For more information on gardening for butterflies, contact:

Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Balallan House, Allan Park, Stirling, FK8 2QG.www.butterfly-conservation.org

Garden for Life is helping everyone grow closerto nature by exploring, enjoying and caring forbiodiversity in gardens throughout Scotland. Supporters of the project include Butterfly Conservation Scotland; PlantlifeScotland; BTCV; Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens; Grow Forth;Grounds for Learning; Keep Scotland Beautiful; The National Trust for Scotland;Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; RSPB Scotland; Scottish Allotments andGardens Society; Scottish Biodiversity Forum; Scottish Executive BiodiversityTeam; Scottish Natural Heritage; Scottish Wildlife Trust; THRIVE.

Photography supplied by: Miguel S Salmeron, A. Beaumont, P. Hicks, L. Gill - SNH, R. Revels, C. Tracey, Butterfly Conservation, D. Whitaker, R. Gibbons/P. Wilson/D. Woodfall - Woodfall Wild Images.

© Scottish Natural Heritage 2006 W15k0506

ISBN 1 85397 486 2

gardenfor butterflies

and you’ll never be short of visitors.

6

Many butterfly and mothcaterpillars feed on theleaves of native shrubs.

3

5

2

4

1

1 Small White2 Small

Tortoiseshell3 Orange-tip4 Large White5 Red Admiral6 Painted Lady

Butterfly Havens

Butterflies are some of our most welcome and attractive garden visitors,bringing splashes of colour andmovement to even the smallestarea. Yet gardens can beimportant havens for manybutterflies. Garden flowers canprovide a valuable source ofnectar - the butterfly’s mainsource of energy, and one muchreduced in the countryside inrecent years. Any garden canmake a real difference - and whatbetter place to enjoy butterfliesthan on your doorstep?

Flowers to attract butterflies:

*These species are native to Scotland.Flowering times may vary according to plant variety, and where you live.

AubrietaAubrieta var.Apr-MayBluebellsHyacinthoides non-scriptaApr-MayBugle*Ajuga reptansMay-JunButterfly bushBuddleia globosa/davidiiJun-Jul/Jul-AugCandytuftIberis umbellataMay-JulCatmintNepeta var.Jun-SeptCommon Valerian*Valeriana officinalisJun-AugCornflower*Centaurea cyanusJun-AugEscalloniaE. langleyensisJun-JulEvening primrose*Oenothera var.Jun-AugForget-me-not*Myosotis var.MayFrench marigoldTagetes patulaJul-SeptGlobe thistleEchinops ritroJul-AugHeather*Erica andCalluna Spp.May-sepHebeHebe var.Jul-AugHonestyLunaria annuaMayHoneysuckle*Lonicera periclymenumJun-JulHyssopHyssopus officinalisJul-SeptIce plantSedum spectabile(species)SeptIvy*Hedera helixOct-DecKnapweed*Centaurea spp.Jun-SepLavenderLavandula var.Jun-AugLilacSyringa vulgarisMay-JunMarjoram*Origanum vulgareJul-AugMichaelmas daisyAster novi-belgiiAug-SeptMint*Mentha arvensis Jul-AugOx-eye Daisy*Leucanthemum valgareMay-SepPhloxPhlox var.(tall perennial)Aug-SeptPrimrose*Primula vulgarisApr-MayPurple loosestrife*Lythrum salicariaJul-SeptRed valerianCentranthus ruberJun-JulScabious*Succisa pratensisJul-AugShasta daisyLeucanthemum x superbumJul-SeptSweet rocketHesperis matrionalisMay-JulSweet WilliamDianthus barbatusMay-JulThyme*Thymus spp.May-SepViolet*Viola spp.Mar-MayWallflowerErysimum cheiriApr-May

Planting for butterfliesThe number and variety of butterflies visitingyour garden will depend partly on where youlive, but any garden can be made moreattractive for butterflies. A good butterflygarden will have a wide range of plantsflowering and providing nectar from Springuntil Autumn.This leaflet gives examples ofsome plants to try. Remember that butterfliesfavour spots in the garden which are warm,sunny and sheltered, so thinking aboutgarden design can also be important.

