20 Perennials That Attract Butterflies All Season
A garden feels more alive when butterflies begin drifting from flower to flower. But a few random blooms may only bring them in for a short visit.
The best butterfly gardens offer nectar from spring through fall. These 20 perennials that attract butterflies bloom at different times, return each year, and keep fresh flowers available across the seasons.
Plant several together, and you’ll create a colorful garden that gives butterflies a reason to arrive, feed, and stay a little longer.
20 Perennials That Attract Butterflies
Bloom times vary with climate. The USDA zones below are general ranges, so compare them with your plant label and local winter conditions.
| Plant | Zones | Main Bloom | Light | Soil Moisture |
| Butterfly weed | 3-9 | Late spring-summer | Full sun | Dry-average |
| Swamp milkweed | 3-9 | Summer | Sun-part shade | Moist-wet |
| Turtlehead | 3-8 | Late summer-fall | Sun-part shade | Moist-wet |
| Purple coneflower | 3-8 | Summer-fall | Sun-part shade | Average-dry |
| Blazing star | 3-9 | Midsummer | Full sun | Average-moist |
| Bee balm | 4-9 | Summer | Sun-part shade | Moist |
| Garden phlox | 4-8 | Midsummer-fall | Sun-part shade | Moist |
| Joe-Pye weed | 4-9 | Late summer | Sun-part shade | Moist |
| Black-eyed Susan | 3-9 | Summer-fall | Sun-part shade | Average-dry |
| Yarrow | 3-9 | Early-late summer | Full sun | Dry-average |
| Threadleaf coreopsis | 3-9 | Late spring-summer | Full sun | Dry-average |
| Blanket flower | 3-9 | Summer-frost | Full sun | Dry |
| Anise hyssop | 4-8 | Midsummer-fall | Full sun | Dry-average |
| Mountain mint | 4-8 | Summer | Sun-part shade | Average-moist |
| Perennial salvia | 4-8 | Late spring-summer | Full sun | Dry-average |
| Culver’s root | 3-8 | Late spring-summer | Full sun | Average-wet |
| Ironweed | 5-9 | Midsummer-fall | Sun-part shade | Moist-wet |
| Blue mistflower | 5-10 | Late summer-fall | Sun-part shade | Moist |
| Goldenrod | 3-9 | Late summer-fall | Full sun | Dry-average |
| New England aster | 4-8 | Late summer-frost | Full sun | Average-moist |
| Autumn Joy stonecrop | 3-9 | Late summer-fall | Full sun | Dry-average |
1. Butterfly Weed
Butterfly weed is a smart starting plant for a sunny, dry bed. Its orange flower clusters feed adult butterflies, while the leaves can support monarch caterpillars. New plants sometimes spend two or three years building strong roots before producing a full display.
- Butterfly value: Nectar plant and monarch caterpillar host.
- Light: At least six hours of direct sun.
- Soil: Dry to average soil with good drainage.
- Size and bloom: Usually 1-2 feet tall; blooms from late spring through summer.
- Care tip: Avoid moving established plants because their deep taproots dislike disturbance. Wear gloves when handling the sap.
2. Swamp Milkweed
Swamp milkweed offers milkweed for the damp parts of a garden. Rose-pink flower clusters stand above narrow leaves during summer, providing nectar for adults and food for monarch caterpillars. Despite its name, it can grow in ordinary soil if it receives regular moisture.
- Butterfly value: Monarch host plant and nectar source.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Moist clay or loam; accepts periodically wet ground.
- Size and bloom: Approximately 4-5 feet tall; flowers during summer.
- Care tip: Milkweed aphids can be knocked off with a firm spray of water. Check carefully for caterpillars before treating any insects.
3. Turtlehead
Turtlehead brings butterfly activity into damp beds that many sun-loving flowers cannot handle. Its pink or white snapdragon-like blooms arrive late in the season. White turtlehead also serves as a caterpillar host for the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly.
- Butterfly value: Nectar source and caterpillar host.
- Light: Partial shade or full sun with enough moisture.
- Soil: Rich, consistently moist soil.
- Size and bloom: Around 2-4 feet tall; blooms from late summer into fall.
