To create a successful butterfly garden certain key elements are needed. Providing food, water and shelter will attract the greatest variety of butterflies. A diverse combination of host and nectar plants will provide food for caterpillars and adults. Keep an area of soil or a flat container of sand moist as a water source. Butterflies do appreciate a shady spot to rest on hot days. Provide a few flat stones in the sun at the gardens edge for warming wings for flight. Below are plants recommended to attract these winged beauties.
Host |
Nectar |
Alcea Rosea | Achillea |
Amorpha | Asclepias-Common Milkweed/Butterfly Weed |
Antirrhinum Major | Asters |
Aquilegia | Coreopsis |
Artemisia | Cosmos |
Aster | Echinacea |
Baptisia | Eupatorium-Boneset/Joe Pye |
Cassia | Lavandula |
Chelone | Liatris |
Dill | Monarda |
Fennel-Bronze & Sweet | Phlox |
Grasses | Rudbeckia |
Lupinus | Salvia |
Malva | Sedum |
Petroselinum | Solidago |
Sedges | Viola |
Sedum | Zinnia |
Tagetes | |
Viola |