| Aubretia |
Easy
to grow, has spring flowers. |
Buddleia
|
The
number one favourite - many varieties |
| French
Marigold |
Half-hardy
annual. Flowers throughout the summer. |
| Honesty |
Flowers
in spring. Can be invasive. |
| Ice
Plant |
For
late summer and autumn.
Sedum spectable is supposed to be the best. |
| Inula |
A
large daisy-like golden-yellow flower. |
| Lavender |
Especially
liked by Small and Large Whites. |
|
Marjoram |
Fantastic
flower for butterflies, especially liked by the smaller species. |
| Michaelmas
Daisy |
For
the end of autumn when most flowers have finished.
|
| Mint |
Very
invasive, many different varieties.
Small butterflies like it as much as Marjoram.
|
| Perennial
Wallflower |
Easy
to propagate from cuttings.
Flowers throughout the year.
|
| Ragwort |
Especially
liked by Browns.
The plant is poisonous. |
| Runner
Beans (yes really) |
Especially
attractive to Brimstones. |
| Red
Valerian |
Easy
to grow, can be invasive. Flowers from spring to the end of autumn!
|
| Scabious |
Many
different species.
Do not collect plants/seeds from the wild. |
| Verbena
bonariensis |
Flowers
all season until the first frosts. |
| Hebe |
Attractive
to butterflies |
| Joe
Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum' ) |
Attractive
to Butterflies |
| Alder
Buckthorn |
For
Brimstones |
| Garlic
Mustard |
For
Orange Tips |
| Holly
and Ivy |
For
Holly Blues.
The Holly (for the first generation; both
male and female plants are now known to be ok, but the larva are easily
found
on berries on the female plants). Ivy (for the second generation);
some variegated species bear more flowers (which the larvae feed on
at night) and are less invasive.
|
| Nasturtium |
For
Large and Small Whites. The plants can be decimated, so make sure
you grow plenty in clumps.
|
| Nettles |
If
you can stand a patch in full sun. Cut part down in April to produce
fresh new growth and encourage Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks to
lay
eggs on the plants in May/June.
|
| Oak |
Yes
I know someone who has a large Oak tree in their garden with a colony
of Purple Hairstreaks!
|
| Ragwort |
For
Cinnabar Moth caterpillars. The plant is poisonous.
|
| Groundsel |
For
Cinnabar Moth caterpillars.
|
| Honesty |
Caterpillar
food plant for Orange Tip |
| Sweet
Rocket |
Caterpillar
food and nectar plant for Orange Tip |
With special thanks to David Plews for his contributions to this page.
