Image: Tawny Coster
Guest post by Malcolm Tattersall
Edited, updated, proofread – Admin
All images belong to: Malcolm Tattersall
This is a quick introduction to a subject which, like any hobby, can become as absorbing and delightful as we make it. My three levels are casual interest, getting serious, and (dare I say it) beginning to look obsessive.
The key to butterfly gardening is that we generally see butterflies in two kinds of places: where the adults can feed, and around the plants on which their caterpillars feed.
Males of most species can simply hang around the larval food plants for females who want to lay their eggs, leaving the area only for food. In extreme cases, the larval food plant’s flowers provide most of the adults’ food, and the whole life cycle revolves around the host plant.
Level 1: “I just love seeing lots of butterflies in my garden.”
Nearly all adult butterflies can feed from any kind of flower, so anyone wanting to attract butterflies to their garden should begin by simply providing lots of flowers.
- A wide variety is good because their flowering seasons will extend through most of the year.
- Particular species are not important at this stage.
- Butterflies don’t care whether the plant is native or exotic, although that becomes significant at the next level.
Level 2: “I wish there were more butterflies in the world!”
Overall, it is more useful to provide host plants for caterpillars than nectar plants for adults.
- Growing the host plants means that you end up with more butterflies, many of which will stay in your garden.
- There is a downside: host plants are eaten! This might trouble some gardeners, but a fully functional ecosystem keeps plants healthier overall.
- Minimise pesticide use, as anything that kills unwanted insects can also kill caterpillars.
Caterpillars, unlike adults, are fussy eaters, needing particular kinds of plants. Many will flourish on any plant in a family (e.g., citrus), but others demand a particular species.
Who’s Who and Who Eats What
Butterflies are grouped into five families:
- Swallowtails (Papilionidae): Most of our largest butterflies, e.g., Cairns Birdwing (female wingspan up to 150mm) and Ulysses. Smaller Swallowtails are between 55–65mm.
- Nymphs (Nymphalidae): Crows, Soldiers, Tigers, etc. Many are similar in size to Swallowtails.
- Whites and Yellows (Pieridae): Migrants and Jezebels. Some are smaller.
- Skippers (Hesperiidae) and Blues (Lycaenidae): Smaller butterflies. Many are extremely loyal to a single species of plant (e.g., Plumbago Blue only uses Plumbago).
Skippers and Blues use a wide range of plants, but many are species-specific. Other families tend to semi-specialise on a group of plants. For instance, Milkweed Butterflies (a sub-group of Nymphs) all prefer Milkweeds.
Fortunately, the larger butterflies are easiest to cater for. Planting representatives of these families will attract many larger butterflies:
- Annonaceae (Custard Apples)
- Citrus
- Cassia
- Capparaceae (especially Capparis)
- Apocynaceae (especially Milkweeds)
Beyond that, aim for a diversity of native species.
The Bush Garden Nursery list has a column showing which plants attract butterflies.
Level 3: Gardening for Particular Species
Gardening for specific species of butterfly will be covered another time. If you can’t wait, these references will set you on the right track:
- Butterflies of Australia by Don Herbison-Evans and Stella Crossley – a comprehensive site showing all five families, indexed by life stage and species, with photos and host plants.
- Books: A Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia: their life histories and larval host plants by Garry Sankowsky.
