Butterflies are amazing insects in that they have compound eyes and can see color. However, they are very nearsighted and are more attracted to large stands of a particular type of flower. For a garden to be most effective, it should contain large splashes of color. The solid masses of color make the flowers easier to locate, and each butterfly has to expend less energy flying from one location to another to acquire the fuel it needs to remain active and grow. This cannot be overemphasized.
The biggest problem with most butterfly gardens is that they have too few of any one particular species (plant/flower). It would be better to plant 50 of one species rather than five plants of 10 different species.
We know that butterflies see most colors, but findings differ about their color preferences. Some researchers say butterflies have preferences; others say they do not. What we do know is that butterflies find little attraction to flowers in the blue-green or greenish-blue range. Many seem to navigate toward the pinkish-light lavender, mauve, or light purple colors. Others like white or red or orange.
In locating nectar, butterflies may actually cue in more on fragrance than color. Many of the "good" butterfly-attracting flowers are quite fragrant.
