Gardens can be more than a beautiful space. They can be both a sanctuary’s for us and areas that support wildlife.
One of the best ways to bring wildlife into your garden is by planting flowers that attract butterflies. Not only do these flowers bring color and life to your garden but they also provide the nectar that butterflies love.
I can say without hesitation there are few sights as rewarding as a fluttering butterfly landing on a flower you’ve brown in your garden.
So if you’d like to see some more butterflies in your garden then these 15 fantastic flowers will make it a place that they a absolutely love.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)
The Butterfly Bush, true to its name, is a top favorite for attracting butterflies. It is long branches that are covered with lots of tiny flowers. These flowers are full of nectar and it’s that which makes it so popular with butterflies.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Well draining soil
Light: Full sun
Water: Moderate; water regularly but do not overwater
Care Tips
Prune heavily in early spring as it will help growth and more flowers to bloom. Deadhead any flowers that need it which will also encourage continuous blooming throughout the season. Avoid planting it with these plants though as the will clash.
Milkweed (Asclepias)
If you want Monarch butterflies in your garden then Milkweed is a must. It’s the only plant they lay their eggs on, so if you plant some there’s a very good chance you’ll get Monarchs. The flowers are also very rich in nectar so they will attract a variety of butterflies.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Average, well draining soil
Light: Full sun
Water: Moderate; drought tolerant once they’re established
Care Tips
Avoid using pesticides as milkweed can be sensitive to them. And just as importantly the chemicals can harm butterflies and caterpillars. Let the seed pods grow and disperse and it will help them to spread naturally.
Lantana (Lantana camara)
Lantana are irresistible to butterflies. They have bright clusters of flowers and are known to be strong and robust. Lantana blooms all throughout the spring to the winter.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Well draining soil
Light: Full sun
Water: Moderate; water regularly but allow the soil to dry out between each watering
Care Tips
Prune Lantana regularly to keep it compact. This will help more flowers to blooms. Also be careful as it can be invasive in some regions.
Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are easy to grow perennials and produce large, flowers that are similar to daisies. They have lots of nectar so again are very popular with butterflies.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Well draining soil
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
Care Tips
Deadheading the spent flowers will make them bloom for longer. Divide clumps every few years to maintain the health of the plant. Don’t plant them with certain plants though as they don’t work together.
Zinnia
One of the brightest flowers on this list, Zinnias are annuals that have an abundance of color. Their blooms are flat which makes them inviting and easy to land on for butterflies.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Well draining soil
Light: Full sun
Water: Moderate; keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged
Use this guide to learn how to grow zinnias.
Care Tips
Sow seeds directly into the garden after the last frost. Pinch back young plants as it will help to get bushier growth and more flowers. Never plant them with these plants though or they’ll struggle.
Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium)
Don’t let the name fool you, Joe Pye isn’t a weed at all and in fact is a tall perennial. It’s a lovely plant that brings in butterlies to gardens with bright pink and purple flowers.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Moist, well draining soil
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Keep soil consistently moist
Care Tips
Cut back the stems in the late fall or early spring to make way for new growth. If you get a lot of rain in your garden then Joe Pye Weed is a great choice as it’s quite happy in wet soil.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Black Eyed Susans are bright and cheery flowers. They bloom from mid summer to fall and as they have lots of nectar they attract many butterflies.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Well draining soil
Light: Full sun
Water: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
Care Tips
Deadheading will help to encourage blooming all year. Dividing clumps every few years helps keep its robustness. Be careful to not plant your black eyed susan’s with these plants though as they can cause each other problems.
Verbena
Verbena has flowers full of nectar and blooms for a long period. So butterflies will flock to them.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Well draining soil
Light: Full sun
Water: Moderate; allow soil to dry out between watering
Care Tips
Regular deadheading will keep Verbena blooming all season. Verbena is also great for container gardening.
It shouldn’t be planted with these plants though as they don’t play well together.
Marigold (Tagetes)
Marigolds are easy to grow annuals that have vibrant flowers which attract butterflies and other pollinators.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Well draining soil
Light: Full sun
Water: Moderate; keep soil consistently moist
Care Tips
Remove any dead flowers as it will help with new blooms. Marigolds can help keep away certain garden pests so they’re also a good companion plant.
Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender is popular with both butterflies and gardeners, partly because of its lovely scent. It’s also a perennial that can thrive in a lot of different climates. It’s a simple plant to grow too.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Well draining, slightly alkaline soil
Light: Full sun
Water: Low; drought tolerant once established
Care Tips
Prune back in early spring to shape and encourage new growth. Harvest the flowers just before they fully open for to get the best fragrance.
Follow this guide for more care tips.
Salvia (Sage)
Salvia is another flower that butterflies can’t resist. They have beautiful tubular flowers that come in many colors.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Well draining soil
Light: Full sun
Water: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
Care Tips
If you have a rural garden then Salvias are a god choice because they’re resistant to deer. To get continuous flowering deadhead Salvia on a regular basis.
Cosmos
Cosmos are easy to grow annuals that produce lots of of daisy like flowers throughout the summer.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Well draining soil
Light: Full sun
Water: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
Care Tips
Sow the seeds directly in the garden after the last frost. Pinch back plants as it will help to get bushier growth and more flowers.
Try not to plant with them these other plants as they won’t grow well together.
Phlox
Phlox comes in both annual and perennial varieties. They have small fragrant flowers that attract butterflies.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Rich, well draining soil
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate; keep soil evenly moist
Care Tips
Phlox is prone to mildew so make sure there is good circulation of air around it. And avoid planting it with plants that will compete for resources.
Bee Balm (Monarda)
As the name suggests, Bee Balm is popular with bees. But this native perennial, that has tubular flowers, also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds too.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Moist, well draining soil
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate; keep soil consistently moist
Care Tips
Divide the plants every few years to prevent overcrowding and so they stay strong and health. Bee Balm is also great for adding a some color to a butterfly garden.
Aster
Asters bloom in late summer and fall. This means they are a great source of nectar for butterflies as they prepare for migration.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Well draining soil
Light: Full sun
Water: Moderate; keep soil consistently moist
Care Tips
Deadhead the flowers to help with blooming. Asters can benefit from being divided every few years to maintain their health. They also shouldn’t be planted with plants that will clash with them.
