The Suffolk Argus
Garden Nectar Plants for Butterflies ‘A is for Arabis’ Richard Stewart.
This is hopefully a series of short articles in alphabetical order and listing good seasonal nectar sources. In general terms all plants should be in sunlit clumps rather than being planted individually and not the ‘double flower’ variety which aren’t usually native species.
attract so many butterflies. The three together make a welcome splash of purple, white and yellow early in the year. In our garden arabis has provided nectar for Orange Tip, Small White, Green-Veined White, Peacock and Comma. Aubretia has also attracted these five plus Brimstone, Large White, Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Small Tortoiseshell. Aubretia possibly attracts more species because it has a longer flowering period compared to the other two.
The first is for early spring, the alliterative aubretia and arabis. These provide welcome nectar for species emerging from hibernation or as new adults early in the year. We have a border in our garden of these two species plus yellow alyssum which admittedly doesn’t
Illustration: Beryl Johnson 18
