Preparation
Butterflies in the garden add much more than their beauty (though we certainly don’t mind that magical fairy garden quality!). When a butterfly swarms a garden, it only has a few things in mind—food, shelter, sun, rest, or a host plant, says Todd MacLean, gardener and owner of Todd MacLean Outdoors in Palm Beach, Florida. “A host plant ensures that the butterfly and its caterpillar have ample amount of food to survive and thrive,” he says. “To find these plants, butterflies rely on their acute sense of smell, using receptors in their antennae, feet, and tongues that detect the right host plant in a garden.” In other words, when a butterfly smells the plant they love, they fly to it—it’s that simple!
So, what plants should you have in your garden if you want it to be a haven for butterflies? Here’s what the experts recommend.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the Marigold Butterfly—a type of butterfly that loves to hang around (you guessed it!) marigold flowers. “Marigolds are best when planted in masses to attract butterflies like the Marigold Butterfly,” MacLean says. If you want them to live their longest, he recommends deadheading the blooms to promote new growth and blooms.
This beautiful green-and-white shrub attracts butterflies by the dozen in midsummer when it is in full bloom, according to Janet Mavec, owner of Birdhaven Farm in New Jersey. “It is one of the best summer-flowering shrubs for shade.”
Also known as the coneflower, this pinkish-purple bloom makes a beautiful addition to any garden. Both butterflies and bees love its sweet nectar and color, notes MacLean. “Be sure to leave some spent blooms on the plants in fall because their seeds provide winter food for finches and other birds,” he adds.
Butterflies love the color and sweet nectar smell of this perennial flowering plant. “Lantana does best in well-draining, slightly acidic soil and can tolerate full sun,” MacLean says. “It can be grown in borders, mixed beds, and containers.”
This multi-colored flower, which is most often seen in shades of cream, red, and purple, attracts butterflies thanks to its bright color and alluring smell. However, Mavec warns that butterflies do not like double zinnias; this variety makes it too hard for them to get the nectar—it becomes too much work. “It is best not to crowd zinnias as they develop powdery mildew,” she adds.
Butterflies flock to this North American flowering plant—specifically to their dark center, which contains about 200-300 small tubular-shaped flowers. For these critters, this acts as a shallow cup of nectar, MacLean says. “They prefer full sun, well-drained and fertile soil, and are best used as a backdrop to any pollinator garden, as they can get up to 3 feet tall.”
Salvia is a member of the sage family (the herb you’ve probably consumed in a myriad of culinary dishes). As a plant, salvia has many small brightly colored flowers that bloom in the summer and fall, MacLean says: “Both butterflies and hummingbirds adore the nectar of these small flowers.”
