Butterfly bush may seem like an ideal plant to grow to support butterfly populations.
Here, we talked to experts Phillips, Sam Hoadley of Horticultural Research at Mt.
Cuba Center, and Dr. Adam Baker of The Davey Tree Expert Companys Davey Institute.
Credit:Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images
Why Is The Butterfly Bush Problematic?
Butterflies drink the nectar of butterfly bushes.
The problem is thatbutterfly bushisn’t a larval host plant.
Credit: DebraLee Wiseberg / Getty Images
Why Are Larval Host Plants Important For Butterflies?
Larval host plants provide habitat for butterflies and moths to lay their eggs and a food source for caterpillars.
For example, birds eat caterpillars to feed their young, says Phillips.
In the South it is considered invasive in North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.
Butterfly bush is a native plant to China and many regions in Asia.
“They are prolific seed producers and can spread rapidly,” explains Baker.
“This behavior can suppress other plant communities, thus lowering biodiversity and ecosystem function.”
Pollinators rely on plants for food and for habitat.
Many pollinators have evolved to rely on specific types of plants to survive.
“They recognize the plants essential to survival by color, shape, scent, and height.”
Leave the stems standing until spring to provide important habitat for cavity-nesting native bees, he adds.
Wondering what are some alternatives to butterfly bush?
“Native alternatives include blazing star, Lobelia, buttonbush, and mistflower,'' says Phillips.
Grow flowers that bloom at different times of the year to provide continuous food sources.
Not sure what plants are native to your region?
Check with your area’s extension office orGarden for Wildlife.
If you’re based in the Eastern United States, there are many alternative plants you might grow.
“Some great perennials includePhlox paniculataJeana (Jeana garden phlox), which saw tremendous butterfly activity in Mt.
Yes, some states have banned or restricted butterfly bushes because they are considered invasive.
Washington and Oregon have banned the shrubs, and Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have restricted them.
Their seeds are easily spread by wind and germinate easily.
They adapt to many growing conditions and form thickets that crowd out native plants.
Butterfly bushes can live for 20 years in the right growing conditions.
Since they multiply easily, they can provide a continuous supply in the garden.
