30 Flowers Guaranteed to Draw Butterflies to Your Garden

Garden Flowers
By Ella Brown

Creating a vibrant butterfly garden is an enchanting way to add life and color to your outdoor space.

By including flowers that are known to attract butterflies, you not only provide them with nectar but also promote biodiversity in your garden.

Here are 30 stunning flowers, each guaranteed to draw these beautiful creatures to your garden.

1. Milkweed

© Google

Milkweed is essential for monarch butterflies as it is the only plant on which they lay their eggs. Its vibrant pink and orange flowers are a magnet for a variety of butterfly species.

2. Coneflower

© Setting for Four Interiors

Coneflowers are hardy plants with purple, daisy-like petals that attract butterflies with their abundant nectar.

3. Butterfly Bush

© The Home Depot

The butterfly bush is aptly named for its ability to draw butterflies with its fragrant and nectar-rich flowers that bloom all summer long.

4. Lantana

© Mary at Home is Where the Boat is

Lantana is known for its bright and colorful flowers that provide a rich source of nectar for butterflies, making it a garden favorite.

5. Zinnia

© House Digest

Zinnias come in a rainbow of colors and are easy to grow, attracting butterflies with their flat, daisy-like heads.

6. Aster

© Pinterest

Asters bloom in late summer to fall, providing a crucial nectar source for butterflies preparing for migration.

7. Marigold

© American Meadows

Marigolds are easy to grow and their sunny blooms are a favorite among butterflies and other pollinators.

8. Salvia

© Nancy Oparka

Salvias are known for their tall spikes of blue or purple flowers that are a rich source of nectar for butterflies.

9. Phlox

© Jeanne Grunert

Phlox offers fragrant flowers in shades of pink, white, and purple, attracting butterflies with its sweet scent.

10. Sunflower

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Sunflowers are not only stunning to look at but provide a landing platform and nectar source for butterflies.

11. Verbena

© Mary

Verbena is a summer favorite with clusters of small purple flowers that butterflies find irresistible.

12. Joe-Pye Weed

© Ashley Scott

Joe-Pye weed stands tall in gardens and meadows, attracting butterflies with its pinkish-purple flowers.

13. Black-Eyed Susan

© Ozarkedgewildflowers

Black-eyed Susans are cheerful flowers that provide a stunning contrast with their dark centers and attract many types of butterflies.

14. Coreopsis

© National Garden Bureau

Coreopsis is known for its sun-loving yellow flowers that brighten up gardens and attract butterflies.

15. Bee Balm

© Mary at Home is Where the Boat is

Bee balm has distinctive, tubular flowers that are highly attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.

16. Goldenrod

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Goldenrod blooms in late summer, offering abundant nectar to butterflies during their migration period.

17. Blanket Flower

© Puri Inglesias

Blanket flowers have red and yellow daisy-like blooms that are a vibrant addition to any garden, enticing butterflies.

18. Cosmos

© DhaliasAndDaisy

Cosmos feature airy, delicate flowers that sway in the wind, providing butterflies with both nectar and shelter.

19. Purple Coneflower

© American Meadows

Purple coneflower is an irresistible attraction for butterflies, offering ample nectar with its open, daisy-like blooms.

20. Catmint

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Catmint produces spikes of tiny purple flowers with a minty aroma that is appealing to butterflies.

21. Alyssum

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Alyssum’s low-growing, fragrant clusters of white and purple flowers are a favorite stop for butterflies.

22. Lavender

© Fast Growing Trees

Lavender is not only aromatic but its violet flowers are a butterfly favorite, providing nectar and a calming scent.

23. Petunia

© Glenda’s World

Petunias are versatile, colorful flowers that attract butterflies with their sweet nectar and vibrant hues.

24. Yarrow

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Yarrow features clusters of tiny yellow or white flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators to the garden.

25. Nasturtium

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Nasturtiums are easy to grow and their bright, peppery flowers entice both butterflies and beneficial insects.

26. Daylily

© National Gardening Assoc.

Daylilies offer vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that attract butterflies with their rich nectar supply.

27. Sedum

© Midwest Living

Sedum plants have star-shaped flowers that provide a late-summer nectar source for butterflies.

28. Blue Mistflower

© Sheffield’s Seed co.

Blue mistflower blooms in late summer to fall, with fluffy blue flowers that attract butterflies seeking nectar.

29. Fennel

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Fennel serves as both a host plant for butterfly larvae and a nectar source with its umbrella-like yellow flowers.

30. Hibiscus

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Hibiscus features large, exotic flowers in various colors that provide butterflies with ample nectar and a stunning visual display.