Butterflies bring a touch of magic to any garden, fluttering about and adding vibrant colors to the scenery. Planting the right flowers and shrubs can attract these beautiful creatures, helping you create a butterfly haven right in your backyard. Here are 17 plants that will invite butterflies to visit your garden.
1. Milkweed
Milkweed is a must-have if you want to attract monarch butterflies. The plant is the only source of food for monarch caterpillars. Its bright orange and yellow flowers will also add a splash of color to your garden.
2. Butterfly Bush
The butterfly bush lives up to its name by drawing butterflies with its long, fragrant flower spikes. These blooms come in various colors, including purple, pink, and white, making them a delightful addition to any garden.
3. Lavender
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Lavender’s sweet scent isn’t just for humans; butterflies love it too. The purple flowers provide nectar for butterflies while giving your garden a lovely aroma and a calming, peaceful atmosphere.
4. Coneflower
Coneflowers, also known as echinacea, have large, daisy-like flowers that are irresistible to butterflies. They come in various colors, such as pink, purple, and white, and they can bloom from summer to fall.
5. Lantana
Lantana plants have clusters of small, brightly colored flowers that butterflies adore. These hardy plants can thrive in hot, sunny spots and can bloom from spring until the first frost.
6. Zinnia
Zinnias are easy to grow and come in a rainbow of colors, attracting butterflies with their vibrant blooms. They are also long-lasting and can add color to your garden from summer to early autumn.
7. Marigold
Marigolds are not only great for keeping pests away, but their bright orange and yellow flowers also attract butterflies. They are easy to grow and can brighten up any garden bed or border.
8. Phlox
Phlox flowers have a sweet fragrance and come in a variety of colors like pink, purple, and white. These blooms attract butterflies and can fill your garden with color from spring to summer.
9. Aster
Asters produce star-shaped flowers in late summer and fall, providing a vital nectar source for butterflies preparing for migration. These hardy plants come in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white.
10. Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susans have bright yellow petals with dark centers that butterflies find irresistible. These cheerful flowers bloom in the summer and can add a sunny touch to your garden.
11. Salvia
Salvia plants have tall spikes of flowers in colors like blue, purple, pink, and red. Their nectar-rich blooms are a favorite of butterflies, and they can bloom from late spring to autumn.
12. Joe-Pye Weed
Joe-Pye weed is a tall perennial with clusters of pink or purple flowers. It thrives in moist soil and attracts butterflies with its sweet-smelling blooms in late summer and early fall.
13. Verbena
Verbena plants produce clusters of small flowers that come in various colors, including purple, pink, and red. They are easy to grow and can attract butterflies from spring to the first frost.
14. Coreopsis
Coreopsis, also known as tickseed, has bright yellow flowers that butterflies love. These plants are drought-tolerant and can bloom from early summer to fall, adding lasting color to your garden.
15. Bee Balm
Bee balm, also known as Monarda, has vibrant red, pink, or purple flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Its aromatic leaves can also add a pleasant scent to your garden.
16. Cosmos
Cosmos flowers are easy to grow and come in various colors, including pink, white, and orange. Their delicate, daisy-like blooms attract butterflies and can brighten up your garden from summer to fall.
17. Yarrow
Yarrow produces clusters of tiny flowers in colors like yellow, white, pink, and red. These hardy plants are drought-tolerant and attract butterflies with their long-lasting blooms from summer to early autumn.
Becky is a fervent wildlife enthusiast and pet care expert with a diploma in canine nutrition. Her love for animals stretches beyond the domestic, embracing the wild tapestry of global fauna. With over a decade of experience in animal welfare, Becky lends her expertise to OutlandishOwl through insightful articles, captivating wildlife information, and invaluable guidance on pet nutrition. Her work embodies a deep commitment to understanding the intricate lives of animals and a passion for educating others on sustaining natural habitats. Becky's hands-on conservation efforts and her knack for translating complex dietary science into practical pet feeding tips make her an indispensable voice for creatures great and small.
