What are the best plants for a butterfly garden?

As a horticulturist with a passion for pollinator-friendly gardens, I can certainly provide you with some excellent plant choices for a butterfly garden. Butterflies are attracted to plants that offer nectar for feeding, as well as plants that provide a suitable host for their larvae to feed on. Here are some top choices:


1. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) - Known for attracting a variety of butterflies with its fragrant, tubular flowers.

2. Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) - Essential for Monarch butterflies, as it's the only plant their caterpillars will eat.

3. Zinnias (Zinnia spp.) - These bright, easy-to-grow flowers are a favorite among many butterfly species.

4. Lantana (Lantana camara) - Offers a long blooming season and is attractive to a wide range of butterflies.

5. Aster (Aster spp.) - Blooms late in the season, providing nectar for butterflies when other flowers are gone.

6. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) - With its tubular flowers, it's a great source of nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies.
7.
Hostas - While not nectar-rich, they provide a good egg-laying spot for the Black Swallowtail butterfly.
8.
Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) - Their large, daisy-like flowers are attractive to many pollinators, including butterflies.
9.
Phlox (Phlox subulata) - A low-growing ground cover that attracts butterflies with its clusters of small, fragrant flowers.
10.
Verbena (Verbena bonariensis) - Attracts a variety of butterflies with its tall, feathery plumes of flowers.

Phlox. Phlox is a low-growing, spreading plant that forms a blanket of blooms all summer. ... Coneflower (Echinacea) Coneflower is one of the best flowers for attracting butterflies. ... Lantana. ... Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) ... Pot Marigolds. ... Black-Eyed Susan. ... Gayfeather (Liatris spicata) ... Heliotrope.More items...