures for a dance in the summer breeze. These colorful and entertaining insects seem to daintily sway with the flower spikes as the butterflies drink in each blossom’s sweet nectar.

Experience tells us that before you execute, plan. When it comes to butterfly gardening, strategize beforehand about plant selections, if you want to both feed the adults and their caterpillars. Choose a variety of nectar-producing plants with flowers that bloom steadily throughout the season. It is critical to have plants that flower in mid-to-late summer, when butterflies are the most active. This will encourage a continuous succession of winged visitors to your garden.

Plants that flower with multiple florets, producing abundant nectar, are the best possible choice. Lantana, liatris and butterfly weed are popular, drought-tolerant selections for Shepherdstown residences, requiring little maintenance in return for a wealth of butterfly activity. But much depends on the butterfly and its specific tastes.

The eastern tiger swallowtail gravitates to pink coneflowers and red pentas as nectar favorites. The elegant spicebush swallowtail enjoys purple verbena, wild bergamot and lavender phlox nectar. The famous monarch selects the blue mist flower, autumn aster and marigolds of much the same color as their own wings.

Be aware that the well-known butterfly bush can be highly invasive, if not sufficiently mulched or mown around or trimmed, prior to seed distribution.

Nectar is essential, yes, but host plants are also critical in creating a butterfly-friendly garden, as they provide a site for the female butterfly to lay eggs and serve as a food source for the emerging caterpillars. The female butterfly will only lay eggs on those plants that the caterpillars can use as food. Most species of caterpillars are choosy. If eggs are placed on an unsuitable plant, the caterpillar hatchings will not survive.

Hollyhock and sunflowers are highly attractive host plants for the painted lady. The black swallowtail selects dill, parsley and fennel as top choices as hosts. And the monarch will only lay its eggs on milkweed. There are many species of milkweed, including common, swamp, white and purple varieties, so try out a couple. If you don’t supply host plants, you will be limiting butterfly attendance.

A convenient approach to creating a butterfly-friendly garden is to group both host and nectar plants in the same bed. But, be aware caterpillars tend to have a bad case of the munchies! Site trees known to serve as welcoming hosts nearby. If a consistent, clean water source is nearby, it will always appreciated.

Kristi Hendricks is a graduate of Shepherd College and West Virginia University and a Master Gardener with the Virginia Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at belowthejames@yahoo.com.