There are two types of butterfly attracting plants. The first type have flowers that provide nectar or fruit for adult butterflies, and the second type are host plants that provide food for butterfly larvae (caterpillars). See our articles: Top 25 Butterfly Garden Plants and How to Build a Butterfly Garden.
Abutilon 'Canary Bird'
Item #: 3848
Zones: 7b to 10b
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Abutilon 'Fool's Gold'
Item #: 8001
Zones: 7b to 10b
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Abutilon megapotamicum
Item #: 4317
Zones: 7b to 10b
Height: 60" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Brazil
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Abutilon 'Orange Hot Lava'
Item #: 7302
Zones: 7b to 10b
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Abutilon 'Voodoo'
Item #: 6951
Zones: 7b to 10b, at least
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Achillea sibirica 'Japanese Lace'
Item #: 11566
Zones: 5a to 8b
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: China, Japan, Korea, Siberia Russia, United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Achillea 'Strawberry Seduction' PP 18,401
Item #: 9200
Zones: 3a to 8b
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Agastache 'Blue Fortune'
Item #: 3209
Zones: 3a to 9b
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Agastache 'Cotton Candy' PP 20,991
Item #: 8880
Zones: 6a to 9b
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Agastache 'Peachie Keen' PP 25,886
Sold Out
Next crop available: 06/05/2017
Item #: 10635
Zones: 6a to 8b
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Agastache 'Rosie Posie' PP 25,857
Item #: 10636
Zones: 6a to 8b
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Agave gypsophila 'Ivory Curls'
Item #: 10049
Zones: Tropical
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Mexico
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Agave x romanii 'Shadow Dancer'
Sold Out
Item #: 3742
Zones: 8b to 10b, guessing
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Agave schottii Cochise Stronghold form
Item #: 12641
Zones: 6a to 10b
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Mexico, United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Alcea rugosa
Item #: 4469
Zones: 3a to 8a
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Russia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Allium canadense 'White Flag'
Item #: 7460
Zones: 5a to 9b, guessing
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Allium kiiense
Item #: 3352
Zones: 5a to 9b, at least
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Allium 'Millenium'
Item #: 5466
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Allium nutans 'Nor'easter'
Item #: 12906
Zones: 3a to 8b
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Siberia Russia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Allium 'Pink Feathers'
Item #: 8814
Zones: 3a to 8b
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Allium 'Pink Planet'
Item #: 12727
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Allium splendens var. kurilense
Item #: 6064
Zones: 6a to 8b, probably colder
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Japan, Russia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Allium texanum
Item #: 7465
Zones: 5a to 9b
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aloysia virgata
Item #: 7587
Zones: 7b to 10b
Height: 96" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Argentina, Brazil
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Amorpha canescens Arkansas form
Sold Out
Item #: 9810
Zones: 3a to 8b, at least
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Amsonia 'Blue Ice'
Item #: 4225
Zones: 4a to 9b
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Amsonia ciliata var. filifolia 'Georgia Pancake'
Item #: 5375
Zones: 5a to 9b, at least
Height: 5" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Amsonia hubrichtii
Item #: 759
Zones: 5a to 9b
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Angelica dahurica
Item #: 7102
Zones: 4a to 7b, at least
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: China, Japan, Korea, Siberia Russia, Taiwan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Antirrhinum hispanicum
Item #: 8364
Zones: 5a to 8b
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Spain
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aristolochia fimbriata
Item #: 3031
Zones: 7a to 9b
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Argentina, Brazil
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aristolochia serpentaria 'Eagle Rock'
Item #: 5847
Zones: 5a to 8b
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aruncus 'Misty Lace' PP 15,798
Item #: 7423
Zones: 4a to 7b, at least
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella'
Sold Out
Item #: 388
Zones: 3a to 9b
Height: 50" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asclepias purpurascens
Sold Out
Next crop available: 06/30/2017
Item #: 12659
Zones: 3a to 9b
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asclepias tuberosa
Sold Out
Next crop available: 06/30/2017
Item #: 335
Zones: 3a to 9b
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow'
