It is a new concept in sustainable butterfly gardening for South Florida that creates biodiverse pollinator sanctuaries wherever herbicides are not used. Butterfly Circles:
Butterfly Circles can be more manicured, which takes more time and effort and a bit more money, but appeal more to those with a "manicured mindset", or who live in a community with a more rigid landscape code. You can watch the video below and read our step-by-step guide to help you create your own.
Scroll past video to learn how to make a more "natural" Butterfly Circle.
Butterfly Circles can be more natural and informal, are not as limited by size, cost very little, and the end result is more biodiverse. The trick is to have a lot of these host plants already growing in the grass.
To create a more informal Butterfly Circle, start by downloading our Field Guide to Wild Plants that Host Butterflies to identify the wild native host plants that are already present and marking them with lawn flags or other means. Wherever you see the most flags, that is the center of your circle. Plant a stake there and, using a string cut to the radius you want, mark the circumference with powdered chalk or the lawn flags.
Over time, the drought-tolerant native plants will take over. You can increase their numbers by harvesting seeds and sprinkling them in the Circle, or even planting a few new wild host plants, although you'd have to water them daily for a couple of weeks.