Hello, my lovely friends! Wanna do something that enchanting, enjoyable and easy to take care of biodiversity? How about growing some plants? with flowers of course! Also how cool would it be with some butterflies? Then come with me to learn about the plants that attract butterflies, the best way to care for and save our nature.
Butterflies were one of the first-ever botanists this earth had. They symbolize ‘hope out of disgust’ – from the small and dull crawly caterpillars come the splendid and dramatic butterflies. Then why to wait? Let us glide down to see how to attract these flutters that give life to plants and joy to us.
What Do Our Fluttery Friends Like In A Garden?
- Host Plants – Plants on which the adult lays the egg, caterpillars can feed and then form a pupa
- Nectar Plants – have flowers providing nectar as food for the adult butterflies
- A well-lit sunny spot – Butterflies love sunlight and also the plant for producing flowers
- Mudpuddles – Butterflies love to play in marshy waters and puddles in mud. Thus a well-watered soil with small puddles will attract the butterflies
- Rocks or stones – During their visits for nectar, they do rest a bit, especially on rocks and stones. Do add some rocks and stones as they also make a beautiful addition to the garden plants.
- Fences – Butterflies like to be adventurous and they like crossing fences and enjoying their freedom! Let’s then give them fun fences for excitement and adventure.
What are The Plants That Attract Butterflies?
Come with me to discover the plants that attract butterflies as hosts and those that provide nectar.
Host Plants That Attract Butterflies
Host plants are those that provide food and shelter to the butterflies in their earlier life stages – egg, larval and pupal stages. The adults lay the eggs on the plant or its vicinity and larvae from it feed on the leaf of the plant and once matured, form a pupa on the plant. Not all plants host all the butterflies and specificities do exist which we will discover further.
1- Curry Leaf
This common Indian culinary essential, kadi patta, is the favourite host for the beautiful swallowtail butterflies. This plant that attract butterflies, serves as a host plant for laying eggs, leaves as food for the larvae and the formation of the pupa.
2- Arali
Oleander is a commonly grown house plant that attracts butterflies and supports them in the initial stages of egg, larva and pupa. The leaves are the most preferred food for the bold Daphinis moth and the common crow butterfly. Secret tip, Nerium Oleander Petite Pink is most liked by butterflies.
3- Golden Shower
With its flowers, this tree grabs the attention of both people and butterflies. The leaves host the yellow-coloured sulphur butterflies and the Silverline butterflies and as a nectar source for the Black Rajah butterflies. It is an apt choice among the plants that attract butterflies and bees.
4- Lemon
Citrus species are common plants that butterflies are attracted to as a feeding ground for the larvae. Swallowtail butterfly larvae feed extensively on the leaves and pupate in this plant. Citrus plants are a great addition when creating a butterfly garden.
5- Milkweed
“Milkweeds are for Monarchs”. Yes, these are plants that attract monarch butterflies and are very essential in their life cycle as their only host plant. Beautiful bunches of flowers and the bold monarch butterflies aflutter are indeed serene to look at!
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6- Passion Fruit
These are vining plants that attract birds and butterflies for nectar and as a host. The divine and bright flowers attract hummingbirds for nectar. Larvae of the Heliconius sp. and the Tawny coaster butterfly feed on the leaves of this plant.
7- Ashoka Tree
These tall and bold avenue trees have bunches of red and orange-coloured flowers which are butterfly’s favourite. The handsome foliage of this tree is the food for the larvae of the Tailed jay butterflies thus attracting them in large numbers.
8-Dutchman’s Pipe
It is a vining plant with heart-shaped leaves and giant flowers that have a marble violet-coloured pattern making it unique in its appearance. Do you know the thick leaf growth is not only apt for training in trellis and fences but also a good food for caterpillars of Crimson Rose, Southern Birdwing, and Pipevine Swallowtails.
Nectar Plants That Attract Butterflies
Once the pupa has matured and becomes a butterfly, it needs nectar for food from the flowers. Though all flowers produce nectar, not all attract butterflies. Flutter along with me to explore the various flowers that produce nectar and attract the butterflies.
1- Cosmos
These bright and bold flowers in yellow, orange and pink are not to be missed in your butterfly garden. Planting these as flower beds in a nice warm and sunny spot blooms from summer till fall season, attracting various butterflies and bees. They are self-seeding too which means new plants grow from the previous season’s seeds not needing our intervention. Isn’t that nice?
2- Zinnia
Zinnias are must-haves in the butterfly garden as these are plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds too. These easy-peasy annuals in pink, orange and red attract monarchs and swallowtails and lots more. Plant the single-petaled variety to attract fluttery friends.
3- Marigold
Want a plant that is beneficial and also attractive, then it is Marigold for sure. These are plants that attract bees and butterflies by providing nectar and also repel certain harmful insects affecting your garden by acting as a host for predators like ladybugs. Making a flower bed in a sunny spot is all that is needed to attract those pretty butterflies.