Food plants for caterpillarsRed Admiralstinging nettles

Small Tortoiseshellstinging nettles

Painted Ladystinging nettles, thistles

Large Whitenasturtiums, cabbage family

Small Whitenasturtiums, cabbage family

Peacockstinging nettles

Orange-tipLady’s smock, Honesty

Green Veined WhiteArabis, Garlic mustard

While providing nectar sources will helpthe adults to survive, producing the nextgeneration of butterflies requires food fortheir caterpillars. Unlike the adults, thecaterpillars of each species are veryspecific about the plants they eat.Several of our common garden butterflieslay their eggs on nettles - only the Largeand Small Whites will eat your cabbages!And caterpillars themselves are also afood source for birds and other animals.Most butterflies, though, rely on findingthe native plants which their caterpillarseat in local habitats.

Cabbage White and Orange-tip caterpillars absorbtoxic chemicals from their food plants - these helpto protect the adults from attack by birds.

In late summer many butterflies forsake flowers tofeed on... rotting fruit!

Some butterflies, such as the Hairstreaks, feed onhoneydew produced by aphids.

Butterflies and moths see ultra-violet markings onflowers, and many smell with their feet!

Most butterflies overwinter as caterpillars, butsome hibernate as adults in cool, dark places like sheds.

Moths are the butterflies of the night. Attract themwith night-scented flowers.

For every type of butterfly visitor, your garden mayhave more than 20 types of moth.

While butterflies are often eaten by birds, bats arethe moths’main predators.

Did you know...

For more information on gardening for butterflies, contact:

Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Balallan House, Allan Park, Stirling, FK8 2QG.www.butterfly-conservation.org

Garden for Life is helping everyone grow closerto nature by exploring, enjoying and caring forbiodiversity in gardens throughout Scotland. Supporters of the project include Butterfly Conservation Scotland; PlantlifeScotland; BTCV; Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens; Grow Forth;Grounds for Learning; Keep Scotland Beautiful; The National Trust for Scotland;Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; RSPB Scotland; Scottish Allotments andGardens Society; Scottish Biodiversity Forum; Scottish Executive BiodiversityTeam; Scottish Natural Heritage; Scottish Wildlife Trust; THRIVE.

Photography supplied by: Miguel S Salmeron, A. Beaumont, P. Hicks, L. Gill - SNH, R. Revels, C. Tracey, Butterfly Conservation, D. Whitaker, R. Gibbons/P. Wilson/D. Woodfall - Woodfall Wild Images.

© Scottish Natural Heritage 2006 W15k0506

ISBN 1 85397 486 2

gardenforbutterflies and you’ll never be short of visitors.

6

Many butterfly and mothcaterpillars feed on theleaves of native shrubs.

3

5

2

4

1

1 Small White2 Small

Tortoiseshell3 Orange-tip4 Large White5 Red Admiral6 Painted Lady

Butterfly Havens

Butterflies are some of our most welcome and attractive garden visitors,bringing splashes of colour andmovement to even the smallestarea. Yet gardens can beimportant havens for manybutterflies. Garden flowers canprovide a valuable source ofnectar - the butterfly’s mainsource of energy, and one muchreduced in the countryside inrecent years. Any garden canmake a real difference - and whatbetter place to enjoy butterfliesthan on your doorstep?

Flowers to attract butterflies:

*These species are native to Scotland.Flowering times may vary according to plant variety, and where you live.

