Butterfly Nectar Plants

Butterfly color vision is among the best in the animal kingdom. Like many insects, they can see in ultraviolet. They also see red unusually well. Flowers with bright, warm colors stand out to them. Another attractive feature of a nectar source is an easy place to land and perch while feeding. Flowers in dense, flat-topped clusters are perfect. Watch out for flowers that have been bred for double petals, as they make the nectar harder to reach. The following flowers are beautiful, easy to grow and are butterfly favorites.

Annuals

Bidens
Cirsium
Queen Anne's Lace, Daucus
Heliotropium
Marigold, Tagetes
Mexican sunflower, Tithonia
Nasturtium, Tropaeolum
Petunia
Verbena
Zinnia

Perennials

Aster spp.
Blazingstar, Liatris
Globe thistle, Echinops
Hollyhock, Alcea
Knapweed, Bachelor’s buttons Centaurea
Leadplant, Amorpha
Milkweed, butterflyweed, Asclepias
Pot marigold, Calendula
Purple coneflower, Echinacea
Rosemary, Rosmarinus
Sedum, Hylotelephium
Turtlehead, Chelone
Yarrow, Achillea