Creating a butterfly garden is a beautiful way to support pollinators and bring vibrant color to your outdoor space. These 18 plants are perfect for attracting butterflies, offering them the nectar they love while adding stunning blooms to your garden. From native wildflowers to fragrant shrubs, these plants will not only enhance your garden’s beauty but also provide a sanctuary for butterflies and other pollinators all season long.
Milkweed
Milkweed is a magnet for Monarch butterflies, providing both food and habitat. In the heart of summer, its clusters of pinkish-orange blossoms stand tall, drawing in pollinators with their sweet fragrance. Plant them in a sunny spot and watch Monarch caterpillars munch on the leaves, ensuring a continuous cycle of life in your garden. This plant is not only a feast for the eyes but a crucial support for butterfly populations. By including milkweed, you create a haven for these delicate creatures, fostering biodiversity right in your backyard.
Lavender
Lavender enchants with its aromatic fragrance and lovely purple blooms, making it irresistible to pollinators. Positioned in well-drained soil with full sun exposure, lavender thrives and offers a calming presence in any garden. Its essential oils also serve as a natural pest deterrent, adding functional value. Butterflies adore its nectar-rich flowers, flitting from bloom to bloom in a mesmerizing dance. Besides being a pollinator favorite, lavender adds a touch of Mediterranean allure, crafting a serene escape that delights both sight and scent.
Coneflower
Coneflowers, or Echinacea, are robust perennials known for their striking appearance and resilience. Their daisy-like petals surrounding a prominent spiky center create a captivating focal point. Planted in sunny locations, coneflowers bloom from mid-summer to fall, providing a continuous nectar source. These hearty plants are drought-tolerant and easy to maintain, making them a staple for butterfly enthusiasts. Their vibrant colors and structure not only attract pollinators but also add dynamic texture and movement to the garden. Coneflowers are a lasting favorite in pollinator gardens.
Bee Balm
Bee balm, with its fiery red blooms, is a beacon for pollinators. Its tubular flowers are perfect for the long tongues of butterflies and hummingbirds, ensuring no nectar goes to waste. Ideally suited for moist, well-drained soil and full sun, bee balm can add a splash of color and energy to your garden. This hardy perennial is also known for its aromatic leaves, which have a hint of citrusy mint. Its vibrant display and fragrance create an irresistible attraction for pollinators, making bee balm a garden’s energetic centerpiece.
Black-eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susans, with their cheerful yellow petals and dark centers, are a staple in pollinator gardens. These hardy perennials thrive in sunny spots with well-drained soil, blooming from late summer through fall. Their vibrant colors act as a beacon for butterflies, drawing them in for a feast of nectar. Easy to grow and maintain, black-eyed Susans add a burst of sunshine and a touch of wild beauty. They create a dynamic landscape, enriching the garden with life and movement as pollinators flit from flower to flower.
Zinnia
Zinnias are vibrant annuals that bloom in a myriad of colors, including pink, red, orange, and yellow. Plant them in well-drained soil under full sun, and they’ll reward you with a long blooming season. Butterflies are drawn to their bright, open flowers, making zinnias a staple in any butterfly garden. Besides attracting pollinators, they bring a playful splash of color and texture. Ideal for cutting gardens, zinnias can also adorn vases indoors, extending their charm beyond the garden. They are easy to grow, making them perfect for novice gardeners.
Butterfly Bush
The butterfly bush is aptly named for its ability to attract a plethora of butterflies. Its long, arching branches are adorned with clusters of purple, pink, or white flowers, offering abundant nectar. Thriving in full sun and well-drained soil, this bush can become a focal point in any garden. Its blooms extend from summer to fall, providing a continuous source of nourishment. While it draws in butterflies with its sweet scent, the butterfly bush also adds elegance and structure, transforming spaces into pollinator-friendly havens.
Lantana
Lantana offers a striking display with clusters of small, vibrant flowers in shades of orange, red, and yellow. This plant thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil. Its profuse blooming attracts butterflies, creating a lively atmosphere. Known for its drought tolerance and ease of care, lantana is perfect for garden beds and containers. Its dense foliage and bright flowers make it a versatile addition, capable of brightening any space. The continual blooming cycle and appeal to pollinators make lantana a lively garden choice that promises constant fluttering visitors.
Joe-Pye Weed
Joe-Pye weed stands tall with clusters of mauve-pink flowers, providing a striking presence in butterfly gardens. Preferring moist, well-drained soil, this plant thrives in both sun and partial shade. Its towering stems and fragrant blooms are a magnet for pollinators. Beyond its visual appeal, Joe-Pye weed adds height and structure, complementing shorter garden plants. The blooms appear from midsummer to fall, ensuring a prolonged source of food for butterflies and bees. It’s a fantastic choice for creating an inviting and biodiverse environment.