4- Cocks Comb
The bunches and spikes in velvety red and pink invite Blue tigers, Glassy tigers, Peacock pansy butterflies and bees to the garden. Let me give an idea just for you! Flowerbeds of cockscomb, a brightly lit sunny spot and consistent watering are enough for the healthy growth of the plant and of course to attract our butterfly friends.
5- Globe Amaranth
Globe amaranth plants aka globe plants are herbaceous annual plants that butterflies cannot resist visiting as the purple-coloured bracts of this flower are everlasting and bright. The Monarch butterflies, Orange sulfurs and Skipper butterflies visit this plant for nectar. These plants are drought tolerant and hence grow well in a full sun area with moderate watering.
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6- Balsam
This is an annual plant that attracts butterflies of the Pierrot species with its cup-shaped flowers in white, pink, red and mixed shades. Balsam plants grow well in moist soil and sunny spots and best suited for growing in pots. Self-seeding nature of this plant keeps its continuous presence in the garden.
7- Petunia
Petunias are plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies with their vibrant tubular blooms. Petunia plants can be grown in hanging baskets making it the best choice to attract butterflies in a small garden. Provide a fully sunny spot and adequate watering for the happy growth of petunias.
8- Butterfly Bush
This summer flowering perennial plant that attracts butterflies provides copious amounts of nectar for the butterflies to feed on. It is an ornamental plant with pink or purple flowers in clusters. It attracts many species of butterflies including the Monarchs, Skippers, Sulfurs, Swallowtails, Painted lady butterflies, Eastern tailed blue butterflies.
9- Butterfly Weed
Belonging to the species of milkweeds, this summer flowering perennial is a host for the Monarch butterflies. Black Swallowtails and bees are attracted for nectar by these yellow-orange flower clusters. Mostly grown wildly, this can be grown in meadows and rock gardens. A full sun spot and moderate watering are required for the butterfly weed plants that attract butterflies and bees.
10- Periwinkle
Periwinkles are perennial plants that attract butterflies like the Black Swallowtails and Gulf Fritillaries. It makes our garden twinkle as a shrub or as a ground cover. It is drought-tolerant and blooms almost in all seasons.
11- Wedelia
Wedelia is an excellent choice of ground cover in the garden as these are plants that butterflies are attracted to in large numbers. Bordered Patch butterfly caterpillars feed on the leaves of wedelia. Skippers, Plain Tiger butterflies, Grass Yellow butterflies, Monarchs and Swallowtails feed on the nectar from the small yellow flowers that bloom in a bright green carpet from spring through winter.
12- Goldenrod
The flowers are petite but vibrant yellow, goldenrods are fall-blooming plants that attract Monarch butterflies, clouded sulfur butterflies, bees, beetles and ants. These flowers are said to feed the migrating butterflies as they grow in the wild. Grow it in the borders of your garden to invite our wonderful winged friends
13- Aster
Blossoms of purple in a small herbaceous plant that attract butterflies asters flowers profusely in summer. They tolerate drought and grow in full sun to partial shade. They can be grown in hanging pots and containers in the home gardens and as border plants.
14- Gazania
Are you looking for eye-catching blooms with low maintenance then Gazanias are the best choice. These plants that attract bees and butterflies can be grown in containers, hanging pots and rock gardens. They are highly drought tolerant and require full sun for their growth. Flowers of Red, orange, yellow, white and pink blossom profusely in spring and summer inviting a variety of butterflies and bees.
15- Hibiscus
This is a very common plant seen in most home gardens that are easy to grow and are plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The attractive colours, bold sizes and protruding pollen grains make it easy for the butterflies to find and reach the flowers. An extra tip, large red hibiscuses are the butterfly’s favourite.
16- Ixora
This plant attracts many varieties of butterflies like the Common Birdwing, Mormon butterfly Banded Swallowtail and Common Mimes with their large bunches of elegant flowers in red pink white and orange. A flowerbed with this native shrub is all you need to create the space for an enchanting experience for butterflies.
17- Cape Jasmine
Blue butterflies are common visitors of these perennial plants that attract butterflies. The delicate white showy flowers invite the butterflies for nectar. You can easily grow this plant in home gardens and landscapes and it is easy to maintain too!
18- Pentas
Among the plants that attract birds and butterflies like Swallowtails, Gulf Fritillaries and Monarchs, Pentas takes a top position. The bunches of flowers in bright colours are magnets to butterflies and hummingbirds for their nectar. Grow this plant in pots or make a flower bed in your garden to sit back and enjoy the graceful flutter.
19- Sorcerers Bush
Commonly used as a hedging plant along the pathways and topiaries, this is also a plant that attract butterflies. Clerodendrum inerme plants are hardy and withstand pruning and training making them must-haves in large lawns and meadows. The strong scent from the leaves and flowers and the elongated stamens with pollen attract butterflies.
