Butterfly Garden Plant Lists

Suggested Plants for a Butterfly Garden

To successfully attract butterflies and keep them visiting, you will want to plant a variety of both host and nectar plants. Some plants will serve both purposes. Host plants are species specific - attracting only the butterflies whose caterpillars will eat that type of plant. Planting parsley, for example, will attract female black swallowtails, but will do nothing to attract monarchs or fritillaries.

Try to incorporate a variety of plants with a variety of heights and bloom times.

The lists below are general suggestions, but for more regional-specific information, you may want to contact your local native plant society, agriculture department, extension service, or master gardening program.

Nectar Plants

bee balm, Monarda spp.
black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia spp.
bluebeard, Caryopteris
coneflower, Echinacea spp.
coreopsis, Coreopsis spp.
dogbane, Apocynum spp.
goldenrod, Solidage spp.
ironweed, Vernonia spp.
Joe Pye weed, Eupatorium fistulosum
lantana, Viburnum spp.
marigold, Tagete spp.(single petal varieties)
Mexican sunflower, Tithonia spp.
milkweed, Asclepias spp.
New England aster, Aster novae-angliae
phlox, Phlox spp.
pincushion flower, Scabiosa spp.
pink live-forever, Sedum alboroseum
sweet William, Dianthus barbatus
thistles, Centaurea and Cirsium sp.
verbena, Verbena spp.
white alyssum, Alyssum spp.
zinnia, Zinnia spp.

The following are shrubs whose blooms provide nectar:

butterfly bush, Buddleia spp.
fruit trees, various
lilac, Syringa vulgaris
privet, Ligustrum spp.
redbud, Cercis canadensis
rose of Sharon, Hibisucs syriacus
spicebush, Spirea spp.
sumacs, Rhus spp.

Host Plants

daisies
hackberry
citrus plants
parsley
fennel
dill
rue
violets
turtlehead, plantain
Queen Anne's lace
snapdragon
hops
nettles
wild cherry
aster
passion flower vine
milkweed
willow
clover
hollyhock
mallow
spicebush
sassafras
pawpaw

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