- Care tip: Pinch young stems in spring if shorter, bushier growth is preferred. Do not let the roots dry completely.
4. Purple Coneflower
Purple coneflower gives butterflies a sturdy place to land. The raised central cone contains many small flowers, allowing visitors to feed without moving far. Pink-purple petals are most common, though white, orange, red, and yellow cultivars are also available.
- Butterfly value: Long-lasting summer nectar.
- Light: Full sun, with partial shade accepted.
- Soil: Average, well-drained soil that can become slightly dry.
- Size and bloom: Usually 2-5 feet tall; flowers from early summer into fall.
- Care tip: Choose single-flowered forms. Heavily doubled flowers may be harder for butterflies to use.
5. Blazing Star
Blazing star produces narrow purple flower spikes that add height without taking up much ground space. Its flowers open from the top downward, creating fresh feeding points over several weeks. Monarchs, swallowtails, and other large butterflies often visit the upright spikes.
- Butterfly value: Strong midsummer nectar source.
- Light: Full sun.
- Soil: Average to moist soil with good drainage.
- Size and bloom: Commonly 2-4 feet tall; blooms in midsummer.
- Care tip: Avoid planting the corms in ground that stays wet during winter. Divide crowded clumps during spring.
6. Bee Balm
Bee balm produces shaggy flower heads in red, pink, purple, or white. Butterflies can feed from its tubular flowers, while the aromatic leaves bring a fresh mint scent to the bed. It works especially well in moist areas where dry-loving perennials struggle.
- Butterfly value: Summer nectar for swallowtails and other butterflies.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil.
- Size and bloom: Around 2-4 feet tall; blooms from summer into early fall.
- Care tip: Provide good airflow and water near the soil to reduce powdery mildew. Divide spreading clumps when they move beyond their space.
7. Garden Phlox
Garden phlox carries large clusters of fragrant flowers on upright stems. Each cluster gives butterflies many flowers within easy reach, making it useful during midsummer. Pink, lavender, purple, white, and two-tone cultivars fit many planting styles.
- Butterfly value: Nectar for swallowtails and other long-tongued butterflies.
- Light: Full sun or light afternoon shade.
- Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil.
- Size and bloom: Approximately 2-4 feet tall; flowers from midsummer into early fall.
- Care tip: Select mildew-resistant cultivars and keep space between plants. Water at ground level instead of wetting the leaves.
8. Joe Pye Weed
Joe-Pye weed produces wide clusters made from hundreds of tiny mauve-pink flowers. The broad flower heads provide easy landing areas, and several butterflies may feed on one plant at the same time. This is a large perennial, so placement matters.
- Butterfly value: Abundant nectar during late summer.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Moist, rich soil.
- Size and bloom: Species can reach 4-7 feet; blooms in late summer.
- Care tip: Use a shorter cultivar in a small garden. Place taller forms near the back where they will not shade smaller flowers.
9. Black Eyed Susan
Black eyed Susan supplies cheerful yellow flowers over a long summer period. The dark central disk contains many tiny nectar-producing flowers. Its leaves can also feed silvery checkerspot caterpillars, while the dry seedheads provide food for birds.
- Butterfly value: Nectar source and caterpillar host.
- Light: Full sun, although partial shade is accepted.
- Soil: Average soil that drains well.
- Size and bloom: About 2-3 feet tall; flowers from summer into fall.
- Care tip: Divide large clumps every few years. Leave some seedheads standing instead of cutting everything down during fall.
10. Yarrow
Yarrow’s flat flower clusters make comfortable landing platforms for smaller butterflies. White is the natural flower color, but garden forms are available in yellow, pink, red, and peach. Its fern-like leaves remain tidy in hot, dry conditions.
- Butterfly value: Easy-to-reach summer nectar.
- Light: Full sun.
- Soil: Dry to average soil with fast drainage.
- Size and bloom: Usually 2-3 feet tall; flowers through much of summer.
- Care tip: Rich soil and heavy feeding can cause floppy stems. Cut old flowers back for possible repeat blooming.
11. Threadleaf Coreopsis
Threadleaf coreopsis forms an airy mound covered with small yellow flowers. Its fine foliage keeps the plant from feeling heavy, even when several are grouped together. Butterflies visit the open flowers from late spring through summer.
