gardening for butterflies

Excellent Nectar Flowers to Attract Butterflies

Purple coneflower (perennial) A+
Shasta daisy (perennial) A+
Black Eyed-Susan (perennial)
Liatris (perennial) A+
Aster (annual)
Coreopsis (perennial)
Butterfly weed (perennial)
Butterfly bush (perennial bush) A+
Marigold (annual)
Aster (annual)
Zinnia (annual) A+
Cosmos (annual)
Lavender (perennial herb)
Gaillardia (perennial)
Yarrow (perennial)
Globe thistle (perennial) A+
Sedum (perennial)
Phlox (perennial)
Allium (bulb perennial)
Lilac bush (perennial shrub)
Pin cushion flower (perennial)
Sweet William (bi-perennial)
Chives (perennial herb)

Alfalfa – Common or Clouded Sulphur
Aster – Pearl Crescent
Birch – Tiger Swallowtail, Compton Tortoiseshell, White Admiral,
Cherry – Tiger Swallowtail
Nettle – Red Admiral
Grasses – Northern Pearly Eye, Little Wood Satyr, Large Wood Nymph, Tawny-edged Skipper, Long Dash
Vetch – Silvery Blue
Dogwood – Spring Azure
Parsley or Queen Anne’s Lace (wild carrot) – Black Swallowtail
Milk weed - Monarch
Thistle – Painted Lady
Poplar – Mourning Cloak
Violet - Variegated and Great Spangled Fritillary
Hollyhocks - Painted Lady and Checkered Skippers
Prickly ash – Giant Swallowtail

Butterflies are attracted to gardens that have everything right there for them. They have nectar plants to drink from and host plants to lay their eggs on. They have sunlight and shelter. If you provide all of these things for your butterflies, then the whole life cycle could take place right in your own backyard. And remember, don't use pesticides! They kill butterflies in all stages of development. Here are some common host plants and the butterflies that lay their eggs on them.