5 Landscaping Trees That Attract Butterflies

Here are 5 trees that you should be able to findbloom, bees often visit in such abundant numbers
at your local Garden Center or Tree Nursery thatthat humming can be heard many feet from the
will help to attract butterflies.tree. The flowers give way to nutlets that are
1) European Birdcherry Tree (Prunus padus)attached to narrow bract-like wings (top 3.5" long).
Zones 3-6; This tree is easily grown in average,The fall color is an undistinguished pale green to
medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.pale yellow. This is a great shade, lawn, or street
It is adaptable to a wide range of soils. This treetree and from a landscaping perspective many
is a deciduous ornamental cherry tree thatconsider this species to be the best of all lindens.
typically grows 20-40' tall with a rounded crown. It4) European Linden (Tilia x europaea) Zones 3-7;
has fragrant white flowers in 3-6" long clustersThis tree is easily grown in average, medium,
that appear after the foliage emerges in spring.well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It
The flowers are followed by pea-sized, blackPrefers moist, fertile, well-drained loams, but
cherries which ripen in mid-summer. This tree isadapts to a wide range of soil conditions and has
closely-related to the chokecherry and the fruit isa good tolerance for urban conditions. Promptly
extremely bitter to humans but the birds love it.remove root suckers as they appear. The
The leaves turn yellow in the fall.European linden is a hybrid cross between two
2) Yoshingo Cherry Tree ( Prunus x yedoensisnative European lindens (T. cordata x T.
yoshino) Zones 5-8; This tree grows in average,platyphyllos). It is perhaps most similar to its T.
medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun toplatyphyllos parent, which is the tree
part shade. However, it will do the best in full sun.commemorated by Franz Schubert in Der
It tolerates heat and humidity well, but is sensitiveLindenbaum (The Linden Tree). This hybrid is a
to drought conditions. It is adaptable to a widemedium to large deciduous tree, typically growing
range of soils. This cherry tree is a gracefulto 50-70' (less frequently to 120') tall with a
ornamental flowering cherry tree that typicallybroad-columnar habit. It has fragrant pale yellow
grows 30-40' tall with a spreading, broad-rounded,flowers that appear in late spring. When a tree is
open crown. Fragrant white (sometimes tingedin full bloom, bees often visit in such abundant
pink) flowers in 3 to 6-flowered clusters appear innumbers that humming can be heard many feet
a profuse and spectacular early spring bloom.from the tree. The flowers are followed by small
Flowers are followed by small black cherries (1/2"nutlets attached to narrow, bract-like,
diameter) which are bitter to humans but lovedstrap-shaped leafy wings (to 4.5" long). The
by birds. Foliage turns yellow and with bronze tintsNutlets ripen in late summer. Fall color is an
in fall. The spring flowers are the trees bestundistinguished pale green to pale yellow.
ornamental feature; and are an excellent small to5) Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa) Zones 4-7; This
medium-sized tree for lawns, along streets,Tree is easily grown in average, dry to medium,
adjacent to decks or patios.well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It
3) Little-Leaf Linden (Tilia cordata) Zones 3-7; Thisprefers moist, fertile, well-drained loams, but
tree is easily grown in average, medium,adapts to a wide range of soil conditions. Best
well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Itdrought resistance of any of the lindens. Good
prefers moist, fertile, well-drained loams, buttolerance for urban conditions. The silver linden or
adapts to a wide range of soil conditions. GoodEuropean white linden is noted for its attractive
tolerance for urban conditions. Tolerant of heavyfoliage, which is glossy green above and
pruning, and may be grown as a hedge. Native tosilvery-white below. The foliage flutters in the
Europe, the littleleaf linden has been widely plantedslightest breeze, showcasing the silver and green
in the U. S. as an ornamental shade tree becauseleaf colors. This is a medium to large deciduous
of its attractive foliage, dense, low-branched,tree, typically growing to 50-70' (less frequently to
pyramidal to ovate form and its tolerance for100') tall with upright branching and a
urban conditions. Ornamental features includebroad-columnar habit. It develops fragrant pale
fragrant pale yellow flowers in late spring, smallyellow flowers in late spring to early summer
nutlets with attached leafy wings (to 3.5" long)(June-July). This tree is also known to attract
and ovate, shiny dark green leaves (to 3" long).bees. The flowers are followed by small nutlets
This is a medium to large deciduous tree, typicallyattached to narrow, strap-shaped leafy wings (to
growing to 50-70' (less frequently to 100') tall. It2.5" long). Fall color is an undistinguished pale green
has fragrant, creamy yellow flowers in droopingto pale yellow.
cymes appear in June. When a tree is in full