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| Incorporate plants that bloom throughout the season and feature a variety of flower shapes, sizes and colors to attract the most butterflies. | |
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When we gaze upon the beautiful butterflies flitting from flower to flower, we think about their beauty and how relaxed they make us feel. What we don’t realize is that they are busy doing a very important job.
Butterflies are second only to bees as important pollinators whose hard work pays off in the production of seeds and fruits for our enjoyment, wildlife, and future plants. By providing space in our landscapes for the plants and habitat they need, we can do a lot to help protect our native butterflies.
Most butterflies feed on the nectar of flowers. Some of the larger swallowtail butterflies can feed from tubular flowers. Incorporate plants that bloom throughout the season and feature a variety of flower shapes, sizes and colors to attract the most butterflies. Some butterflies prefer rotten fruit. Integrate native plants that drop fruit such as the Mexican plum, Texas persimmon, and Blanco crabapple.
Many people forget that butterflies develop from caterpillars. To help increase butterfly populations, plant some larval food plants in the landscape.
Other things to consider are water and shelter. Place water in a shallow dish with sand and pebbles, and plant evergreen trees and shrubs — cedar, evergreen sumac, mountain laurel, Arizona cypress, live oak, and yaupon holly — to provide shelter from wind and inclement weather. Finally, place decorative rocks or logs in the garden as butterflies need a place to warm up before they can fly.
Janis Merritt is a native plant specialist and senior crew leader for the City of San Antonio Natural Areas.
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