Landscaping for Butterflies and Hummingbirds

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is sit on the back patio and watch the hummingbirds flutter and dart, flitting from one lantana blossom to another.

Planting and landscaping to attract butterflies and hummingbirds is easy. Plus, you don’t necessarily need a lot of space, special tools, or resources to maintain a healthy home for flying friends. A simple potted plant, or a window box, or even some colorful perennials in the ground will do.

With expertise from the Clemson University Cooperative Extension and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, here’s a guide to get started with some flora that will work well in Myrtle Beach.

Choosing the Right Flowers and Plants

If you want to attract and keep butterflies and hummingbirds around, you want to make sure there is an abundance of plants that provide food. And with butterflies specifically, you may want to choose a few plant species that appeal to butterflies not only for food, but for laying eggs and for feeding larvae.

Perennials:

• Lantana, goldenrod, purple coneflower, butterfly bush, daylily, beebalm, black-eyed susan, shasta daisy, and salvia are just a handful of options that work well in Myrtle Beach for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Wildflowers:

• Daisy, goldenrod, ironweed, native milkweed, queen’s anne lace, false indigo are all excellent food sources for butterflies

Plants for Larvae:

• Milkweed, parsley, sage, dill, fennel, and coriander. These herbs are beautiful, can be used in the kitchen, and serve as a wonderful food source for butterfly species in the caterpillar stage.

Finding the Right Spot

Myrtle Beach has plenty of sunshine, which is good for butterflies. Find a spot outside your home that receives plenty of mid-morning and mid-day sun. At least 6 hours of sunlight is recommended. For the best results, find a bright spot that will get some shade during the summer.

The good news is that both hummingbirds and butterflies aren’t very shy. You can attract them to plants near patios, pools, and windows.

If you plant in containers, it’s best to use larger planters and containers and to fill them with plenty of soil. If you’ve experienced a Myrtle Beach summer, then you know it can get extremely hot. More space and more soil will help prevent plant roots from drying out too quickly because there is more room to hold moisture.

Enjoy Your Backyard

In addition to landscaping, transform your backyard into your own private oasis or a setting perfect for entertaining and socializing with friends.

Custom hardscape and landscape design from Odom Design can help you bring more enjoyment into life at home. So, if you have an idea for a project and are ready to take the next step, let’s chat.