Garden

Grape Hyacinth (Muscari spp)

about

The Grape Hyacinth is a popular blue spring flowering bulb, often seen in gardens from early April – May, where if established and undisturbed, may grow to form a deep scented mass of blooms, under trees and in borders or lawns.

Grape Hyacinth Origins

Muscari is the genus of the Grape Hyacinth which is mostly blue in colour and originates from Turkey, it was first recorded in Britain around 1776, and given the name M. neglectum, although despite this alien origin to Britain it is sometimes referred to as a native species. There are around 30 species in all, and a small number of cultivated varieties, colours include Blue, Purple and White.

The flower-heads of the Grape Hyacinth, do look like small upturned bunches of grapes, in fact they are made up of dense clusters of small often bright blue flowers each with a light blue or white lip. The leaves are dark green and emerge from the base of the plant, they are long and narrow and similar in length to the flower and stem 15 – 20cm long.

Clusters of small blue flowers

Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) in flower planted under shrubs

Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) are often planted under deciduous shrubs

Planting Grape Hyacinth

Grape Hyacinth bulbs are best planted in a sunny position, and will thrive in any well drained soil. Place the bulbs 10-15cm apart and 7cm deep, in groups of 10 or more once in the ground they will spread rapidly if left undisturbed and require very little maintenance to bloom year after year.

It can be planted in many sunny locations including under deciduous trees and shrubs and in containers.

Muscari Information

Group: Liliaceae
Type: Perennial, Hardy bulb
Similar appearance to:
Flowering: April – May
Position: Sunny in any well drained soil
Height: around 15 – 20cm
Soil Type: Any well-drained
Sow: September – November
Larval food plant: /
Nectar plant: Bees, Small Tortoiseshell butterfly (Aglais urticae).
Other Spring flowering Bulbs Snow drops (galanthus.sp), English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
Photograph: 10th April 2012

Wildflower Plug Plants – Thompson & Morgan

Thompson & Morgan

Mar 142013

Wildflower Collection Starting a Wildflower Garden or Meadow to attract beneficial insects like butterflies and bees it couldn’t be easier, with this diverse collection of wildflower plug plants. Also adding a sprinkling of some wildflower seed between these plug plants – they will all knit nicely together. The perennial varieties will come back year after year whilst the annuals will happily self seed and reappear in a new position each year. Height: 150cm (59″). Spread: 50cm (20″). Flowering Period: May, June, July, August, September Position: Full sun, sun or semi shade. Plugs available separately * Follow this link to Thompson & Morgan for more Details Collection comprises of: Foxglove (Digitalis)* Self-Heal (Prunella)* Lady’s Bedstraw (Galium)* Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum)* Cornflower (Centaurea) Ragged Robin (Lychnis)* Field Scabious (Knautia)* Common Knapweed (Centaurea)* Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus)* Teasel (Dipsacus)*	Wildflower Collection – Hardy Perennials – Thompson & Morgan


© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2013

Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io)

Possibly the most striking and well known of all British Butterflies, the Peacock with its red velvet colours and bright distinctive eye-spots, can often be seen in gardens, mid to late summer often attracted by plants and shrubs like Rudbekia and Buddleia.

As well as being a garden visitor, Peacock butterflies can be found in a broad range of habitats from woodland clearings to urban parks and waste ground, where they may be seen around plants and shrubs like, Blackthorn, Bramble Flowers and Hemp Agrimony or just bathing in warm sunshine.

Peacock Butterfly nectaring on Hemp Agrimony in woodland showing under-wings

Peacock Butterfly showing dark brown and black under-wings

Quick Info

Family Group: Nymphalidae – Browns
Subgroup: Nymphalinae.
Wingspan: Around 60mm.
Habitat: Gardens, Open woodland clearings, Urban parks, Waste ground, and others
Adult Nectar Plant: Blackthorn, Bramble, Buddleia, Common Ragwort, Hemp Agrimony, Rudbekia, Teasels, and others.
Caterpillars feed on: only Common Nettles (Urtica dioica).
Photographs: Top – Peacock butterfly 15/8/10, – Left – Peacock showing dark Under-Wings 24th July- bottom right – Peacock in Spring 9th April

Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io) showing eye spots on wings

The Peacock Butterfly hibernates through the winter months, in places like old tree trunks out buildings and wood stacks, emerging around March – April although on occasions they may be seen earlier.

The Upper-Wings are red-brown velvet coloured with bold and distinctive eye-spots especially on the hind-wings, the eye-spots, on tips are less bold.

The Under-Wings are dark brown or black.

