Careful planting can attract Butterflies into your garden from mid-Summer to November.

Shrubs for Nectar.

• Buddleia davidii : the most popular shrub for Butterflies with heavily scented flower panicles.

• Ceanothus burkwoodii.

• Chaenomeles (cydonia).

• Hebe : notably the purple flowers.

• Lavandula : especially the traditional mauve spikes.

• Ligustrum : frothy white flowers.

• Potentilla fruiticosa : various coloured strawberry-like flowers all Summer long.

• Rhamnus frangula : small white clumpy flowers.

• Spirea (Bumalda varieties only).

• Syringa (Lilac) : usually heavily scented pyramidal blossoms.

Climbers for Nectar

• Hedera (Ivy) : in addition to attracting Red Admirals and small Tortoiseshells, the nectar attracts Beetles and Hoverflies late in the season.

• Lonicera (Honeysuckle).

Trees for Nectar.

• Prunus avium (Wild Cherry) : single white flowers.

Garden Plants for Nectar.

• Achillia.

• Arabis.

• Aster (Michaelmas Daisy).

• Centranthus (Valerian).

• Cheiranthus (Wallflower).

• Dianthus (Pinks & Sweet William).

• Echinops ritro (Globe Thistle).

• Erigeron.

• Eryngium maritimum (Sea Holly).

• Fritillaria melegris (Snakes Head Fritillary).

• Gentiana verna (Spring Gentian).

• Helenium.

• Heliotrope.

• Hesperis (Sweet Rocket).

• Lunaria biennis (Honesty).

• Lythrium salicaria (Purple Loosestrife).

• Matthiola bicornus (Night Scented Stock).

• Muscari (Grape Hyacinth).

• Myosotis (Forget Me Not).

• Nepeta (Cat Mint).

• Nicotiana (Tobacco).

• Primula (Polyanthus/Primrose).

• Scabiosa (Scabious).

• Sedum spectabile (Ice Plant).

• Solidago (Golden Rod).

Wild Plants for Nectar.

• Betony.

• Bird's Foot Trefoil.

• Bluebell

• Field Scabious.

• Garlic Mustard (Hedge Garlic) - additionally attracts the Orange Tipped Butterfly

• Great Stichwort.

• Harebell.

• Hedge Woundwort.

• Hemp Agrimony.

• Knapweed.

• Lady's Bedstraw.

• Lady's Smock.

• Lesser Celandine.

• Nettles - 'Stinging Nettles', ideally in a sunny spot, are the food of Peacock, Red Admiral and Tortoiseshell Caterpillars.

• Ox Eye Daisy.

• Ragged Robin. : also attracts Common Blue and Whites.

• Violet (Common Dog).

Herbs for Nectar.

• Chives.

• Comfrey.

• Marjoram (Origanum vulgare).

• Mentha (Mint).

• Rosemarinus (Rosemary).

• Thymus (Thyme).