Winter Planting for Butterflies
13 Jul, 2022
If you prefer natives, lacebarks or houhere (Hoheria populnea) also provide nectar for our pollinators. Corokia is an attractive native and will make great hedges or topiary and feed our pollinators with its bright, star-shaped yellow flowers. C. buddleioides needs shelter, but C. cotoneaster, often referred to as the wire-netting bush, is ideal for dry, stony soils and more exposed locations.
Many people ask about butterflies like ‘tiny monarchs’. These are our copper butterflies, and we have the plant the caterpillars need! Muehlenbeckia. Plant
it, and you may have the extra delight of seeing these butterflies around your home or garden. Muehlenbeckia spp. can be grown into mounds, sculpted into
balls, hide ugly banks or grow up dead trees and walls. It will bring interest to your garden with its structure and texture. There are different species, suiting most environments. Muehlenbeckia is easy to grow and not fussy about where it’s planted.
To find out more, check out the website of the Months and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust.
nzbutterflies.org.nz