Butterflies are attracted to flowers for their nectar which provides them with the energy and nutrients they need to survive. While butterflies will visit many different flowers, they do tend to prefer flowers with certain characteristics.
Brightly Colored Flowers
Butterflies are visually oriented insects and are particularly attracted to flowers that are brightly colored, especially red, orange, yellow, pink and purple. Bright blooms like zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers and lantana are butterfly favorites.
The reason for this attraction is that butterflies can see color wavelengths that humans cannot. Butterfly eyes contain specialized photoreceptor cells called ommatidia that are sensitive to ultraviolet light. This allows them to see patterns on flowers that guide them to the nectar. Many brightly colored blossoms have ultraviolet markings on their petals that are invisible to humans but act as nectar guides for butterflies.
Clusters of Small Flowers
Butterflies tend to favor flowers that bloom in clusters, such as daisies, asters, coneflowers, and butterfly bushes. The clustered blooms allow butterflies easy access when they are foraging for nectar.
Small tubular flowers like phlox, petunias, verbena, and salvias are also butterfly magnets. Their narrow shape makes it easy for a butterfly to insert its long, straw-like proboscis inside the flower to sip nectar.
Fragrant Flowers
Butterflies use their sense of smell to locate nectar sources. They are often drawn to flowers that have a strong, sweet fragrance like lilacs, gardenias, jasmine, honeysuckle, and heliotrope.
These plants produce fragrant compounds called esters which butterflies can detect with sensory receptors on their antennae and palpi (small projections on the head). Catching the enticing scent from some distance away guides them right to the flower.
Flowers with Abundant Nectar
Butterflies need to consume large amounts of nectar for energy. They prefer flowers that produce a generous supply of nectar, which also has a high sugar content.
Some top nectar-producing blooms include:
- Lantana
- Verbena
- Butterfly bush
- Purple coneflower
- Zinnia
- Cosmos
- Salvia
- Yarrow
- Marigold
- Milkweed
Butterflies are also attracted to flowers that bloom continuously throughout the season, providing an ongoing nectar source.
Native Plants
Butterflies obtain the most benefit from feeding on flowers that are native to their habitat. Native plants have co-evolved with local butterflies and caterpillars and are best adapted to their nutritional needs.
Some great native flowers for attracting butterflies include:
- Milkweed
- Coneflowers
- Liatris
- Bee balm
- Goldenrod
- Vervain
- Cardinal flower
- Wild columbine
- Blue wild indigo
- Ironweed
Open Shape Flowers
Butterflies prefer flowers that have an open or flat shape which allows them easy access to the nectar. Daisy-type flowers like asters, coneflowers, tickseed, and black-eyed Susans have an open form that butterflies can perch on while feeding.
Umbrella-shaped flowers like parsley, fennel, dill and Queen Anne’s lace also provide easy feeding access for butterflies.
Red and Purple Flowers
While butterflies are attracted to flowers of many colors, they are especially drawn to red and purple blooms. This could be because these flower colors represent the best nectar sources.
In a study from Penn State University, researchers tracked foraging choices of different butterfly species. They found butterflies consistently preferred red and purple artificial flowers over other colors.
Some red and purple flowers that butterflies love include:
- Lantanas
- Verbenas
- Lilacs
- Impatiens
- Salvias
- Cardinal flowers
- Coneflowers
- Pentas
- Zinnias
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
In addition to herbaceous plants, butterflies visit many trees and shrubs to feed on their nectar-rich flowers. Some of their favorites include:
- Butterfly bush
- Lilac
- Honeysuckle
- Vitex
- Buddleia
- Abelia
- Weigela
- Bluebeard
- Dogwood
- Asclepias
- Golden raintree
- Buttonbush
- Russian sage
- Summersweet
Single Flowers
Butterflies seem to prefer single flower shapes with one set of petals instead of double flowers with many rows of petals. The nectaries on single blossoms are more easily accessible to butterflies.
Some examples of prime single-flower plants include:
- Sunflowers
- Daisies
- Coneflowers
- Verbena
- Petunias
- Marigolds
- Zinnias
- Cosmos
- Bachelor’s buttons
- Scabiosa
Flowers of Different Heights
Planting flowers of varying heights will attract more butterflies by providing flowers at different levels for feeding. The tiered arrangement also supplies more landing spaces.
Try combining:
- Tall flowers like cosmos, hollyhocks, sunflowers
- Mid-height flowers such as coneflowers, asters, verbenas
- Short flowers including zinnias, marigolds, alyssum
Varieties that Bloom at Different Times
Choosing flower varieties that have staggered bloom times will provide butterflies with nectar sources all season long.
Some examples of flowers that bloom in succession are:
- Early spring: crocuses, hyacinths, pansies
- Mid spring: columbines, bee balm, lavender
- Late spring: coneflowers, phlox, verbena
- Summer: butterfly bush, zinnias, cosmos
- Fall: asters, mums, sedums
Flowers Grouped Close Together
Butterflies are more apt to stop at flower patches that are grouped tightly together versus individual, isolated plants. Planting flowers in dense clumps or swaths provides better feeding opportunities for butterflies.
Some tips for planting flowers in cohesive groups:
- Set out at least 3 plants of the same variety together.
- Place different flower varieties near each other for a mixed patch.
- Use bold sweeps of color by massing many plants close together.
Sheltered Locations
Butterflies prefer flowers that are planted in warm, wind-protected sites. Sheltered flower beds give butterflies a reprieve from cold temperatures and windy conditions.
The best placement for butterfly flowers includes:
- Along walls, fences or buildings
- Beside large shrubs or trees
- In courtyard or patio areas
- Near a rain garden or pond
Conclusion
By choosing flowers with the characteristics that butterflies favor like bright colors, fragrance, abundant nectar and accessible shapes, you can create an inviting habitat that will draw in a bounty of butterflies. Focus on offering a variety of flowering plants that bloom continuously throughout the season for peak butterfly numbers in your garden.
