How do I attract butterflies and hummingbirds to a NB garden?

Attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your New Brunswick garden requires planting a succession of nectar-rich flowers that bloom from late May through September, providing shelter and breeding habitat, and eliminating pesticide use that kills these pollinators and their food sources. NB's Maritime climate and diverse native plant community actually make the province an excellent location for pollinator gardens, with several butterfly and hummingbird species naturally present throughout the growing season.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only breeding hummingbird species in New Brunswick, arriving in mid-to-late May and departing by late September. They are attracted to tubular flowers, particularly in red, orange, and pink tones. The best NB-hardy plants for hummingbirds include bee balm (Monarda didyma) — arguably the top hummingbird plant for NB gardens, blooming July through August in Zones 3-5 — along with cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), native columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) which blooms in early June when hummingbirds first arrive, trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), and garden phlox. Supplementing with a nectar feeder (4 parts water to 1 part white sugar, no red dye) positioned near your garden provides reliable food during rainy periods when flowers produce less nectar.

New Brunswick supports dozens of butterfly species, including Monarchs (increasingly rare and deserving conservation support), swallowtails, painted ladies, fritillaries, and various skippers. Butterfly gardens need both nectar plants for adult feeding and host plants for caterpillar development — without host plants, butterflies cannot complete their life cycle in your garden. Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is the essential Monarch host plant and grows well in NB's Zones 4-5, while violets host fritillary caterpillars, and parsley, dill, and fennel serve as swallowtail host plants.

Design your NB butterfly and hummingbird garden with succession blooming so something is always in flower from late May through September. A proven sequence for NB includes columbine and lilac (May-June), bee balm, butterfly weed, and coneflower (July-August), and asters and goldenrod (September). Plant in large groups of the same species — clusters of 5-7 plants are far more attractive to pollinators than scattered individual plants. Choose a sunny, sheltered location protected from NB's prevailing winds, as both butterflies and hummingbirds prefer calm conditions for feeding.

Include flat stones in sunny spots where butterflies can bask and warm their wings, a shallow dish of damp sand or mud for mineral puddling (butterflies extract essential minerals from damp soil), and shrubby areas for shelter during NB's frequent rain and wind. Avoid hybrid flowers with double blooms or heavily modified flowers — these often produce little nectar compared to species-type plants.

The most important rule is eliminating pesticide use in and around your pollinator garden. Even NB-compliant products like insecticidal soaps and neem oil will kill butterfly caterpillars and can deter hummingbirds. Accept some insect damage as part of a healthy ecosystem. A garden buzzing with caterpillars, bees, and other insects is a garden that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds reliably year after year.

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