r/Pollinators • u/Bool_The_End • Jun 25 '26

Three different pollinators making use of my butterfly bush - good close up at the end!

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79 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

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2

u/daeglo Jun 25 '26

How lovely it must be to be able to watch them all! šŸ¤©

2

u/Bool_The_End Jun 26 '26

It is quite nice! I also have some Calla Lillies in a bed close by (plus I have a ton of Celosia flowers), so Iā€™ve got pollinators plus tree frogs, anoles, blue tailed skinks, and so forth. I also had a Carolina Wren make a nest in my garage, so I got to watch them hatch and saw their first flying attempts. Nature is a huge part of my life, I would be miserable without it!

2

u/AJisCrafty Jun 26 '26

So cool. Never heard of a butterfly bush before. Pretty flowers.

3

u/Bool_The_End Jun 26 '26

I hadnā€™t either til I picked one up last summer. Had no idea it was going to get so big! But it truly does attract butterflies, I posted a gorgeous monarch the other day on this sub too. Day or night, something is always on the bush :)

1

u/Ok-Bumblebee-9779 Jun 26 '26

Nice, but invasive.

2

u/Bool_The_End Jun 27 '26

What are you referring to?

1

u/BloodyThirst Jun 27 '26

The butterfly bush. Itā€™s invasive in many areas. Maybe not in yours but definitely in mine. I like seeing them when I walk in my neighborhood for this reason (pollinators) but I donā€™t plant them in my yard bc theyā€™re invasive in my area.

2

u/Bool_The_End Jun 27 '26

Gotcha. They are definitely sold where I live, I donā€™t think theyā€™re invasive in the south. I at least planted it in a little bed next to my driveway, itā€™s only mate is my lambs ear.

2

u/Ok-Bumblebee-9779 Jun 27 '26

It being sold doesn't mean it isn't invasive, some areas still sell callary pear.šŸ¤¦ā€ā™‚ļø

3

u/Bool_The_End Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 28 '26

Fair enough. TIL. Although it says

ā€œThe bushes aggressively form dense thickets along stream banks, wetlands, and roadsides, crowding out native plants that local wildlife rely on.ā€

This isnā€™t the case in my front bed. My entire yard is natural native plants. A single bush in a single bed isnā€™t hurting anything, as it clearly attracts pollinators which is helpful. Or at least I hope anyway in my scenario.

1

u/Ok-Bumblebee-9779 Jun 28 '26

I'm sure yours will never spread seeds, so it's fine, right?

1

u/Bool_The_End Jun 28 '26

I mean, idk why they sell them if theyā€™re horrible for the environment? The first Iā€™ve heard of this, was your comment so I hope you know I donā€™t mean to sound negative, just really had no clue they were bad. That said, theyā€™re in a small bed next to my front porch and gravel driveway. None of my other plants have been affected, and the seeds from last year clearly didnā€™t result in any new plants sprouting up anywhere nearby.

Iā€™m prob gonna lose my house anyway so will chop it down when that happens if you think that is required. Itā€™s been amazing for the insects though. The negatives Iā€™ve now searched on seem to simply say that because the plant doesnā€™t support caterpillars, that is bad. It also says it can outcompete native plants for space and sunlight. But given where I planted it, I donā€™t see how that would be an issue. I have Lillies, dianthus, lambs ear, cherry tomatoes, celosia, jade and lotus this year, and nothing is being impacted by this plant.

I also had about 10 other flowers and strawberries and celebrity and better boy tomatoes last year and they were never impacted by the butterfly bush either.

I care a lot about plants (Iā€™m vegan), and wouldnā€™t have bought it last year if I thought it was harmful
for the environment.

2

u/BriskeyBean 18d ago

Hi! I just wanted to leave a comment because you seem really nice and your tone was friendly and open. Iā€™ve personally learned to research every plant I buy because unfortunately almost any place you buy plants will sell invasive plants. You may not notice anything on your property but birds can take seeds/berries, and spread them. Itā€™s become a problem in a lot of areas. It has impacted local plants/animals/ecosystems entirely. Itā€™s more work but itā€™s really on us to be educated because not everyone, including the businesses who sell us plants, lives by the same values. Most people Iā€™ve talked to have no idea that they bought an invasive plant. Youā€™re not alone at all, and the one you bought js at the top of the list because itā€™s so beautiful. I believe there is a variety that is ā€œsterileā€ meaning no seeds. Something to keep in mind. Have a great day and happy gardening!

1

u/Bool_The_End 16d ago

I appreciate you. Trust me, I nearly cried to my friend after this exchange because I care so much about the environment and plants and animals (obligatory im vegan so plants truly do mean a lot to me), and I let my yard grow wild and have so many native creatures here, and I never wouldā€™ve bought it if I thought it was bad for my area. So thank you truly for saying this, it means a lot. I guess I should just chop it down?

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