Community Learning Garden
Courses and Workshops
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Support Materials
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Lesson Plans
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Research with Students
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Community Learning Garden
Community Learning Garden
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Before |
Planting Day |
Summer |
As part of the "Beautiful U Day" celebration at the University of Minnesota, the
Monarch Lab installed a butterfly garden on the
south side of Green Hall on the St. Paul Campus. In addition to being aesthetically
pleasing and visible to those on campus for years to come, this garden can be used
as a teaching tool for university classes, community educators, and
Monarchs in the Classroom. It also serves as needed habitat for butterflies
(larvae and adults), other invertebrates, and birds. Below is a list of the plants
included in our site and their uses in the garden.
Useful Plants for a Butterfly Garden
Shrubs (all used for wind protection)
|
Plant Species |
Uses |
Cornus sericea 'Isanti'
Red-osier Dogwood |
Larval food source: Spring azure, Polyphemus moth |
Salix purpurea 'Nana'
Arctic Blue Willow |
Larval food source: Mourning Cloak, viceroy, Red-spotted Purple, Sylvan Hairstreak |
Vaccinium 'Northblue'
Blueberry |
Adult nectar source |
Buddleia spp.
Butterfly bush (zone 5) |
Adult nectar source |
Perennials
|
Plant Species |
Uses |
Achillea millefolium
Yarrow |
Adult nectar source |
Asclepias incarnata
Swamp Milkweed |
Adult nectar source.
Larval food source: Monarchs |
Asclepias vesticillata
Whorled Milkweed |
Adult nectar source,
Larval food source: Monarchs |
Centaurea montana
Bachelor's button |
Adult nectar source |
Chelone glabra
Turtle head |
Adult nectar source,
Larval food source: Baltimore Checkerspot |
Coreopsis verticillata
Thread leaf |
Adult nectar source |
Echinops spp.
Globe thistle |
Adult nectar source |
Echinacea
Purple cone flower |
Adult nectar source |
Eupatorium spp.
Joe Pye Weed |
Adult nectar source |
Gaillardia x grandiflora
Blanket flower |
Adult nectar source |
Calamagrostis x acutiflora
Karl Foerster grass |
Larval food source: Blazing Star Skipper |
Heliopsis
False sunflower |
Adult nectar source |
Liatris ligulistylus
Meadow blazing star |
Adult nectar source |
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum'
Black-eyed Susan |
Adult nectar source |
Solidago spp.
Goldenrod |
Adult nectar source |
Phlox paniculata
Fall phlox |
Adult nectar source |
Aster spp.
Aster |
Adult nectar source |
Monarda spp.
Bee Balm |
Adult nectar source |
Penstemon digitalis
Beardtongue |
Adult nectar source,
Larval food source: Baltimore Checkerspot |
Mallow spp.
Hollyhock |
Adult nectar source,
Larval food source: Common Hairstreak, Painted Lady, Gray Hairstreak |
Heliotropum arborescens
Heliotrope |
Adult nectar source,
Larval food source: Common Buckeye |
Annuals
Asclepias currasavica
Tropical Milkweed |
Adult nectar source,
Larval food source: Monarchs |
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Parsley |
Larval food source: Black Swallowtail |
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Fennel |
Larval food source: Black Swallowtail |
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Violets |
Adult nectar source,
Larval food source: Great Spangled and Idalia Fritillary |
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Snapdragons |
Adult nectar source,
Larval food source: Buckeye |
