How can I help butterflies and moths in my garden?

Any garden, no matter the size, can easily attract butterflies and moths. You just need one ingredient: nectar, nectar and more nectar! By planting suitable nectar-rich plants, you could quickly attract up to 18 species of butterfly and many moths.

Good sources of nectar

Butterflies can fly surprisingly long distances in their search for the right breeding site, and nectar provides essential sustenance at this time. Butterflies locate nectar flowers by following scent and colour. Generally, both native and non-native flowers are suitable as nectar sources, so you have lots of choice of what to plant.

It is important that the nectar is accessible – simple, shallow flowers are best. Butterflies cannot reach the nectar in deep flowers such as foxgloves. You should also be wary of double flowers, as many of these are sterile, scentless, and do not have any nectar.

You can group flowers to create a ‘butterfly border’. Butterflies like warmth, so go for a sheltered, sunny spot and try to pick a mixture of plants that flower throughout the year. Obviously, don't use any insecticides or pesticides as they will kill butterflies and many other important insects.

The following list is not comprehensive, but should be a helpful guide to seasonal nectar:

  • Spring. Aubrieta, bluebell, cuckooflower, forget-me-not, grape hyacinth, heather (spring flowering), honesty, hyssop, primrose.
  • Summer. Many flowers, especially bramble, Buddleia (butterfly bush), candytuft, dandelion, flos flower, golden rod, heliotrope, hemp agrimony, knapweed, lavender, French marigold, marjoram, mint, nasturtiums, oxeye daisy, perennial wallflower, purple loosestrife, scabious, sweet rocket, sweet william, teasel, thyme, toadflax, valerian and yarrow.
  • Autumn. Alyssum, black-eyed Susan, Buddleia (deadhead to prolong season), hebe, heliotrope, ice plant (but not ‘autumn joy’ or ‘brilliant’), ivy, michaelmas daisy, scabious, Verbena, yarrow.

Butterflies will also feed on ripe and windfall fruit, root sap, tree trunks, honeydew, sweat, carrion, dung, cuckoo spit, and even wine! You could also put out sugar strips, or a shallow dish of sugared water and honey. If you live near the coast, this will be popular with migrants.

Getting butterflies and moths to breed in your garden is a bit more tricky as most caterpillars only feed on a specific foodplant.

