What plants do you suggest for a butterfly/hummingbird garden?

11 years ago

Hi! I have a flower bed that I am planning on turning into a butterfly/hummingbird garden. It is on the north side of our house, and on a slope. If I had to guess, I would say it is probably 10 feet wide by 15 feet long. (Although I'm horrible at estimating spaces). It is a bed my husband and I created when we moved into our house, so it's pretty much a blank canvas. So far, I've only planted 4 butterfly bushes on the side of the bed that borders the house. My hope is to hide the ugly concrete that is underneath our siding. I would like suggestions on plants (bushes, flowers, anything!) to provide the best environment for butterflies and hummingbirds to come to.

Also, we have a 6 foot privacy fence that borders the one side of the bed, so climbing plants are welcome too! I would like them to not be too invasive though, because our vegetable garden is on the other side. :)

Thank you!

Comments (33)

greenthumbzdude
11 years ago
Here are my top 10 attractors:
1. Beebalm 'Jacob Cline' (likes to spread out)
2. Coral Honeysuckle vine
3. Trumpet Creeper vine (can be aggressive)
4. Cardinal Flower
5. Black and Blue Saliva (needs protection in winter)
*if you plant these you will get a lot of hummingbirds
Here are my top 5 Butterfly Plants
1. Orange Butterfly Weed
2. Joe Pye Weed
3. Garden Phlox 'Jeana'
4. Summersweet 'Ruby Spice'
5.Purple Giant Hyssop

