What plants are good nectar sources for butterflies?

11 years ago

This listing of plants with flowers that attract butterflies was submitted by forum members from throughout the U.S., and from many plant hardiness zones. They grew or personally observed these plants and their butterfly visitors. You should observe what nectar plants perform well in your area when deciding what to plant. Plant zones only indicate the lowest cold temperature in winter, which is just one small part of growing plants. Other factors - heat, exposure to sunlight, rainfall, drainage, humidity, soil type, soil PH, and how well or poorly a person takes care of their plants - have a lot more to do with whether or not a plant succeeds or fails than just the zone.

Anise-scented sage - Salvia guaranitica
Autumn sage - Salvia greggii
Aster - Asteraceae Spp.

Bee balm - Monarda spp.
Black-eyed susan - Rudbeckia spp.
Blue Porterweed - Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Bottlebrush tree - Callistemon spp.
Brazilian verbena - Verbena bonariensis
Butterfly bush - Buddleia davidii (and various hybrids)
Buttonbush - Cephalanthus occidentalis
Butterfly weed - Asclepias tuberosa

Carolina jessamine - Gelsemium sempervirens
Carpetweed - Phyla nodiflora
Citrus blossoms - Citrus Spp.
Common thistle - Cirsium spp.
Copper Canyon daisy - Tagetes lemmonii
Coral plant - Jatropha multifida
Cosmos - Cosmos sulphurus

Dutchman's pipevine - Aristolochia Spp.
Elephant foot - Elephantopus spp.
Firebush - Hamelia patens
Giant hyssop - Agastache (A. foeniculum x rugosa) var. 'Blue Fortune'
Golden dewdrop (or skyflower) - Duranta repens
Gregg's mist flower - Eupatorium greggii
Ironweed - Vernonia spp.
Joepye weed - Eupatorium fistulosum
Lantana - Lantana camara
Licorice plant - Helichrysum petiolare

Marigolds - Tagetes spp.
Mexican bush sage - Salvia leucantha
Mexican flamevine - Senecio confusus
Mexican heather - Cuphea hyssopifolia
Mexican petunia - Ruellia brittoniana
Mexican sunflower - Tithonia diversifolia
Morning glory - Ipomeae spp.

Night blooming jessamine - Cestrum nocturnum
Pentas - Pentas lanceolata
Periwinkles - Vinca spp.
Pineapple sage - Salvia elegans
Pineland lantana - Lantana depressa
Phlox - Phlox spp.
Purple coneflower - Echinacea purpurea

Scarlet (or tropical) milkweed - Asclepias currasavica
Shrimp plant - Justicia spp.
Spanish needles - Bidens alba
Stokes aster - Stokesia laevis
Sweet pepperbush - Clethra spp.

Tropical red sage - Salvia coccinea
Turk's cap - Malvaviscus drommondii
White snakeroot - Eupatorium rugosum
Wild sage - Lantana involucrata
Zinnia - Zinnia elegans, Z. haageana, and Z. linearis
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Are any of these good nectar plants?
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Comments (5)
Thanks for your replies, everyone! Sandy, after reading your comments about those that have a tendency to get invasive, I think I'm going to forget about planting them. I had planted a few things here already that spread like crazy and I ended up pulling them all out because I didn't like the way they tried to take over the place. I had planted Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) and those seeds just made zillions of plants. I had them planted early last year and they bloomed and I never saw even one butterfly on them. For that reason and the invasive reason, those got ripped out. I'm still pulling out little plants here and there. I also planted nicotianas one time. They have a wonderful smell but they tried to take over too. I don't like plants like that. I was afraid (still am) that the Anise hyssop that I have will try to do that too because of the many seeds that those plants have. Also, the butterflies didn't like them anyway, and so I gave half of them to various people on here. The honeybees love them. I had planted way too many plants (at least 60) and now I'm down to a comfortable (I hope) 26. If too many small plants come up next year, depending on how much time I have to spend removing them, the rest of them might get yanked out. I absolutely do not like invasive plants, and I'm so glad that you made me aware of those that would probably be that way. I will probably only plant those two that you mentioned. Cathy
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What are Your 3 Best Nectar Plants for Butterflies?
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Porterweed is a GREAT choice, Flowerlady! I didn't mention it in my top three because I'm in a borderline zone for porterweed's return. Pentas work the same way for me; they may or may not return. Red Porterweed Blue Porterweed I started last year with 4 of the purple/blue porterweed. I rooted more. Only 2 of the originals came back this spring. I had three of the red/coral. All 3 came back, but one is only two inches tall so far. I saved seeds and have 2 blues and 4 reds so far from seed, about half inch tall. Sigh, porterweed's a real tropical. Butterflies appreciate it. It's available at nurseries and a good sized plant would be a great annual choice for anybody's butterfly garden. Nell
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Butterfly Nectar/Host plants & Asclepias
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Hello everyone, I used to be very active around 2008-2010, but I had to put my passion for gardening in butterflies aside in order to focus on highschool. I have now graduated highschool, enrolled in college, and I am in the process of restoring my backyard gardens to their former beauty before they were ruined by drought and choked out by weedy grasses that grew after many heavy rainfalls. This time around, I am going to mix potting soil with the natural soil to help keep in moisture and use gardening mats to keep the weeds to a minimum. I was wondering if anyone had some plants (or roots, rooted cuttings, tubers, dormant clumps or roots) to spare for a trade or some type of sasbe or box. I am especially interested in natives (accross the USA) and Asclepias (other than Tropical Milkweed) to grow for Monarchs. I do have the proper tools and outdoor conditions to all types of Milkweeds even northern varieties. (I can go into detail upon request.) I have spent my free time researching the special growing conditions for many plants that are not native to the Rio Grande Valley, Texas (southern most tip of Texas) and have had success growing several northern varieties of Blackberries, which are extremely picky down here due to our humidity, heat, and soil. I have also grown Pears, Apples, and Plums, all of which are not native and should not be easy to grow here, yet here they are. If anyone is willing to work out a trade or something, please let me know! I am also interested in hearing about you all's gardens and what plants are most successful as nectar and host plants. Thank you all for your time, Danny (I also posted this in the Seed Exchange section, since this is only for plants)
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Butterfly host and nectar plants ...
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Comments (2)
Some people are seeing this naturalize up around Dallas and it is on the Texas invasive list. I have not seen this behavior , but then again it is not that happy in my yard. This site does list plants before they are HUGE problems. I would think that it might vary from area to area. My neighbor had one in down town Austin and I saw no babies there. A handful of sightings around Dallas, up towards NE Texas, and one in San Marcus. Maybe they are cranking out an alert a but early. I don't know. It has become a problem up further east , like in Tennessee and surrounding states. I am not trying to snub on your choice. Info is info. I got one from you at a swap. Texas invasive list entry.
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What plants are good nectar sources for butterflies?

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