Butterflies are a welcome guest in any garden.
Not only do they help pollinate, but they are a visually beautiful addition. Attracting butterflies can be as simple as planting bright flowers that are rich in nectar. When possible, locate flowering plants in a sunny, protected area, as butterflies need sunlight to stay warm. Also, avoid using pesticides in that area. A water source will also be required. Bird baths, saucers, or puddles are ideal.
If you’re stumped as to what to plant, here are some great options to start:
Plants That Attract Butterflies
Perennials
Bee Balm
Black-eyed Susan
Catmint
Columbine
Coreopsis
Daylily
Dianthus
Echinacea
Goldenrod
Joe Pye Weed
Lavender
Milkweed
Peony
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Shasta Daisies
Yarrow
Annuals
Ageratum
Cosmos
Dianthus
Flowering Tobacco
Heliotrope
Impatiens
Lantana
Lobelia
Marigold
Mexican Sunflower
Pentas
Spider Flower
Sweet Alyssum
Sweet William
Verbena
Zinnia
Shrubs
All Fruiting Shrubs
Blue Mist Shrub
Butterfly Bush
Clethra
Lilac
Mockorange
Potentilla
Privet
Pussy Willow
Rhododendron
Spicebush
Spirea
Viburnum
Weigela
Trees
All Fruit Trees
Alder
Gray Dogwood
Hawthorne
Maple
Pagoda Dogwood
Redbud
Serviceberry
Tree Lilac
Weeping Willow
Wisteria
Herbs
Borage
Chives
Dill
Fennel
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rue
