Photo courtesy of The County Clerk (cc)
Milkweed
Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is a clustered flowering plant that is drought tolerant and will self-sow where happy. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is native to eastern U.S. and is purplish, while other species are orange or yellow. Many species are host plants for monarch eggs and larvae. They will also attract adult monarchs, blue swallowtail, checkerspot, and painted ladies.
Photo courtesy of Benimoto (cc)
Purple Coneflowers
Purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) are daisy-like flowers that are native to the eastern U.S. and usually pink or purple with large, impressive heads. It grows two to three feet tall and blooms through summer and fall—a favorite time for butterflies. Good for a drought tolerant garden, it will attract swallowtails, silver-spotted skipper, wood nymphs, fritillary, and the harvester.
Photo courtesy of BarefootGardener (cc)
In creating a happy habitat for butterflies, you’ll not only increase your enjoyment of the garden, but theirs too. Many species of butterflies are disappearing due to habitat destruction, so with the right plants, rocks, and space, you can create a chill space for a most joyous insect.
