Garden Answers Mini-Mag

WILDLIFE
Best flowers for butterflies
WILDLIFE GARDEN
JOBS FOR MAY
VERBENA BONARIENSIS
Clusters of lilac flowers
on tall stems June-Sept.
H2m (6½ft) S45cm (18in)
OREGANO
Sun-loving perennial herb
with pink flowers July-
Sept. H and S45cm (18in)
SEDUM SPECTABILE
Large flat heads of starry
flowers Aug-Nov. Plant in
sun. H and S45cm (18in)
1
SOW SEEDS OF
BUTTERFLY PLANTS
Dig and rake the soil in a
patch of sunny border and simply
sow a packet of the RSPB’s
Butterfly and Bee seeds.
2
DESIGN AND PLANT A
BUTTERFLY BORDER
Remember to include
some of those all-important
caterpillar plants.
EUPATORIUM
This lofty pink-flowered
perennial likes a damp
spot. Blooms Aug-Sept.
H and S90cm (3ft)
MICHAELMAS DAISIES
Grow in full sun for masses
flowers Aug-Sept. Choose
single-flowered cultivars.
H90cm (3ft) S40cm (16in)
IVY
Ideal for growing up a wall,
its yellowish-green flowers
Oct-Nov offer late-season
nectar. H and S3m (10ft)
3
LET LAWN GROW
LONG Summer’s meadow
butterflies will use the
grasses for feeding and shelter.
LAVENDER
Fragrant spikes of purple
July-Sept above aromatic
silvery leaves. Plant in sun.
H45cm (18in) S60cm (2ft)
WHICH PLANTS FOR
CATERPILLARS?
Remember to cater for caterpillars too
by including a range of their food plants.
l Garlic mustard and/or lady’s-smock for
orange-tips and green-veined whites
l Purging buckthorn and/or alder
buckthorn for brimstones
l Bird’s-foot trefoil for common blues, best
in an area of lawn that you let grow long
l Ivy and holly for holly blues
l Hop (Humulus lupulus) for commas
l Common or sheep’s sorrel for small coppers,
again best planted in a lawn that’s left to grow
l Wild grasses, left to grow long, for
meadow browns, gatekeepers, skippers
and speckled woods
l Stinging nettles for red admirals, peacocks,
small tortoiseshells and commas, but they do
demand a large, sunny swathe of the stuff!
ECHINACEA
Tough plant for full sun with
rosy flowers June-Sept. Opt
for single-flowered cultivars.
H1.5m (5ft) S45cm (18in)
Holly
Lady’s smock
SCABIOUS
Lavender-blue pincushions
July-Sept are a favourite
for sunny cottage garden
beds. H and S40cm (16in)
Hop
Nettle
Look out for
l ORANGE TIPS Of the few
butterfly species that appear
in spring only, the well-named
orange-tip is the most frequently
seen in gardens, so enjoy it during
its short season.
l MALE BUTTERFLY PATROLS
In spring, some male butterflies
are more intent on finding a mate
than on feeding, so watch as they
patrol or sit on bushes to await
passing females.
l SPECKLED WOODS The
speckled wood butterfly enjoys
dappled shade, so look where
sunlight filters through trees.
16 Garden Answers