Create Your Own Butterfly Paradise With These 35 Plants and Flowers That Attract Butterflies

When shopping for flowers in springtime, it is easy to get a little carried away. So many blooms to choose from, and they are all so pretty! It can be hard to pick a favorite, but plants and flowers that attract butterflies have to be at the top of my list.

While plant-shopping, I find myself usually hauling around one of those large-wheeled carts (completely full, by the way) around the local greenhouse, with rows and rows of plants still to choose from. I normally do what any (sane, but plant-crazy) person would do, and start stuffing my mom’s cart too, hoping she won’t notice.

Then the not-so-fun parts happen—paying for all of those flowers, unloading all of those flowers and then planting all of those flowers. But I am telling you, after all of that, looking around and seeing all of those flowers? Totally worth it!

While I'm a big fan of many types of greenery, in the past, it never dawned on me that with a little research, I could plant specific plants to attract my favorite beautiful, magical creatures—butterflies! I just thought that butterflies liked all flowers.

In reality, certain flowers will bring butterflies near—not only thanks to their color, but nectar content too. So, if you love butterflies as well and would like your yard and garden flooded with them, then you are my peeps.

I have done all of the work for you—just check out the list below to find out the best 35 plants to attract butterflies around your home.

With a little planning and planting, this summer you can make your garden, porch or flower beds a butterfly oasis!

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What plant attracts butterflies the most?

Believe it or not, butterflies really like trees—especially those that flower. They provide them with a sustainable food reserve for their eventual caterpillars (from laying eggs on the underside of tree leaves), shelter and water.

But not everybody has room for trees in their landscape, and that’s okay. There are quite a few plants that are also attractive hosts to butterflies, as well as nectar sources. Making sure your plants are eye-catching and offer the right amount of nectar content, protection and/or water will help bring butterflies in, and keep them coming in, for the entire summer.

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What can I put in my backyard to attract butterflies?

Nectar is a critical food source for adult butterflies. Nectar provides nutrients to butterflies such as sugar, proteins, enzymes and vitamins. Some foliage can offer more nectar than others for butterflies. If the area you are planting in offers them a better food surplus, then they will keep coming back again and again, or just take up residency.

Always use some caution when choosing your blossoming plants. Although they are charming and helpful in attracting butterflies, some floras are deterrents to insects (which butterflies are) like mosquitos and some can even be poisonous for your dog.

Just double-check that you are picking those that are best for your needs, and you will have a fluttering-fantastic summer season, filled with magnificent butterflies!

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35 Plants and flowers that attract butterflies

1. Ageratum

Ageratum Blue Ageratum Houstonianum Seeds for Planting 400+ Garden Flowers Seeds

What a fun, fuzzy little flower that comes in blue, pink, white, lavender or even red blossoms. They are tough little plants that are great for edging and borders. Their budding starts in early spring and will last all the way to the first frost. Ageratums are one of the first food-providing flowers in the springtime for butterflies.

2. Alfalfa

Not a plant that the common gardener might plant, but worthy of our list anyway. Alfalfa is a hearty crop planted by many farmers and primarily used as a high protein feed for dairy cows, but alternatively used for beef cattle, horses and sheep. Some butterflies like laying their eggs on the alfalfa. After a couple of days, they hatch and the larvae feed on the leaves, and eventually become butterflies.

Could you just imagine how incredible it would be to walk an alfalfa field, while it is covered in butterflies?

Related: OMG, You'll Definitely Want These Ear-resistable 'Bunny Succulents' for Your Home This Spring

3. Allium

Allium look like fun colorful puff balls. Butterflies enjoy them because they have a plethora of sweet nectar as well as large and comfortable landing spots. Not only are allium nearly pest and disease-resistant but the deer and rabbits also don't really care for them either. This is definitely a win-win plant for your garden this summer.

