Q: My daughter, who is in the third grade, wants to grow a butterfly garden. I want to encourage her but I don’t know what to plant. Can you help?

A: Butterfly gardening is not only easy, it is immediately satisfying because the butterflies will come and visit for nectar but don’t forget to have a source for the caterpillar to eat too. Most adult butterflies found in Florida feed on flower nectar. Butterflies generally are attracted to brightly colored simple flowers that are not too deep and that are wide enough for good perching platforms.

Universal nectar favorites include: phlox, zinnias, asters, marigolds, daisies, coneflowers, black-eyed Susan, milkweeds, thistles, and butterflybush. Larval (caterpillar) food plants must be tailored to specific butterflies. Some plants are hosts to several different butterflies (e.g., passion vine), but often each species requires its own plant. Examples of good sources for caterpillars are ash trees, citrus, oaks, marigolds, vines, and herbs.

Visit your local nursery or garden center and start with a small patch in the yard she can tend. This is something the whole family can enjoy. I believe it will be the beginning of a life-long love of gardening and the outdoors. Good luck and send me a picture of your daughter and some of the interesting visitors to her garden. We all would enjoy seeing her progress.

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