Any yard can attract birds and butterflies, with the right combination of plants, water and resting and nesting areas.
To attract butterflies, you'll need a sunny spot. Add a "sunning stone" as a garden accent, so butterflies have a place to rest and absorb the heat from the sun, in order to start flying. Butterflies also need a source of water. The water should be shallow - a bird bath is ideal or a mudpuddle will work.
Butterflies are attracted to the nectar in the plants. They'll feed from flowers with flat surfaces, like daisies. Some of our favorites include: Butterfly bush, butterfly weed, coneflower, lavender, gallardia, yarrow, phlox, pentas and zinnias.
You'll attract more butterflies if these plants are located in a protected area away from wind and predators.
Annuals that Attract Butterflies
| Butterfly Plants | Butterfly Larval | |
|---|---|---|
| Ageratum Alyssum Argerantheumum Bachelor Button Cleome Cosmos Gazania Daisy Heliotrope Lantana Lobelia Marguerite Daisy Marigold |
Mexican Sunflower Nasturium Nicotiana Pentas Petunia Scabiosa Snapdragon Statice Stock Tapien Verbena Zinnia |
Aster Cabbage Mallow Marigold Parsley Queen Anne's Lace Snapdragon Sweet William Violet |
Perennials, Herbs & Shrubs that Attract Butterflies
| Perennials | Herbs | Shrubs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agastache Aster Beebalm Blanket Flower Butterfly Weed Chrysanthemum Coneflower Coreopsis Daylily False Indigo Gayfeather |
Goldenrod Hollyhock Ironweed Joe Pye Weed Phlox Rudebeckia Salvia Sedum Shasta Daisy Yarrow |
Catnip Chives Dill Fennel Hyssop Lavender Marjoram Mint Parsely Thyme |
Butterfly Bush Cotoneaster Lilac Mock Orange Privet Spirea Viburnum |
