Pollinators · Flower Garden Turn Your Garden Into a Butterfly Magnet One shrub, a handful of the right flowers and a little "mess" – that's all butterflies need to find you. The photo above is a butterfly bush we spotted still flowering at the end of October, long after most of the garden had gone quiet. In summer, a shrub like this can be covered in butterflies from morning to evening. People call it the "butterfly catcher" for a reason. But a butterfly-friendly garden is about more than one plant. Butterflies need nectar from spring to autumn , plants for their caterpillars , sun, shelter and water . Get those four things right and they will come back every year. The Star Plant: Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) The butterfly bush is a fast-growing shrub with long, cone-shaped flower spikes in purple, pink, white or deep violet. The flowers are full of sweet, honey-scented nectar, and their shape makes it easy for butterflies to land and drink....
Practical growing guides, plant care tips, and seasonal advice for home gardeners of every experience level, from backyard beginners to seasoned green thumbs.