How can I attract monarchs or other butterflies to my yard? How do I start a butterfly garden?

Attracting Monarchs to Your Garden
An excellent resource on this subject is Monarch Watch. The butterfly gardening section offers tips on how to start a garden, lists of larval host plants, and descriptions of good nectar sources for adult butterflies and moths. If you are particularly interested in attracting monarch butterflies, then visit Monarch Watch's Monarch Waystation program. There, you can find out more about why and how to attract monarchs, and you can order a milkweed seed kit.

Butterfly Gardening
To attract butterflies to your garden, you need to find out the answers to three questions: 1. What butterflies are native to my area? 2. What plants are used by butterflies use to lay eggs and by caterpillars as food? 3. What plants provide nectar to adult butterflies?

One way to start: Go to the Native Plants Database and view the Special Collection entitled "Butterflies and Moths of North America." There, you can narrow your search to a particular state or other factor. The results show selected native species that are good host plants for caterpillars and/or adult butterflies and moths.

Here's another way to get started: Find out which butterflies live in your area by going to the map and select your region to see a list of species that reside there. Then, look at the caterpillar host plants and adult host plants (nectar plants) that are preferred by species you wish to attract. Include these plants in your garden, and make sure to select plants that bloom at different times. You will ensure butterfly habitat is available all season.

For more information on butterfly gardening, read the excellent articles available at The Butterfly Site.

The Pollinator Partnership has created Ecoregional Planting Guides that will help you determine which plants to select for your region.

Gardens With Wings is an excellent resource. By entering your zip code, you will be directed to lists of species that you can attract to your yard. Information about host plants is extensive and useful.

Baiting Butterflies and Moths
You can bring butterflies and moths to your yard through baiting techniques. See The Butterfly and Moth Cookbook for ideas and insights.