I used to think attracting butterflies was one of those Pinterest-level garden goals I’d never actually pull off. But wow, was I wrong.
Once I planted just a few butterfly-friendly plants, I started spotting Monarchs and Swallowtails fluttering through like my backyard was their favorite café.
And let me tell you, it’s addicting. Watching them land, dance, and feed is like free nature therapy.
If you’re looking to make your garden a butterfly haven, you don’t need a ton of space or a PhD in botany.
Just the right mix of nectar-rich plants (that butterflies LOVE) and a little bit of sunshine.
Let me show you the 15 best plants that butterflies can’t resist.
🌼 Why Bother Planting for Butterflies?
Creating a butterfly-friendly garden does way more than just make your yard pretty.
Butterflies are essential pollinators, especially for wildflowers and native plants. Plus, they’re part of the local food web, birds and small animals rely on them, too.
When you add butterfly plants, you’re basically helping nature thrive in your own backyard.
But here’s the part I really love, butterflies only show up where the environment is healthy.
So if you see them fluttering around, it’s a good sign you’ve created a safe space free from nasty chemicals and harsh landscaping.
It’s a little win for the planet, and a big win for your soul.
🌿 1. Milkweed (Asclepias)
If there’s one plant you absolutely need in a butterfly garden, it’s milkweed. Monarch butterflies can’t live without it, literally. Their caterpillars only eat milkweed, and Monarch moms won’t lay eggs on anything else. I added a patch of Asclepias tuberosa last year, and sure enough, the Monarchs found it fast!
- Essential for Monarchs
- Bold orange, pink, or white blooms
- Plant native varieties when possible
Must-know tip: Skip pesticides, milkweed is delicate and any chemicals can be deadly for caterpillars.
🌳 2. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
This one’s named for a reason. Butterfly bush is like the all-you-can-eat buffet for butterflies. The long, spiky flowers make perfect landing pads, and they’re just dripping with nectar. My butterfly bush gets swarmed during late summer afternoons, it’s like a mini airshow in my backyard.
- Huge bloom clusters in purple, pink, or white
- Blooms all summer into fall
- Thrives in sunny spots
Eco note: Choose sterile or non-invasive types like ‘Miss Molly’ to avoid spreading.
🌸 3. Coneflower (Echinacea)
These are such happy flowers, tough, colorful, and incredibly attractive to butterflies. I love watching swallowtails hang out on mine. Plus, they’re practically bulletproof in the garden. Even in dry spells, they hold up like champs and bloom their hearts out.
- Bright purple petals with raised orange centers
- Tolerant of drought and poor soil
- Supports pollinators and birds
Butterfly bonus: Let seed heads dry, goldfinches will thank you!
🌞 4. Lantana
Oh boy, lantana is a butterfly party in a plant. It’s always covered in neon clusters of yellow, pink, and orange. I keep one in a pot by my front porch and it’s constantly buzzing with wings. It LOVES heat and doesn’t mind a little neglect. Low maintenance and high reward? Yes please.
- Multicolored flowers bloom all season
- Great for containers and hot climates
- Tolerates drought once established
Heads up: Some varieties are invasive in warm zones, choose wisely!
🌼 5. Zinnias
Zinnias are one of the easiest ways to attract butterflies, even if you’re a total beginner. I planted a pack of seeds one summer and within weeks had a butterfly convention going on. They love how open the flowers are, it’s easy for them to land and feed. Plus, zinnias bloom nonstop!
- Direct sow for fast, colorful blooms
- Comes in every color under the sun
- Loved by Monarchs and Swallowtails alike
Tip: Deadhead often for more blooms, and more butterflies.
🌾 6. Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium)
This plant is a gentle giant. It towers at the back of the garden with fluffy, mauve flower heads, and every single bloom is a nectar magnet. If you’ve got some room to spare and love big impact with low effort, Joe-Pye is the way to go.
- Tall native wildflower, great for meadows
- Perfect nectar plant for late summer
- Loved by Monarchs, bees, and hummingbirds
Personal win: I planted one near my rain barrel and now I get bonus butterflies AND stormwater control.
🌻 7. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Nothing says “summer” like a big patch of Black-Eyed Susans. These yellow beauties are a pollinator favorite and work really well with native grasses or wildflowers. Butterflies love how open and easy they are to land on. Plus, they reseed like pros!
- Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant
- Blooms from midsummer through fall
- Great for large garden borders or wildflower beds
Pro tip: Pair with purple coneflowers for a stunning contrast that butterflies can’t resist.
🌺 8. Verbena
I adore verbena for its effortless charm. Whether you go for the trailing kind or the tall bonariensis variety, butterflies will find it. It’s one of those plants that just keeps blooming without fuss. Stick it in a sunny spot and it’ll reward you with color and pollinator visits all summer.
- Small, clustered blooms that butterflies flock to
- Great for hanging baskets or low borders
- Superb heat tolerance
Gardening hack: Mix with petunias or lantana for a stunning container display.
💐 9. Phlox
Phlox is all about color and fragrance, two things butterflies adore. I have a row of tall garden phlox in my backyard and they practically hum with life by mid-July. The sweet scent also adds such a nice vibe to summer evenings.
- Clusters of blooms in pink, white, purple, and lavender
- Fragrant and full of nectar
- Choose mildew-resistant varieties for better health
Design tip: Mix in both tall and creeping varieties for layered beauty.
🌼 10. Asters
If you want to help butterflies late in the season, asters are a must. They’re like the last open diner before migration. When most flowers are fading, asters are just getting started. And trust me, Monarchs will stop by for that nectar on their way south.
- Late bloomer, essential for fall butterflies
- Lavender, purple, or blue flowers with yellow centers
- Perfect for sunny beds and borders
Personal favorite: New England Aster, it’s super showy and butterfly-approved.
🌿 11. Salvia (Sage)
Salvia is a three-for-one pollinator plant, it attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. My garden bed with purple salvia is always buzzing. Plus, it smells amazing and keeps blooming with just a bit of deadheading. Win-win!
- Spiky blooms in blue, red, or violet
- Deer-resistant and drought-tolerant
- Perfect for borders or containers
Butterfly pick: Try ‘Mystic Spires Blue’, it’s a nectar powerhouse.
🌼 12. Marigolds
You’ve probably planted marigolds before, but did you know butterflies love them too? I used to grow them just for pest control, but now I scatter them throughout my beds to add bright color and draw in pollinators. Bonus, they’re crazy easy to grow.
- Classic gold, yellow, and orange blooms
- Naturally repel aphids and mosquitoes
- Great as companion plants
Pro tip: Stick them near herbs like basil and dill to create a butterfly-attracting combo.
🌿 13. Fennel
Fennel might seem like a veggie garden item, but it doubles as a host plant for Swallowtails! I had caterpillars munching mine last season, and though I lost some fronds, the butterfly payoff was 100% worth it. Don’t worry, they grow back.
- Feathery foliage adds garden texture
- Umbrella-shaped yellow flowers are great for pollinators
- Attracts and feeds Swallowtail caterpillars
Pro gardener tip: Plant extra if you plan to harvest, you’ll want to share with your caterpillar guests.
🌸 14. Purple Passionflower (Passiflora)
This one is a showstopper. I get asked about it all the time because the blooms look like something from a sci-fi movie. But aside from the beauty, passionflower is a host plant for Gulf Fritillary butterflies, and they absolutely love it.
- Dramatic purple flowers with a wild, frilly look
- Vining habit, perfect for fences or trellises
- Supports caterpillars and adult butterflies
Garden note: Can get aggressive in warm zones, so give it space.
🌿 15. Yarrow (Achillea)
Yarrow is like the quiet hero of my garden, reliable, attractive, and beloved by butterflies. It’s one of the first to bloom in spring and sticks around all summer. Its flat-topped flowers are ideal for butterflies to land on, and the feathery leaves are just lovely.
- Colors include white, yellow, red, and pink
- Tough, drought-tolerant, and pollinator-friendly
- Great filler plant for sunny borders
Hot tip: Cut back after flowering for a second round of blooms.
🌿 Wrapping It Up
Want to know the real secret to a magical butterfly garden? Consistency and patience. I didn’t get a full flutter of wings overnight—but wow, it was worth the wait.
Start small. Pick 3–4 of your favorites from this list and plant them in a sunny spot. Then sit back and enjoy the most beautiful guests your garden could ever have.
Once they come, you’ll never go back.