Aubrieta Aubrieta var. Apr-MayBluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta Apr-MayBugle* Ajuga reptans May-JunButterfly bush Buddleia globosa/davidii Jun-Jul/Jul-AugCandytuft Iberis umbellata May-JulCatmint Nepeta var. Jun-SeptCommon Valerian* Valeriana officinalis Jun-AugCornflower* Centaurea cyanus Jun-AugEscallonia E. langleyensis Jun-JulEvening primrose* Oenothera var. Jun-AugForget-me-not* Myosotis var. MayFrench marigold Tagetes patula Jul-SeptGlobe thistle Echinops ritro Jul-AugHeather* Erica and Calluna Spp. May-sepHebe Hebe var. Jul-AugHonesty Lunaria annua MayHoneysuckle* Lonicera periclymenum Jun-JulHyssop Hyssopus officinalis Jul-SeptIce plant Sedum spectabile (species) SeptIvy* Hedera helix Oct-DecKnapweed* Centaurea spp. Jun-SepLavender Lavandula var. Jun-AugLilac Syringa vulgaris May-JunMarjoram* Origanum vulgare Jul-AugMichaelmas daisy Aster novi-belgii Aug-SeptMint* Mentha arvensis Jul-AugOx-eye Daisy* Leucanthemum valgare May-SepPhlox Phlox var.(tall perennial) Aug-SeptPrimrose* Primula vulgaris Apr-MayPurple loosestrife* Lythrum salicaria Jul-SeptRed valerian Centranthus ruber Jun-JulScabious* Succisa pratensis Jul-AugShasta daisy Leucanthemum x superbum Jul-SeptSweet rocket Hesperis matrionalis May-JulSweet William Dianthus barbatus May-JulThyme* Thymus spp. May-SepViolet* Viola spp. Mar-MayWallflower Erysimum cheiri Apr-May

Planting for butterfliesThe number and variety of butterflies visitingyour garden will depend partly on where youlive, but any garden can be made moreattractive for butterflies. A good butterflygarden will have a wide range of plantsflowering and providing nectar from Springuntil Autumn. This leaflet gives examples ofsome plants to try. Remember that butterfliesfavour spots in the garden which are warm,sunny and sheltered, so thinking aboutgarden design can also be important.

Food plants for caterpillarsRed Admiral stinging nettles

Small Tortoiseshell stinging nettles

Painted Lady stinging nettles, thistles

Large White nasturtiums, cabbage family

Small White nasturtiums, cabbage family

Peacock stinging nettles

Orange-tip Lady’s smock, Honesty

Green Veined White Arabis, Garlic mustard

While providing nectar sources will helpthe adults to survive, producing the nextgeneration of butterflies requires food fortheir caterpillars. Unlike the adults, thecaterpillars of each species are veryspecific about the plants they eat.Several of our common garden butterflieslay their eggs on nettles - only the Largeand Small Whites will eat your cabbages!And caterpillars themselves are also afood source for birds and other animals.Most butterflies, though, rely on findingthe native plants which their caterpillarseat in local habitats.

Cabbage White and Orange-tip caterpillars absorbtoxic chemicals from their food plants - these helpto protect the adults from attack by birds.

In late summer many butterflies forsake flowers tofeed on... rotting fruit!

Some butterflies, such as the Hairstreaks, feed onhoneydew produced by aphids.

Butterflies and moths see ultra-violet markings onflowers, and many smell with their feet!

Most butterflies overwinter as caterpillars, butsome hibernate as adults in cool, dark places like sheds.

Moths are the butterflies of the night. Attract themwith night-scented flowers.

For every type of butterfly visitor, your garden mayhave more than 20 types of moth.

While butterflies are often eaten by birds, bats arethe moths’ main predators.

Did you know...

For more information on gardening for butterflies, contact:

Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Balallan House, Allan Park, Stirling, FK8 2QG.www.butterfly-conservation.org

Garden for Life is helping everyone grow closerto nature by exploring, enjoying and caring forbiodiversity in gardens throughout Scotland. Supporters of the project include Butterfly Conservation Scotland; PlantlifeScotland; BTCV; Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens; Grow Forth;Grounds for Learning; Keep Scotland Beautiful; The National Trust for Scotland;Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; RSPB Scotland; Scottish Allotments andGardens Society; Scottish Biodiversity Forum; Scottish Executive BiodiversityTeam; Scottish Natural Heritage; Scottish Wildlife Trust; THRIVE.