Salvia
Salvia is celebrated for its tall, spiky blooms in deep purples, blues, and reds. These vibrant plants thrive in sunny, well-drained locations and offer a long blooming season from summer to fall. Their tubular flowers are a favorite among pollinators, providing a rich nectar source. Besides attracting butterflies, salvia adds vertical interest and color to the garden landscape. Its resilience and easy maintenance make it an excellent choice for both novice and seasoned gardeners. Salvia’s dynamic presence and appeal to pollinators make it a valuable addition to any garden.
Aster
Asters bloom in late summer to fall, providing a vital nectar source when other flowers fade. Their daisy-like blooms come in shades of purple, blue, and white, adding color and charm. Positioned in sunny spots with well-drained soil, asters attract a variety of pollinators. These perennials are easy to grow and maintain, making them a popular choice for butterfly gardens. Their cheerful appearance and resilience add vibrancy and life to garden borders. Asters ensure a continuous celebration of color and activity, even as the seasons change.
Verbena
Verbena is known for its clusters of small, delicate flowers that bloom profusely from spring until frost. These plants thrive in sunny locations with well-drained soil. Their continuous blooms are a reliable nectar source for butterflies and other pollinators. Verbena adds a soft, romantic touch to garden borders and containers. Its trailing habit makes it perfect for hanging baskets, creating a cascading effect. The vibrant display and ease of care make verbena a versatile and appealing choice for those looking to enhance their garden’s pollinator-friendly offerings.
Coreopsis
Coreopsis, with its bright yellow blooms, brings sunshine and cheer to any garden. These hardy perennials thrive in sunny spots with well-drained soil, offering a long blooming season from summer to fall. Butterflies are particularly fond of coreopsis, drawn to its vibrant flowers. The plant’s easy-growing nature and resilience make it a beginner-friendly option. Coreopsis adds a splash of color and a lively atmosphere, enhancing garden aesthetics. Its ability to attract pollinators while maintaining a low-maintenance profile makes it a must-have for butterfly gardens.
Phlox
Phlox offers a stunning display of clustered flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white. These perennials thrive in sunny to partially shaded spots with well-drained soil. Blooming from mid-summer to late fall, phlox provides a long-lasting nectar source for butterflies. Their sweet fragrance and vibrant colors are irresistible to pollinators, creating a lively and fragrant garden scene. Phlox is easy to care for, making it a fantastic choice for anyone looking to add beauty and biodiversity. Its ability to attract a variety of pollinators ensures that your garden buzzes with life.
Goldenrod
Goldenrod, often mistaken for causing allergies, is a powerhouse for attracting pollinators. Its tall spikes of bright yellow flowers bloom in late summer to fall, providing essential nectar. Thriving in sunny, well-drained areas, goldenrod is easy to grow and requires minimal maintenance. The abundant blooms draw in butterflies and bees, creating a bustling garden environment. Goldenrod adds vertical interest and a burst of color, enriching the garden’s visual appeal. Its late-season flowering ensures that pollinators have a food source as other plants begin to fade.
Yarrow
Yarrow is known for its feathery foliage and clusters of flat-topped flowers in shades of yellow, white, and pink. These hardy perennials thrive in sunny, well-drained soil and are drought-tolerant once established. Yarrow’s long blooming season attracts butterflies, offering a reliable nectar source. Its easy-care nature makes it ideal for both novice and experienced gardeners. Besides attracting pollinators, yarrow adds texture and structure to garden landscapes. The plant’s vibrant colors and resilience make it a versatile and attractive option for creating a butterfly-friendly environment.
Sunflower
Sunflowers, with their large, cheerful blooms, are a classic choice for attracting pollinators. These tall annuals thrive in sunny locations and are remarkably easy to grow. Their vibrant yellow petals and towering height make them a focal point in any garden. Sunflowers provide ample nectar and pollen for butterflies and bees, supporting a healthy ecosystem. In addition to their pollinator appeal, sunflowers can be used to create natural privacy screens or windbreaks. Their striking appearance and utility make sunflowers a beloved addition to any butterfly garden.
Buddleia
Buddleia, also known as the butterfly bush, is renowned for attracting an array of butterflies with its sweet-scented flowers. Its arching branches bear clusters of blooms in purple, pink, and white. Best planted in sunny spots with well-drained soil, buddleia offers a long blooming season from summer to fall. The profusion of flowers provides a continuous nectar source, drawing pollinators into your garden. Besides its appeal to butterflies, buddleia adds elegance and structure, creating a lush backdrop in garden landscapes.