Millenium Flowering Onion Perennial - Allium - Gallon Pot

4. Arrowwood Viburnum

Arrowwood Viburnum Tree Live Plant (Viburnum Dentatum), 8-12 Inc Tall Live Plant for Garden

The arrowwood viburnum is a hardy, and rather large plant. It would be best planted along fences or used as a hedge, as they can reach anywhere between six to 15 feet tall. But you will absolutely see butterflies enjoying the white flowers while in bloom. After that, the birds will come in and take over enjoying the berries that come after the flowers fall off.

5. Aster

Butterflies can still be hanging around later into the fall months of September and October. It is vital that people keep late-blooming plants like asters in their gardens for them to fill up on before their trek southward. These delicate daisy-like flowers come in a variety of colors and are suitable for any landscape.

Green Promise Farms s Woods Aster Live Shurb Plant, 2 Size Container, purple flower

6. Bee Balm

If any flower could be described as a hot mess, it would be the Bee Balm. Its flowers are shaped like a shaggy puffball, but their looks do not matter to hummingbirds or butterflies. They absolutely love bee balm—especially the red ones!

3 Live Electric Pink Monarda Beebalm Starter Perennial Plants. Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds

7. Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (Black Eyed Susan) Perennial, yellow flowers, 1 - Size Container

Hands-down, one of my favorites! Black-eyed Susans bloom from June-August and are cherished by pollinators like bees and butterflies. They can be described as resilient, drought-resistant and tough-as-nails. Black-eyed Susans tend to be broad plants, growing anywhere from one to three feet tall. Pay attention to the variety you get—they can be annual, biannual or perennial plants.

8. Black Willow

24 Black Willow Tree Cuttings - Beautiful Shade and Privacy Tree - Grow Trees Two Dozen (24) Black Willow Live Trees

One of only two trees to make it on our list, the black willow is a fantastic inclusion to anyone's property. Black willows like moist areas, garnishing the nickname "swamp willow." Its flowers are lovely cascading yellow, quite enticing for butterflies.

9. "Bright Lights" African White Daisy

4.25 in. Eco+Grande Bright Lights White African Daisy (Osteospermum) Live Plant, White Flowers (4-Pack)

These fabulous daisy-like flowers are a nice filler in gardens as they spread easily. Bright lights are delightfully chromatic flowers that do not require deadheading (snipping off dead flowers) and will quickly regenerate new flowers all season long. They are pollinator attractors, including our precious butterflies.

10. Butterfly Bush

The name says it all! The butterfly bush allures all kinds of insects, not just butterflies. They can grow to be rather large bushes, but make a great corner piece to a yard, or along a fence line. Mine is a very light pink color, and it is by far the favorite of butterflies, in my flower beds.

Cottage Hill Buddleia, 3-N-1 Butterfly Bush Collection-6 Piece Live Plant, Multi-Colored

11. Butterfly Weed

American Plant Exchange Live Milkweed Plant, Host for Monarch Butterflies, Plant Pot for Home and Garden Decor, 6" Pot

Butterfly weed has copious amounts of nectar and is a must-have for butterflies coming into your gardens. Not only a great food source for a variety of butterflies, but it is a host plant for swallowtail butterflies. It has unique orange flowers that continuously bloom, with little care. It is in the milkweed family, and is usually one of the last emerging plants you will see during spring.

12. Candy Tuft

Greenwood Nursery/Live Perennial Plants - Candytuft + Iberis Sempervirens - [Qty: 3X Pint Pots] - (Click for More Options/Quantities)

These exquisite plants develop blossoms later in spring. They are ground cover perennials, that are just a treat to have in one's garden. Enjoyed by all—not just the butterflies!

13. Cabbage

Vegetables to attract butterflies? Most definitely! Creamy White Cabbage Butterflies are one of the first to come out during spring, and fly to the underside of cabbage leaves to lay their eggs. The little larvae find cabbage quite tasty and are often a sore spot for gardeners, as they can ravage a garden quickly. But you could plant some, without intending to eat them, and it would provide the possibility of all three life cycles for this particular butterfly.

Early Flat Dutch Cabbage Plant - 2.5" Pot - Easy to Grow!

14. Daffodils

It is so gratifying to have daffodils spring up in your gardens. They are tenacious plants that grow from a bulb. I have seen daffodils pop up during a snowstorm, so they are stout. Daffodil's bright-colored, cheerful flowers enchant butterflies, and is a popular choice for Monarch butterflies.

