Want to attract butterflies to your garden but short on time? This comprehensive guide reveals the best low-maintenance plants that butterflies love. Discover blooming times, light requirements, and more!
Have you ever dreamt of watching a kaleidoscope of colorful wings flitting through your garden? Butterflies are not only beautiful to behold, but they’re also vital pollinators that keep our ecosystems thriving.
In this guide, we’ll be chatting about the wonderful world of butterfly gardening! We’ll delve into the fascinating world of easy-care flowers that will attract them while spiling the secrets to designing a garden that creates a butterfly haven.
Here’s what you need to know!
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Why You Should Plant a Butterfly Garden
Butterfly gardening is the practice of creating a garden that is specifically designed to attract and support butterflies. This is done by planting a variety of nectar plants that provide food for adult butterflies and host plants that provide food for their caterpillars.
Here are a few great reasons to create a butterfly garden this year.
- Butterflies are important pollinators, and many species are in decline due to habitat loss and other factors. By creating a butterfly garden, you can help support butterfly populations and promote conservation efforts.
- Butterflies are one of nature’s most beautiful creatures, and watching them flutter around your garden is such a joy. By planting a butterfly garden, you can create a beautiful and tranquil space in your yard.
- Butterfly gardening can be a fun and educational activity for children and adults alike. By learning about the life cycle of butterflies and the plants they rely on, gardeners can gain a deeper appreciation for the natural world and the importance of conservation.
- Butterfly gardens can be incredibly low-maintenance, as many of the plants that attract them are easy to grow and require little care. This makes butterfly gardening an excellent choice for gardeners who want to create a beautiful and functional garden without spending a lot of time or money.
It’s also important to note that planting a butterfly garden not only attracts butterflies but will mostly likely attract hummingbirds too. Because every butterfly garden has bright and beautiful nectar-loving plants that feeds butterflies and hummingbirds.
And keep in mind that the more plants for butterflies you grow, the more you will attract to your flower garden. Last year, I had dozens in my garden and it was SO FUN and peaceful to watch them enjoy the blooms.
Sound like something you want to do? With a little planning and some basic knowledge, anyone can create a butterfly garden in their own backyard. So let’s get at it!
What You Need to Make a Butterfly Garden
If you are wondering how to arrange a butterfly garden, it is pretty simple to do. You’ll want to create the best growing conditions for your plants while creating a habitat for butterflies. Here are a few tips that will get you started!
- Choose a sunny spot in your yard for your butterfly garden, as they love basking in the sun. Ideally, the garden should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.
- Choose plants that provide nectar for adult butterflies and host plants for their caterpillars. Some examples of nectar plants include butterfly bushes, milkweed, zinnias, and coneflowers. Examples of host plants include milkweed for monarch butterflies, parsley for swallowtails, and fennel for black swallowtail. More on plants below.
- Butterflies need water, but they can’t drink from deep pools. Provide a shallow dish of water filled with sand or stones so that they can land and drink safely.
- Butterflies need shelter to escape from predators and harsh weather conditions. Shrubs, trees, and tall grasses provide that shelter and roosting spots for butterflies.
- Pesticides can be harmful to butterflies and other pollinators. Avoid using them in your butterfly garden and opt for natural pest control methods instead.
- Regular maintenance is important to keep your butterfly garden healthy and thriving. Deadhead flowers to encourage more blooms, weed regularly, and prune shrubs and trees as needed.
How Much Sunlight Do Butterfly Gardens Need?
Butterfly gardens need full sun because most flowers that attract butterflies need full sun. And the butterflies themselves need the warmth from the sun to warm their muscles for flight. So growing plants for butterflies in full sun is a must.
Now that’s not to say that you can’t grow plants in the shade they will love because you can. We have a bottlebrush buckeye in the backyard that is under a canopy of trees and it gets LOADED with butterflies every summer when it blooms.
6 Simple Tips for Attracting Butterflies with Plants
Before we get into low-maintenance plants that butterflies love, here are a few important tips to know before you plant your garden.
- Select plants with varying bloom times so butterflies are fed from spring through fall. Check the plant tag for bloom times. Butterflies are drawn to clusters of like colors so it is important to plant enough of the same flowers together.
- Butterflies favor native plants.
- Where possible, avoid pesticides in your gardens because they can wipe out butterflies and other pollinators.
- Butterflies are drawn to brightly colored purples, blues, yellows, whites, and pinks.
- Focus on plants with multiple florets as well as composite flowers, because they can get more nectar at one time.
- Avoid double-flowering varieties because they carry less nectar.
To learn more, read this post that I wrote about butterfly gardens.
