BUTTERFLY GARDENS



Belenois aurota (Brownveined white)

These flying jewels bring your garden to life their delicate beauty is the inspiration of many.It is important to understand the life cycle of a butterfly. Many gardeners poison them while they are still in their larval stages, these caterpillars are often perceived as 'nasty worms’. If a butterfly garden is what you want then be prepared for many hungry caterpillars devouring your host plants foliage. Thankfully leaves grow back so let the caterpillars nibble away the rewards are well worth it. When the caterpillars are fully grown they will search for a safe concealed spot in which to pupate. This is when the metamorphosis takes place after a few weeks out emerges a butterfly!

larva  of the Citrus Swallowtail butterfly

Citrus Swallowtail butterfly

 Many butterflies have specific plant choices and will only survive if that specific host plant species is present. Others have a wide variety of plants that they feed from and will even adapt to exotics. A large variety of indigenous plants endemic to your area if possible is needed to attract our jeweled friends. Not only will you be creating a butterfly garden you will be helping the butterflies re-establish themselves, with all the exotic gardens and harmful chemicals that are sprayed to keep them perfect many species have become endangered. By planting a butterfly garden you will be creating your own miniature nature reserve.

Over December I went hiking at Golden Gate nature reserve it is here I came across probably the most spectacular butterfly garden I have ever seen. It was alive with activity plants were covered with wings and colors’ sat in this special place for ages watching this magical sight.



Natures butterfly garden



Acraea horta (Garden Acraea)

A selection of trees that will attract butterflies to your garden.Vepris lanceolata (White iron wood), Clausena anisata (horsewood),Calodendrum capense (Cape chestnut),Ptaeroxylon obliquu(sneezewood),Zanthoxylum davyi (Knobwood). Acacia Karroo (Sweet thorn) this tree attracts an amazing variety of butterflies.With one these trees in your garden the butterflies will soon be regular visitors. This is only a small selection from a list of many different varieties that you can choose from.

 

Charaxes butterflies on a Vepris lanceolatta

(Clausena anisata) Horsewood

 (Calodendrum capense) Cape chestnut


A few of my favourite plants that attract butterflies to the garden are Plumbago auriculata (Plumbago) this will attract the Common Blue (Leptotes pirithous) and short-toothed blue (Leptotes brevidentatus) as well as the Blue banded Swallowtail Butterfly.

Blue banded Swallowtail Butterfly on Plumbago auriculata



 

Common Blue (Leptotes pirithous)



 Plectranthus species attract a whole range of butterflies.Protea caffra (Natal sugar bush) Pennington's Protea-butterfly (Capys penningtoni) and Russet Protea-butterfly (Capys disjunctus).Asystasia gangetica (creeping foxglove) this little ground cover lures a whole array of butterflies. These plants are only a few selected from a large list I would recommend you buy 'Bring Nature back into your garden by Charles and Julia Botha" this book has a detailed list of  plants and the butterflies they attract and really is a valuable source of information when beginning your butterfly garden.

Capys penningtoni (Pennington's protea) female. [photo Steve Woodhall ©]

Precis orithya madagascariensis (Eyed pansy) one of the butterflies that is attracted to the Plectranthus species

Citrus Swallowtail butterfly (Princeps demodocus)

We have so many beautiful species of butterflies in South Africa it is up to us to make sure they are still here for our children to enjoy it is time to rethink the way we garden .Humans are butterflies most lethal enemy they have no defense against the destruction of their indigenous habitat that has been replaced with green deserts of poison covered exotic plants.

African Monarch

References

 Wessa Durban branch,Treknature, Calflora,Biodiversity explorer, Reflections Eco Reserve,Natures world of wonder South Africa,Wildlife photography blog,Redbubble,Bring Nature back into your garden by Charles and Julia Botha