Encourage native butterflies into my garden

butterfly

Encourage native butterflies into my garden

How can I encourage more native butterflies into my garden? And less white butterflies would be good too.

The position of the garden is important - shelter is critical as butterflies will not be attracted to a garden in a very windy site. Butterflies prefer a sunny site with some rocks where they can warm themselves. 

There are a number of native plants that are especially attractive to our native butterflies including, Hebe species, Chatham Island forget-me-nots, Pimelea species, Muenlenbeckia species and Manuka. As well there are what can be termed “butterfly favourite" non-native plants such as buddleias, that are a magnet for butterflies. 

There is a fascinating relationship between the native red admiral butterfly and our native nettle, Urtica ferox, Ongaonga. For some reason, this butterfly is immune to the toxic effects of Ongaonga and lays its eggs on the new growth of Ongaonga leaves! If grown in the home garden, it should be cultivated well away from paths as contact with the plant can be extremely painful. Unfortunately, the white butterfly will also be attracted to a garden that is “butterfly attractive"!

We encourage you to visit the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust website which has a fantastic range of advice and information on butterflies.  

Read more advice on protecting pollinators in our gardens. 

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