This post was edited by greenthumbzdude on Thu, Feb 28, 13 at 12:32
hermie3rd
Original Author
11 years ago
Great! Thank you for your suggestions!! I'm starting to make a list so I'm ready for Spring! :)
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I think I had this for a couple of years, and it did attract lots of hummers and butterflies and moths. I just planted a new Salvia 'Black and Blue' this year because the butterfly people suggested it for both hummers and butterflies. I also have the Salvia Texas Sage with pink/white blooms, and the Sulphurs just love it. The butterflies that like the fruit plates are Question Marks, Commas, Red Admirals, Mourning Cloaks, Hackberry and Tawny Emperors because they are not strict nectaring butterflies like the Monarchs, Swallowtails, Sulphurs, etc. We are inundated with lots of butterflies this year. I have raised close to 60 Question Marks, a couple of Hackberry Emperors, Silvery Checkerspots and Bordered Patches, Black Swallowtails, and Pipevine Swallowtails. I raised about 5 Nessus sphinx and one Eumorpha Achemon sphinx that feed on my Virginia Creeper (a very valuable wildlife plant for birds and moths). Last year, my friend, Linda, said she had the migrating Monarchs all over her verbesina enceliodes (Golden Crownbeard), so she gave me a seedling. I've also got 3 different hardy lantanas, pentas lanceolata (a sphinx moth host plant), milkweed (tons of it for the Monarch larvae), Joe Pye Weed (in full bloom right now), two passion vines (Blue Crown and incarnata 'Incense', and the mama Gulf Frit just laid about 50 eggs on them), Wild Senna, Partridge Pea, Sunflowers, verbena bonariensis, annual red verbena, fennel (green and bronze), Zizia aurea (for the Black Swallowtails, too), my Rue that I've grown for several years, and several pipevine species, Aristolochia macrophylla (big leaf), A. tomentosa, A. clematitis, and A. serpentaria, veronica, lavendar 'Provence', catmint, Marigolds, lots of zinnias, Salvia pink flowering perennial, Mexican Flame Vine (a real nectar favorite), yellow coneflower, pale coneflower, cosmos (the Orange is blooming its head off right now), phlomis tuberosa, cleome, agastache foeniculum, and tons of other stuff, all crammed into my tiny front yard. I saw one hummingbird early in the season, but haven't seen any since. I usually see them when they migrate south later in summer-early fall. Sometimes the butterflies that like rotting fruit, dung, and tree sap, will use the hummer feeders, too. Have you seen that happen? Susan
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Great List of plants Debra. Our hummers, butterflies & bees here love my Mexican Sunflower Plants(Tithonia Fiesta Del Sol). I found one that only grows 28-30 inches high) as my husband does not like the Tall Variety that is topping about 6-7 Feet now. I just cut in back about 2 feet on the top. You have to dehead them(so they will keep blooming and watch out for the seed pods as they can really stick your fingers. Leave seed pods along with Coneflower seed pods & chickadee's will devour them in the fall. But they are full sun. We already had this Sage bushes that a lot of people grow here(Denton, Texas). I wish it bloomed all the time(only blooms when it is about to rain). Next year planting Turk's Cap, Gabor Trumpet Vine(Campis radicans "Gabor'), Honeysuckle Vine you already have and planting a Chaste Tree. They seem to really enjoy my Phlox Phlopaniculata "Bright Eyes". We moved here from N.C. about 1 and half years ago. I am finding out that my Full sun plants are not really fun sun here in the Texas heat. Going to also try a Hardy Fuchsia just to see what it does here(it likes part shade to shade.) We are having a time with either mites or white flies taking the plants down in the drought and heat. Can't spray them as I will kill what I am trying to attract. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) did not make it first year here so we planted the "Low and Behold' Variety in a Large Planter. Had to put it on roller & keep moving it in & out of the sun. Going to try and over-winter it in Garage. Just found out today that I am not suppose to plant any plants in a plastic container as that keeps the roots hot so I am repotting it in a Ceramic Container- suppose to keep roots cool or I can try some type of Double-potting method. Our Hosta's did not do that well here like N.C. even after adding peat moss to the garden. We also ran out of areas to plant sun loving plants. In N.C. (S. coccinea) was a big hit along with Foxglove(likes shade) and Spider Flowers(Cleome hassleriana) but it too is sun loving plant .Your Cypress Vine should be a big hit. The hummers are really fueling up for their trip and they will get fat. I did not know that my Pineapple Sage plant would not bloom until October. It was blooming when I bought it & I pinched the top out so it would bush out but the mites attack it. They are looking good now but still no blooms yet. The young hummers are checking us out when we are outside which is always fun. Hummingbirds fly a certain route around houses etc. So be careful when changing parking spots in your driveway/road. I just found out that many kill themselves while running into parked vehicles and storms throw them down or into trees so big canopy of trees are great shelter & shade. We are having to put up window bird decals up. Woodpeckers and baby chickadees pecked our feeders apart this spring when they fledged. It bother me a little but it was kind of funny. I am having to change the feeders twice a day as the solution is getting cloudy when temps. hit 100 degrees or more and I boil it 2 minutes. Thanks again for your great list. Bonnie
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eric580
11 years ago
Here are some plants that worked for me. I am giving you the specific variety, but as far as I know,the actual species will work too. I have also included a picture of my garden to show you what the plants look like.

Tango Hyssop

Blue Butterfly Delphinium

Purple Petunia

Red Petunia

Empress of India Nasturtium

Foxglove

Mini Bee Balm

Hosta

And don't forget a good hummingbird feeder! GOOD LUCK!
hermie3rd
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks so much! I actually have mickey mouse ear hostas my father-in-law gave me, that I have at the front edge of the bed right now. I saw hummingbirds going to them last summer, so I'll keep those there. Thanks for the picture and suggestions! It helps give me an idea of how to start planning for this bed, and I love how colorful yours is. I've got a couple of Hummzinger feeders right now, and I plan to add at least one to the garden as well. Once I get things planted and established, I'll post a picture.

