What are the best plants for a butterfly garden. Butterflies are considered lovely creatures. Their presence adds beauty to the garden. Plant these best flowers, and let the butterflies enjoy the nectar-rich flowers.
What are the best plants for a butterfly garden
The flowers that are best to be grown in the butterfly garden and attract butterflies include the following flowering plants,
Shasta daisy
Shasta daisy is a classic garden staple host plant, a high nectar source for many butterfly species.
The species include painted lady, red admiral, cabbage white, and eastern tiger swallowtail.
They possess white petals with a yellow disk at the center that provides a lovely look.
- Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
- Botanical name- Leucanthemum superbum
- Common name- Shasta daisy
- Family– Asteraceae
- Zones: 5-9
- Bloom time: Early summer-fall
- Flower colors: White petals with a yellow center
- Height: 6 to 48 inches
Sunflower
Sunflowers are one of the most liked flowers by the butterflies. They attract a wide range of pollinators. It possesses large disk-shaped flowers with a bright yellow hue that contains rich nectar sources for dozens of butterfly species.
The butterflies include American ladies, monarchs, species of checker spots, and swallowtails.
- Botanical name- Helianthus annuus
- Common name- Sunflower
- Family- Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Annual
- Zones: 10-11
- Height: 3 to 10 feet tall
- Bloom time: Summer-fall
- Flower: Yellow, white, red, brown, mahogany, orange with a dark brown or black center
Digitalis
The digital flowers attract the butterflies. They possess small clusters of brightly colored flowers that attract many pollinators. They are grown to be liked by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
- Scientific name- Digitalis purpurea
- Common name- foxglove
- Family- Plantaginaceae
- Genus-Digitalis
- Life Cycle- herbaceous biennial
- Flowers– red, pink, white, yellow, and purple
Lilly
It is an herbaceous flowering plant that attracts various species of butterflies. The reason for the attraction is their large prominent flowers rich in nectar.
- Scientific name- Lilium
- Common name- Lilly
- Family- Liliaceae
- Genus-Lilium
- Height- 2–6 ft. (60–180 cm).
- Flowers– whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds, and purples.
Salvia
It provides tall spikes of small and delicate flowers. These flowers make salvia great plants for attracting various pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.
They are grown in the backs and centers of flowerbeds to attract hummingbirds. Perennial flowers of salvia start to emerge in mid-summer.
The blooming season lasts till late summer. If you keep the soil moist, it will help them to bloom in a repeated sequence.
- Botanical name- Salvia nemorosa/Salvia greggii
- Common name-Salvia
- Height-18 to 36 inches tall
- Plant type- annual and perennial species
- USDA Growing Zones– 4 to 11
- Color Varieties– Mauve, pink, purple, blue
Bee Balm
The plant possesses full spikes that make them attractive to various insects. It acts like a magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
- Botanical name- Monarda didyma
- Common name-Bee Balm
- Flowers-two to four feet tall
- USDA Zones: 4 to 9
- Color Varieties– Red, but purple and orange
- Sun Exposure-Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, medium to wet soil
Cardinal Flowers
Lobelia is a perennial plant that gives rise to long stalks of nectar-rich flowers that attain a height of four feet. Its lovely blossoms attract pollinators including butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
- Botanical name-Lobelia cardinals
- Common name-Cardinal Flowers
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
- Plant– short-lived perennial
- Color Varieties- Scarlet red, white
- Sun Exposure– Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs-Rich, damp and well-draining soil
Conclusion
Butterflies are lovely creatures. Their presence adds beauty to the garden and surroundings. Plant the best flowers, and let the butterflies enjoy the nectar-rich flowers.
They also enhance the beauty of your garden by attracting various kinds of beautiful butterflies. Select the one that best fits your garden and environmental conditions.
Related Guide