- Butterfly value: Nectar during early and midsummer.
- Light: Full sun.
- Soil: Sandy, rocky, or average soil with good drainage.
- Size and bloom: Around 2-3 feet tall; blooms from May into July.
- Care tip: Shear the plant after the first flowers fade to encourage fresh growth and possible fall blooms.
12. Blanket Flower
Blanket flower produces warm red, orange, and yellow blooms for months. It handles heat and dry soil better than many long-flowering perennials. The open centers give butterflies easy access to nectar during the hottest part of summer.
- Butterfly value: Long-season nectar from summer toward frost.
- Light: Full sun.
- Soil: Dry, well-drained soil.
- Size and bloom: Approximately 1-3 feet tall; flowers from early summer into fall.
- Care tip: Avoid overwatering. Wet winter soil can shorten the plant’s life, while deadheading encourages more flowers.
13. Anise Hyssop
Anise hyssop carries lavender-blue flower spikes above leaves that smell faintly of licorice when crushed. The plant flowers for weeks and brings vertical form without needing staking in normal conditions.
- Butterfly value: Nectar from midsummer into early fall.
- Light: Full sun.
- Soil: Dry to average, well-drained soil.
- Size and bloom: Around 2-4 feet tall; flowers from midsummer into fall.
- Care tip: It may self-seed around the parent plant. Remove unwanted seedlings while they are small or cut flower spikes before seeds mature.
14. Mountain Mint
Mountain mint may not have large, colorful flowers, but its small white blooms can become busy feeding stations. Silvery upper leaves make the plant noticeable from a distance, even after the flowers begin fading.
- Butterfly value: Summer nectar for butterflies and many other pollinators.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Average to moist soil.
- Size and bloom: Usually 2-3 feet tall; flowers through summer.
- Care tip: Mountain mint spreads through underground stems. Plant it where expansion is welcome or remove wandering shoots each spring.
15. Perennial Salvia
Perennial salvia produces upright blue, violet, pink, or white flower spikes before many summer perennials reach their peak. Its early timing helps reduce the nectar gap between spring bulbs and midsummer flowers.
- Butterfly value: Late-spring and early-summer nectar.
- Light: Full sun.
- Soil: Average to dry soil with good drainage.
- Size and bloom: Common varieties grow 1-2 feet tall; bloom begins in late spring.
- Care tip: Cut faded flower spikes back rather than removing the entire plant. Many varieties will send up a second flush.
16. Culver’s Root
Culver’s root sends up slender white or pale lavender flower spikes above whorled leaves. Its narrow shape adds height while allowing shorter flowers to remain visible. Butterflies visit the small tubular blooms during late spring and summer.
- Butterfly value: Nectar for butterflies, moths, and other visiting insects.
- Light: Full sun.
- Soil: Average to wet soil with good drainage.
- Size and bloom: Approximately 4-7 feet tall; flowers from late spring into summer.
- Care tip: Culver’s root can take time to settle. Avoid repeatedly moving young plants, and deadhead for a chance of fall reblooming.
17. Ironweed
Ironweed carries deep purple flower clusters on tall, strong stems. Its color becomes especially useful in late summer when many earlier flowers are fading. The height makes it a natural choice for the back of a large bed.
- Butterfly value: Nectar from midsummer into early fall.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Moist to occasionally wet soil.
- Size and bloom: Usually 5-8 feet tall; blooms from July through September.
- Care tip: Cut stems back to about 2 feet in late spring if a shorter plant is needed. New growth will branch and flower lower.
18. Blue Mistflower
Blue mistflower creates soft blue-purple flower clusters near the end of summer. Butterflies gather on the fuzzy flowers when many midsummer choices have finished. It is helpful for filling a damp area, but it is not a timid plant.
- Butterfly value: Late-season nectar.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Moist, fertile soil.
- Size and bloom: Around 1-3 feet tall; flowers from late summer into fall.
- Care tip: Allow room for its underground stems. Remove spreading sections in spring if it begins crowding neighboring plants.
