Growing these plants that attract butterflies will fill your garden with plenty of winged wonders all summer long.
Create a best-on-the-block, colorful garden with thesegorgeous butterfly plants.
Butterflies are pollinators that carry much-needed pollen from one plant to another to help plants reproduce.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
These colorful flowers are can’t-miss additions to your yard.
Anise Hyssop
There are many reasons to growanise hyssop(Agastache foeniculum).
Plus, these butterfly plants also make excellentcut flowers.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
The adults drink nectar from the plants summertime orange flowers, and the caterpillars eat the plants leaves.
Add variety to your garden with other milkweeds, such as annual bloodflower or tall swamp milkweed.
Their lovely scent delights us as much as their nectar delights hungry butterflies.
Credit:Ed Golich
Phlox can betroubled by a disease called powdery mildew.
Look for disease-resistant varieties.
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bush (Buddleiaspp.)
Credit: Marty Baldwin
is typically covered in butterflies all summer long.
An easy-care shrub, it features fragrant blue, purple, andwhite flowers.
This annuals bold orange flowers look great against any butterfly bush.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
In parts of the United States, butterfly bush is considered invasive.
Aster
A top plant for the fall garden,aster(Symphyotrichumspp.
), is a heavy bloomer withcolorful flowersinshades of blue, purple, pink, red, and white.
Credit: Jacob Fox
It looks great with colorful aster flowers.
Look for newer named varieties of asters; theyre often more disease-resistant and compact.
A wide range of butterflies love sipping its nectar, and the plant is heat-tolerant and drought-tolerant.
Credit:Kritsada Panichgul
Its aperfect cut flowerthat blooms almost all summer long.
Salvia
Theres asalvia(Salviaspp.)
forevery garden; some tall, others short.
Credit: Kindra Clineff
Some have blue or purple blooms, and others have red, orange, or pink flowers.
Grow it with:Coreopsisfor a long-blooming, no-fail blue-and-yellow combination.
Lantana
Colorfullantana(Lantanaspp.)
Credit: Justin Hancock
The versatile plant looks perfect in containers, beds, andborders.
The butterflies will agreelantana is a perfect addition to your garden.
Grow it with:Zinnia.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
The two look beautiful together and will lure an endless stream of butterflies to your garden.
In parts of the United States, lantana is considered invasive.
Check with your local agricultural extension office before planting it.
Credit: Scott Little
It loves hot conditions and holds up to drought.
Passionflower
Hardypassionflower(Passiflora incarnate)is a unique vine.
Featuring some of the most intricate blossoms of the plant world, passionflower vines add atropical ambienceto your garden.
Credit: Matthew Benson
Its also one of the best butterfly plants; a variety of them drink its nectar.
Passionflower escaped cultivation and has become a problematic weed in many areas.
If not properly managed, it may become invasive.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Mexican Sunflower
Mexican sunflower(Tithonia rotundifolia)is a big, bold, perfect butterfly plant.
Enjoy this easy-care annuals nonstop display ofbig orange flowersall summer.
In parts of the United States, Mexican sunflower is considered invasive.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Check with your local agricultural extension office before planting it.
South American Verbena
South American verbena(Verbena bonariensis)is anexcellent cut flowerfor bouquets.
Grow it with:Yarrow, which has flat clusters of blooms in a rainbow of shades.
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
Like South American verbena, its heat- and drought-resistant, so its a cinch to grow.
Verbena bonariensisis invasive in parts of the United States.
Check with your local agricultural extension office before planting it.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Zinnia
Just about everyone loves zinnia (Zinniaspp.
), which is why its a favorite butterfly plant of gardeners, cottage gardeners, and beginners.
Grow it with:Fennel, which has a ferny texture that looks perfect against the bold zinnia blooms.
Credit: Scott Little
Joe Pye Weed
Create towers of flowers with bigJoe Pye weed(Eupatoriumspp.
), which can grow more than 6 feet tall.
If you dont have that much room, dont worrytypes such as Little Joe stay smaller.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Thistough perennialblooms with big, yellow, daisy-shaped flowers in late summer.
Its a surefire way to attract sparrows or swallowtail butterflies, whose caterpillars munch on the fennels ferny foliage.
Swallowtail caterpillars also feed on this plant.
Credit:Robert Cardillo
Fennel can self-seed aggressively in the garden.
The nectar in coreopsisalso attracts bumblebees.
Grow the plant from seeds or seedlings.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
The only maintenance thisfuss-free herbrequires is planting and harvesting.
Petroselinum crispumis considered invasive in parts of the United States.
Check with your local agricultural extension office before planting it.
Credit:Kindra Clineff
In summer, its delicate yellow flowers add softness to the garden.
Sedum
A truly diverse group of plants,sedums(Hylotelephiumspp.)
come in many shapes, colors, and sizes.
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
Thisdrought-resistant perennialblooms from late summer into fall, attracting pollinators of all kinds.
SomeHylotelephiumspecies are invasive in areas of the United States.
Check with your local agricultural extension office before planting it.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Bee Balm
Bee balm(Monardaspp.)
is a sure bet for a gardenbutterfly plant.
is a vigorous grower known for attracting a wide range of pollinators, including butterflies.
Credit: Carson Downing
Unliketrue mints, this plant is not invasive, although it slowly spreads unless it is contained.
Lavender
Lavender(Lavandulaspp.
), with its calming scent and dainty flowers, might be the most enjoyable herb.
Credit: Laurie Black
It attracts butterflies and other pollinators whilerepelling mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks.
Veronica
Marty Baldwin
Veronica(Veronica officinalis)brightens any full-sun garden and adds an interesting texture.
Its blooms provide nectar for pollinators all season long.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Frequent visitors are the gray hairstreak and common sulfur butterflies.
Zones:311
Grow it with:Ladys mantleto attract butterflies in spring.
Veronica is invasive in some areas of the United States.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Check with your local agricultural extension office before planting it.
Yarrow
The pungent aroma and bitter taste that make the yellow blooms of yarrow (Achilleaspp.
)unattractive to deerhave the opposite reaction with pollinators.
They are highly attractive to butterflies and bees from early spring to late fall.
Grow it with:Bee balm for a gorgeous gold and blue contrast all season.
Yarrow is a weedy species that can become invasive unless contained.
