Butterfly gardening |
|
Page 3 of 3
Butterfly food-plantsNOTE: This chart is also available to download and print as a handy two-page A4 leaflet (181kB, pdf). Two particularly good food-plants to growCoojong (Acacia saligna) is especially good for butterflies. Species that breed on it include the two-spotted line-blue, wattle blue, amethyst hairstreak, varied hairstreak and fiery jewel. Coojong is biologically valuable in supporting many other insects as well, including 40 species of bug, 55 species of beetle and over 30 species of moth*. Green stinkwood (Jacksonia sternbergiana) supports the long-tailed pea-blue, the fringed heath-blue and the western jewel (if the right ants are present), and, Like coojong, it supports many other insects as well. Nectar plantsNectar plants do not help butterfly species to breed and survive, but may help you to see our butterflies by attracting them to your garden. Nectar plants that native butterflies are fond of visiting include many daisies, such Western Australian waitzias (Waitzia spp.). Other Western Australian plants include Grevillea crithmifolia, Pimelea ferruginea, grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea spp.), waitzias (Waitzia spp.) and plants in the genera Baeckea, Leptospermum, Melaleuca and Thryptomene. Geraldton wax (Chamelaucium uncinatum) is very attractive to butterflies, but should not be grown if you live near a bush reserve, since it readily invades bushlands. A few exotic species are good nectar plants. These include butterfly bushes (Buddleia spp.) — but take care not to let them spread into bushlands. Other examples are lantanas (Lantana spp.) — but do not grow Lantana camara, since it too can become a bushland weed. Nectar plants will suit butterflies best if they are grown in spots that are sunny but sheltered. However, nectar plants will not normally attract butterflies further than the distance they would usually travel seeking food. While exotic flowers such as Buddleia and Lantana will yield results, butterflies usually prefer flowers of plants native to the area. Obtaining plantsSome of the above plant species that are not already available from most nurseries may be obtained from APACE, a non-profit, community organization. APACE’s nursery, at 1 Johannah Street, North Fremantle (tel (08) 9336 1262; fax (08) 9430 5729), specialises in plant species natural to the Perth area. Orders should be placed to ensure that the plants wanted will be available. A word of warning: do not order seeds advertised on the internet in pages on butterflies. These plants are usually unsuitable for our native butterflies to breed on—and some, moreover, have the potential to become serious weeds. FURTHER READINGThe following books provide additional information.
Information provided by Robert Powell and Matthew Williams. * J.E.D. Fox, 1995, “A Review of the Ecological Characteristics of Acacia saligna (Labill) H Wendl”, Mulga Research Centre Journal, Volume 12: 39–56
Further Resources: Butterflies and day-flying moths in WA |
|||||