19. Goldenrod
Goldenrod provides masses of tiny yellow flowers just as butterflies begin needing dependable late-season food. Different species range from compact clumps to tall, spreading plants, so choosing the right type is more important than buying by color alone.
- Butterfly value: Late-summer and fall nectar.
- Light: Full sun.
- Soil: Dry to average soil; needs vary by species.
- Size and bloom: Anywhere from 1-5 feet tall; flowers from late summer into fall.
- Care tip: Choose a clump-forming garden cultivar for a small bed. Give spreading native species space in a meadow-style area.
20. New England Aster
New England aster extends the feeding season toward frost. Its purple, pink, or violet flowers open when migrating monarchs and other late butterflies may still be searching for nectar.
- Butterfly value: One of the strongest late-season nectar choices.
- Light: Full sun.
- Soil: Average to moist, well-drained soil.
- Size and bloom: Commonly 3-6 feet tall; flowers from late summer until frost.
- Care tip: Pinch stems once or twice before midsummer for shorter, fuller growth. Do not pinch after flower buds begin forming.
How to Make Butterflies Stay Longer
Planting one nectar flower is helpful, but a connected group is easier for butterflies to notice. Repeat a few suitable plants rather than buying one of every available variety.
Plan for overlapping bloom periods. Salvia and coreopsis can begin the season, milkweed and coneflower can carry summer, and asters, goldenrod, stonecrop, and mistflower can provide fall nectar.
- Grow several plants of the same type together.
- Include at least one caterpillar host plant.
- Choose single or lightly layered flowers with accessible centers.
- Accept a reasonable amount of caterpillar damage.
- Leave some dry stems and seedheads standing until spring.
Avoid These Butterfly Garden Mistakes
A plant covered in flowers will not help much if it was treated with an insecticide that remains in the leaves or nectar. Ask the nursery how its plants were grown before buying.
Do not spray simply because leaves have holes. Check for caterpillars first. The visitor eating the plant may be the butterfly you hoped to attract.
University of Minnesota Extension warns that broad-spectrum pesticides can kill butterflies and that soaps, oils, and microbial treatments can still kill caterpillars through direct contact.
Other common mistakes include:
- Planting flowers that all bloom during the same month.
- Choosing only double-flowered cultivars.
- Placing tall plants where they shade smaller sun lovers.
- Cutting every stem to ground level during fall.
- Growing moisture-loving and dry-soil plants in the same watering zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which perennial attracts the most butterflies?
No single plant attracts every butterfly. Milkweed is the first choice for monarch caterpillars, while Joe-Pye weed, coneflower, blazing star, aster, goldenrod, and stonecrop provide nectar for many adult butterflies.
A mixed planting will bring more types of visitors than one flower planted alone.
Do I need milkweed to attract butterflies?
Milkweed is needed if the goal is to support monarch reproduction. Monarch caterpillars cannot replace it with coneflower, phlox, or other nectar flowers.
Adult monarchs will drink from many flowers, but they lay eggs on suitable milkweed species. Choose a milkweed native to your region and suited to your soil moisture.
Can a shady garden attract butterflies?
Yes, although butterfly activity is usually greater in warm, sunny areas. Turtlehead, bee balm, garden phlox, swamp milkweed, and blue mistflower can flower in partial shade.
Choose a spot that receives several hours of sun and is protected from strong wind.
Should butterfly plants be native?
Locally native plants are a good choice because local butterflies are more likely to recognize them as food or host plants. However, a plant described as native to the United States may not be native to every state.
Check regional plant lists before purchasing. Non-native plants can provide nectar, but they should not replace local caterpillar host plants.
Why are butterflies ignoring my flowers?
The plant may not be producing much nectar, or its double petals may block access. Butterflies may also stay away when flowers are isolated, the area is windy, or pesticides have been used nearby.
Cold, cloudy, rainy, and very windy weather can temporarily reduce activity even when the planting is suitable.
Can I grow butterfly perennials in containers?
Compactfly weed, perennial salvia, blanket flower, coneflower, coreopsis, and shorter stonecrop cultivars can grow in large containers. Choose pots with drainage holes and enough depth for the plant’s roots.
Container plants dry faster than those in the ground, so check the soil regularly during hot weather.