Photography supplied by: Miguel S Salmeron, A. Beaumont, P. Hicks, L. Gill - SNH, R. Revels, C. Tracey, Butterfly Conservation, D. Whitaker, R. Gibbons/P. Wilson/D. Woodfall - Woodfall Wild Images.

© Scottish Natural Heritage 2006 W15k0506

ISBN 1 85397 486 2

gardenforbutterflies and you’ll never be short of visitors.

6

Many butterfly and mothcaterpillars feed on theleaves of native shrubs.

3

5

2

4

1

1 Small White2 Small

Tortoiseshell3 Orange-tip4 Large White5 Red Admiral6 Painted Lady

Butterfly Havens

Butterflies are some of our most welcome and attractive garden visitors,bringing splashes of colour andmovement to even the smallestarea. Yet gardens can beimportant havens for manybutterflies. Garden flowers canprovide a valuable source ofnectar - the butterfly’s mainsource of energy, and one muchreduced in the countryside inrecent years. Any garden canmake a real difference - and whatbetter place to enjoy butterfliesthan on your doorstep?

Flowers to attract butterflies:

*These species are native to Scotland.Flowering times may vary according to plant variety, and where you live.

Aubrieta Aubrieta var. Apr-MayBluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta Apr-MayBugle* Ajuga reptans May-JunButterfly bush Buddleia globosa/davidii Jun-Jul/Jul-AugCandytuft Iberis umbellata May-JulCatmint Nepeta var. Jun-SeptCommon Valerian* Valeriana officinalis Jun-AugCornflower* Centaurea cyanus Jun-AugEscallonia E. langleyensis Jun-JulEvening primrose* Oenothera var. Jun-AugForget-me-not* Myosotis var. MayFrench marigold Tagetes patula Jul-SeptGlobe thistle Echinops ritro Jul-AugHeather* Erica and Calluna Spp. May-sepHebe Hebe var. Jul-AugHonesty Lunaria annua MayHoneysuckle* Lonicera periclymenum Jun-JulHyssop Hyssopus officinalis Jul-SeptIce plant Sedum spectabile (species) SeptIvy* Hedera helix Oct-DecKnapweed* Centaurea spp. Jun-SepLavender Lavandula var. Jun-AugLilac Syringa vulgaris May-JunMarjoram* Origanum vulgare Jul-AugMichaelmas daisy Aster novi-belgii Aug-SeptMint* Mentha arvensis Jul-AugOx-eye Daisy* Leucanthemum valgare May-SepPhlox Phlox var.(tall perennial) Aug-SeptPrimrose* Primula vulgaris Apr-MayPurple loosestrife* Lythrum salicaria Jul-SeptRed valerian Centranthus ruber Jun-JulScabious* Succisa pratensis Jul-AugShasta daisy Leucanthemum x superbum Jul-SeptSweet rocket Hesperis matrionalis May-JulSweet William Dianthus barbatus May-JulThyme* Thymus spp. May-SepViolet* Viola spp. Mar-MayWallflower Erysimum cheiri Apr-May

Planting for butterfliesThe number and variety of butterflies visitingyour garden will depend partly on where youlive, but any garden can be made moreattractive for butterflies. A good butterflygarden will have a wide range of plantsflowering and providing nectar from Springuntil Autumn. This leaflet gives examples ofsome plants to try. Remember that butterfliesfavour spots in the garden which are warm,sunny and sheltered, so thinking aboutgarden design can also be important.

