Who doesn’t enjoy seeing a butterfly? These colorful winged insects are a joy to watch and seeing one flutter by really has the power to improve your day. You don’t have to wait for a chance encounter; you can turn any yard (or even an apartment patio) into prime butterfly habitat by creating a butterfly garden.
It might sound like a big undertaking, but anyone can create a butterfly garden. It just takes a bit of planning and research. Consider how much room you have for your garden and what type of conditions, such as the amount of light and the characteristics of the soil, are present in the area. There is an incredibly wide variety of plants that serve as host plants for butterfly larvae or as food sources for adult butterflies. What types of butterflies would you like to attract? Certain plants benefit particular butterfly species and are greatly needed to ensure healthy butterfly populations.
Native plants are always the best approach in creating your wildlife-friendly garden. Not only will they attract butterflies, but they can also sustain caterpillars, supporting butterfly populations while also helping to provide food sources for birds and other wildlife species. For example, a single native live oak tree can support hundreds of Florida wildlife species, and a small native button brush can attract dozens of native species. Host plants for native butterfly species in the Tallahassee area include oak and holly trees, sparkleberry bushes, milkweed, passionflower vines, and many other attractive plants that can easily be incorporated into your landscaping. For a complete guide to butterfly host plants, and a wealth of information that will help you plant your butterfly garden, visit MyFWC.com/Viewing and click on “Wildlife Habitat at Home.” The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF IFAS) also has a wide variety of helpful resources including helpful guides on which plants attract which butterfly species and when to plant.
Once you’ve established your butterfly garden, the adventure doesn’t have to stop there. Keeping track of your butterfly visitors and taking photos of them can be a fun family activity. If you need help identifying species, the iNaturalist app is a great solution. This free app allows you to submit photos of wildlife and plants, which are then identified by a dedicated online community of biologists. Plus, data from the app is used by biologists, so when you participate, you’re contributing to real-life wildlife research. Plus, you can use this tool to keep a running list of the species you’ve encountered in your yard. It’s a fun family-friendly activity for all ages. Visit FloridaNatureTrackers.com to learn more and see an informative video on how to get started. You can also be rewarded for your butterfly sightings through the Wings Over Florida program, which awards beautiful frame-worthy certificates to dedicated butterfly and bird watchers. Visit FloridaBirdingTrail.com/WOF to learn how you can earn yours!
Creating a butterfly garden on your property will not only help pollinators but will also bring countless hours of enjoyment to your family and community. Studies show that having natural areas around us and watching birds is good for our health. For more tips on wildlife viewing and how to turn your yard into your very own private wildlife refuge, visit MyFWC.com/Viewing. 
Jamie Clift Rager
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