Wild Daffodil (Bulbs) Buttercup, Lent Lily (YUN2) (Narcissus PSEUDONARCISSUS) (25 Bulbs)

15. Dill

Bonnie Plants Fernleaf Dill - 4 Pack Live Plants, 18 - 24 Inch Tall Plants, Warm-Season Annual Plant, Dips, Soups, Vinegars & Salads

Not all plants are used for nectar by butterflies, they also need hosts for their eggs. Dill is a great choice to get butterflies to stay permanently in your gardens for the season. Swallowtails especially like to lay eggs on the herb to feed their caterpillars.

16. Eastern Cottonwood

Eastern Cottonwood Tree Plant, 2-3 ft Tall Plant for Gardening

Another tree that is popular for butterfly's nesting habits. The eastern cottonwood is popular for the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, which is a large (up to five-inch wingspan) black and yellow butterfly. Now, wouldn't that be lovely to have a huge hatching of butterflies on your property? If you are in the tree-planting mood, this one is a butterfly frontrunner.

17. False Indigo

American Beauties Native Plants - Baptisia australis (Blue Indigo) Perennial, blue flowers, #2 - Size Container

A false indigo plant can have large, upright leaves that are greyish-green in color. During April-June, you can see their indigo-blue flowers blooming. You can also catch butterflies flooding to this flower for food the entire time they are in blossom.

18. Firewheel (AKA Indian Blanket)

This is an easy-to-establish wildflower. It will come back year after year for you to enjoy its fire-red, orange and yellow blooms. It provides nectar to many pollinators, particularly favored by butterflies.

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19. Goldenrod

The multitude of yellow flowers on each plant hold an abundance of nectar and pollen for butterflies and bees to savor. As your summer plants are dwindling off, the golden rod is just getting started. Lasting through fall, this flower will be buzzing with all sorts of bug activity.

Garden-Worthy Goldenrod Plants (12)

20. Hollyhock

A tall host plant for butterflies, the hollyhock can reach up to 8 feet tall, developing pretty flowers that come in an array of colors. Painted lady butterflies especially like to use this plant for their developing larvae's food cache.

Single Hollyhock Pink Flower Alcea Rosea Live Plant in 3.5' Pot

21. Lantana

Lantana Rose Live Plant for Garden Flower Live Plant in 4 Inc Pot

The lantana is known for its vine-like characteristics, making it an outstanding choice for planters and hanging baskets. The flowers are rounded clusters of tiny, multi-colored (and an almost florescent mixture) of either yellow, orange, white, red, pink, blue or purple. The vibrancy is what attracts the butterflies to this plant, and once they find the lantanas, they will keep on coming back for more.

22. Licorice

Licorice Plant Seeds (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Packet of 20 Seeds

Although this is a drought-resistant outdoor plant, and can tolerate a lot of climate change, it also makes a great plant that you can take back inside during winter. Plus, if you overwinter a licorice plant, you may get its little white flowers to peak out. Its subtle licorice scent does make it detestable to a lot of insects, but some butterflies will use it for their young to feast on when they hatch.

23. Lilac

Butterflies love lilacs. But who doesn't? What is not to love about these clustered, dreamy-smelling lavender flowers? The lilac shrub is a perfect butterfly-feeding combination because of its fragrance, color and flower arrangements.

Bonnie Plants Lavender Live Edible Aromatic Herb Plant - 4 Pack, 12 - 14 in. Tall Plant, Baking, Teas, Sugars, Jellies

24. Maltese Cross

Producing larger clusters of crimson flower clusters from June-August, Maltese cross plants are a preferred choice for butterflies. They are to be planted in partial sun and moderately wet soil.

Maltese Cross - Perennial

25. Milkweed

Tropical Milkweed Plant Live Red Milkweed Plant Asclepias Plant 12" Tall

Milkweed is a host plant for Monarch butterflies. But its nectar provides food to many other species besides the Monarch. Make sure that you have plenty of room when planting milkweed—it is a prolific re-seeder and can quickly take over a space.