20- Lantana
It was originally a weed but later started to cultivate and grow as a flowering shrub and holds a top position in attracting a wide variety of butterflies like Hairstreaks, Swallowtails, Monarchs, Checked whites, Sulfurs, Painted lady and many more. This tough and drought-tolerant plant grows as a trailing type and shrub type making it a good choice in hanging baskets and containers.
21- Stonecrop
Sedums are attractive not only to us but to the butterflies too. The small flowers in bunches does this magic. Monarchs and Fritillaries are commonly attracted by this plant. The succulent nature makes it hardy and flowers bloom in the winter inviting butterflies when most other plants are dormant.
22- Tablerose
Portulaca species of plants that attract bees and butterflies are small succulent ground covers with tiny flowers in pink, yellow, orange and white. Here is a pro tip for you to attract butterflies all year round. Just grow table roses of various colours in hanging pots and enjoy their sway in the breeze.
The Butterfly Magnets – A Summary | Plants that Attarct Butterflies
A crisp of the gorgeous butterfly magnets just for you!
| S.No. | Common Name | Scientific Name | Butterflies Attracted |
| 1 | Curry leaf | Murraya koenigii | Swallow Tails (host) |
| 2 | Arali | Nerium indicum | Common crow butterfly (host) |
| 3 | Golden shower | Cassia fistula | Species of Eurema, Catopsilia (host)Black Rajah (nectar) |
| 4 | Lemon | Citrus sp. | Swallow Tails (host) |
| 5 | Milkweed | Asclepias tuberosa | Monarch butterfly (host) |
| 6 | Passion Fruit | Passiflora edulis | Tawny coaster butterfly, Heliconius sp. (host) |
| 7 | False Ashoka | Polyalthia longifolia | Tailed Jay butterfly (host) |
| 8 | Dutchman’s pipe | Aristolochia elegans | Crimson Rose, Southern Birdwing, Pipevine Swallowtails (host) |
| 9 | Cosmos | Cosmos bipinnatus | Various species of butterfly (nectar) |
| 10 | Zinnia | Zinnia elegans | Monarch butterflies, Swallowtails (nectar) |
| 11 | Marigold | Tagetes sp. | Various species of butterfly (nectar) |
| 12 | Cocks comb | Celosia cristata | Blue tigers, Glassy tigers, Peacock pansy (nectar) |
| 13 | Globe Amaranth | Gomphrena globosa | Monarchs, Orange sulfurs and Skipper butterfly (nectar) |
| 14 | Balsam | Impatiens balsamina | Tarucus aka Pierrot species butterflies (nectar) |
| 15 | Petunia | Petunia hybrida | Various species of butterfly (nectar) |
| 16 | Butterfly bush | Buddleja davidii | Monarchs, Skippers, Sulfurs, Swallowtails, Painted lady butterflies, Eastern tailed blue butterflies (nectar) |
| 17 | Butterfly weed | Asclepias tuberosa | Monarch (host & nectar) Black Swallowtails (nectar) |
| 18 | Periwinkle | Catharanthus roseus | Swallowtails, Gulf fritillaries (nectar) |
| 19 | Wedelia | Wedelia trilobata | Bordered Patch butterfly (host), Skippers, Plain Tigers, Grass Yellow butterflies (nectar) |
| 20 | Goldenrod | Solidago sp. | Monarchs, Clouded Sulfur butterflies (nectar) |
| 21 | Aster | Aster amellus | Various species of butterfly (nectar) |
| 22 | Gazania | Gazania splendens | Various species of butterfly (nectar) |
| 23 | Hibiscus | Hibiscus rosasinensis | Various species of butterfly (nectar) |
| 24 | Ixora | Ixora coccinea | Common Birdwing, Mormon butterfly Banded Swallowtail and Common Mime (nectar) |
| 25 | Cape Jasmine | Gardenia jasminoides | Blue Butterflies (nectar) |
| 26 | Pentas | Pentas lanceolatus | Swallowtails, Gulf Fritillaries, Monarchs (nectar) |
| 27 | Sorcerers bush | Clerodendrum inermi | Various species of butterfly (nectar) |
| 28 | Lantana | Lantana camara | Hairstreaks, Swallowtails, Monarchs, Checked whites, Sulfurs, Painted lady (nectar) |
| 29 | Stonecrop | Sedum sp. | Monarchs and Fritillaries (nectar) |
| 30 | Tablerose | Portulaca grandiflora | Various species of butterfly (nectar) |
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Conclusion
Have you ever wondered why the buzzy bees and bright butterflies are important in our ecosystem? It is because they create a balance in nature through their act of pollination which gives rise to the production of fruits and seeds by which the plants grow from one generation to another. Native plants that are becoming extinct can be saved through butterflies. So, instead of using harmful chemicals, butterflies can be encouraged as predators to destroy the pests. In addition to many such benefits, they provide us excitement and happiness with their gentle flutter.
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