Thanks again! Keep any suggestions coming! :)
eric580
11 years ago
Thanks for the support hermie3rd! That was my garden last year which was my first year. I have a hummzinger too! Completely eliminated my ant and wasp problems:) Here's a picture. The hyssop and delphinium were in bloom and a robin was foraging for worms.
rbrady
11 years ago
My top hummingbird flowers-
1. Lobelia cardinalis
2. Monarda Raspberry Wine
3. Penstemon-any
4. Salvias-any
5. Lonicera sempervirens
6. Agastache-any
For butterflies-
1. Agastache Foeniculum or any
2. Helenium autumnale
3. Echinacea purpurea
4. Salvias-any
5. Eupatoriums-any
6. Sedums-any
7. Asclepias-any
8. Ratibidas-any

Rhonda
hermie3rd
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Rhonda for the suggestions! Eric580 - don't you love those feeders? I had a cheap one I bought from the grocery store, and I was emptying out a ridiculous amount of wasps from it. I pitched it at the end of last season and I'm replacing it with another Hummzinger. They're a little pricey, but I think well worth it! :)
roper2008
11 years ago
Like Rhonda posted, Lobelia cardinalis is a favorite
in my garden. Cardinal Climber, Lady in Red
salvia and Coral Nymph salvia are very good also.
Tony G
11 years ago
Hermie, I'm newer to the hummingbird scene, and i just got a new hummzinger a couple weeks ago..can't wait to try it.

My two BEST hummer plants the past two seasons:

1. Agastache 'Ava'...they visit this every day. it's their home base plant.

2. black and blue salvia

The best butterfly plants:

verbena bonariensis- attracts MANY butterflies and hummingbirds too

mexican sunflowers- attract butterflies AND hummingbirds

big zinnias like cal giant or tall state fair- attract butterflies and hummingbirds

liatris ligulistylis- attracts monarchs in MASS...amazing in late summer

good luck, Tony
hermie3rd
Original Author
11 years ago
Great! Thanks guys so much!

Renee
Leafhead
11 years ago
A few hidden away host plants for butterflies:
Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis spp) and Pussytoes (Antennaria) -American Lady Butterflies
Nettles-Red Admiral, Milbert's Tortoise Shell
Fennel and Parsley in your herb garden- Eastern Black Swallowtail
Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)- out front-Monarch, all-around nectar
Butterfly Weed (A.tuberosa)-out front-Monarch, nectar for all.

Trees for Butterflies include:
Tulip Poplar and Wild Cherry-Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Hackberry- Snouts and Emperors.
Chokecherries- Red-Spotted Purples.
texasmorningglory
11 years ago
I would also add some Buddleia. There are some gorgeous ones out now and hummingbirds and butterflies love them.
Look for Miss Ruby or Miss Molly. Guinevere, Bicolor, Blueberry or Peach Cobbler just to name a few. I also suggest Salvias....
Leafhead
11 years ago
Make sure to include lots of Helena, Liatris and Asters to fuel the migrating Monarchs in the fall.
eric580
11 years ago
Don't forget early spring bloomers that will help hummingbirds when they first arrive. Some are

Virginia Bluebell

Bleeding heart

Columbine

Lupines

And lily of the valley

Good luck :)
hermie3rd
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, everyone!! :)
bluebirdbabe
11 years ago
just a note...I saw red liquid in the hummingbird feeder...plain sugar water is the best for the hummers. 4 cups boiled water to 1cup of sugar. stir to melt the sugar, cool and feed :) Thanks for the question!! I got a lot of tips too :)

I raise monarch butterflies in my laundry room, thanks for all of the suggestions!
eric580
11 years ago
Yeah silly me :) Aunt got red nectar mix as a gift. Only a little left though.
terrene
11 years ago
Top hummer plants in my gardens -

Monarda didyma
Monarda 'Raspberry Wine'
Lobelia cardinalis
Salvia guaranitica 'Black & Blue'
Yvonne's Salvia
Salvia coccinea
Ipomoea - various morning glories
Tithonia rotundifolia
Zinnia 'Cut & Come again', 'State Fair'

There are many other species of plants they nectar on, but not quite as frequently as the above - Buddleia, Cleome, Physostegia, Aquilegia, Dicentra, Silphium perfoliatum, and others.
mdahms1979
11 years ago
Ipomposis rubra is a fantastic hummingbird plant. I always grew this plant up on my 14th story balcony and it never failed to bring the hummers up to feed. A stunning plant when planted as a group in the garden or it does great in pots.

Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: Ipomopsis rubra
harleylove
10 years ago
I never see it mentioned but the absolute favorite hands down for both hummingbirds and butterflies in my garden is Porterweed. Once it starts blooming, the hummers will guard it. Not the prettiest plant but must have a high sugar content because They absolutely LOVE it.
mehitabel
10 years ago
Eric580-- thanks for the post about early plants for hummers. That was a question I wanted to post, since so many plants suggested are summer bloomers.
mudpup
10 years ago
My hand down winners are giant pink phlox for butterflies. Mine grew 4 1/2 feet tall and as long as I prune faded blooms, they bloom until frost. For hummers, the salvias, of course. But this year I'm planting plenty of pineapple sage to bring them in to our new home and my new gardens! Best of luck, looks like you've gotten worlds of good advice here!
mudpup
10 years ago
My hand down winners are giant pink phlox for butterflies. Mine grew 4 1/2 feet tall and as long as I prune faded blooms, they bloom until frost. For hummers, the salvias, of course. But this year I'm planting plenty of pineapple sage to bring them in to our new home and my new gardens! Best of luck, looks like you've gotten worlds of good advice here!
mudpup
10 years ago
My hand down winners are giant pink phlox for butterflies. Mine grew 4 1/2 feet tall and as long as I prune faded blooms, they bloom until frost. For hummers, the salvias, of course. But this year I'm planting plenty of pineapple sage to bring them in to our new home and my new gardens! Best of luck, looks like you've gotten worlds of good advice here!
Leafhead
10 years ago
Swallowtails esp love the Phlox:)
ponyexpress_1
10 years ago
Bronze fennel seems to be very good host plant for the black swallowtails. I had them lay eggs two years in a row on this. Raised some of them up in the house. My favorite hummingbird plants are Salvia lady in red, Monarda Jacob cline, Fuchsia gartenmeister, red petunia and million bells, zinnia, Mexican sunflower, canna lily, coral honeysuckle, agastache, Firecracker penstemon, and red cypress vine.
jayco
10 years ago
One thing I love about my several huge patches of bee balm (I don't know the varieties, one is pink and one is red) is that they are always bustling, with hummers, bees, butterflies, and other insects. They are very easy to grow, they spread, they are easy to pull out if you don't want them somewhere, and they're pretty.
janice__indiana5
10 years ago
Great suggestions here for sun gardens. What about for shade, besides hosta? Shade annuals?
janice__indiana5
10 years ago
Great suggestions here for sun gardens. What about for shade, besides hosta? Shade annuals?
ladyrose65
10 years ago
Beautiful pictures and recommendations!
I'm think I have good foundation. They have not bloomed yet.
Buddleia, (Maltese Cross Lynchis, Verbena "Purple Top", Monarda, 3 types of penstomen: these are all WS'd, I give them until next summer to reach maturity)
Torch, Yellow Torch - Tithonia, Giant Red Zinnia's, Borage, Anise, Fennel, and Dill.
docmom_gw
10 years ago
For shade try columbine canadensis. I've not had much luck in the shade with hummingbirds.

Martha
terrene
10 years ago
Lobelia cardinalis, Aquilegia canadensis, other Columbine cultivars, Dicentra spp., and many Heuchera with pink or red flowers will grow and flower fairly well with only 2-4 hours of sun. The hummingbirds are quite fond of these plants.

Some of my Monarda only gets 1/2 day sun and does pretty well. I think they would like more sun, but do okay with 3 or 4 hours.
Pam
4 years ago
According to the Hummingbird Society - these are the favorites - http://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/hummingbird-flowers/

For butterflies- check these sites -
https://www.naba.org
https://xerces.org/butterfly-conservation/

What plants do you suggest for a butterfly/hummingbird garden?

Comments (33)

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