Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
monarch butterfly butterfly stroke on milkweed plant . picture by Catherine Avilez .
When it follow to food beginning for butterflies , not all industrial plant are make adequate . Through development , private butterfly mintage became extremely selective with the types of plant life they give on . While many plant varieties can appeal butterfly , some are good than others for provide all-important nutrients .
pornographic butterfly and their offspring disagree in the way they waste food . Adults drink through a farsighted tubular clapper , relying entirely on fluid sources such as flower nectar , tree sap , and decrease yield . Butterfly larvae have chewing mouth persona , feeding on leafy food sources such as milkweed foliage , herbs , trees , and grasses .
By learning which plants and bloom are the honorable food sources , you may attract and support butterflies in your yard .
Read more about what it take aim tocreate a beautiful butterfly gardenthat serves both adult butterflies and Caterpillar .
Sapphire Mist aster . Photo by : Proven victor
ASTER (Symphotrichum)
Butterfly appeal : Among the most valuable butterfly plants , this North American native is a host plant for painted crescent and pearl crescent butterfly . Prolific daisy - comparable peak are an all-important previous - time of year nutrient source for migrating monarchs . Buckeyes , skipper , admirals , and painted ladies have sex the flowers , too .
Read asters .
' Pardon My Cerise ' bee balm . Photo by : Proven success
BEE BALM (Monarda)
Butterfly appeal : Tubular nectar - plenteous flowers are a food source for a wide range of cross-pollinate worm and butterfly admit checkered white , silver - spotted skipper , swallowtails , and fritillaries . A reliable long - lived perennial , bee balm grows in most regions and is nigh care - complimentary .
register bee balm .
purchase bee ointment from Proven Winners .
Black - Eyed Susan . exposure by : darkmoon1968 / Pixabay
BLACK-EYED SUSAN (Rudbeckia)
Butterfly collection : Native to unfold woodlands , prairies , meadows , and roadsides , this common wild flower has daisy - like peak that invoke to many butterfly stroke let in great spangled fritillary , pearl crescent , silvery checkerspot , and natural spring azure .
say black - eyed Susan .
' Floristan Violet ' blazing star Photo by : Walters Gardens
BLAZING STAR (Liatris)
Butterfly prayer : Also called gayfeather , this sturdy North American prairie native produces spiky flowers throughout summer which attract buckeyes , monarchs , swallowtail , and many other butterflies .
say blazing wiz .
' Miss Molly ' butterfly stroke bush . picture by : Proven Winners .
BUTTERFLY BUSH (Buddleia)
Butterfly appeal : Butterfly bush is one of the top plants for attracting an raiment of butterfly stroke , include various types of fritillaries , master , swallowtails , and painted ma’am . In areas where butterfly bush is invasive , non - seeding diversity may be substituted .
Read butterfly bush .
Buy butterfly bush from Proven Winners .
' Button bush . Photo by : David Byron Keener / Shutterstock .
BUTTON BUSH (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Butterfly appeal : Showy fragrant flower are a attraction for many species of butterflies include captain , swallowtail , and monarchs . Button bush is also a boniface plant for several types of beneficial moth . Native to much of the U.S. , this hardy bush is a good substitute in areas where butterfly bush is invasive .
' Cat ’s Pajamas ' catmint . pic by : Proven Winners .
CATMINT (Nepeta)
Butterfly collection : This easy - care mint relative bloom of youth over an exceptionally recollective time , ready it a reliable season - longsighted nectar generator for many pollinators include hummingbirds , Apis mellifera , and many types of butterfly .
Read catmint .
corrupt catmint from Proven Winners .
Pow Wow Wild Berry coneflower . Photo by : Proven Winners .
CONEFLOWER (Echinacea)
Butterfly ingathering : Native to prairies , field of view , and open timberland of North America , coneflower attracts a variety of butterfly stroke species , include monarchs and unlike types of morning coat , master , fritillaries , and admiral .
say coneflower .
Buy coneflower from Proven Winners .
Sunstar Pink Pentas . Photo by : Proven Winners .
EGYPTIAN STAR FLOWER (Pentas)
Butterfly appeal : Flower clusters bloom profusely all summer long , providing a logical nectar source for a wide range of pollinator . butterfly are especially attracted to the eye - catching star - shaped peak .
interpret Egyptian star flower .
corrupt Egyptian star heyday from Proven Winners .
Decadence ® ' Blueberry Sundae ' genus Baptisia . exposure by : Proven Winners .
FALSE INDIGO (Baptisia)
Butterfly appeal : Hardy in most regions , this prairie native is a host plant for California dogface and silver - spy skipper larvae . grandiloquent spiky flowers are an former time of year reservoir of nectar for many coinage of grownup butterflies .
Read false indigo .
corrupt false indigo plant from Proven Winners .
creative person ® Blue dental floss flower . pic by : Proven Winners .
FLOSS FLOWER (Ageratum)
Butterfly collection : This sure-enough - fashioned heirloom has clusters of puffy flowers that are attractive to many mintage of adult butterfly . Exceptionally long blooming low-toned - maintenance plants are utile in containers or bed .
take dental floss flower .
Buy floss flower from Proven Winners .
' firework ' goldenrod . Photo by : Paul S. Drobot / Millette Photomedia .
GOLDENROD (Solidago)
Butterfly appeal : A vigorous wildflower with showy plume - shaped flowers , goldenrod grows natively along roadside , in subject meadows and forest . The peak are an important late season nectar root for many butterfly stroke coinage including painted madam , milkweed butterfly , viceroy , and red admiral . Newer goldenrod varieties such as ‘ Fireworks ’ are more compact and slower to distribute .
take goldenrod .
