10 Ways to Attract Even More Butterflies to Your Flower Garden

Butterflies are like living confetti drifting through our garden , and it ’s such a bummer when you nurture a bed full of blooms only to see a handful of flutterers ! Whether you ’re long for the regal sovereign , the delicate morning coat , or a kaleidoscope of paint ladies , these winged wonder are draw to specific plant life and garden characteristic . In this clause , I ’m shake up to partake in ten of my top plant - base scheme — each one a surefire path to boost butterfly traffic and keep your garden hum with life .

From planting nectar - rich clump to supply cozy pole for basking , we ’ll cover species aboriginal to North America and beyond , note any invasive tendencies , and dive into butterfly behaviors like puddling , egg - laying , and perching . As a gardener who ’s go steady firsthand the thrill of a new chrysalis or the first hoo-hah of a impudently emerged butterfly , I ca n’t wait to guide you through these tips and assist you create the ultimate butterfly stroke haven !

Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

Goldenrod is a latterly - blooming mavin aboriginal throughout much of North America , and its bright jaundiced plumes are a life-sustaining nectar source for transmigrate monarchs , sulphurs , and hairstreak . The dense blossom clusters render ample landing weapons platform , making it leisurely for butterfly stroke to settle and sip for lengthy periods . In addition to sipping , some species — even painted lady — will lay egg on the leaves , turn your goldenrod piece into both a restaurant and a nursery !

While goldenrod spread via creeping rhizomes and can become strong-growing in rich soils , I find oneself that select clopping varieties like Solidago rugosa ‘ Fireworks ’ keeps it well - do . aggroup plants in drifts near the garden ’s sunny edge not only showcases their beauty but also invites butterflies to bask on the stems between sips . It ’s such a thrill to see those wing catch the sunlight as they pause — definitely worth a little goldenrod management to get that witching moment !

Verbena bonariensis

Tall and refined , Verbena bonariensis boasts airy clusters of lilac - purplish bloom that loom above surround foliage . aboriginal to South America , this species has naturalized in parts of California and Australia ; while it can self - ejaculate , it rarely outcompetes native plants in well - tend boundary line . Butterflies adore verbena ’s ambrosia - ample salad days , and the long stems tender unadulterated perching daub for resting between flight or appraise the garden below .

When I first added verbena to my butterfly stroke border , I was astonished at how quickly it became a gathering spot for swallowtails and skipper coinage ! To keep seedlings in check , I simply deadhead spent flowers before they drop seed . A few flora interspersed among lower - grow comrade make a dynamic , layered appear and assure that fluttering friends of all sizes can access those angelical , fragrant blooming .

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

One of the most iconic host plants for monarchs , Common Milkweed is native to much of the eastern United States and Canada . Its umbrella - same bunch of pink bloom are brimming with ambrosia , attracting everything from queen butterflies to red full admiral . Monarchs peculiarly appreciate milkweed for both feeding and egg - laying ; you ’ll often find tiny caterpillars munching on the leaves , a sight any butterfly - lover finds throb !

Although milkweed can fan out prolifically by underground rootstock — sometimes popping up in unexpected niche — I love feature a consecrate patch for these critical plants . save them corralled in a sunny spot , and polish off stray shoots early , ensures they do n’t take over blossom beds . There ’s nothing quite like watch out a monarch chrysalis advert from a stout milkweed folio , and knowing you provided the only solid food those caterpillars will ever need !

Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)

Zinnias , native to Mexico , are a colourful raw material in butterfly garden for good reason : their all-inclusive flower heads provide generous landing place pads and copious nectar for a spectrum of butterfly stroke species . From fiery red ink to soft pinks and sunny yellows , these annual blossom prolifically from summer until frost , assure a continuous feast . paint lady , monarchs , and fritillaries will flock to zinnia beds , turning your garden into a flapping zone !

I always plant old maid flower in dense drifts — three or more of the same color together — to create a optic target that butterflies can spot from afar . Deadheading spent bloom keeps the show go and signal to pollinators that fresh ambrosia awaits . Plus , watching those bold , daisy - like flowers dance in the breeze is a gleeful reminder of why we garden in the first place !

Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)

Despite its flashy name , Butterfly Bush is aboriginal to key China and has take in incursive condition in some region , including part of the Pacific Northwest . prefer sterile cultivar — such as ‘ Nanho Blue ’ or ‘ Miss Ruby’—to enjoy its resistless , fragrant panicles without the risk of runaway spread . butterfly merely ca n’t protest Buddleja ’s sweet - smell flowers , and you ’ll often see dozen of them bunch up on the salad days , fueling up for migration or work-shy summer days .

I include , I was hesitating about butterfly bush until I discovered the unimaginative types — now it ’s a centrepiece in my garden ! Its long bloom period ( mid - summertime to fall ) bridges the nectar opening between early perennials and late pants like goldenrod . A well - placed butterfly stroke George H.W. Bush near seating arena lets me watch the spectacle up close : the gentle hum of wings is the beneficial gardening reward !

Native Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)

Native aster , such as New England Aster ( Symphyotrichum nova - angliae ) and Aromatic Aster ( Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ) , provide a recent - season feast of lavender , pink , and white daisies . These perennial are indigenous to North America and are rarely invasive beyond their natural home ground . As the daylight shorten , butterflies include monarch butterfly and sulphurs will gravitate toward these asters , stock up on energy before nerveless weather arrives . I love seeing these shiny crowns curl in the fall twinkle !

sustainment is a breeze : aster thrive in full sun to light shade and need just moderate moisture . Cutting them back slightly after the first hot flash of blooms encourages a second undulation , extending the time of year of attracter . No matter your zone , incorporating aster varieties ensures your butterfly visitors have a summer - to - fall nectar source just when they need it most .

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Echinacea purpurea , or Purple Coneflower , is aboriginal to the central and eastern United States and lionise for its daisy - like petals fence in a robust , briery centerfield . This perennial powerhouse draws a swarm of butterfly stroke , from checkered lily to skipper , who are drawn to its nectar - plentiful disk florets . Not only do butterflies get it on it , but you might catch them perch on the coneflowers to savour in aurora sunlight — pure garden deception !

While echinacea rarely act invasively , it self - sow sparingly in favorable conditions , so deadheading expend head is wise if you desire to avoid volunteer seedlings . These coneflowers also tolerate drought once established , making them a dependable choice for low - maintenance beds . I often pair them with blaze star and black - eyed Susans to make a prairie - inspired palette that has butterflies , bee , and hummingbird vying for place at the buffet .

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Hailing from the rocky hills of the Mediterranean , English lavender is not typically invasive in nerveless climate , and its silvery foliage adds year - round involvement . When the lavender stiletto heel emerge in late spring and early summer , they draw a innkeeper of butterflies — particularly swallow-tailed coat and captain — that ca n’t resist the bouquet or the royal blooms . Beyond nectar , lavender stem serve as perching website , giving butterflies a advantage level over the garden .

One of my preferent tricks is to plant lavender along garden way of life or near seating area . As I saunter by , the butterfly stroke follow , creating a sensory symphony of scent and color ! Trim lavender back by about a third after the first heyday to assert a tidy shape and encourage a tripping rebloom in tardy summer .

Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)

A loom aborigine of easterly North America , Joe - Pye Weed produces large umbels of pinkish - lavender flowers that soar up to six feet tall ! Butterflies , especially the imperial swallowtails and giants like the monarch , adore these nectar - rich clusters , and their height makes them visible targets from across the garden . It ’s a thrill to depend out and see those freehanded fans of wing settle on the blooms .

Because Joe - Pye Weed thrives in moist soils and can form substantial clumps , I urge situating it near rain garden or water features . It ’s not trespassing in its native reach , but be prepared for mickle of ontogenesis — this is a command opus ! I find that planting shorter fellow traveller like aster or coneflowers at its base balances the composition and ensures butterfly of all sizing can get at the blooms .

Lantana (Lantana camara)

Lantana camara , native to tropical region of Central and South America , is prized for its multicolored flower cluster that transition through yellow , orange , pink , and red . While it ’s conceive trespassing in warm climates ( USDA zones 9–11 ) , in cool regions it behaves beautifully as an annual or container plant . Butterflies — including monarchs , sulfur , and blood-red admirals — are instantly attracted to lantana ’s rich nectar reserves and bright hue !

I practice lantana in container or hang basket to boost color where perennial beds slim out . In my zone , it flourishes from belated outflow frost until the first hard frost , keep a round-the-clock ambrosia festival . Deadheading spent clusters keeps it blinking , and the wildlife spectacle is pure joy — nothing beats the sight of dozens of butterfly stroke dancing around those rainbow blooms !