Item #: 6700
Zones: 4a to 9b
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Asphodeline lutea 'Italian Gold'
Sold Out
Item #: 10450
Zones: 6a to 9b
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aster ageratoides 'Ezo Murasaki'
Item #: 9337
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aster carolinianus
Item #: 823
Zones: 7a to 9b, possibly colder
Height: 120" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aster ericoides 'Pink Star'
Item #: 4216
Zones: 3a to 8b
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aster linariifolius 'Little Stiffy'
Item #: 5763
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'
Item #: 953
Zones: 3a to 7b
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Aster oblongifolius 'Fanny'
Item #: 341
Zones: 4a to 9b
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Astilbe chinensis 'Amber Moon' PPAF
Item #: 5442
Zones: 3a to 8b
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Balduina atropurpurea Irwin Co, GA
Item #: 8595
Zones: 7b to 9b, at least
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia australis
Item #: 1182
Zones: 3a to 9b
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Blonde Bombshell' PP 26,828
Sold Out
Item #: 8740
Zones: 4a to 9b
Height: 40" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Blue Towers' PP 27,088
Sold Out
Item #: 8338
Zones: 3a to 8b, at least
Height: 54" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Blueberry Sundae' PP 23,891
Item #: 9455
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight'
Item #: 4218
Zones: 3a to 9b
Height: 53" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Cherries Jubilee' PP 23,907
Item #: 9452
Zones: 4a to 9b
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Dark Net'
Sold Out
Item #: 3949
Zones: 4a to 9b
Height: 60" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Grape Taffy' PP 26,587
Sold Out
Item #: 11293
Zones: 4a to 9b
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Ivory Towers' PP 26,827
Item #: 8738
Zones: 3a to 8b, at least
Height: 60" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' PP 24,280
Item #: 9453
Zones: 4a to 9b
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Lunar Eclipse' PP 25,875
Item #: 6077
Zones: 3a to 8b, at least
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'
Item #: 2190
Zones: 4a to 9b
Height: 50" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia 'Royal Candles' PPAF
Item #: 3262
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Height: 46" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
Baptisia sphaerocarpa 'Screamin' Yellow'
Sold Out
Item #: 5405
Zones: 5a to 9b, at least
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L) ?
More Information About Butterfly Attracting Plants
Butterfly garden plants
Many people love to garden because they enjoy nature and the beauty of plants. In addition, some flowering plants attract brightly colored wildlife to the garden whose kinetic energy and flashing colors greatly add to the visual appeal of nature. Butterflies are the most prized gardening accessory and we have searched through our enormous database of perennials to create this collection of the best butterfly attracting flowers for gardens.
What flowers attract butterflies? There are two types of butterfly attracting plants. The first type have flowers that provide nectar or fruit for adult butterflies, and the second type are host plants that provide food (leaves, pollen, etc.) for butterfly larvae (caterpillars). Each butterfly species has a small set of plants they prefer, so good butterfly gardens will contain a wide variety of butterfly attracting flowers to bring in the most diverse mix of lepidopterons.
As a general rule, the best butterfly attracting flowers produce clusters of colorful, tubular flowers. You should plant butterfly attracting plants together in large groups to provide an all-you-can-eat buffet for butterflies. Mix up the flowering dates so that your garden provides food all year long. In addition to plants, a good butterfly garden will provide shallow pools of drinking water, some flat stones for basking, and some shady, protected spots for butterflies to cool-down in and escape high winds. Remember not to spray insecticides on your butterfly garden in order to preserve the adults and caterpillars. In fact, good butterfly gardens should be well-chewed up.
The following is a list of the best flowers that attract butterflies available at Plant Delights Nursery. The list is divided into nectar plants and larvae host plants so when you design your butterfly garden, choose a variety of plants that attract butterflies from the nectar column and from the larvae column. When you are ready to buy butterfly attracting flowers for your butterfly garden, you can use the list below.
|
(What flowers attract butterflies?) List of nectar and fruit plants for adult butterflies
|
(What plants attract butterflies?) List of butterfly host plants for larval food and egg laying
|
Read our Butterfly plant articles
Top 25 Butterfly Garden Plants
Baptisia - Revenge of the Redneck Lupines
Buddleia - The Butterfly Bush
And our many blog postings about flowers that attract butterflies
