Butterfly Gardens are both beautiful and important to the environment. Butterflies like flat-topped ‘landing pad’ flowers, such as Coneflower, Daisy or Aster. They also like clustered flowers such as Butterfly Weed and Joe Pye Weed, where they can sit and sip repeatedly. Butterflies are not particular about flower color or scent, and will happily flit from flower to flower, sipping nectar as they go. Butterflies like to have a water source available too; a saucer of water with a flat rock in it will work as a ‘puddle’ in your garden. Using the lists below, you can design your Butterfly Garden to provide a long season of bloom, including plants that supply nectar, shelter, and attractive larval food sources.
PERENNIALS
Achillea Yarrow 3’; various colors; June – Aug; nectar; larval food source; ferny foliage; drought tolerant
Alcea, Hollyhock 6’; various colors; July – Aug; nectar; tall cottage-garden biennial
Asclepias, Butterfly Weed 1- 3’; various colors; June – Aug; nectar; larval food source; tall plant
Aster 1- 3’; purple; Aug – Oct; late nectar source; native; bushy habit
Coreopsis, Tickseed 2’; yellow, tonal red; June – Sept; nectar; many varieties; long-blooming
Leucanthemum, Daisy 2’; white; July – Sept; nectar; classic border plant
Digitalis, Foxglove 2 – 4’; various colors; June; food source; tall, timeless plant
Echinacea, Coneflower 3 – 4’; various colors; July – Sept; nectar; leave seedheads for birds
Echinops, Globe Thistle 4’; blue: July – Aug; nectar; standout foliage; drought tolerant
Eupatorium, Joe-Pye-Weed 6’ pink, white; Aug; nectar; larval food source; native; large in stature
Gallardia, Goblin Flower 1’; orange, yellow, peach; June – Sept; nectar; deadhead for repeat bloom
Heliopsis, Hardy Sunflower 4’; yellow; Aug; nectar; clump-forming & upright
Lavendula, Lavender 2’; purple; July; nectar; delightful scent; cut stems for drying
Lupine 2- 3’; various colors; June; nectar; enchanting spires
Monarda, Beebalm 3- 4’; red, pink, purple; July – Aug; nectar; cut back for rebloom; spreads
Phlox 1- 3’ various colors; May – July; nectar; spring or summer bloom; naturalize well
Rudbeckia, Black-Eyed Susan 2’ yellow; July – Sept; nectar; cheery; dependable perennial
Scabiosa, Pincushion Flower 2’; pink, purple; June – Aug; nectar; long-blooming; nice cut flower
Sedum, Stonecrop 6”- 3’; pink; Aug – Oct; late nectar source; ‘Autumn Joy’ is great for fall color
Solidago, Goldenrod 3’; gold; Sept – Oct; late nectar source; native; handsome in back of border
Valerian 2 – 4’; pink, red; July; nectar; spreading perennial with airy flowers
ANNUALS
Asclepias, Butterfly Weed 2’; various colors; June – Sept; nectar; larval food; long-blooming
Calendula, Pot Marigold 1’; yellow; May – Sept; nectar, larval food; charming in borders
Cosmos 3 – 5’; pink shades, white; June – Sept; nectar; drought-tolerant
Heliotrope 6”; purple; May – Aug; nectar; fragrant
Marigold 6”- 2’ yellow, white, orange, red; May – Sept; nectar
Hellianthus annuus, Sunflower 2 – 8’; gold; July – Sept; nectar, shelter; leave seeds for birds
Tithonia, Mexican Sunflower 4’; yellow; July – Aug; nectar; nice soft foliage
Zinnia 6”- 4’; various colors; June – Sept; nectar; many varieties
HERBS
Dill 2- 5’; yellow; late spring; larval food source; culinary herb; self-seeds
Fennel 4’; yellow; larval food source; culinary herb; striking foliage texture
Mint 2’; purple, white; larval food source; culinary herb; will spread!
Parsley 6”-1’; white; larval food source; culinary herb; biennial
Nasturtium 6”; red, orange; June – Sept; nectar; edible flowers; climbing variety is ideal on trellises; sun
TREES • SHRUBS
Betula, Birch 40’; shelter; food; cacoons; graceful tree; white bark
Fruit Trees 8 – 20’; various colors; April – May; early nectar; shelter; ornamental or orchard use
Salix, Willow 4- 40’; food shelter; tree or shrub great for wet areas
Tilia, Linden 40’; cream; July; nectar; shelter; broad shade tree
Buddlea Butterfly Bush 5’; pinks, purples, white; July – Oct; cut back in spring
Caryopteris, False Spirea 2 – 3’; blue; Aug; nectar; handsome blue-green foliage
Clethra, Summersweet 3 – 6’ white, pink; Aug; nectar; hardy native; fragrant
Spirea 3 – 8’; various colors; various bloomtime; nectar; spring – summer blooming
Syringa, Lilac 3 -12’; pinks, purples, whites, variegated; April -June; early nectar source; hardy & fragrant; sun