Butterflies are attracted to flowers that provide nectar, so whether or not they like snowball bushes depends on the specific type of butterfly and variety of snowball bush. In general, butterflies tend to prefer flowers that are brightly colored such as reds, oranges, pinks, purples, and yellows. They also favor flowers that are clustered into inflorescences, which allows them to access multiple flowers at once. Let’s explore some of the factors that draw butterflies to certain plants and examine if snowball bushes have those qualities.
What attracts butterflies to plants?
There are a few key characteristics that butterflies look for when seeking out plants:
- Brightly colored flowers – Butterflies see in full color spectrum unlike many other insects. They are particularly drawn to reds, oranges, pinks, purples, and yellows.
- Nectar-rich flowers – Butterflies drink nectar through their long proboscis. Flowers that produce ample nectar are highly attractive.
- Clustered flowers – Butterflies prefer flowers that are clustered close together in inflorescences rather than single isolated blooms. This allows them to access more nectar sources at once.
- Flat flower shapes – The shape of the flower affects accessibility to nectar. Butterflies favor flowers with a flat or clustered shape which they can easily land on.
- Abundant vegetation – Butterflies are more likely to frequent gardens and areas that have a wide variety of flowering plants which provide nectar throughout the seasons.
By choosing plants that offer several of these traits, you can create a butterfly friendly garden. Focus on plants with brightly colored clustered flowers that bloom at different times to provide nectar through as much of the year as possible.
Do snowball bushes attract butterflies?
Snowball bushes refer to several species of viburnum in the muskroot family, valued for their puffy, snowball-like flower clusters. There are over 150 species of viburnum including:
- Viburnum opulus (European cranberrybush)
- Viburnum macrocephalum (Chinese snowball bush)
- Viburnum plicatum (Japanese snowball bush)
- Viburnum lentago (nannyberry)
These plants produce white, sterile flowers ranging from lacecap types to dense, round flower heads. The clusters emerge in spring, persisting into summer. Though popular in landscaping, snowball bushes have some drawbacks when it comes to attracting butterflies.
Downsides:
- White or cream coloring – Less attractive to butterflies than vibrant colors
- Modest nectar production – Flowers not exceptionally nectar-rich
- Flower heads not flat – Harder for butterflies to access nectar
- Blooms fading to green – Less visible to butterflies as flowers age
- Limited flowering season – Provides nectar for only part of year
Benefits:
- Abundant flowers in clusters – Ideal for butterfly landing and feeding
- Fragrant – Helps attract butterflies
- Hardy plants – Withstand environmental conditions to return year after year
Overall, snowball bushes are not the most attractive flowering shrubs to butterflies but they offer some benefits. Their profuse flowers make landing and feeding easier. The fragrance can also help draw in butterflies from greater distances. They are best paired with other more butterfly-friendly flowers. Planting vibrantly colored butterfly bushes, lilacs, or lantana nearby will make the area more appealing to butterflies while the snowball bushes provide dense nectar sources.
What types of butterflies are attracted to snowball bushes?
While snowball bushes may not top a butterfly’s list of favorite flowers, they do draw in some butterfly visitors. Types of butterflies most likely to visit snowball bushes include:
- Swallowtails – Swallowtail butterflies like eastern tiger swallowtail and black swallowtail will stop by snowball bushes, especially newly emerged blooms.
- Sulphurs – Smaller yellow butterflies like cloudless sulphur may feed around snowball blooms.
- Whites – Cabbage whites and orange tips frequently nectar on available small flowers.
- Hairstreaks – Some hairstreaks species will take advantage of snowball nectar sources.
- Admirals – Larger admiral butterflies like red-spotted purple may occasionally land on snowball flower heads.
These butterfly species are less selective and will utilize a wide variety of flower shapes and colors. They may not spend extensive time foraging on snowball bushes alone but will stop to feed when passing by available nectar. Other more selective butterflies like monarchs and fritillaries are less likely to pause at snowball bushes.
How to make snowball bushes more butterfly friendly
While snowball bushes have some inherent limitations in attracting butterflies, there are ways to enhance their appeal. Consider the following tips:
- Plant near other butterfly-favored flowers like lilacs, verbena, lantana.
- Choose snowball species with more flat-topped flower clusters for easier access.
- Select viburnum that bloom for longer periods to extend nectar availability.
- Mix in some plants with bright reddish or purple foliage which butterflies notice.
- Allow buds to open fully before deadheading spent blooms.
- Provide butterfly puddling areas nearby with mineral rich muddy areas.
- Include protective windbreaks, trees, walls to create warm sunny spots.
Making these adjustments to the surroundings of your snowball bushes can help attract more butterfly visitors. The key is giving butterflies reasons to linger around the area and recognize it as a good feeding ground.
Good companion plants to increase butterfly visits
Here are some excellent butterfly-friendly plants to incorporate near snowball bushes:
Early Season Bloomers
- Crocus
- Hyacinth
- Daffodil
- Sunflower
- Pansy
- Sedum
Mid Season Bloomers
- Lilac
- Redbud
- Verbena
- Butterfly bush
- Coneflower
- Yarrow
Late Season Bloomers
- Aster
- Zinnia
- Mexican sunflower
- Flox
- Goldenrod
- Milkweed
Mixing in several plants from each blooming period ensures nectar availability through the seasons. The key is offering bright, rich, abundant flowers that give butterflies a compelling reason to visit and linger.
Conclusion
Snowball bushes are not the most magnetic plants for attracting butterflies. Their cream-colored blooms and modest nectar production make them less appealing. However, when combined with other more butterfly-friendly flowers, they can still draw in some butterfly visitors. Their dense clustered blooms allow easy access for feeding. Planting snowball bushes alongside other vibrantly colored, nectar-rich plants will create an area where butterflies are happy to frequent and feed often.
