5 Trees that Attract Butterflies

Here are 5 trees that you should be able to find at your local Garden Center or Tree Nursery that will help to attract butterflies.


1) European Birdcherry Tree (Prunus padus) Zones 3-6; This tree is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It is adaptable to a wide range of soils. This tree is a deciduous ornamental cherry tree that typically grows 20-40' tall with a rounded crown. It has fragrant white flowers in 3-6" long clusters that appear after the foliage emerges in spring. The flowers are followed by pea-sized, black cherries which ripen in mid-summer. This tree is closely-related to the chokecherry and the fruit is extremely bitter to humans but the birds love it. The leaves turn yellow in the fall.

2) Yoshingo Cherry Tree ( Prunus x yedoensis yoshino) Zones 5-8 ; This tree grows in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. However, it will do the best in full sun. It tolerates heat and humidity well, but is sensitive to drought conditions. It is adaptable to a wide range of soils. This cherry tree is a graceful ornamental flowering cherry tree that typically grows 30-40' tall with a spreading, broad-rounded, open crown. Fragrant white (sometimes tinged pink) flowers in 3 to 6-flowered clusters appear in a profuse and spectacular early spring bloom. Flowers are followed by small black cherries (1/2" diameter) which are bitter to humans but loved by birds. Foliage turns yellow and with bronze tints in fall. The spring flowers are the trees best ornamental feature; and are an excellent small to medium-sized tree for lawns, along streets, adjacent to decks or patios.

3) Little-Leaf Linden (Tilia cordata) Zones 3-7; This tree is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It prefers moist, fertile, well-drained loams, but adapts to a wide range of soil conditions. Good tolerance for urban conditions. Tolerant of heavy pruning, and may be grown as a hedge. Native to Europe, the littleleaf linden has been widely planted in the U. S. as an ornamental shade tree because of its attractive foliage, dense, low-branched, pyramidal to ovate form and its tolerance for urban conditions. Ornamental features include fragrant pale yellow flowers in late spring, small nutlets with attached leafy wings (to 3.5" long) and ovate, shiny dark green leaves (to 3" long). This is a medium to large deciduous tree, typically growing to 50-70' (less frequently to 100') tall. It has fragrant, creamy yellow flowers in drooping cymes appear in June. When a tree is in full bloom, bees often visit in such abundant numbers that humming can be heard many feet from the tree. The flowers give way to nutlets that are attached to narrow bract-like wings (top 3.5" long). The fall color is an undistinguished pale green to pale yellow. This is a great shade, lawn, or street tree and from a landscaping perspective many consider this species to be the best of all lindens.

4) European Linden (Tilia x europaea) Zones 3-7; This tree is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained loams, but adapts to a wide range of soil conditions and has a good tolerance for urban conditions. Promptly remove root suckers as they appear. The European linden is a hybrid cross between two native European lindens (T. cordata x T. platyphyllos). It is perhaps most similar to its T. platyphyllos parent, which is the tree commemorated by Franz Schubert in Der Lindenbaum (The Linden Tree). This hybrid is a medium to large deciduous tree, typically growing to 50-70' (less frequently to 120') tall with a broad-columnar habit. It has fragrant pale yellow flowers that appear in late spring. When a tree is in full bloom, bees often visit in such abundant numbers that humming can be heard many feet from the tree. The flowers are followed by small nutlets attached to narrow, bract-like, strap-shaped leafy wings (to 4.5" long). The Nutlets ripen in late summer. Fall color is an undistinguished pale green to pale yellow.


5) Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa) Zones 4-7; This Tree is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It prefers moist, fertile, well-drained loams, but adapts to a wide range of soil conditions. Best drought resistance of any of the lindens. Good tolerance for urban conditions. The silver linden or European white linden is noted for its attractive foliage, which is glossy green above and silvery-white below. The foliage flutters in the slightest breeze, showcasing the silver and green leaf colors. This is a medium to large deciduous tree, typically growing to 50-70' (less frequently to 100') tall with upright branching and a broad-columnar habit. It develops fragrant pale yellow flowers in late spring to early summer (June-July). This tree is also known to attract bees. The flowers are followed by small nutlets attached to narrow, strap-shaped leafy wings (to 2.5" long). Fall color is an undistinguished pale green to pale yellow.
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