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Butterflies and papaver. The other day I read on GOY that a member said that butterflies will not come into a garden growing poppies. Is this true because I've never heard of it before. And if butterflies do not like poppies, surely it depends on the size of the area in question?
It's been on my mind and I'm baffled - I see butterflies on the buddlaea and verbena bonariensis, both of which are tall tall. Please help me get this straight in my head.




Answers

 

I did not see the item that you are quoting from, Mbg, but I don't accept the statement. We have Papaver and Meconopsis in our garden and usually plenty of butterflies.

17 Mar, 2013

 

we have poppies and butterflies in our garden, but i have never seen butterflies on the poppies. perhaps that was the mis-understanding.

17 Mar, 2013

 

I actually answered the question re planting Oriental Poppies and since reading the comment that was posted by Dianebulley regarding butterlies not visiting gardens where poppies grow I was a bit confussed - I have done extensive and I mean extensive research, I think I've read every planting for wildlife website etc between here and Oz......the best I could come up with was that the lack of nectar means they are not visited by butterflies.
Like Bulba and SBG I have poppies and have butterflies visit.
Perhaps Diane will see this and give us the reasons why she said that - it would be a shame if the person who asked the question didn't plant poppies because of this.

17 Mar, 2013

 

Perhaps it is just that butterflies don't actually visit the poppies. My garden has poppies, and I certainly get plenty of butterflies - several types.

17 Mar, 2013

 

Thanks everyone for clearing that up! I do have a few oriental poppies and I can excuse them if they don't attract butterflies, as long as they don't put them off the garden. Meconopsis certainly generate lots of bee interest. I too hope Diane sees this thread.

18 Mar, 2013

How do I say thanks?

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