How to attract Butterflies to your garden

Certain plants stand out to butterflies and will attract them to your garden. Here are six different plants that will surely do the job as well as look great in your yard.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   PURPLE CONEFLOWER -
   
   There are many different colors of this type of flower to choose from. Each with attract butterflies well. They resemble daisies and do very well in the summer time. They are made for summer and are tough little flowers. They have a prominent cone center, and bloom well from mid to late summer. Typically they grow 30 - 26 inches tall.
   
   Choose the Echinacea varieties, in zones 3 - 9.

2. 
    

   STONECROP -
   
   These flowers bloom in the fall but look great all year long. They really catch the eyes of monarchs and painted ladies. They requires minimal attention and are very pretty.
   
   Choose Sedum, Autumn Joy, zones 4 - 8.

3. 
    

   ASTER -
   
   These pretty purple flowers draw attention to butterflies where they get plenty of nectar. The bloom in the fall.
   
   Choose Aster spp., zones 6 - 11.

4. 
    

   FENNEL -
   
   These pretty yellow plants with fern-like foliage is a great source of food for caterpillars. The blooms also attract butterflies at the same time.
   
   Choose foeniculum vulgare, zones 4 - 9.

5. 
    

   MILKWEED -
   
   Milkweeds are a great source of food and nectar for monarch caterpillars. They attract hummingbirds and butterflies as well. They are pretty, orange, and do well in a garden. They are also drought tolerant and are typically 24 inches tall.
   
   Choose Asclepia tuberosa, zones 4 - 9.

6. 
    

   RUSSIAN SAGE -
   
   These beautiful purple blooms are perfect for low watering conditions and catch the eyes of butterflies. They typically spread between 20 to 30 inches and are 36 - 48 inches tall.
   
   Chose Perovskia atriplicifolia, zones 6 - 9.

Resources

• "eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide."

[esperd]

on 9/26/2009 Thanks, very cool idea for an article.

[djackman]

on 7/24/2009 butterflies are cool, simple potted flowers do well also 5* recommended