Get more butterflies (and moths) in your garden
One of the aspects of sustainability that we consider when designing a garden, is how wildlife-friendly our designs and planting plans are. Some things are an overarching positive for all wildlife, for example including water in your garden, but there are also specific things to consider for specific species.
One insect that is pretty much universally loved and that people want to see more of in their garden is the butterfly, and there are lots of ways that they can be encouraged into your outdoor space. Moths might not rate quite as highly on some people’s list of dream garden wildlife, but I definitely think they should – they are amazing pollinators and for those who like their Lepidoptera highly patterned, there are some really stunning moths.
(Lepodoptera = the order of insects that includes moths and butterflies)
A Garden tiger moth that found it’s way into my house (and was relocated outside post photo).
As is the case for much of our wildlife, butterfly and moths numbers are dropping, and the best way your garden can help is to provide for all the stages of their lifecycles.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars may get a bad rap among gardeners but they are an important part of the food chain, plus you can’t have butterflies and moths without caterpillars! While some caterpillars feed on a wide range of plants, others are very specific. If you have a specific species of butterfly or moth that you want to encourage, you can look up it’s caterpillar food plant, otherwise, here is a (definitely not extensive) list of some you may want to try:
Honesty (Lunaria annua) – Orange-tip butterfly, Garden carpet moth
Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) – Small white, Large white and Green-veined white caterpillars, and Garden carpet moth
Nettles (Urtica dioica) – Red admiral, Comma, Peacock and Small tortoiseshell butterflies, and Mother of pearl, burnished brass and Jersey tiger moths
(probably one for a wilder space at the back of your garden rather that in the main borders.)
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) – Swallow-tailed and Brimstone moths
Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) – Brimstone butterflies
Fuschia – Elephant hawk moths
Ivy (Hedera helix) – Holly blue
Wild grasses (including Agrostis species) – Meadow brown and skipper butterflies
Chrysalis
When caterpillars are ready to move onto the next stage, they pupate and turn into a chrysalis (pupa). Depending on the species, this may happen at any time of year, and may take place just under the soil, on the surface, wrapped in leaves or on the stem of a plant. In order to allow the pupa time to turn into a butterfly, you can do the following:
When plants die in the autumn, leave them in place through the winter as they may be pupa attached to the stems or seed heads. When you cut these back in spring leave them in a pile (either long term or until late spring/summer) rather than putting them straight in the green waste or a compost bin so that the moths and butterflies can emerge.
Leave fallen leaves where they are as they may be sheltering pupa (and other insects). If you need to clear them off patios or lawns then move them onto borders, where they will rot down and add nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
Reduce the frequency of cutting your hedges and stagger which sections you cut each year.
Adult butterflies and moths
Adult butterflies and moths need sugary nectar for energy, and there’s lots of nectar-rich flowers you can include in your garden. When you are choosing which you’d like to include try to have a mix of things that flower all the way from March through to October.
Some examples of nectar-rich plant for butterflies and moths:
Bugle (Ajuga)
Grape hyacinth (Muscari)
Verbena bonariensis
Sedum (Hylotelephium)
Mint (Mentha)
Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)
Cosmos
Sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Lavender (Lavandula)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)
Rowan (Sorbus)
A small Skipper butterfly (exactly which one unknown!) enjoying our RHS Hampton Court Show garden.
But what about Buddleja?
You may have heard Buddleja called the Butterly Bush, so why isn’t didn’t I include it on the list? Well, while butterflies do love Buddleja, it’s worth being aware that this shrub is an invasive non-native species in the UK, self-seeds prolifically and can cause damage to buildings. If you do want to have Buddleja in your garden then cut off the old flower heads before they mature into seed.
Peacock butterfly on a Buddleja - popular with insects but not so great for buildings.
If you want more in-depth information about butterflies and moths, and how to help them, then the Butterfly Conservation website is a great place to find out more.