Butterflies are drawn to bright colors, especially red, orange, yellow, pink and purple. This is because butterflies have good color vision and are able to see colors in the ultraviolet spectrum that humans cannot. Flowers and plants have evolved to have brightly colored petals and blooms in order to attract pollinators like butterflies. The bright colors of flowers help butterflies quickly identify plants they can feed from or lay their eggs on. Understanding which colors butterflies are most attracted to can help gardeners design butterfly-friendly gardens.
Why are butterflies attracted to bright colors?
Butterflies are visually oriented insects. Their compound eyes contain thousands of ommatidia, each with a lens, that give them excellent vision and allow them to see colors on the ultraviolet spectrum. Many butterflies can see wavelengths of light ranging from red (700 nm wavelength) to ultraviolet (300 nm wavelength). This includes being able to see the ultraviolet patterns on flowers that are invisible to humans.
Butterfly vision is adapted to seek out brightly colored flowers that contain nectar-rich blooms. Butterflies drink nectar for nutrition and bright petals help them quickly identify flowers they can feed from. Brightly colored flowers also advertise to butterflies that they contain pollen for foraging. Butterfly-pollinated plants have evolved to have vividly colored petals, along with ultraviolet pattern guides, as a way to attract butterflies.
Which colors do butterflies like best?
Butterflies are particularly attracted to red, orange, yellow, pink and purple flowers. These colors are vibrant and eye-catching to butterflies.
Red flowers attract the most butterflies, followed by orange and yellow colors. Pink and purple flowers are also big attractants. Blue is less attractive to butterflies since it contrasts less against green foliage. White and cream colored blooms can appear washed out and blend in, rather than stand out.
Brightly colored composite flowers, such as daisies, coreopsis, and asters, are very attractive. Butterflies also seek out flowers with clustered blooms in umbrella shapes like coneflowers and alliums, which act as butterfly landing platforms. Tubular flowers with lots of nectar like lantanas, pentas and verbenas attract butterflies.
Butterflies use their long, slender proboscis like a drinking straw to sip nectar from flowers. Therefore flowers with an open shape and short floral tubes, like zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, salvias and petunias are ideal for butterflies to easily access the nectar.
Flowers and plants that attract butterflies
Here are some of the top brightly colored flowers and plants for attracting butterflies:
| Flower/Plant | Color |
|---|---|
| Lantana | Red, orange, yellow |
| Zinnia | All bright colors |
| Coneflower | Purple, pink, white, yellow |
| Liatris | Purple |
| Butterfly bush | Purple, pink |
| Verbena | Purple, red, pink |
| Salvia | Red, purple, pink, white |
| Marigold | Yellow, orange |
| Milkweed | Pink, purple, orange |
| Cosmos | Pink, purple, white |
| Pentas | Red, pink, white |
| Petunia | All bright colors |
| Aster | Purple, pink, white |
These are just some examples of brightly colored blooms that butterflies actively seek out. Planting a mix of different flowers with different bloom times in vivid shades of red, orange, yellow, pink and purple will attract the most butterflies to your garden.
Do butterfly colors change by type?
Different butterfly species are attracted to different flower colors and types based on their feeding preferences. Some key examples:
– Monarch butterflies really enjoy bright pink and purple flowers, especially milkweed, asters, verbena, lilac and bee balm.
– Painted Lady butterflies love bright red, orange and yellow flowers like zinnias, cosmos, coneflowers and butterfly bush.
– Swallowtail butterflies like to feed from pink, purple and red flowers with tubular shapes including lantana, petunia, pentas and trumpet vine.
– Sulphur and Skipper butterflies prefer white and yellow flowers such as daisies, coneflowers and snapdragons.
– Hairstreak and Metalmark butterflies are attracted to clusters of small pink or purple flowers like lantana, verbena, asters and milkweed.
– Fritillary butterflies look for orange and red blooms like bee balm, milkweed and mountain mint.
So you can tailor your plant choices to attract certain butterfly species by providing their color and flower preferences.
Do weather and time of day impact color attraction?
Butterfly vision and color preferences can be influenced by weather conditions and time of day. Here’s how:
– Butterflies see color best in bright sunlight. Cloudy or shady conditions make it harder for them to distinguish flower colors and patterns.
– Cool, overcast weather makes butterflies less active and responsive to flower colors. The bright sun energizes them to feed.
– Morning dew and rain can refract light and make flower colors appear washed out or less vibrant to butterflies.
– Bright midday sun can cause flowers to fade or bleach slightly. Butterflies are attracted to richer, more vivid shades.
– Late afternoon and early evening light is ideal, enhancing flower colors without glare. Butterflies actively feed at these times.
So the most vivid flower colors will attract the most butterflies on sunny, dry days around midday and into the late afternoon. Avoid overcast, rainy or windy conditions for maximum color-seeking butterfly activity.
Does color impact nectaring or egg laying?
Butterflies use flower color cues differently depending on whether they are:
1. Nectaring – extracts nectar from flowers for food/nutrition.
2. Egg-laying – finds optimal plants to lay eggs and complete reproduction cycle.
For nectaring, butterflies seek brightly colored flowers that advertise nectar availability. This helps them quickly identify nectar sources to sip from.
For egg-laying, female butterflies search for specific host plants for their larvae, not necessarily the brightest blooms. Monarchs only lay eggs on milkweed, while swallowtails prefer parsley and dill.
So when foraging for nectar, butterflies hone in on vividly colored flowers. When egg-laying, they focus more on locating the right species of plant for their young. Color is less of a factor.
Do artificial colors attract butterflies?
In limited cases, artificial flower colors can attract butterflies. Here are some considerations:
– Butterflies best recognize bright flower colors naturally occurring in nature – such as pigments that create red, yellow and purple shades.
– Artificial dyes that create neon or unnatural shades are less effective at stimulating butterfly vision.
– Plastic and fabric artificial flowers lack nectar, confusing butterflies. Water-filled feeders with real nectar work better.
– Shiny metallic colors and glossy surface finishes can deter butterflies compared to natural, flat flower petals.
– Groupings of artificial flowers in clusters can appeal to butterflies from a distance, but up-close they offer limited feeding.
– Artificial blooms work best mixed in with real flowers, where butterflies can supplement with actual nectar.
The closer artificial colors mimic the intensity and matte finish of real flower pigments – especially in the red to purple spectrum – the better they can attract butterflies. But genuine flowers with nectar will always be more appealing.
Conclusion
Butterflies clearly rely on their sense of vision and are attracted to flowers in bright, vivid colors, especially shades of red, orange, yellow, pink and purple. This draw to color helps butterflies quickly identify flower species that offer nectar-rich blooms to sip from. Some butterfly species have color preferences based on the flowers they like to feed from. Weather conditions like sunlight, clouds and moisture affect how well butterflies can see colors and respond to them. While artificial flowers can lure butterflies from a distance, genuine blooms with nectar are more effective and rewarding. By landscaping with diverse flowers in colors that appeal to butterflies, you can transform your garden into a butterfly haven.