How to Start a Small Butterfly Garden That is Easy to Care For
You can grow a butterfly garden no matter the space or gardening experience you have. If you are a beginner gardener or lack garden space, you can easily start a small butterfly garden in containers or by using a small strip in the ground. Starting a small butterfly garden is a fun and rewarding project that can attract a variety of colorful butterflies to your yard. Here are some steps to get started:
- Choose a sunny spot
- Select plants from the list below.
- Plan your garden layout given the size and shape of your garden, and plan the placement of your plants accordingly. Grouping plants of the same species together can make it easier for butterflies to find them.
- Prepare the soil and avoid using pesticides or chemical fertilizers, as they can be harmful to butterflies and other beneficial insects.
- Plant your garden.
- Provide a water feature by adding a shallow dish or birdbath with rocks for them to perch on and drink from.
- Maintain your garden by watering, weeding, deadheading, and pruning as needed. If maintaining a butterfly garden in containers, fertilize plants with a slow-release granular fertilizer.
When Should I Plant My Butterfly Garden?
Spring or fall is the best time to plant a new garden. And if you don’t want to break your back starting a new garden from scratch, you can try this easy method or start a small garden in containers with these simple tips.
Want to Encourage More Caterpillars?
To encourage more caterpillars in your garden, plant lots of milkweed and dill that you let go to seed. For example, I let my dill plants bolt in the summer and every season, you’ll find these gorgeous caterpillars in my vegetable garden.
The Best Low-Maintenance Plants For Attracting Butterflies
Now that we’ve covered how to create and grow a butterfly garden, let’s talk plants! There are lots of beautiful annuals, perennials, and shrubs that are easy to grow, easy to care for, and attract lots of butterflies too. I have seen butterflies in action in my own gardens and can tell you they are huge fans of certain flowers.
Before planting, check your hardiness zone to be sure these plants will do well in your climate. And make a list for yourself of the different bloom times so you can plant a garden that always has something flowering for them to enjoy. I’ll provide you a list of some examples that work in spring, summer, and fall.
While most of the plants on this list will do well in a range of zones, keep in mind that I garden in hardiness zone 6b New Jersey and many of these grow well here.
Bee Balm
A perennial favorite of pollinators, bee balm lights up the garden with vibrant red, pink, purple, or white flowers. It blooms from mid to late summer, thrives in full sun to partial shade, and prefers moist, well-drained soil. Butterflies love bee balm and it’s pretty high on my list of butterfly-attracting plants. They cover my monarda flowers when they are in full bloom.
Echinacea (Coneflowers)
Coneflowers are so gorgeous, aren’t they? Each year when they bloom I am just in awe. Those pretty orange centers get me every time! Echinacea is another summer-blooming perennial that requires full sun and attracts lots of pollinators. Renowned for their daisy-like appearance with pink, purple, or white petals, coneflowers bloom from early summer to fall, prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
They are perfect for the cottage garden because they are bright, bold, tall, and beautiful. Plus, echinacea self-sows easily and spreads throughout the garden over time once established.
And the butterflies go crazy for the nectar too. I’ve found that monarchs enjoy my echinacea as I see them drop by often. As a side note, I’ve been growing coneflowers for years and they can really take over an area. To keep them under control, divide them and move them around in spring or fall.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
A magnet for butterflies, this shrub offers cascading spikes of purple, pink, white, or red flowers through summer into fall. It loves full sun and well-drained soil and is considered a perennial in warmer climates, though sometimes treated as an annual in cooler zones.
They bloom all summer long and will be covered with butterflies not to mention, they grow pretty quickly after planting. So if you need a plant that will get some height in a short amount of time that blooms, the butterfly bush is a great option.
Butterfly bushes are wonderful butterfly-attracting plants that look so gorgeous and graceful in the garden too. The care is pretty minimal but can be a little invasive in certain areas. So read the label and check with your local cooperative extension before planting.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
With vibrant orange flowers, this perennial is a type of milkweed, crucial for monarch butterflies. It blooms from early to mid-summer, thrives in full sun, and prefers well-drained soil.
Have you grown butterfly weed before? I realize it doesn’t sound very attractive but the dainty orange flowers are really striking in the summer garden. The brightly colored orange blooms add lots of color to early summer borders. This is my former garden’s butterfly weed mixed with Nepeta ‘walkers low’.
Isn’t that a pretty combination? Not only do the butterflies love butterfly weed, but monarchs lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves. So be judicious when removing garden debris because they house these beautiful creatures.
Butterfly weed is easy to grow, self-sows easily, and is one of the best plants to attract butterflies.
Liatris (Blazing Star)
Tall spikes of purple flowers define this perennial, blooming from mid-summer to fall. Gayfeather refers full sun and well-drained soil and is one of those low-maintenance plants that should be in every pollinator garden.