26. Pasture Thistle

If you have some larger property and are looking to plant a meadow garden or naturalized area, then pasture thistle is the perfect addition. The flowers are short-lived, yet a showy purple color. Pasture thistle is an excellent host plant for butterflies.

27. Purple Coneflower

Another daisy-like plant, the purple coneflower emits a slight vanilla sent after pollination. Butterflies and many other pollinators are attracted to its dark lavender color, making it a must-have in your garden this season. The butterflies will thank you for planting purple coneflowers through their continued presence.

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28. Red Hot Poker Plants

Also called a torch lily, this loveliness is aptly named. They are herbaceous perennials that stand up to five feet tall and practically shout at the butterflies for them to come and try their sweet nectar!

2 Kniphofia Poker Red Hot Plants Live Bareroots - Kniphofia Plants

29. Sedum

You may know it as stonecrop, sedum is not as showy as other flowers, but that doesn't stop the butterflies from flocking to its late-season blooms. Just look at all of the butterflies you could see on your sedum: Buckeyes, Gray Hairstreaks, Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Pearl Crescents, Pepper & Salt Skippers, Silver-Spotted Skippers and Fritillaries.

Sedum spectabilis Autumn Joy (Stonecrop) Perennial, pink flowers, 1 - Size Container

30. Scarlet Sage

Salvia Red Live Plant Scarlet Sage 4” Pot

If you want butterflies in your garden, then don't forget about the scarlet sage. They are dependable, long-lasting red stalks of tubular flowers. Butterflies will be fighting over getting the best nectar out of your scarlet sage this summer.

31. Shasta Daisy

Larger and more robust than your typical roadside daisy, the shasta daisy is quite a bright, white addition you anyone's garden. Make sure you keep them contained, like in a flowerbed, because they can spread rapidly when not kept in check. But man, oh man, do the butterflies love them. Consider the shasta if you have the space for them. You won't be sorry if you do.

Shasta Daisy (5 Live Plants: Bare-Roots)

32. Sunflower

Did you know that there are 70 different sunflower species?

So many choices on which to plant, but butterflies love them all. They provide a nice large, flat surface for them to land on. The middle of the sunflower is actually made up of a bunch of smaller flowers (Each flower produces a seed!) creating a decent amount of nectar for butterflies. And since some sunflower varieties bloom in either summer or autumn, butterflies will be swarming your place for quite a while if you have them around your property. The later-blooming sunflowers are perfect for fueling migrating butterflies.

33. Verbena

Live Verbena Plant - Assorted Colors (3 Plants Per Pack) - Healthy Flowering Plant - Beautiful Spring Color - 10" Tall by 5" Wide in 1Qt Pot

This common herb asks for little when it comes to its care and growing, is full of nectar and is a butterfly magnet. Countless types of butterflies have been known to visit the verbena. Not only is this plant a great food source for adult butterflies, but it is used as a host plant too. The verbena helps butterflies through all stages of life; how cool is that?

34. Violets

Live African Violet Plant, Light Blue Flower Plant 4 Inc Pot Planting Ornaments Perennial Garden Simple to Grow Pot Gifts

It takes more than bright-colored and nectar-rich flowers to increase your butterfly visitor numbers. You also need those hosting-type plants as well.

Butterflies can be picky about where they put their eggs. One of their favorites are violets, and after hatching from their eggs, the caterpillars love chewing on the leaves of this plant.

35. Zinnia

If you love big, exquisite butterflies, then zinnias are essential to your garden. Zinnias grow tall, and their boisterous blooms will bring in hummingbirds and butterflies like Monarchs and Swallowtails.

TomorrowSeeds - Pom Pom Pompon Zinnia Seeds - 50+ Count Packet - USA Garden Flower Rainbow Colorful Lilliput Sunflower Rose Live Plant

After researching and making this list, I found that I inadvertently have quite a few of these plants already in my flower garden. But I am already planning on adding a few more.

Next up, Cloudy Day? No Problem! 19 Best Vegetables and Plants To Grow in the Shade