Imagine your garden alive with color, fragrance, and the fluttering beauty of butterflies. These delicate creatures not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor space but also play a vital role in pollination. Butterflies, such as monarchs, swallowtails, and red admirals rely on specific plants for nectar and as larval host plants. To create a butterfly haven, selecting the right flowers is key.
Incorporating native plants and flowering shrubs ensures the survival of many butterfly species, while also supporting beneficial insects and other pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. Certain blooms are not only visually stunning but also provide essential shelter, food, and breeding grounds for butterflies.
Let’s explore the best flowers to attract butterflies and turn your garden into a buzzing paradise filled with life and color.
Best Flowers for Butterflies
Choosing flowers that butterflies love is about understanding their needs. Butterflies are drawn to bright flower colors and plants rich in nectar. Here are some top choices, complete with their names, zones, sizes, and care tips:
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)

Summersweet is a fragrant flowering shrub that butterflies adore. With its clusters of tiny flowers in white or pink, this plant provides nectar late into the season when other blooms have faded. It attracts bees and other insects, ensuring a lively and beautiful backyard.
- Size: 4-8 feet tall, 4-6 feet wide
- USDA Zones: 4-9 (suitable for regions with minimum winter temperatures ranging from -30°F to 20°F)
- Tolerance: Summersweet is highly adaptable to moist, acidic soils and can withstand periodic flooding.
Care Tips:
Thrives in moist, well-drained soil and partial shade. Water regularly and prune after flowering to maintain shape.
Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta)

The “black eye” in black-eyed susans refers to the dark brown center of their daisy-like flower heads. They belong to the aster family (Asteraceae) and are native to eastern North America. These hardy perennials attract many species of butterflies and bees love their abundant nectar.
Butterflies love them and they’re also beneficial for other pollinators like bees and hummingbirds.
- Size: 2-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
- USDA Zones: 3-9 (can tolerate winter temperatures as low as -40°F)
- Tolerance: Black-Eyed Susans are drought-tolerant and thrive in various soil types, from sandy to clay.
Care Tips:
Plant in well-drained soil under full sun. Remove spent blooms to promote additional flowering.
Zinnias (Zinnia spp.)

Zinnia is a warm-season annual flower in the Asteraceae (daisy) family, known for its upright growth, bold colors, and wide, flat blooms that serve as ideal landing pads. Zinnias are classified into three types based on floral structure:
- Single: A single row of petals with a visible center.
- Double: Multiple petal rows with a concealed center.
- Semi-double: Multiple petal rows with a visible center.
Zinnias are an excellent choice if you’re looking to attract bees and other pollinators. Their nectar helps sustain caterpillars and adult butterflies. They are available in almost every flower color including blue flowers, and thrive in summer.
- Size: 1-4 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
- USDA Zones: Annual (replanted yearly, suitable for all zones during summer)
- Tolerance: Zinnias are heat-tolerant and thrive in well-draining soils, making them ideal for hot summers.
Care Tips:
Grow in full sun with well-draining soil. Water at the base to prevent fungal diseases.
Salvia (Salvia spp.)

Salvia is a genus of approximately 960 species of herbaceous and woody plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae). Known for its tall spikes of tubular blue, purple, red, or pink flowers. It is a favorite for both butterflies and beneficial insects. Salvia’s long growing season ensures bees enjoy the blooms.
- Size: 1-4 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide
- USDA Zones: 4-10 (depending on species, tolerates winter temperatures down to -30°F)
- Tolerance: Salvia is drought-tolerant and resilient to dry conditions, making it an excellent choice for low-water gardens.
Care Tips:
Requires full sun and well-drained soil. Deadhead regularly for continuous blooming.
Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)

Marigold comprises about 50 species of annual herbs belonging to the Asteraceae (aster) family. Their bright orange and yellow blooms are rich in nectar and attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. These flowering plants are easy to grow and help repel pests, creating a harmonious balance with other insects in the garden. Their pollen is another bonus for pollinators.
- Size: 6 inches to 3 feet tall, 6 inches to 2 feet wide
- USDA Zones: Annual (replanted yearly, suitable for all zones during summer)
- Tolerance: Marigolds are highly adaptable and can tolerate poor soils, thriving in sunny conditions with minimal care.
Care Tips:
Plant in full sun and water moderately. Remove faded flowers to prolong blooming.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Butterfly weed is a long-lived herbaceous perennial belonging to the milkweed family, Apocynaceae. It is a staple for butterfly gardens, especially for monarch butterflies which rely on milkweed as larval host plants.
Its bright orange blooms are irresistible to pollinators, including bees and red admiral butterflies. By adding butterfly weed, you’ll encourage the presence of larvae and bring butterflies to your yard.
- Size: 1-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
- USDA Zones: 3-9 (thrives in regions with winter temperatures as low as -40°F)
- Tolerance: Butterfly weed is drought-tolerant and thrives in dry, sandy soils with excellent drainage.
Care Tips:
Plant in sunny, well-drained areas. Avoid overwatering and let the soil dry between waterings.
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Anise hyssop, a short-lived perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae), features lavender-purple spikes and licorice-scented leaves that attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. Native to prairies, forests, and fields across the Midwest, Great Plains, and Canada. It is ideal for pollinator gardens, providing pesticide-free nectar.
- Size: 2-4 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
- USDA Zones: 4-9 (tolerates winter temperatures down to -30°F)
- Tolerance: Anise hyssop is cold-tolerant and can thrive in poor, well-draining soils with minimal water requirements.
Care Tips:
Grow in full sun with well-drained soil. Cut back in early spring for fresh growth.
Lantana (Lantana camara)

Lantana is a genus of over 150 shrubs in the verbena family (Verbenaceae), native to tropical America and Africa. Their multicolored flowers and long blooming season attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators. This beautiful flowering shrub thrives in containers and works well in any garden layout. It is also a great way to add diversity to your backyard.
Size: 1-6 feet tall, 1-4 feet wide
USDA Zones: 8-11 (perennial in warm climates, annual in cooler zones)
Tolerance: Lantana is heat-tolerant and can thrive in dry, sandy or rocky soils, making it ideal for arid climates.
Care Tips:
Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Prune to encourage bushy growth.
Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)

Bottlebrushes belonging to the genus Callistemon, are part of the Myrtaceae family. The bottlebrush buckeye’s white, bottlebrush-shaped flower spikes are irresistible to butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. This shrub’s nectar supports many species of insects, while its seeds provide food for birds, adding even more diversity to your garden ecosystem.
- Size: 6-12 feet tall, 8-15 feet wide
- USDA Zones: 4-8 (tolerates winter temperatures down to -30°F)
- Tolerance: Bottlebrush buckeye can tolerate partial shade and moist, heavy soils, thriving in woodland garden settings.
Care Tips:
Prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Mulch around the base to retain moisture.
Conclusion
Creating a butterfly-friendly garden is a rewarding experience that connects you with nature and enhances your outdoor space. By planting flowers as summersweet, black-eyed Susans, zinnias, salvia, and others mentioned, you’ll attract a variety of butterfly species while supporting the environment.
Incorporating native plants, nectar-rich blooms, flowering shrubs, and herbs will not only bring more butterflies but also support their entire lifecycle, from caterpillars to adult butterflies. Additionally, you’ll provide essential food sources for other pollinators, like bees, hummingbirds, and even birds who feed on seeds.
The benefits of a butterfly garden extend beyond aesthetics, promoting biodiversity and creating a harmonious ecosystem in your backyard.