Unintentional Butterfly Gardening

Butterflies would be extinct if they had to depend on human gardeners to survive. Even people with good intentions may not understand that flowers don’t really matter. Instead, specific caterpillar host plants for each species of butterfly are the necessity for attracting butterflies. You must feed the caterpillars to see the beautiful adults! Many casual gardeners may be aware of Milkweeds for Monarch caterpillars, but what about the other 60 species of butterflies in the Kansas City area? Those children are hungry too!

You may be giving your flowers credit since that’s where you see nectaring butterflies, but it’s those host plants that attract them because, like all good parents, they are focused on their children’s needs. Fortunately, butterflies are superb botanists and recognize the right plant family for their offspring, even if you don’t. Male butterflies also search for the host plants because they know that is where they will meet the ladies. Fortunately, you probably accidentally already have some of the following common host plants in your yard.

Butterfly Host Plants in the Herb Garden

Parsley, Dill and Fennel: many of our favorite herbs are members of the carrot family, which serve as host plants for Black Swallowtails. Those large striped caterpillars are baby butterflies! Another herb, Rue, serves as host for both Black and Giant Swallowtails.

Host Plants In our Flower Beds

Echinacea (Coneflowers) host the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly caterpillars. These small ugly caterpillars travel in herds, decimating your Coneflowers, but the plants will recover and you will soon see beautiful silver-marked butterflies. Members of the Figwort Family, including Snapdragons, Angelonia, Toadflax and Plantain feed herds of Common Buckeye caterpillars. The plant will quickly recover from being munched and bloom even more vigorously after its haircut. Alyssum is in the Mustard family, just like Cabbage, Broccoli, and Kale, so you know which butterfly lays her eggs on all of these, the lovely Cabbage White! Considered an agricultural pest, this non-native was accidentally introduced from Europe in about 1860. It is now the most successful butterfly in North America, thanks to the many native mustards as well as our vegetable gardens.

Monarch caterpillars eat only Milkweeds like this native Spider Milkweed. Since farmers now kill Milkweeds by spraying Round-upTM on their GMO corn and soybeans, Monarchs must depend on us, the home gardeners, to plant Milkweeds in our gardens.

Host Plants in the Lawn

Violets are viewed as weeds by many lawn-lovers, but they are a superb spreading native groundcover. The flowers and leaves are edible, not only for humans, but the Great Spangled Fritillary. Most adult butterflies only live a week or two, but this large orange and silver female butterfly glides in your garden from May to October before she spreads her eggs on the violets.

Summary: Buying Host Plants

You choose which butterflies nectar in your garden by which caterpillar host plants you supply. Rather than just hoping for luck, you can greatly increase the species and numbers of butterflies in your yard by deliberately planting the specific hosts. The Paola Master Gardener Plant Sale will have 40 different species of host plants and experienced butterfly gardeners to assist your shopping. Mark your calendar for April 27, 28, 29 and come see us at 913 South Pearl (the Extension Office parking lot) in Paola, KS.

LENORA LARSON Butterfly Maven

Growing up I remember African Violets thriving on my Grandmother’s kitchen windowsill. I like to think they were there because that is where she spent her time cooking for family and friends. Today, I have continued that tradition and grow my own African Violets in my kitchen. With floor-to-ceiling windows facing northeast and south, my room is bright and sunny.

I learned more about African Violets while attending meetings at the African Violet Club of Greater Kansas City. I was surrounded by fellow gardeners passionate about African Violets, and they were eager to share wisdom and experiences. Some have been members for over 35 years.

Kansas City is fortunate to have two different clubs, African Violet Club of Greater Kansas City and Sho-Me African Violet Club. Both clubs meet at Jacob L. Loose Park Garden Center; you can find their meeting time and additional in-