Butterflies do more than just bring beauty to a garden; they're important pollinators, and many species need our help. The good news? Creating a butterfly-friendly garden is easier than you might think.
By choosing the right flowers and plants, you can transform even a small outdoor space into a colourful haven that attracts butterflies from spring through to autumn.
Whether you're hoping to spot monarchs, swallowtails or painted ladies, the key is planting a mix of nectar-rich blooms that provide food throughout the growing season. Even better, many of these plants are low-maintenance, heatwave-resistant and beautiful enough to earn a spot in any garden bed.
From classic favourites like coneflowers and milkweed to lesser-known pollinators like magnets, these plants will help create a landscape buzzing with life, and keep butterflies coming back year after year.
As you decide which plants to include, note that some are annuals you’ll want to plant each year, while others are perennials.
1. Asters
This collection of late-blooming beauties is great for a wide variety of pollinators and local critters. Birds enjoy the seeds while bees and butterflies love the nectar. Give them plenty of sun and they're pretty easy to grow! They come in pink, purple, blue, and white.
What to Read Next
2. Joe Pye weed
With its showy pink or mauve flowers that bloom from late summer into early autumn, joe-pye weed is a tall, herbaceous perennial that will attract swarms of butterflies when other flowers are mostly through, writes garden expert Elise Howard in her book, Plant This, Not That.
Plant it in sun to part shade and wet to moist, acidic soil, in a spot where you won’t mind its towering height—up to 8 feet.
3. Dill
Everyone's favourite pickling herb is also a host plant for the swallowtail butterfly. The distinctive black-and-green caterpillar will feast on the plant, and the beautiful butterfly will come visit the tiny, delicate flowers — so be sure to let some bolt!
4. Marigold
Colourful marigolds are great for keeping certain pests away from your garden, but they're also known for attracting both butterflies and bees. Deadhead dry flowers to keep the blooms and butterflies coming!
5. Sage
Butterflies adore the nectar produced by salvia plants. This genus of drought-resistant plants includes plenty of long-blooming spikes that look beautiful along a walk or at the corners of a garden.
6. Coneflower
Perfect for full-sun beds and even poor soil, this easy-care pollinator magnet is great for prairie-style planting. We love it in cutting gardens and dreamy, casual gardens too.
7. Shasta daisy
This cheerful flower will bloom all summer long and even into early autumn. The classic beauties look great in a vase on the table, but pollinators also love them. Plant in full sun, 1 to 2 feet apart, as they tend to spread as they grow.
8. Sunflower
The huge flowers, bright colours, and abundance of nectar attract and feed a wide variety of butterfly species. And as a bonus, the large amount of foliage is an excellent source of caterpillar food.
There are nearly two dozen varieties worth planting, as well, from giant flowers to tinier ones like ‘Sunny Bunch,’ that cap out at 3 feet and are great for smaller gardens.
9. Snapdragon
A real standout in the early spring and autumn, these cool-weather-loving plants bring loads of colour to your flower garden. Deadhead to extend the blooming cycle, and make sure to keep the soil moist during the hot summer months.
10. Sedum
Sedum is actually a succulent that you can grow outdoors. It grows best when planted in well-draining soil. Choose a spot for it in full sun for the best results.
11. Bee balm
The fragrant foliage of bee balm (also known as wild bergamot) will attract many pollinators to your garden — and the plant is a double-bonus, as it also feeds caterpillars. Plant in a sunny spot for spring and summer blooms.
In fact, you may want to plant a little for yourself. Bee balm is an edible herb that tastes great in salads, as a tea, or even in jellies.
12. Phlox
There are wide varieties of phlox, which range from low-growing ground cover to tall breeds that can add height to the backs of your flower beds. The dense collections of tiny flowers also come in a multitude of colours and are highly fragrant.
13. Goldenrod
A member of the aster family, this yellow beauty brings many butterflies to your garden, and it is known to have many health benefits, including pain and inflammation reduction.
14. Cornflower
Also known as bachelor's button, these blue wildflowers are very easy to grow and will readily self-seed. Both bees and butterflies love them.
15. Lavender
With silvery leaves and pretty purple flowers, this butterfly magnet looks great along garden borders. As an added bonus: The flowers can be dried and used in aromatic sachets or added to lemonade and so much more.
16. Yarrow
Plant this carefree perennial in a sunny spot in well-draining soil. It is drought-tolerant, so be sure not to overwater.
Gardening must-haves
Handmade Lily Garden Water Bowl - Wildlife Water Dish for Garden
Hand Weeder
Wooden Seed Box
Reusable Garden Candle
Castor - Classic Garden Trowel
Garden Dibber - Cherry Wood - Marked in inches
Charlyne Mattox is the Food and Crafts director with over 20 years recipe development, recipe editing, and crafting experience. Prior to starting at Country Living in 2014, she worked in the crafts department at Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Kids before attending cooking school at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She was nominated for a James Beard media award while a senior editor at Real Simple magazine and authored a cookbook Cooking with Seeds.
When not in the kitchen she loves to garden, focusing on growing flowers and kitchen herbs (of course), watering her 25 house plants, and knitting scarfs or hats she will never be able to wear in the always hot and steamy Alabama.