I used to have so much more liatris in my former garden. But through the years, it petered out and disappeared. I recently added it to my new gardens here because blazing star adds a lot of visual interest with it’s spikey blooms. And the butterflies love them all summer long.
Gayfeather comes in a variety of colors and are pretty hardy where I live. They are beautiful in a cottage garden, is one of the must-have plants butterflies like, blooms in the summer, and has lots of charm.
Coreopsis
I’ve had a love affair with moonbeam coreopsis since I started flower gardening. The dainty yellow flowers are so pretty. And these butterfly-attracting plants are very easy to care for. I have Moonbeam Coreopsis in almost every garden because it is so easy to divide.
We’ve got lots of moonbeam coreopsis growing in several front yard beds. Butterflies are attracted to the bright yellow blooms. It’s one of the prettiest butterfly-attracting plants and I love that bushy growing habit.
Since moving to our 1850 farmhouse, I wanted to try new-to-me varieties of plants that attracts butterflies that I’ve grown before.
So new to my garden is ‘Creme Caramel’ coreopsis that looks very similar to moonbeam, but is more peachy in color. It’s in full bloom right now and looks AMAZING in my front porch garden.
Black Eyed Susans (Rudbekia)
Black-eyed susans are one of my favorite summer garden flowers. Rudbeckia is super easy to care for as it is a native plant that needs very little from the home gardener to thrive.
This cheerful perennial showcases golden yellow petals circling a dark brown center. Blooming from June to October, it’s easy-going with full sun and tolerates a range of soil conditions, and grows about 3 feet tall when in full bloom.
It divides easily so you can get more plants for free while growing a healthy garden. Black-eyed susans look gorgeous in the summer garden. And are one of the prettiest summer-blooming plants that butterflies love.
Sedum Autumn Joy
Sedum Autumn Joy is one of my favorite perennials because it is a four-season, easy-care, easy to propagate, plant. This perennial succulent showcases pink flowers that age to a coppery hue in fall. It blooms late summer to fall, enjoys full sun, and thrives in well-drained soil.
But the best part? It is high on the list of plants for butterflies. So do not overlook sedum autumn joy for your garden if it grows in your hardiness zone because you will thank me for it later.
Because it is a true workhorse in the flower garden as it constantly adds color, texture, and dimension to borders. And the butterflies go crazy for the nectar. Oftentimes, I’ll notice my sedum autumn joy covered with pollinators so they do wonders in both your garden, as well as the environment.
While this plant blooms in fall, you can’t beat the chartreuse flower heads in summer that pair well with other summer blooming favorites like echinacea, bee balm, and black eyed susans. (To learn more about why Sedum Autumn Joy is an underrated plant, watch this video.)
Tall Phlox
I’ve been growing tall phlox for several years. They are simply gorgeous plants that butterflies love and are highly attracted to. You simply can’t beat those tall spiky flowers that bloom from summer through fall.
Phlox offers varieties that are annual and perennial, with the perennial type blooming from spring to early fall. It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
While phlox is easy to care for, it comes with some caveats. Here in my New Jersey garden, they can get afflicted with powdery mildew during midsummer. While you can do nothing and allow them to do their thing, you can also apply an organic fungicide regularly, like neem oil, the tall phlox flowers will last so much longer.
If you decide to apply a fungicide it is very important to only apply it when butterflies and other pollinators are less active, which is usually in the early morning or late in the evening. Do not apply it when butterflies are active or you can wipe them out. Keep in mind that most butterfly gardeners don’t use any pesticides at all, so if you must use them, use them sparingly and wisely while always following the recommended directions on the label.
I love the fuschia colored tall phlox in my former garden bed. And while I don’t recall the variety, it always looked so beautiful when it bloomed in my garden with purple smoketree foliage.
Joe Pye Weed
Joe Pye does so well and is super easy to care for. It is a tall perennial with fluffy pink or purple flowers blooming in late summer to fall that prefers full sun to partial shade and moist soil.
It grows very tall so be sure to grow this butterfly-attracting plant in the back of the border. Because Joe Pye Weed blooms in late summer through fall, it helps the garden transition between the seasons. And the butterflies cover them while they bloom and as the flowers fade. It is spectacular to watch them.
Joe Pye Weed is another must-have flower that adds lots of visual interest to the garden and requires minimal care. They are super easy to propagate too and I have this perennial in almost all of my gardens.
Milkweed
Essential for monarch butterflies, this perennial blooms in summer with pink, orange, or white flowers. It enjoys full sun and well-drained soil.
Milkweed is a native plant that is considered to be a host plant for monarch butterflies as they lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves. Plant milkweed in the garden for summer blooms and an easy care plant that butterflies like.
