Attracting butterflies to your garden is a rewarding experience. However, it requires a variety of plants that support their entire lifecycle. Fortunately, there are many beautiful options to choose from. Below are eight of our top picks to help you create a butterfly-friendly haven.
1. Yarrow (Achillea ‘Moonshine’)
Yarrow blooms with stunning yellow flat-top flowers from late spring to late summer. In addition, it reaches a height of 18–24 inches, making it ideal for mid-border placement.
2. Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Known for its glowing foliage, Coral Bells thrives in both sun and shade. It grows up to 6 inches tall and adds texture and color even when not in bloom.
3. ‘May Night’ Salvia (Salvia x sylvestris ‘May Night’)
This variety features beautiful indigo flower spikes from late spring to early summer. It’s also perfect for cutting, which makes it a useful plant for pollinators and floral arrangements alike.
4. Tickseed (Coreopsis)
This native cultivar boasts red flowers with yellow-orange tips, along with compact dark green foliage. It blooms from June through September and typically reaches 18 inches tall. Moreover, it pairs well with ornamental grasses or other sun-loving perennials.
Coreopsis
Coloral Bells
Salvia
Sedum
Butterfly Bush
Yarrow
5. Stonecrop (Sedum)
A popular groundcover, Sedum displays gold-colored flowers from June to August. These bloom atop deep green scalloped leaves. Not only is it drought-tolerant, but it also adds late-season interest.
6. Hollyhock (Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’)
This plant produces soft-pink bowl-shaped flowers with raspberry-colored veins. Even better, it thrives in sun to part-shade and reaches about 36 inches in height.
7. ‘Lollipop’ Verbena
Known for its lavender flowers, this plant blooms from late spring to early fall. Additionally, it grows to a height of 24 inches and performs best in full sun.
8. ‘Nanho Blue’ Butterfly Bush
This butterfly favorite features mauve-blue flowers and gray-green leaves. It grows 4–6 feet tall in full sun. For best results, prune it back in winter to encourage compact growth in spring.
By incorporating these plants into your garden, you’ll not only create a vibrant and colorful landscape, but also establish a nourishing habitat that supports butterflies at every stage of their life cycle. In addition to providing essential nectar sources, these plants offer shelter and host opportunities for caterpillars and other beneficial insects. As a result, your garden becomes a small but vital part of a larger ecological network.
Furthermore, by choosing native and pollinator-friendly varieties, you actively contribute to the health of local ecosystems. This, in turn, helps sustain biodiversity, improve soil quality, and even enhance your garden’s resilience over time. Whether you’re starting from scratch or simply adding a few new perennials, every plant makes a difference.
Ultimately, creating a butterfly-friendly garden is both a beautiful and impactful way to enjoy nature right in your own backyard. So, as the season progresses, consider which plants could enhance your space—and begin planting with purpose today.
Additional Information:
Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden
SHOP Pollinator-Friendly Plants