Nectar brings in the butterfies

SCRIPPS HOWARD

Attracting butterflies to your back yard isn't difficult once you know the basics:

  • Butterflies are attracted to nectar sources, flowers that provide them with food.

    Native plants that butterflies like include butterfly weed, firebush, shiny-leafed blueberry, flatwoods pawpaw and carpetweed.

    Non-natives that work well in a butterfly garden include pentas, butterfly bush, heliotrope, Mexican sunflower, zinnias and moss verbena.

  • Caterpillars, which metamorphose into butterflies, require specific kinds of plants to feed upon.

    These are called host, or larval food, plants.

    Expect these plants to be eaten (that's why they're there), but they'll grow back.

    A few examples: Citrus trees host giant swallowtail caterpillars; passion vines planted in a sunny spot host gulf fritillary caterpillars; milkweeds host monarch and queen caterpillars.

  • Don't use pesticides if you want to attract and retain butterflies, which, after all, are insects.

  • Plant your garden in an area that gets at least six hours of sun, but also plant in shade to attract shade-loving butterflies.

    Fragile creatures need protection from wind, so situate your garden near trees, shrubs or a building.

    And butterflies need a water source.

    (Sources: "Florida Butterfly Gardening," by Marc and Maria Minno (University Press of Florida $34.95); rainforesteducation.

    com,; Florida Federation of Garden Clubs; Florida Cooperative Extension Service.) On the Web: North American Butterfly Association: www.naba.org

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