Peacock in Spring on Blackthorn Blossom

Thompson & Morgan – 72 Perennial plugs Only £17.99

Special Offers

Dec 282012

Fill your Garden beds and borders with this bargain collection of 72 herbaceous hardy perennials from Thompson & Morgan. Perennial plants bloom year after year, and many can also be cut and brought into the house for beautiful flower arrangements. 72 plugs – 6 of each variety listed below Price: £17.99 Get Your Collection Visit Thompson & Morgan Here	Thompson & Morgan Perennial Collection Height: Up to 150cm (60″). Spread: 75cm (30″). Flowering Period: May, June, July, August, September Position: full sun, sun or semi shade
Perennial Collection A + B comprises of 6 of each variety:
A. Coreopsis ‘Presto’ – Neat, compact plants bear golden-yellow, semi-double flowers all summer long. B. Echinacea ‘Magic Box’ – A stunning mix of daisy flowers and spectacular garden performance. C. Scabiosa ‘Blue Jeans’ – Blue pincushion flowers attract bees and butterflies throughout summer. D. Foxglove ‘Dalmatian Peach’ – Peachy trumpet flowers crowd sturdy, upright stems. E. Poppy ‘Pizzicato’ Mixed – A neat semi dwarfing variety, producing up to 20 large flowers per plant.	F. Silene ‘Jack Flash’ – Scarlet blooms carried on elegant, slender stems over a long period. G. Aquilegia ‘Swan’ Mixed – Long flowering, large blooms on upright, multi-branched stems. H. Lavender ‘Munstead’ – A neat, compact variety of fragrant English lavender. I. Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ – Glossy, semi-evergreen purple leaves provide year round colour. J. Delphinium ‘Pacific Giants’ – Excellent adding structure and presence to the back of borders. K. Gaillardia ‘Arizona’ – A spectacular dwarf Blanket Flower with a long-flowering period. L. Carnation ‘Ever-blooming Mixed’ (Hardy) – Richly fragrant blooms that are ideal for cutting.

Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2012

Wild Marjoram for a Wildflower or Butterfly Garden

about

Wild Marjoram or Oregano is an attractive aromatic herb, with clusters of purple/pink flowers that appear June to September. The leaves are oval shaped and in pairs on upright stems they can grow up to 40 cm high.

Wild Marjoram (Origarnum vulgare) may be found growing in meadows, along woodland rides, roadside verges and other sunny places mainly on dry calcareous soils in Southern Britain.

Planting Marjoram

Planting Wild Marjoram can make a great addition to any Wildflower or Butterfly Garden, the nectar rich blooms are attractive to many species of Butterfly, as well as Moths, Bees, Hoverflies and many other pollinating insects.

It is also a Caterpillar food plant for the rare British butterfly the Large Blue

Wild Marjoram Flower Head pink and white petals

Close-up of Wild Marjoram Flower Head

Wild Marjoram a wild flower with many small pink and white flowers in July

Wild Marjoram flowering in July

Plant Information

Name: Wild Marjoram (Origarnum vulgare)
Family: Lamiaceae, inc Mint, Deadnettle
Type: Perennial
Also Known As: Oregano, Pot Marjoram
Where: Common and widespread through-out Southern Britain.
Habitat: Often found in – Meadows, woodland rides, Roadside verges and Gardens.
When does it flower? June to September.
Height around: 40cm.
Nectar Plant: Small White (Pieris rapae), Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album), Brown Argus, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, and others, plus Moths and Bees
Caterpillar Food Plant: Large Blue Butterfly (Maculinea arion), Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata)
Photographed: 1st July 2012

Wild Primrose (Primula vulgaris) in Woodland and Gardens

A low growing early Spring perennial, with pale yellow flowers with orange/yellow centres, on slender hairy stems varying in size up to around 25cm long seen from February to May.

The leaves are in a rosette, arranged around the base of the flower stems.

Common and widespread throughout many areas, wild Primroses can often found growing in, open woodland or under hedgerows, and even on, Roadside verges and Embankments. They are also a popular plant in many gardens across the UK .

Early wildflowers like Primroses are a good nectar source for Butterflies, Bees and many other insects in early spring. It is also a primary larval food plant for one of the UK’s rarest Butterflies the Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina).

Wild Primrose flowers and leaves

Primrose (Primula vulgaris) flowering in woodland

grow Primula vulgaris from seed

Grow Common Primrose (Primula vulgaris) from seed, they are available from Thompson & Morgan, for more information Visit Thompson & Morgan Here

Plant Information

Name: Wild Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Species: Primula
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Also Known As: English primrose
Grow from Seed: Easy
Where: Common and Widespread through-out Britain
Habitat: Often found on – Woodland, Shaded Meadows, Embankments, Roadside verges and Gardens.
When does it flower? February to May.
Fruiting: n/a.
Height around: 25cm.
Larval Food Plant: Duke of Burgundy Butterfly
Other well known Primula Varieties: Cowslips (primula veris)

T&M Buddleja ‘Buzz’™ Collection 3 varieties Only £7.99

Special Offers

Sep 182012

A true dwarf Buddleja, the ‘Buzz’ is easy to grow and maintain perfect for attracting butterflies and bees to any garden.