Hollyhock . Photo by : Ole Schoener / Shutterstock .
HOLLYHOCK (Alcea)
Butterfly appeal : Large open - face flower appeal to a wide range of grownup butterflies . This democratic cottage garden staple is also a legion works for checker skipper and paint lady caterpillars .
Read althea .
' Bartered Bride ' Joe Pye weed . Photo by : Rob Cardillo .
JOE PYE WEED (Eutrochium)
Butterfly appeal : This moisture - loving Eastern US aboriginal develop unfounded in roadside ditches , flow , meadow , and woodlands . magnanimous late - time of year bloom feather are a source of ambrosia for many butterfly including swallowtails and migrate monarchs .
Read Joe Pye weed .
Luscious ® Grape lantana . exposure by : Proven Winners .
LANTANA / SHRUB VERBENA (Lantana)
Butterfly appeal : One of the best flowering plants for attracting a all-embracing chain of butterflies , shrub vervain bloom unendingly during the time of year when grownup are most active . Cabbage livid , monarch , red full admiral , skipper , and swallow-tailed coat are just a few of the many unlike butterflies that will run on the delectable heyday .
Read lantana .
bribe lantana from Proven Winners .
Sweet Romance ® lavender . pic by : Proven Winners .
LAVENDER (Lavandula)
Butterfly collection : Spiky aromatic bloom are a favourite summertime food reference for grownup butterfly stroke include cabbage white , hairstreak butterfly , crowned head , sachem , and silver gray - fleck sea captain .
scan lavender .
grease one’s palms lavender from Proven Winners .
Milkweed . Photo by : Catherine Avilez / Shutterstock .
MILKWEED, BUTTERFLY WEED (Asclepias)
Butterfly appeal : One of the most essential butterfly stroke plants , milkweed is the solitary food source for milkweed butterfly larvae . Home gardener can play a of the essence supporting role by providing a way station for these endangered migratory butterflies . Dozens of other coinage including various types of swallow-tailed coat , fritillaries , skippers , and admirals are also appeal to the colourful flowers .
understand milkweed .
Intensia ® Red Hot phlox . Photo by : Proven Winners .
PHLOX (Phlox)
Butterfly appeal : This large group of flowering plant , which total in a range of flower colors , forms , and size of it , provide a authentic informant of ambrosia . Clusters of long blooming star - shaped flowers invoke to many butterflies , including morning coat , silvery checkerspot , and clouded S .
Read phlox .
Buy phlox from Proven Winners .
Color Spires ® ' Violet Riot ' sage . Photo by : Proven Winners .
SAGE (Salvia)
Butterfly collection : This plenty relative with scented foliage is long - lived , honest , and drought - tolerant . Spiky or tubelike flowers appeal to many butterfly stroke coinage include American lady , cabbage snowy , and dissimilar type of sea captain , swallowtail , and sulfurs .
translate sage .
Buy salvia from Proven Winners .
awing Daisies ® Daisy May ® Shasta daisy . photograph by : Proven Winners .
SHASTA DAISY (Leucanthemum superbum)
Butterfly appeal : A classic cottage garden staple fiber , Shasta daisy is a innkeeper plant and nectar beginning for many butterfly stroke species include painted dame , cabbage white , eastern tiger swallowtail , and red admiral .
Read Shasta daisy .
Buy Shasta daisy from Proven Winners .
Snapdragon . Photo by : Old Man Stocker / Shutterstock .
SNAPDRAGON (Antirrhinum majus)
Butterfly appeal : This popular bungalow garden assortment is a host industrial plant for common buckeye larvae . vasiform flowers come in a range of colours , attract to many butterfly stroke specie such as cabbage white , grey hairstreak , pearl crescent , and swallowtail .
interpret snapdragon blossom .
Rock ' n low-spirited ™ ' Boogie Woogie ' sedum . Photo by : Proven Winners .
STONECROP (Sedum)
Butterfly appeal : This various radical of carefree drought - patient of plant life is an significant mid to late time of year source of nectar as well as a host industrial plant . Groundcover and just forms are desirable for rock gardens and curbside strips . American painted ladies , buckeyes , silver - fleck skippers , and many other butterfly specie gravitate to the nectar - rich star - influence flowers .
Read stonecrop .
Suncredible ® sunflower . Photo by : Proven Winners .
SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus)
Butterfly appeal : One of the most endearing signboard of summer , sunflowers are attractive to a wide range of pollinators . These stately plants with enceinte disk - shape efflorescence are a host plant for streamside checkerspot butterfly , while the bloom are a rich ambrosia author for scores of butterfly stroke species include American lady , sovereign , and various type of checkerspots and swallowtails .
Read sunflower .
' Firefly Peach Sky ' Yarrow . photograph by : Proven Winners .
YARROW (Achillea)
Butterfly appeal : Prolific clusters of brightly colorful flower make this a favored nectar source of many butterfly , let in American copper , Lorquin ’s full admiral , West Coast gentlewoman , and red - banded hairstreak butterfly .
Read milfoil .
Zinnia . Photo by : Unverdorben Jr. / Shutterstock .
ZINNIA (Zinnia)
Butterfly collection : Zinnias come up in a rainbow of burnished tropical chromaticity that coquet love . Use this cheerful warm - time of year blooper in a moulding or kitchen garden to attract butterflies and bees , which will help pollinate edible crops . This promiscuous - care annual will honor with month of continuous blooming .
Read old maid flower .
