DIY Butterfly Fruit Feeder: Attract Beautiful Visitors to Your Garden
We all know that planting the right flowers is a great way to attract butterflies—but did you know that some butterflies actually prefer fruit? In fact, certain species rely almost entirely on fruit for their nourishment. Even better, a fruit feeder won’t just bring in butterflies—it can also be a sweet treat for birds like orioles and waxwings.
Why Add a Fruit Feeder?
While nectar-rich flowers are essential for many butterflies, fruit offers additional sugars and nutrients. Overripe or soft fruit is especially appealing to butterflies like monarchs, red admirals, mourning cloaks, painted ladies, question marks, commas, and red-spotted purples.
Plus, fruit-loving birds such as Baltimore orioles, cedar waxwings, and northern mockingbirds may stop by for a snack, too.
How to Make Your Own Butterfly Fruit Feeder
Creating a feeder is easy, and you can do it with just a few materials:
- A piece of grapevine wood or any branch about 5 feet long
- Heavy-gauge copper wire
- Fruit: bananas (leave the peel on one side), oranges, mangoes, watermelon, papaya
Instructions:
- Choose a sturdy branch and leave a few small twigs intact—they’ll act as natural holders for the fruit.
- Cut pieces of copper wire and shape them into hooks. Space them about 6 inches apart along the branch.
- Cut fruit into chunks or slices and hang them on the hooks or wedge them into the twigs.
- Place the feeder in a sunny, visible spot in your garden.
Pro Tip: Butterflies are especially drawn to overripe or slightly fermenting fruit, so don’t toss out that soft banana—put it to good use!
A Few Notes on Maintenance
To avoid attracting raccoons or other nocturnal critters, consider removing the fruit at night and replacing it in the morning. If your area is home to fruit-loving birds, they may help keep the feeder clean for you!
Source – birdsandblooms.com
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