How to Make a Butterfly Container Garden

Just as there are certain garden visitors who we want to repel, there are others we want to invite in. The sight of butterflies fluttering around a garden in full bloom is truly beautiful.

As long you’ve got their favorite flowers around, butterflies will stop by for a visit regardless of how the plants are planted. So, if you have a small outdoor space, you absolutely can entice butterflies to come and visit with a few well-executed containers. As a bonus, many of the plants that are used to attract butterflies are also hummingbird favorites, meaning you could have more than one type of beautiful visitor.

The strategy is simple: plant what butterflies like! Here are some things to consider to make your butterfly container garden a success.

 

Design considerations for your butterfly container garden

While butterflies might be selective about what nectar they want to drink, they’re not going to have an opinion about the containers you choose. This allows you to pick planters that match your style. Try glazed ceramic pots, wooden containers, buckets, wheelbarrows, or even rainboots.

Arrange a few containers next to each other

It will take more than one small plant to convince a butterfly to stop by for a snack or lay its eggs. You don’t need a huge garden, but you do need at least a few large containers to successfully attract desirable visitors.

Create height

To make your container garden attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and humans, find ways to create height. This can happen in a few ways:

• Planters in various heights
• Planters set on stools or stands
• Vines growing on frames in planters

The height variation will show the desirable visitors all of the plants you have to offer, while contributing to the design of your container garden.

Choose a color palette

Are you fan of simple, modern design? If so, you may enjoy a monochromatic style for your butterfly container garden. Flowers that butterflies love are most easily found in these colors:

• Yellow
• Purple
• Red
• White

Because there are so many flowers that butterflies like, having a certain color in mind can help you narrow your options. A single-color palette can actually make the individual shapes and textures of different blooms stand out more.

Of course, you can go hog wild with color. If you’ve picked very simple planters, or are going for an informal look, then a mix of all sorts of colors might be the better choice for you.

 

The best flowers to plant

There are tons of flowers that butterflies like. The Old Farmer’s Almanac has a comprehensive list from which you can research which plants perform well in your geographic area.

Here are the top plants that are easy to find across the country, come in multiple varieties, and are also easy to care for.

Nasturtium

These bright beauties deserve first mention. Nasturtium is an annual that is loved by butterflies and hummingbirds, and is edible for humans too! Because the blooms contrast boldly with their dark green foliage, they’re a popular annual that makes any gardener think of summer.

Because they grow rapidly, they’re a great flower for new gardeners to start from seed. You get a relatively quick payoff and will see the sprouts in just a week.

Pentas

This star-shaped flower can be grown as a perennial in tropical climates and as an annual in cooler zones. They are low-maintenance outdoor plants that enjoy full sunshine, plenty of water, and the occasional deadheading.

They come in many shades of pink, purple, and red and will bloom through summer and into the fall. 

Heliotrope

All flowers that attract butterflies are fragrant, but heliotrope really takes the cake. In fact, some find that it smells like vanilla cake.

These flowers perform notoriously well in containers, and are easy to find in shades of purple, blue or white.

Salvias

Salvias are perennials that are favored by butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. They’re known as one of the easiest plants for feeding local bees and attracting pretty butterflies. Different varieties do better in different areas, and you’ll likely find the right option easily in your local nursery. The best part is that deer don’t eat them, so if you’re challenged to find something that butterflies will eat but deer won’t, look no further.

Lantana

These sweet little blooms attract butterflies and a variety of small birds. They’re most commonly found in a soft yellow shade, but there are pink and purple varieties.

Like most of the flowers listed here, they require warmth and full sun. But they can handle less frequent waterings once established, as little as once per week, making them a great option if you’re planning on multiple summer vacations, or are admittedly forgetful!

Zinnias

Zinnias are one of the absolute easiest flowers to grow in the summer. Plus, butterflies are notoriously obsessed with them. The varieties of zinnias seem endless, but what characterizes them are their hardy stems and cheery, warm-toned colors. You can even try creeping zinnias, which will create a great base plant for a mixed container. 

 

Consider caterpillars: offer munchable food

We can’t forget the caterpillars! Butterflies need to lay their eggs somewhere that has food for their caterpillars. That’s why the most strategic butterfly container gardens include yummy plants that caterpillars like to eat.

Find out which butterfly species are in your area, then research what their caterpillars eat. Commonly enjoyed caterpillar foods that are easy to plant in containers are:

• Sage
• Parsley
• Fennel
• Dill

These host plants will ensure that you’ll enjoy butterflies throughout the season.

Planting any container garden is a joy, but when you strategically keep butterflies and hummingbirds in mind as you design your container, then you make the project extra special and greatly increase your chances of seeing these beautiful creatures outside your home.

What are your top tips for attracting desirable visitors? Let us know in the comments below!