A butterfly garden is absolutely stunning! It is a picture-perfect snapshot of summer. Butterflies like bright flowers that are orange, red, yellow, and bright pink.
Have you ever thought about creating a butterfly garden but didn’t quite know where to start? This is your one-stop shot to figure it all out…in the simplest way possible!
This post is all about butterfly gardens and the flowers you need to attract plenty of butterflies.
When creating a butterfly garden, you want it located in a sunny area. Most of the plants you will use have flowers that produce nectar, and nectar-producing flowers love the full sun. Another reason why you need full sun is that these flowers do not like wet feet. Wet feet simply mean they don’t like to be in standing water or having excessive water at the root of the plant.
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All of the flowers listed in this guide live together with no issues. You don’t have to worry about certain species not getting along or causing issues with the other one. They are also easy to maintain.
Another thing to keep in mind during the planning phase is that butterflies love to drink water and sunbathe. Birdbaths are a great addition for this reason. You will also need to have the soil tilled or loosened prior to planting. You want to plant something that nurtures the entire lifecycle of the butterfly and add plants that bloom all year long.
Let’s move into the list!
Perennials
Perennials are plants that come back once a year so you don’t have to keep planting them every year.
- Red Hot Poker (First Sunrise) – Butterflies like the nice red and orange flowers
- Liatris – Lavender spikes attract butterflies
- Fall Sedum (Autumn Fire) – Good for Fall blooming
- Milkweed – This is good for the entire lifecycle of the butterfly especially monarchs. The caterpillar will eat the leaves and the butterfly will drink the nectar. You can find these on the side of the road most of the time.
- Black-Eyed Susan
6. Phlox
7. Russian Sage
8. Aromatic Aster – Contains wood leaves that bloom in late Fall. Typically blooms after the sedum.
9. Blanket Flower – Blooms all summer
10. Coneflower (Pow Wow/Echinacea)
Annuals
Annuals are plants that have to be planted every year.
11. Monarda
12. Heliotrope – Perfect for butterflies to land on because it has a flat surface and a good nectar source
13. Zinnias
14. Lantana – Bloom from late Summer into Fall
15. Moss Rose (Portulaca)
16. Periwinkle (Vinca) – Drought-resistant and can be used as a filler plant for empty spaces.
Herbs
17. Oregano
18. Parsley
19. Sage
20. Thyme
21. Chives