Buddleja ‘Buzz’™ has been cultivated specifically for containers, and small gardens in mind by Thompson & Morgan.

The Collection includes 3 coloured varieties:

Buddleja ‘Buzz™ Sky Blue’

Buddleja ‘Buzz™ Magenta’

Buddleja ‘Buzz™ Ivory’

Get 3 jumbo plugs – 1 of each variety was £14.99 Now £7.99 SAVE £7.00

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For more information and availability Visit ‘Thompson & Morgan’ Here

Buddleja 'Buzz'™ Magenta

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Garden Weed or Wildflower

A bright orange or yellow flowering herbaceous perennial, the Dandelion is most often referred to as another garden weed, rather than a wildflower, due to its ability to turn up in lawns, borders, just about anywhere, able to tolerate most conditions and just about any type of soil.

When does it flower?

Flowering begins in March and runs through to October, each Dandelion plant often bears a number of singular flower heads, or florets, each with its own hollow stem from a central rosette of lobed leaves.

Being one of the earliest flowering nectar sources the Dandelion is an important plant for many early pollinating insects such as bees, as well as a several species of butterflies and moths. Butterflies like the Brimstone, Orange-Tip and Large White take advantage of this early nectar source (list will be updated).

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Seeds, also known as a “Clock”

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) in flower

Seeds

After flowering, the Dandelion flower dries and after a few days opens out into a spherical structure or “clock”. Each seed is attached to fine hairs which act as a type of parachute which help distribute the mature seeds via the wind.

Beneficial Weed

Despite the Dandelion being known as just a garden weed, it is also a very beneficial plant, besides having many medicinal properties, being edible the leaves can be boiled and eaten, and are rich in essential vitamins and the flower petals are used in making Dandelion wine.

Plant Information

Name: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Group: Asteraceae
Type: Perennial
Similar appearance to: Cat’s Ear or false dandelion, Mouse-ear Hawkweed
Flowering: March to October.
Position: Full Sun.
Height: around 35cm
Larval food plant: Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa).
Nectar plant: Brimstone, Orange-Tip, Large White, Red Admiral
Photograph: 18th April

Large White Butterfly (Pieris brassicae)

about

Probably the commonest white butterfly in the UK, the Large White is often seen in a wide range of habitats, such as Urban Gardens, Parks, Hedgerows, Meadows, Roadside Verges and Allotments, sometimes from as early as April. Numbers peak in July-August, sometimes topped up with migrant Butterflies from Mainland Europe, which then slowly fall away till October.

White Butterflies

The large White is part of the Pieridae Group of butterflies, in Britain this group includes:- The Small White, Orange Tip, Green-veined white, Brimstone, Wood white, and the regular summer migrant The Clouded Yellow.

Also known as the “Cabbage White” a name which, the Large White shares with its close cousin, the Small White Butterfly, a name given solely for its reputation, than anything else.

Large White Butterfly (Pieris brassicae) on thistle flower

Large White Butterfly (Pieris brassicae) female

Large White Butterfly (Pieris brassicae) on wild scabious flower

Large White butterfly on wild scabious flower

Food Plants

The caterpillars or larvae of the Large White Butterfly, often use the (Cruciferae) Group of plants as a food source, this group includes, the Mustard and Cabbage family of plants. Unfortunately for gardeners, the small caterpillars sometimes cause, untold damage to unprotected cabbages, in vegetable gardens and allotments across the country.

The upper-wings of the male are white, with Black tips and black spots on the fore – wings . The under-wings are pale yellow.

Quick Info

Family Group: Pieridae – Whites
On the wing: May – September.
Size around: 60mm.
Larval (caterpillar) Food Plant – (Cruciferae) which includes Mustard and (brassicaceae) Cabbage family of plants.
photograph Location: Barnack Hills and Holes.
Photographed: top 20th July – left 1st July.

Browns – Nymphalidae

Choose a Family Group

Swallowtail
Papilionidae

Whites
Pierinae

Skippers
Hesperiidae

Browns
Nymphalidae

Blues
Lycaenidae

Browns Family group – Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae are a family of butterflies which includes species more commonly known as “Browns” and “Fritillaries”. There are 22 species of “Browns” that can be found in Britain, some like the Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, and Speckled Wood are fairly widespread throughout the UK, often seen in many Gardens, Parks, Hedgerows and Woodland.
Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa)	Comma (Polygonia c-album)	Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)	Grayling (Hipparchia semele)
Large Heath (Coenonympha tullia)	Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)	Meadow Brown (Maniola-jurtina)	Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)	Peacock (Inachis io)	Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)	Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)	Scotch Argus (Erebia aethiops)	Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)	Small Tortoiseshell (aglais urticae)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)	White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)	Wall Brown (Pararge aegeria)
Fritillaries
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)	Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)	Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)	High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis adippe)
Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja)	Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)	Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)	Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)
Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)

© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2013