Wildlife gardening - Planting for moths

Creating a garden that supports moths means thinking about both the adult fliers and their caterpillars. With a few thoughtful choices, your outdoor space can become a haven for these vital insects – boosting biodiversity and bringing your garden to life after dark.

1 Start with structure 
If you have the space available, native trees and hedges offer shelter, food and breeding sites for moths and their larvae. Species like hawthorn, birch and hazel support a wide range of caterpillars, while hedges also create microclimates that protect moths from wind and predators. If space is tight, go for compact cultivated forms such as the small weeping Kilmarnock willow or shrubs such as fuchsia or privet.

2 A meal for munchers 
As well as woody plants, some other garden favourites also offer a packed lunch for hungry caterpillars. Grow hops or honeysuckle up a pergola, and find a spot for foxgloves, verbascum, comfrey, marjoram, bedstraw and sweet William. A few holes in leaves are signs of success, not failure!

3 Leave the leaf litter 
Resist the urge to tidy up too much! Leaf litter and undisturbed soil provide safe places for caterpillars to pupate and overwinter. These hidden habitats are crucial for the next generation of moths. 

4 Dim the lights 
Artificial lighting can confuse and exhaust night-flying moths, disrupting their feeding and breeding. Use motion sensors, warm coloured bulbs and direct light downward to reduce impact. Better still, switch off unnecessary lights altogether

Content courtesy of wildaboutgardens.org.uk.