Last Updated on October 31, 2021 by Phil
Want more beneficial insects in your garden?
Here are the best plants that attract butterflies.
As a child, I remember being enamored by all the colorful butterflies that were in our backyard. Because they were always there, I thought all gardens, fields and yards had them.
It was only many years later I learned that butterflies, bees and birds don’t just visit your garden for no reason.
You had to attract them to come.
In case you’ve been wondering how, here here are some plants you can grow to get more of these lovely, visitors to come around more often.
Best Plants That Attract Butterflies to Your Garden
Aster
At first glance, you’d probably think that asters were daisies that were somehow dyed.
And, you’d be correct.
That’s because these lovely looking flowers look very much like daisies, all the way down to its petals.
However, they do have their differences.
Asters come in many varieties and colors. This lets you select from purple, pink, white, red and blue.
You may also be surprise to know that some species grow up to 8 feet tall. Although, others are are more normal flower looking at about 8 inches or taller.
Butterfly Bush
This beautiful shrub is well-known for attracting butterflies.
But, it may or may not be ideal for your garden.
It’s one biggest drawback is that it is invasive. That means it likes to “take over” the space of other plants that are grown around it.
That said, it isn’t always a problem. It all depends on where and how you grow it.
That said, be aware that it’s a fast growing plant. But, surprisingly you don’t need to prune it to keep it under control.
However, most gardeners still do so in order to encourage it to grow.
Daffodils
Daffodils are another lovely looking plant that butterflies are attracted to.
While yellow is the color most of us are familiar with, the flower comes in many other hues including white and orange.
When they start opening, it’s a good sign that spring has finally come.
Like many flowers, daffodils come in lots of varieties. As such, they can last from 6 weeks all the way to 6 months. It all depends on which kind you have and where you grow them.
Chrysanthemum
Yet another flower known for its beauty, butterflies love chrysanthemums.
As such, growing them in your backyard not only makes it more vibrant, in also entices these lovely creatures to com.
That said, mum like a lot of sun. Bright sunlight along with fertile well-draining soil help it grow and bloom.
This is especially important if you want it to produce a lot of blossoms.
Lack of sunlight is a surefire way of reduced flower production.
Coreopsis
The coreopsis plant is a great choice if you want to make your garden look cheerful.
Much like sunflowers, these plants’ bright yellow colors instantly make any garden come to life.
While they may not be as gorgeous as some of the plants above, they’re a lot more practical in many ways.
This makes it a good idea to grow for many busy gardeners.
Coreopsis are drought tolerant and don’t require a lot of care to grow. They thrive in both full sun as part shade as well.
This makes them much less time consuming to keep alive.
Lavender
Lavender is one of the most popular plants because it combines beauty, color and fragrance.
It’s seldom that you get all 3 elements together.
In addition to that, lavender is well know for its calming properties. It helps you de-stress and relax as well.
As for your garden, lavender isn’t only known for attracting butterflies and bees. It also repels moths, fleas, flies and spiders.
This makes it a great addition to any garden.
Butterfly Weed
This is a staple in most gardens that attract butterflies and other beneficial insects.
You probably already have a hint of that because of its name.
However, it’s the plant’s ability to produce a lot of nectar that makes it attractive to butterflied.
Available in orange, red and yellow, growing these flowers will help bring pollinators to your garden.
Wild Violets
Wild violets are both loved and hated by gardeners. It all depends on which side you take.
These plants produce nice looking flowers with heart-shaped leaves. They’re low growing and don’t need a lot of care.
On the other hand, some gardeners see them as bothersome lawn weeds. As such, the goal is to get rid of them.
Echinacea
Echinacea is another popular herb more known for its medicinal properties.
It’s often found in supplements and teas because it’s believed to help control blood sugar, lessen anxiety and inflammation among other things.
What you may not know is that the plant is actually a member of the daisy family.
It’s found in hardiness zones 3 to 10. And, they’re simple to grow.
They’re also known for attracting birds, bees and butterflies.
Salvia
Salvia is also known as sage. They’re a lovely plant to grow if you want to attract butterflies to your garden.
Besides that fact, they’re also great aesthetically. That’s because their flower and foliage look wonderful.
In fact, purple salvias from afar look very much like lavender.
Beyond their looks, this plant is also easy to care. They thrive in warm conditions, are drought tolerant and live for long times.
Plus, they aren’t bothered by pests, deer or rabbits.
Penstemon
Penstemon are perennials with beautiful looking flowers and lovely colors.
You’ll find them in purple, pink, white and red colors.
While there are many varieties, the best known are those with flowers that are shaped like trumpets.
They work well as ground cover. And, some of the taller species are perfect for providing privacy.
Besides butterflies, they’re also known for attracting birds to your garden.
Bee Balm
Bee balm is a great if you want to attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies to your garden.
In its dried form, it can also be used to fight fungal infections.
Although, you’ll also see it used as garnish for some food.
As a plant, bee balm grows in zones 3 through 9.
It likes full sun exposure and soil that drains well.
The plant does grow to between 1 to 4 feet.
Blanket Flower
Gorgeous but short-lived. That describes blanket flowers, or gaillardia, in a quick phrase.
These perennials are known for their wonderful colors which make them spruce up any outdoor space.
They’re likewise easy to care for as long as you give them a lot of sunlight.
Blanket flowers are often seen in hardiness zones 3 through 10. But, you’ll see different kinds for each zone as well.
Yarrow
The yarrow herb is another attractive plant that butterflies like.
It’s very lovely to look at because of the way its small blooms bunch up together to form a bigger flower head.
Yellow is a popular color because it makes the yarrow stand out. But, you’ll also find it in red, pink and other colors as well
Like many herbs, it’s uses go beyond its looks. Yarrow is used to help with fevers, colds and diarrhea.
The plant blooms during the summer in hardiness zones 3 to 9.
Verbena
Speaking of flowers that clump together, the verbena is one that falls into that category.
But, it looks very different from the yarrow.
That said, this plant one you’ll find in butterfly and bird gardens as well. Pollinators from bees to hummingbirds love it.
However, it needs a little more care to grow.
Verbena like a lot of sun. It isn’t too fussy about soil. But, it can get tricky with water. It isn’t a fan of too much water. So, it’s a good idea to inspect it when it gets dry.
Conclusion
Attracting butterflies to your garden isn’t as hard as it looks when you know what to do.
In fact, it’s as simple as choosing the plants that they like to flock to, and picking which of these plants are best suited for your garden and where you live.
Once the plants start growing, you’ll slowly see butterflies, and in some cases other beneficial insects visit your backyard.
Why would you like to attract butterflies to your garden?
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