How to Create a Butterfly Garden: A Simple Guide for British Gardens

A butterfly garden provides the nectar and food plants these delicate insects need. Plants that attract butterflies support their complete lifecycle and bring these colourful visitors to your space.

Butterflies thrive when their needs are met. Adult butterflies feed on liquid sources like nectar, tree sap and fallen fruit. Their caterpillars, however, depend on specific host plants. 

This piece explores the best butterfly-attracting plants suited to British gardens and the flowers that flourish in our climate. You’ll learn how to design a garden habitat with continuous blooms throughout the growing season. This becomes significant during mid to late summer, when butterfly activity peaks.

What butterflies need

A butterfly garden’s success depends on meeting these delicate creatures’ needs throughout their life cycle. Butterflies require more than just pretty flowers, as their requirements change at different life stages.

Nectar for energy and survival

Adult butterflies rely on nectar as their main energy source. Spring nectar becomes vital when butterflies need to refuel after hibernation or their exhausting trips. Autumn nectar lets butterflies store energy before hibernation or their return to warmer places. 

Host plants for caterpillars

Adult butterflies feed on various plants for nectar, but their caterpillars are picky eaters. A garden’s butterfly diversity depends on having the right plants for egg-laying. Most species can complete their lifecycle on just one or two plant types.

Comma, Peacock, and Red Admiral butterflies’ caterpillars tuck into stinging nettles

Brimstone caterpillars need alder buckthorn or common buckthorn

Holly Blue caterpillars feed on holly and ivy

Native grasses attract many “browns” like Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper

Warmth and shelter from wind

Still, butterflies require a little more than places to feed and lay their eggs. These cold-blooded creatures thrive in warm, protected spots. They seek sunny areas away from strong winds where they can warm up. South-facing spots work best as they get maximum sunlight. The caterpillars also need warm microclimates to grow well. Your garden’s structural diversity with plants of different heights creates warm spots in different “altitudes” naturally.

Safe spaces for resting and roosting

Butterflies also require secure spots to rest, roost at night, and survive winter. They hide under large leaves or dense vegetation when it rains. Many species spend winter as eggs, larvae, or chrysalises hidden in leaf litter or attached to plants. Less garden cleaning in autumn helps protect these hiding places. A butterfly house gives extra protected spaces where butterflies gather, save energy, and stay warm.

Flowers and herbs butterflies love

Small tubular florets with nectar droplets at the bottom attract butterflies naturally. Their slender proboscis works like a retractable straw, and they require flowers with flat petals to land safely.

• Buddleia (butterfly bush) draws in Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Painted Lady, and Red Admiral butterflies with its pink, red, purple, and white blooms throughout July and August.
• Lavender grows best in sunny, sheltered spots with well-drained soil
• Marjoram (oregano) brings in Gatekeepers, Large Skippers and Small Tortoiseshells
• Verbena bonariensis produces purple flowers on tall, wiry stems that are rich in nectar

Trees and shrubs that support wildlife

Flowering shrubs planted in sunny spots will attract butterflies whether they’re in sun or shade. Many of these shrubs serve double duty by providing nectar for adults and leaves for caterpillars.

Ivy gives late-season nectar and feeds Holly Blue butterfly larvae. Blackthorn and wild privet support many species like the Black Hairstreak and Holly Blue.

Plants that bloom across the seasons

Butterflies need support all year, so plan for continuous flowering from spring through autumn. Spring flowers like primrose and bluebell help butterflies recover after hibernation. Summer bloomers such as purple coneflower (Echinacea) and knapweed offer plenty of mid-season nectar. Sedum and asters provide autumn fuel to help butterflies prepare for winter.

Avoiding modern hybrids with low nectar

Modern hybrid flowers often prioritise looks over nectar content. Traditional varieties usually produce more nectar than their flashier cousins. Traditional single-flowered varieties work better than double pompom types because too many petals can make it hard for butterflies to feed.

Extra features to support butterflies

A regular garden can become a butterfly paradise with several features beyond the right flowers. These simple additions give butterflies everything they need besides nectar plants.

Create a puddling pool for minerals

Butterflies gather around muddy puddles not just for water, but to get vital minerals and salts. Your puddling station needs a shallow container (12–18 inches wide) filled with sand or soil. Add small pebbles as landing spots and mix in minerals by adding:

• A handful of compost
• A pinch of Epsom salts
• Or natural sea salt

The mixture should stay moist without standing water. Place it where butterflies have safe access to partial sun.

Use fruit trees for autumn feeding

Fallen fruit gives butterflies vital energy as they prepare for winter during autumn. Red Admirals, Commas and Speckled Woods love fermenting fruit. Leave some overripe apples and berries under trees instead of clearing all windfalls.

Keep a diary of butterfly species spotted

Tracking your garden’s butterfly visitors makes the experience even more rewarding. A simple diary of species, dates, and their favourite plants helps you see what works best in your garden. Children can develop their observation skills and learn about life cycles while keeping these records. Your notes can also help wider conservation efforts by providing valuable data about local butterfly populations and their migration patterns.

Creating Your Own Butterfly Haven

A butterfly garden ranks among the most rewarding projects any gardener can tackle. Our gardens can serve as vital sanctuaries for the UK’s 59 butterfly species that face substantial challenges from habitat loss and climate change.

You can support our native butterflies regardless of your garden’s size—from sprawling country spaces to small urban balconies. Start small, watch what works, and grow your butterfly-friendly space gradually. The mix of beauty, biodiversity, and conservation turns butterfly gardening a uniquely satisfying pursuit that rewards both wildlife and gardeners alike.

Would you also like to know how to create a bee-friendly garden or how to set up a compost heap? Then check out our articles on the topic. If you have any questions or tips for us, please leave a comment. 

Happy gardening!

Louis Hooft

Founder & Lawn expert

Introducing Louis Hooft, the founder of MOOWY and your reliable expert. With a profound love for stunning lawns and extensive experience in garden maintenance, Louis is here to assist garden enthusiasts in achieving a greener and livelier outdoors than ever before. Count on Louis for invaluable tips, clever tricks, and top-notch products to make your garden flourish!