Food plants for caterpillarsRed Admiral stinging nettles

Small Tortoiseshell stinging nettles

Painted Lady stinging nettles, thistles

Large White nasturtiums, cabbage family

Small White nasturtiums, cabbage family

Peacock stinging nettles

Orange-tip Lady’s smock, Honesty

Green Veined White Arabis, Garlic mustard

While providing nectar sources will helpthe adults to survive, producing the nextgeneration of butterflies requires food fortheir caterpillars. Unlike the adults, thecaterpillars of each species are veryspecific about the plants they eat.Several of our common garden butterflieslay their eggs on nettles - only the Largeand Small Whites will eat your cabbages!And caterpillars themselves are also afood source for birds and other animals.Most butterflies, though, rely on findingthe native plants which their caterpillarseat in local habitats.

Cabbage White and Orange-tip caterpillars absorbtoxic chemicals from their food plants - these helpto protect the adults from attack by birds.

In late summer many butterflies forsake flowers tofeed on... rotting fruit!

Some butterflies, such as the Hairstreaks, feed onhoneydew produced by aphids.

Butterflies and moths see ultra-violet markings onflowers, and many smell with their feet!

Most butterflies overwinter as caterpillars, butsome hibernate as adults in cool, dark places like sheds.

Moths are the butterflies of the night. Attract themwith night-scented flowers.

For every type of butterfly visitor, your garden mayhave more than 20 types of moth.

While butterflies are often eaten by birds, bats arethe moths’ main predators.

Did you know...

Plants A Buddleia

B Honesty

C Hebe

D Phlox

E Michaelmas Daisy

F Aubrieta

G Lavender

H French Marigold

I Marjoram

Butterflies1 Peacock

2 Green Hairstreak

3 Small Tortoiseshell

4 Red Admiral

5 Painted Lady

6 Northern Brown Argus

7 Comma

8 Speckled Wood

9 Scotch Argus

10 Green Veined White

11 Orange-tip

12 Small White

13 Holly Blue

14 Wall Brown

15 Meadow Brown

16 Small Copper

17 Common Blue

18 Large Skipper

19 Large white

20 Purple Hairstreak

The appearance of the ‘White’butterflies often varies between the sexes and generations.

1

2

A

B

C

F G IH

D

E

3

4 5

9

13

8

1112

16

20

19

10

15

14

17

18

6

7

gardenfor butterflies

and you’ll never be short of visitors.

For more information on gardening for butterflies, contact:

Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Balallan House, Allan Park, Stirling, FK8 2QG.www.butterfly-conservation.org

Garden for Life is helping everyone grow closerto nature by exploring, enjoying and caring forbiodiversity in gardens throughout Scotland. Supporters of the project include Butterfly Conservation Scotland; PlantlifeScotland; BTCV; Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens; Grow Forth;Grounds for Learning; Keep Scotland Beautiful; The National Trust for Scotland;Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; RSPB Scotland; Scottish Allotments andGardens Society; Scottish Biodiversity Forum; Scottish Executive BiodiversityTeam; Scottish Natural Heritage; Scottish Wildlife Trust; THRIVE.

Photography supplied by: Miguel S Salmeron, A. Beaumont, P. Hicks, L. Gill - SNH, R. Revels, C. Tracey, Butterfly Conservation, D. Whitaker, R. Gibbons/P. Wilson/D. Woodfall - Woodfall Wild Images.

© Scottish Natural Heritage 2006 W15k0506

ISBN 1 85397 486 2

gardenfor butterflies

and you’ll never be short of visitors.

6

Many butterfly and mothcaterpillars feed on theleaves of native shrubs.

3

5

2

4

1

1 Small White2 Small

Tortoiseshell3 Orange-tip4 Large White5 Red Admiral6 Painted Lady

Butterfly Havens

Butterflies are some of our most welcome and attractive garden visitors,bringing splashes of colour andmovement to even the smallestarea. Yet gardens can beimportant havens for manybutterflies. Garden flowers canprovide a valuable source ofnectar - the butterfly’s mainsource of energy, and one muchreduced in the countryside inrecent years. Any garden canmake a real difference - and whatbetter place to enjoy butterfliesthan on your doorstep?