Find out about foodplants for caterpillars


Posted in: Butterflies and Moths on 01 June 2015


Back to the in your garden homepage

Time Δ Debug Message - Perch Runway 3.2
1787562226.41810 [907] SELECT p.pagePath, pr.routePattern, pr.routeRegExp, p.pageTemplate, pr.routeOrder, s.settingValue AS siteOffline FROM swt_pages_staging p LEFT JOIN swt_page_routes pr ON p.pageID=pr.pageID LEFT JOIN swt_settings s ON s.settingID='siteOffline' UNION SELECT NULL AS pagePath, pr2.routePattern, pr2.routeRegExp, pr2.templatePath AS pageTemplate, pr2.routeOrder, NULL AS siteOffline FROM swt_page_routes pr2 WHERE templateID!=0 ORDER BY routeOrder ASC, pagePath ASC
1787562226.45550.0373Matched route: discover/in-your-garden/article/[i:id]
1787562226.45560.0001Server address: 216.73.217.165
1787562226.45560Using master page: /templates/pages/in-your-garden/post.php
1787562226.45570Page arguments: 
Array
(
    [0] => /discover/in-your-garden/article/92
    [id] => 92
    [1] => 92
)
1787562226.45590.0002 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562226.45690.001 [86] SELECT DISTINCT settingID, settingValue FROM swt_settings WHERE userID=0
1787562226.45890.002 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=24429687
1787562226.45950.0006 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=24429687
1787562226.46010.0005 [nil] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_sales WHERE saleFrom<='2026-08-24 09:03:00' AND saleTo>'2026-08-24 09:03:00' AND saleActive=1 AND saleDeleted IS NULL ORDER BY saleOrder ASC
1787562226.46080.0008 [1] SELECT collectionID, collectionTemplate FROM swt_collections WHERE collectionKey='Wildcall'
1787562226.46160.0008 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, ci.collectionID, ci.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_collection_index idx JOIN swt_collection_items ci ON idx.itemID=ci.itemID AND idx.itemRev=ci.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_revisions cr ON idx.itemID=cr.itemID AND idx.itemRev=cr.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE (idx.collectionID=5) AND ((idx.indexKey='_id' AND idx.indexValue=92)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, itemJSON, sortval ORDER BY sortval ASC
1787562226.46620.0046Using template: /templates/content/wildcall.html
1787562226.46640.0002 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/content/mixed_content.html
1787562226.46660.0002Using sub-template: /templates/content/text_block.html
1787562226.46670.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/thumbnails.html
1787562226.46670Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562226.46680Using sub-template: /templates/content/gallery.html
1787562226.46680Using sub-template: /templates/content/video.html
1787562226.46680Using sub-template: /templates/content/ask_inline.html
1787562226.46690Using sub-template: /templates/content/legacy_request_form.html
1787562226.46690Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562226.46690Using sub-template: /templates/content/code_block.html
1787562226.4670Using sub-template: /templates/content/customisable_donate_form.html
1787562226.4670Using sub-template: /templates/content/contact_form.html
1787562226.46710.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/details.html
1787562226.46720Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562226.46720Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562226.46730.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562226.46730Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562226.46730Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562226.46740Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562226.46740Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562226.46740 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562226.46910.0017 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_categories ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1787562226.47260.0035 [162] SELECT catID, catPath FROM swt_categories
1787562226.4740.0014 [250] SELECT country, countryID FROM swt_shop_countries WHERE countryActive=1 ORDER BY country ASC
1787562226.47590.0019Using template: /templates/pages/attributes/seo.html
1787562226.47610.0003 [nil] SELECT regionID, regionTemplate, regionPage, regionRev AS rev FROM swt_content_regions WHERE regionKey='Banner image' AND (regionPage='/discover/in-your-garden/article' OR regionPage='*')
1787562226.4770.0008No matching content regions found. Check region name (Banner image) and page path options.
1787562226.4770 [nil] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, c.regionID, idx.pageID, c.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_content_index idx JOIN swt_content_items c ON idx.itemID=c.itemID AND idx.itemRev=c.itemRev AND idx.regionID=c.regionID JOIN swt_content_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE idx.regionID IS NULL AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, pageID, itemJSON, sortval, regionID ORDER BY sortval ASC
1787562226.47770.0007 [82] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageDepth >=0 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562226.48180.0041 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562226.48250.0007 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562226.48550.0031Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template.html
1787562226.48560 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562226.48610.0005 [4] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562226.48650.0004 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562226.48860.0021 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562226.48920.0006 [7] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562226.48960.0004 [9] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562226.49160.0021 [0] SELECT setID FROM swt_category_sets WHERE setSlug='' LIMIT 1
1787562226.49240.0008 [1] SELECT main.* FROM swt_categories main WHERE 1=1 AND (catPath='wildcall/butterflies-and-moths/') ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1787562226.49330.0008 [1] Using template: /templates/categories/wildcall_banner.html
1787562226.49540.0022 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, ci.collectionID, ci.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_collection_index idx JOIN swt_collection_items ci ON idx.itemID=ci.itemID AND idx.itemRev=ci.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_revisions cr ON idx.itemID=cr.itemID AND idx.itemRev=cr.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE (idx.collectionID=5) AND ((idx.indexKey='_id' AND idx.indexValue=92)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, itemJSON, sortval ORDER BY sortval ASC
1787562226.49940.0039Using template: /templates/content/wildcall.html
1787562226.49950.0001 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/content/mixed_content.html
1787562226.49970.0002Using sub-template: /templates/content/text_block.html
1787562226.49970Using sub-template: /templates/content/thumbnails.html
1787562226.49980Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562226.49980Using sub-template: /templates/content/gallery.html
1787562226.49980Using sub-template: /templates/content/video.html
1787562226.49990Using sub-template: /templates/content/ask_inline.html
1787562226.49990Using sub-template: /templates/content/legacy_request_form.html
1787562226.49990Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562226.50.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/code_block.html
1787562226.50Using sub-template: /templates/content/customisable_donate_form.html
1787562226.50010Using sub-template: /templates/content/contact_form.html
1787562226.50020.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/details.html
1787562226.50020Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562226.50030Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562226.50030.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562226.50040Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562226.50040Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562226.50040Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562226.50050Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562226.50050 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562226.50220.0017 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_categories ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1787562226.50630.0041 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/what-we-do' OR pageSortPath='/what-we-do' LIMIT 1
1787562226.50730.001 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-002' LIMIT 1
1787562226.50810.0008 [7] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-002%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562226.51140.0033 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562226.51210.0007 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562226.51510.003 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562226.51590.0008 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
1787562226.51660.0008 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
1787562226.51720.0005 [38] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562226.52090.0038 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562226.52150.0006 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562226.52430.0028 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562226.52750.0032 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/visit' OR pageSortPath='/visit' LIMIT 1
1787562226.52850.001 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-004' LIMIT 1
1787562226.5290.0006 [30] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-004%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562226.53220.0032 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562226.53280.0006 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562226.53550.0027 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562226.53790.0024 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
1787562226.53870.0008 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
1787562226.53950.0008 [11] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562226.54280.0033 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562226.54340.0006 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562226.54560.0022 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562226.54640.0009Request time: 0.1295
1787562226.54640Process time: 0.1293
1787562226.54640Memory: 1.7885