Butterflies Love These Flowers: Tips For Attracting Monarchs

The Beauty Of Monarch Butterflies And Their Favorite Flowers

Butterflies are some of the most beautiful and fascinating creatures on earth. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. One of the most beloved butterflies is the monarch butterfly. With its striking orange and black wings, the monarch butterfly is a sight to behold.

If you love these beautiful insects as much as we do, then you may want to consider planting flowers that will attract them to your garden. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the best flowers for attracting monarch butterflies.

The Top Flowers That Attract Monarch Butterflies

Milkweed

Milkweed is the number one flower that attracts monarch butterflies. This plant is essential to the monarch butterfly's survival because it is the only plant that the butterfly will lay its eggs on. Milkweed contains toxins that protect the monarch butterfly's caterpillars from predators.

How To Plant Milkweed

Plant milkweed in full sun, in well-draining soil. Some popular species of milkweed include common milkweed, swamp milkweed, and butterfly weed.

Tips For Growing Milkweed

- seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost
- Keep soil moist
- Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart
- Deadhead flowers to encourage more blooms

Zinnias

Zinnias are another great flower for attracting monarch butterflies. They come in many different colors and bloom throughout the summer.

How To Plant Zinnias

Plant zinnias in full sun, in well-draining soil. You can seeds indoors or sow them directly in the ground after the last frost.

Tips For Growing Zinnias

- Pinch off dead flowers to encourage more blooms
- Water regularly but avoid getting the foliage wet
- Space plants 6-12 inches apart

Lantana

Lantana is a colorful flower that attracts monarch butterflies, as well as other pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. It comes in many different colors, including yellow, orange, pink, and red.

How To Plant Lantana

Plant lantana in full sun, in well-draining soil. You can seeds indoors or sow them directly in the ground after the last frost.

Tips For Growing Lantana

- Water regularly but don't let the soil get too wet
- Prune back in the fall to encourage bushy growth
- Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season

Aster

Asters are a great late-season bloomer that will attract monarch butterflies to your garden. They come in many different colors, including white, pink, purple, and blue.

How To Plant Asters

Plant asters in full sun or partial shade, in well-draining soil. You can seeds indoors or sow them directly in the ground after the last frost.

Tips For Growing Asters

- Deadhead flowers to encourage more blooms
- Water regularly but don't let the soil get too wet
- Divide plants every few years to keep them healthy

Other Tips For Attracting Monarch Butterflies To Your Garden

Create A Butterfly-Friendly Habitat

In addition to planting flowers that attract monarch butterflies, you should also create a butterfly-friendly habitat in your garden. This means providing shelter, water, and food for the butterflies.

Provide Shelter

Butterflies need a place to rest and hide from predators. You can create a butterfly-friendly habitat by adding plants with dense foliage or by creating a butterfly house.

Provide Water

Butterflies need water to drink, especially in hot weather. You can provide water for butterflies by setting up a shallow dish filled with water and rocks.

Provide Food

In addition to flowers, monarch butterflies also feed on fruit, sap, and rotting plant material. You can provide food for butterflies by placing overripe fruit or a sugar-water solution in a shallow dish.

Avoid Using Pesticides

Pesticides are harmful to both butterflies and their larvae. If you want to attract monarch butterflies to your garden, avoid using pesticides.

Plant Native Species

Native plants are better adapted to your local climate and soil conditions. They are also more likely to attract native insects like monarch butterflies.

Frequently Asked Questions About Attracting Monarch Butterflies

Q: How long do monarch butterflies live?

A: Monarch butterflies typically live for 2-6 weeks as adults.

Q: What is the best time of year to plant milkweed?

A: The best time to plant milkweed is in the spring, after the last frost.

Q: How can I tell if a caterpillar is a monarch butterfly?

A: Monarch butterfly caterpillars are black, white, and yellow-striped with two pairs of black tentacles at the front of the body.

Q: Do monarch butterflies migrate?

A: Yes, monarch butterflies migrate south for the winter and return north in the spring.

Q: Can I plant non-native species to attract monarch butterflies?

A: While non-native species may attract monarch butterflies, it's best to stick with native plants that are better adapted to your local climate and soil conditions.

If you want to attract monarch butterflies to your garden, planting the right flowers is key. By planting milkweed, zinnias, lantana, and asters, you'll be providing the essential food and habitat that monarch butterflies need to survive. Additionally, creating a butterfly-friendly habitat, avoiding pesticides, and planting native species can help ensure that monarch butterflies thrive in your garden.