Flowers to attract butterflies:

*These species are native to Scotland.Flowering times may vary according to plant variety, and where you live.

AubrietaAubrieta var.Apr-MayBluebellsHyacinthoides non-scriptaApr-MayBugle*Ajuga reptansMay-JunButterfly bushBuddleia globosa/davidiiJun-Jul/Jul-AugCandytuftIberis umbellataMay-JulCatmintNepeta var.Jun-SeptCommon Valerian*Valeriana officinalisJun-AugCornflower*Centaurea cyanusJun-AugEscalloniaE. langleyensisJun-JulEvening primrose*Oenothera var.Jun-AugForget-me-not*Myosotis var.MayFrench marigoldTagetes patulaJul-SeptGlobe thistleEchinops ritroJul-AugHeather*Erica andCalluna Spp.May-sepHebeHebe var.Jul-AugHonestyLunaria annuaMayHoneysuckle*Lonicera periclymenumJun-JulHyssopHyssopus officinalisJul-SeptIce plantSedum spectabile(species)SeptIvy*Hedera helixOct-DecKnapweed*Centaurea spp.Jun-SepLavenderLavandula var.Jun-AugLilacSyringa vulgarisMay-JunMarjoram*Origanum vulgareJul-AugMichaelmas daisyAster novi-belgiiAug-SeptMint*Mentha arvensis Jul-AugOx-eye Daisy*Leucanthemum valgareMay-SepPhloxPhlox var.(tall perennial)Aug-SeptPrimrose*Primula vulgarisApr-MayPurple loosestrife*Lythrum salicariaJul-SeptRed valerianCentranthus ruberJun-JulScabious*Succisa pratensisJul-AugShasta daisyLeucanthemum x superbumJul-SeptSweet rocketHesperis matrionalisMay-JulSweet WilliamDianthus barbatusMay-JulThyme*Thymus spp.May-SepViolet*Viola spp.Mar-MayWallflowerErysimum cheiriApr-May

Planting for butterfliesThe number and variety of butterflies visitingyour garden will depend partly on where youlive, but any garden can be made moreattractive for butterflies. A good butterflygarden will have a wide range of plantsflowering and providing nectar from Springuntil Autumn.This leaflet gives examples ofsome plants to try. Remember that butterfliesfavour spots in the garden which are warm,sunny and sheltered, so thinking aboutgarden design can also be important.

Food plants for caterpillarsRed Admiralstinging nettles

Small Tortoiseshellstinging nettles

Painted Ladystinging nettles, thistles

Large Whitenasturtiums, cabbage family

Small Whitenasturtiums, cabbage family

Peacockstinging nettles

Orange-tipLady’s smock, Honesty

Green Veined WhiteArabis, Garlic mustard

While providing nectar sources will helpthe adults to survive, producing the nextgeneration of butterflies requires food fortheir caterpillars. Unlike the adults, thecaterpillars of each species are veryspecific about the plants they eat.Several of our common garden butterflieslay their eggs on nettles - only the Largeand Small Whites will eat your cabbages!And caterpillars themselves are also afood source for birds and other animals.Most butterflies, though, rely on findingthe native plants which their caterpillarseat in local habitats.

Cabbage White and Orange-tip caterpillars absorbtoxic chemicals from their food plants - these helpto protect the adults from attack by birds.

In late summer many butterflies forsake flowers tofeed on... rotting fruit!

Some butterflies, such as the Hairstreaks, feed onhoneydew produced by aphids.

Butterflies and moths see ultra-violet markings onflowers, and many smell with their feet!

Most butterflies overwinter as caterpillars, butsome hibernate as adults in cool, dark places like sheds.

Moths are the butterflies of the night. Attract themwith night-scented flowers.

For every type of butterfly visitor, your garden mayhave more than 20 types of moth.

While butterflies are often eaten by birds, bats arethe moths’main predators.

Did you know...