Butterflies Outside My Window

by Eric
(San Diego, CA, USA)

Hi fellow gardeners,

My family and I love to watch butterflies over breakfast. We have a lovely bay window in the breakfast nook of our house, and we have strategically planted things outside the window to maximize our butterfly viewing enjoyment.

Now, keep advised that this is in San Diego, California, so your mileage may vary depending on what plants work in your particular climate. Keep in mind that what you plant also will depend on the butterflies in your area, because I understand that different butterflies like different nectars. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Just saying...

So, remember that ideally you should have host plants for the little caterpillars to grow and transform on and then some tasty nectar plants to keep the butterflies around (and ultimately mating to restart the cycle).

My daughter is especially fond of painted ladies, so we have a planter with sunflowers, thistle and hollyhock which the little caterpillars practically fight over (these are host plants in case you weren't sure). For nectar plans, we have Brazilian Verbenas which do pretty well since we live near the coast and also some Common Milkweed. They don't really like the milkweed as much as the verbena, but what can you do. A friend has suggested we plant some zinnias, which are nice to look at, and painted ladies, but I just haven't gotten around to it.

Anyways, I'd be interested to hear what other things you are trying out there. Please be sure to let me know where you live, and what sorts of butterflies you generally attract. We get some species other than painted ladies with ours, I should mention, but it definitely pulls the ladies, hehe.

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