Butterfly Garden Certification Program

To join NABA Butterfly Garden Certification Program, your garden needs to meet the following requirements:

At least three different native caterpillar food plants must be grown, preferably more than one plant of each selected species. NABA encourages the use of plant species native to your area, but does not require it. At least three different native butterfly nectar sources must be grown, preferably more than one plant of each selected species. NABA encourages the use of plant species native to your area, but does not require it. The use of pesticides is discouraged. Pesticides can kill butterflies as well as other important pollinators.

If your butterfly garden meets the requirements, please consider certifying your garden!

There are two ways to certify:

right now – Apply Online

With certification, you will receive a customized NABA Butterfly Garden and Habitat certificate (which is suitable for framing but is not weatherproof) along with a recent issue of NABA’s publication, Butterfly Gardener.

Butterfly Signs to Display in Your Garden

When you certify your garden, you will also be able to buy outdoor, weatherproof signs.

Signs cost $25 a piece and are available only to gardeners who have certified their gardens with NABA.

If you are a NABA member, you will receive a $5 discount on your sign if you buy the sign when certifying your garden. Signs purchased after the initial certification do not receive the discount.

NABA’s outdoor weatherproof sign measures 7 inches tall by 10 inches wide. Constructed of rigid plastic with two holes centered top and bottom for attaching to a stake or fence (stake and mounting hardware not included). Please note that colors represented on computer monitors do not always show the true colors printed on the sign.

Although the colors in the outdoor sign should stay vibrant for several years, our manufacturer recommends placing the sign where it will not receive direct, intense sunlight (at least for part of the day). They also recommend taking the sign inside for the winter if you live in a climate with freezing temperatures.