SMITHSONIAN BUTTERFLY HABITAT GARDEN

The Butterfly Garden at the Smithsonian was installed in the summer of 1995 through a collaborative effort between the Natural History Museum, the Horticulture Services Division, and partial funding from the Smithsonian Women's Committee. Once a typical strip of urban land this space has been transformed into a beautiful urban habitat for butterflies as well as many other creatures.

This is the Smithsonian's first outdoor habitat/living exhibition. The main goal of this exhibit is to provide an educational and beautiful garden to the general public that is accessible at all times of the year. It is located between the Ninth Street Tunnel and the Natural History Museum (East side).

It is divided into five areas, including four different habitats and one introduction area; all of which consist of approximately 200 woody shrubs and trees as well as 2500 herbaceous plants. Tours are offered during the summer months. The tour dates and times are available at the information desks in the Natural History Museum.

ECOLOGY

As the environment and habitats change, so do the species of butterflies. The most prevalent habitats throughout the United States are profiled in the Smithsonian Butterfly Garden. These habitats include the following areas: wetlands; meadows; wood's edge; and the urban garden.

The Four Habitats Present in the Smithsonian Butterfly Garden

Wetlands

Just as the name implies, wetland soils are under water or are consistently wet. Natural wetlands can be found near lakes, marshes, bogs, and surrounding ponds and streams. This habitat was set up to mimic the wetland habitats that are most prevalent on the East Coast.

Native plants able to cope with the excessive amounts of water in the soil have been used in this habitat. The water surrounding the plants also provides a location for a very important butterfly activity called puddling. This activity requires the use of the butterflies proboscis (long tongue) to "drink" the water. The puddles and standing water throughout this habitat also provide the essential salts and nutrients that the butterflies need to survive.

As with any butterfly habitat it is important to provide shelter from the wind and areas to escape danger. This is accomplished by the mass plantings and the large stands of plants and shrubs.

Butterflies common to this habitat: Zebra Swallowtail and the Viceroy Butterfly

Meadow

Dry meadows are most prevalent in the Midwest and Central regions of the United States, but are also present throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. This habitat has a distinctive feature that provides the perfect environment for faster development from larvae to adult butterfly: that feature is pure sunshine! The large amount of light and relatively constant temperatures allow the butterflies to complete their life cycle in a shorter period of time. Generally this habitat consists of vast open spaces with numerous varieties of native wildflowers and grasses throughout the landscape.

Butterflies common to this habitat: Alfalfa Butterfly and the Eastern Tailed Blue

The Wood's Edge

In the Smithsonian Butterfly Garden, this habitat serves as a transition zone between the wildflower meadows and the urban garden. We are highlighting the woods edge which provides filtered sunlight for development and ample protection against the elements and natural predators.

The main features of this habitat are the sheltering plants, trees, and shrubs. They provide secure spaces for adult butterflies to hibernate and overwinter. Some shrubs, such as Viburnums provide more than a shelter. The air surrounding these shrubs provides an variety of humidity levels or microclimates that aid in the development and survival of butterfly larvae.

Each plant and tree in this habitat provides an important service to the overall growth and development of the butterflies. As a result of the ever - increasing population, the wood's edge habitat is becoming more and more familiar.

Butterflies common to this habitat: Tiger Swallowtail and the Red Admiral

The Urban Garden

An urban garden can be anything from a few clusters of suitable plants in a container to a large landscaped habitat. In order for a butterfly garden to succeed in an urban habitat it is necessary to mimic the butterflies natural habitat.

It is possible to attract butterflies to your own garden with one or more of these readily available plants. Most of the plants needed to attract butterflies to an urban garden can be found in local nurseries and through native plant societies.

Butterflies common to this habitat: Black Swallowtail, the Cabbage White, and the Silver Spotted Skipper

Fun Facts About Butterflies

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