Plants that Attract Butterflies

Butterflies are colorful, delicate, and graceful creatures that bring beauty to the world. They are also exciting to watch as they grow from one stage of their life to the next, including the stages of egg, larva, pupa, and winged adult. For these reasons, many people want to know which flowers attract butterflies so they can enjoy them in their yard or garden.

Butterflies are part of the environment, working as pollinators. Butterflies travel farther than bees, carrying pollen across a larger region. Like bees, butterfly populations are dropping rapidly, losing habitat to urbanization and pesticide overuse. Nearly 90% of wild flowering plants and 75% of all flowering plants depend on pollinators like butterflies. Continue reading to learn about ten plants that attract butterflies.

10. Milkweed

Milkweed (Asclepias) is the only plant that monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) feed on. It is also the favored nectar source for monarchs and many other butterflies. Because it supports butterflies throughout their life cycle, this plant is always a great choice for gardens. There are more than 100 types of milkweed to choose from to attract the monarch and many other species of butterflies. One variety, swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), blooms with lovely pink flowers.

9. Lavender

The sweet-smelling, perennial aromatic lavender (Lavandula) is not just attractive to butterflies. The plant’s flowers also attract bees, hummingbirds, and other small birds. Lavender is also used in teas, fragrances, potpourri, and more. The plant is heat-resistant and grows well in high-temperature regions, due to its Mediterranean origin.

8. Heliotrope

Like lavender, heliotrope (Heliotropium) blooms bright purple flowers, sure to attract various species of butterflies. Butterflies can see color and know that the most vibrant blooms provide the sweetest nectar. Also known as Dwarf Marine, heliotrope grows large collections of many small flowers, giving butterflies lots of food per square inch. The blooms are also known for their scent of sweet cherry pie.

7. Blazing Star

Blazing star (Liatris) features conical purple, pink, or white blooms. These perennials grow in one to three-foot-tall upright stalks with tiny leaves. This means it does not take up much space but provides plenty of nectar for butterflies. These flower stalks grow well along a fence and begin to bloom in June. The flower is also known to attract goldfinches (Spinus tristis) and hummingbirds (Trochilidae).

6. Black-Eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a yellow flower that attracts pearl crescent butterflies (Phyciodes tharos). This North American wildflower was one of the first flowering plants cultivated for gardens and potted displays. Besides having a great history, black-eyed Susans feature an eye-catching black center that provides a perch for butterflies. These long-blooming, hardy perennials grow quickly and fill pots well.

5. Pot Marigolds

Pot marigolds (Calendula officinalis) are perennials that feature vibrant yellow, orange, pink, or cream blooms, which attract monarch butterflies and other species. At the same time, these flowers repel garden pests, such as mosquitoes and cabbage worms. Pot marigolds are shaped like inverted bells or pots for which they are named. This shape allows the blooms to hold dew in the mornings and after rainfall, attracting butterflies with nectar and water droplets for hydration. The long-blooming pot marigold offers continual flowering from May to early fall.

4. Bluestar

Bluestar (Amsonia orientalis) is a perennial that grows as tall as three feet and features blue star-shaped blooms. Favored by the zebra swallowtail butterfly (Eurytides marcellus), the flowers bloom atop lush grass-like foliage, perfect for ground cover, or in a bordered garden. These plants grow best in loamy, well-drained soil and partial shade. With enough moisture, they can even grow in direct sunlight. The snowberry clearwing moth (Hemaris diffinis) also uses this plant to lay eggs and provide food for larvae.

3. Lantana

Butterflies love brightly colored flowers. One of their favorite colors is pink, like the pink of the large blossoms of the long-blooming trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis). Lantana is as colorful as any butterfly’s wings. The hearty cluster blooms for this shrubby annual can range from yellows and pinks to deep reds and purples. Lantana is a true butterfly magnet, attracting many species like the pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor), checkered white (Pontia protodice), red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis), and others.

2. Coneflower

Coneflower (Echinacea) is a late summer bloomer similar in structure to black-eyed Susan. Instead of golden yellow and black flowers, the coneflower provides a bounty of pretty purple blooms with brown centers. This perennial grows low to the ground, filling out bordered gardens. Coneflower grows equally well as a potted plant and reliably provides nectar, because it grows from Florida to Minnesota and even endures drought. It is favored by monarchs and painted ladies (Vanessa cardui), in particular.

1. Butterfly Bush

The aptly named butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) is also known as summer lilac. It features long, conical blossoms that remain vibrant and nectar-rich from summer to fall. Although this bush is found in a range of colors from white to dark purple, monarchs and tiger swallowtails (Papilio rutulus) seem to prefer lavender and pink hues.

It is important to note that butterfly bush is considered invasive in many regions, particularly in parts of the United States, and may be restricted or discouraged. It also only attracts adult butterflies and does not support the earlier stagers of their life cycle, such as caterpillars, eggs or pupae.