Easy to care for, Milkweed grows roughly 3 feet tall and has beautiful white dainty flowers. They can attract aphids too, so be sure not to use any pesticides to remove aphids from the plant. Grab a garden hose and knock them off with a strong spray of water only so you don’t risk killing off monarch butterfly eggs.
Zinnias
Zinnias are not only beautiful but also easy to care for, making them a popular choice among gardeners. They are an easy-to-grow annual that blooms with a rainbow of colorful flowers from summer to frost. Zinnias are easy to start from seed and thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.
These colorful annual flowers can tolerate heat and drought and are resistant to disease and pests too. This means that they require minimal care and attention to thrive in the garden. They are amazing additions to the cut flower garden too as they look incredible in bouquets.
But the best part? Zinnias are loved by butterflies and other pollinators for their nectar-rich blooms.
Their bright, showy flowers are easy for pollinators to spot, and the wide variety of colors and shapes of zinnia blooms make them irresistible to many species of butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.
Zinnias also produce pollen and nectar throughout the growing season, providing a consistent food source for pollinators. Overall, zinnias are a win-win for gardeners and pollinators alike, providing vibrant beauty and crucial nourishment to our gardens and landscapes.
Yarrow (Achillea)
This perennial is admired for its flat clusters of pink, red, yellow, or white flowers, blooming from early summer to fall. It’s drought-tolerant, loves full sun, and thrives in well-drained soil.
I didn’t grow much of it for most of my gardening life but since moving to our home a few years ago, I’ve loaded my flower beds with it and love the texture it adds to the gardens. Yarrow also makes a great vase filler for bouquets in a cut flower garden.
Nepeta (Catmint)
Featuring a sea of lavender-blue flowers, catmint is a perennial that blooms from late spring to early fall. It’s drought-tolerant, loves full sun, and adapts to a variety of soils. Nepeta is a pollinator magnet when it flowers and if you cut it back halfway after the first set of blooms, you can get a second flush of flowers.
I’ve been growing nepeta for most of my gardening life and let me tell you, it is crazy easy to care for and looks gorgeous in any garden setting.
Asters
Asters are the stars of the fall garden, with their daisy-like flowers offering a burst of color in shades of blue, purple, white, and pink. These perennials typically bloom from late summer to fall, providing a crucial late-season nectar source for butterflies.
Asters thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, especially in hot climates. They prefer moist, well-drained soil but are quite adaptable and can tolerate less ideal conditions once established. To keep them from getting leggy and blooming too soon, cut them back until July 4
Their bloom time extends right up until the first frost, making them an invaluable addition to any garden looking to extend its flowering season and support pollinators.
Sunflowers
With their iconic large, yellow blooms, sunflowers are annuals that grow best in full sun and well-drained soil, blooming in summer. They attract lots of pollinators like bees and butterflies when they bloom.
Start them from seed outdoors after all danger of frost passes. After they germinate, it’s a good idea to use a wire cloche to protect young seedlings from early rabbit and chipmunk damage.
What Other Plants Attract Butterflies the Most?
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this question, I’d be a very rich woman! There are so many plants that butterflies love. It’s really a matter of preference designing a garden that you love that they will also enjoy. Here are some more easy flowers to grow that attract butterflies.
- Lantana
- Amsonia
- Calendula
- Heliotrope
- Lavender
- Agapanthus
- Salvia
- Eryngium
- Hollyhocks
- Goldenrod (non-invasive varieties only)
- Allium
- Cosmos
- Verbena
- Bottlebrush Buckeye
- False Indigo
- Snapdragon
Designing a Butterfly Garden with Spring-to-Fall Blooms
One of the most important things you can do to maintain a butterfly habitat is to give butterflies that food source all season long. To do this, you’ll want to design a garden that’s always in bloom from spring through fall. Here is a great list of examples of what to plant to attract butterflies spring through fall.
Spring
- False Indigo
- Salvia
- Nepeta
- Allium
Summer
- Zinnias
- Bottlebrush Buckey
- Coneflowers
- Coreopsis
Fall
- Sedum Autumn Joy
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Asters
Thanks for stopping by the blog today!
Enjoy your day! xoxo
More Related Posts You May Enjoy
- How to Create a Butterfly Garden
- How to Release Ladybugs in the Garden for Pest Control
- 7 Easy Ways to Deer Proof Your Garden
- Gardening for Hummingbirds
- How to Get Non-Stop Color in the Garden With Annuals
When I started my flower garden, it was really important to me to attract pollinators.
Before planting, I researched butterfly and hummingbird attracting plants that grow well in my area to entice them to my yard.
Thankfully, there are lots of gorgeous flowers that attract both so this list is a great start to growing a pollinator garden.
