Butterflies are attracted to brightly colored, fragrant flowers that provide nectar. Some of the best perennial flowers for butterflies include:
Coneflowers
Coneflowers like Echinacea and Rudbeckia attract butterflies with their bright petals and accessible nectar. They bloom throughout summer and into fall. Some popular coneflower varieties for butterflies include:
| Echinacea purpurea | Purple coneflower |
| Rudbeckia hirta | Black-eyed Susan |
| Rudbeckia fulgida | Orange coneflower |
Lantana
Lantana features clusters of small, brightly colored flowers that bloom spring to fall. Butterflies love visiting the flowers for nectar. Some lantana varieties that attract butterflies:
| Lantana camara | Common lantana |
| Lantana montevidensis | Trailing lantana |
| Lantana trifolia | Three-leaf lantana |
Verbena
Low-growing verbena varieties produce colorful clusters of small flowers from spring through fall. Butterflies like the nectar-rich blooms. Some verbena varieties for butterflies:
| Verbena bonariensis | Tall verbena |
| Verbena canadensis | Rose verbena |
| Verbena rigida | Sandpaper verbena |
Butterfly Bush
As the name suggests, butterfly bushes (Buddleia species) are magnets for butterflies. Their cone-shaped flower clusters have an irresistible appeal. Some top butterfly bush varieties:
| Buddleia davidii | Orange-eye butterfly bush |
| Buddleia alternifolia | Fountain butterfly bush |
| Buddleia x weyeriana | Honeycomb butterfly bush |
Aster
Late summer and fall-blooming asters provide an important nectar source when other flowers are scarce. Some asters that attract butterflies:
| Aster novae-angliae | New England aster |
| Aster oblongifolius | Aromatic aster |
| Aster x frikartii | Frikart’s aster |
Sedum
Also called stonecrop, sedum produces clustered star-shaped flowers that bloom summer into fall. Butterflies frequent the nectar-rich, flat-topped flower heads. Some top sedum varieties for butterflies:
| Sedum telephium | Orpine stonecrop |
| Sedum spurium | Dragon’s blood stonecrop |
| Sedum spectabile | Showy stonecrop |
Phlox
Summer-blooming phlox provides tubular flowers that give butterflies a good nectar meal. Some phlox varieties that attract butterflies:
| Phlox paniculata | Garden phlox |
| Phlox maculata | Meadow phlox |
| Phlox divaricata | Wild blue phlox |
Goldenrod
A classic fall bloomer, goldenrod offers an abundant nectar source when other flowers are scarce. Butterflies flock to the tiny, yellow flowers. Some top goldenrod species for butterflies:
| Solidago rugosa | Rough goldenrod |
| Solidago caesia | Wreath goldenrod |
| Solidago speciosa | Showy goldenrod |
Zinnia
This popular annual lights up gardens with colorful, daisy-like flowers that attract butterflies all season long. Some top zinnia varieties for butterflies:
| Zinnia elegans | Common zinnia |
| Zinnia angustifolia | Narrowleaf zinnia |
| Zinnia haageana | Mexican zinnia |
Salvia
Also called sage, salvia produces tubular flowers in shades of red, blue, purple, pink, and white. Butterflies can’t resist visiting the nectar-rich blooms. Some top salvia varieties for butterflies:
| Salvia guaranitica | Anise-scented sage |
| Salvia farinacea | Mealycup sage |
| Salvia leucantha | Mexican bush sage |
Marigold
This hardy annual lights up gardens with brightly colored flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators. Some top marigold varieties for butterflies:
| Tagetes erecta | African marigold |
| Tagetes patula | French marigold |
| Tagetes tenuifolia | Signet marigold |
Milkweed
All milkweed species are butterfly magnets, as they serve as the host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Plus, the vibrant flowers provide nectar for adults. Some top milkweeds for monarchs:
| Asclepias tuberosa | Butterfly weed |
| Asclepias incarnata | Swamp milkweed |
| Asclepias syriaca | Common milkweed |
Liatris
Also called blazing star, liatris features dense spikes of fluffy, nectar-rich flowers that bloom mid to late summer. Butterflies flock to them. Some top liatris varieties for butterflies:
| Liatris spicata | Dense blazing star |
| Liatris ligulistylis | Meadow blazing star |
| Liatris pycnostachya | Prairie blazing star |
Conclusion
To attract a variety of colorful butterflies to your garden, plant an assortment of nectar-rich perennial flowers that bloom in succession from spring through fall. Good options include coneflowers, lantana, verbena, butterfly bush, aster, sedum, phlox, goldenrod, zinnia, salvia, marigold, milkweed, and liatris. Focus on native plants when possible and include some late season bloomers like asters and goldenrods to feed migrating butterflies in fall. With the right flowers, your garden will soon be fluttering with beautiful butterflies.
