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4 min

Top 10 Plants For Butterflies

4 min

Adam Parsons

October 19th, 2023

Have you ever wanted to attract some butterflies to your garden? Well, now you can. In this article, we delve into ten plant varieties that are sure to bring in the winged beauties. Not only will they attract butterflies, but they'll add lots of colour and offer many other benefits to your garden and surrounding plants.

From the tortoiseshell to the red admiral, there's no denying that butterflies can brighten up your garden with their colourful appearances. However, is it just down to chance whether your garden will get a visit from them? Well, not exactly; many species of plants and flowers will actively attract them to your home. Not only are butterflies visually striking, but they also play a role in pollination and offer natural pest control from smaller creatures that might otherwise wreak havoc on your carefully curated plants. With that in mind, we've gathered together 10 plants you've got to check out if you want some butterflies in your garden.

1. Hyssop

Hyssop

The humble hyssop, or Hyssopus officinalis, is a vibrant purple plant that's part of the mint family. Traditionally found in southern Europe and the Middle East, hyssop attracts plenty of butterflies when allowed to flourish. However, butterflies aren't the only winged creatures you'll find around your hyssop, as hummingbirds and bees are also known to be drawn to this particular plant. The best part is that you don't have to wait long as hyssop is fast to grow, taking as little as a couple of months to grow to its full potential.

2. Cornflower

Cornflower

Showcasing a bevy of purple, blue, pink, and white colours, cornflower is simply bursting with radiance. These flowers are fast to mature, easy to grow and maintain, and can attract butterflies to your garden—as well as some other beneficial insects, such as bees. Whether sown directly into the soil or in pots, provide cornflower with plenty of sun in late spring/early summer, and you'll see results in no time at all.

3. Buddleia

Buddleia

Buddleia (Buddleja davidii) is a shrub teeming with nectar, making it a popular destination among adult butterflies. It's even referred to as the “butterfly bush”, so if you're looking for a surefire way to get some butterflies into your garden, this might be the best place to start! Get your seeds started in late spring in moist but well-drained soil outdoors, provide a little TLC over the next few months, and you'll soon have a monster of a shrub. Buddleia has the potential to grow up to 4 metres, but if space is an issue, some pruning in its early growth can curb its height.

4. Lavender

Lavender

As arguably one of the most recognisable herbs on the planet, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is renowned for its pleasant sweet and floral scent. It's also known for its ability to attract butterflies. Lavender is a robust and resilient plant to cultivate and is perfectly easygoing in the hands of even the most novice of gardeners. Get this plant started around May, and you'll have a bunch of butterflies in the later months of summer, making this plant a regular stop on their pollen-collecting journey.

5. Coreopsis tinctoria

Coreopsis Tinctoria

Delivering some deep red hues, Coreopsis tinctoria, otherwise known as red coreopsis, is a colourful flower suitable for home growers and gardening experts alike. These tough and robust plants are not only beautiful to behold but are remarkably unfussy, making them effortless to cultivate too. Growing some Coreopsis tinctoria flowers in your garden will result in an increase in both butterflies and bees in your garden. So get your seeds started around March, and this perennial plant will take over in the later months of the year.

Red Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) Semi-Tall

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6. Red valerian

Red Valerian

Next up is red valerian. This fast-growing perennial plant can handle even the most drought-prone conditions, including dry and chalky soils. So if you live in a warm, dry climate and want to offer up a place for butterflies to flock to, red valerian could very well be the ticket. As this is a hardy plant, it can be planted in the autumn or spring. It also doesn't require much in the way of maintenance, and typically doesn't need any pruning.

7. Climbing flowers

Climbing Flowers

If you think your garden is getting full and you're running out of space in your flower beds, don't worry; you can definitely squeeze some more in with climbing flowers. This selection of seeds is perfect for trellises or decorating your fence with a burst of colour. While they'll need to be started in pots, once they begin to stretch out, you can coax them onto/around trellises/fences in your garden. So find a great position for your fragrant climbing flowers, and watch as the butterflies come swooping in.

Climbing Flowers Seed Mix

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8. Butterfly flower mix

Butterfly Flower Mix

While we've offered up plenty of individual options to attract butterflies into your garden, this mix gets straight to the point. The butterfly flower mix is a finely tuned variety of flowers perfect for adding colour and drawing in those butterflies. These flowers enjoy full sun and can be positioned in a wide range of settings. So whether you prefer your flowers low to the ground or in hanging baskets, get these seeds started indoors in early to late spring, then move them outside in the summertime.

9. Forget-me-nots

Forget-Me-Nots

A truly unforgettable flower, otherwise known as Myosotis alpestris, the forget-me-not boasts a blue bouquet of colour that's sure to brighten up any garden. Provide this plant with some moist but well-drained soil and place it in a shady spot, and you can't go wrong. In fact, you can sow the seeds directly into the ground in July, and they'll perform throughout the rest of the year. Not only will you enjoy them, but butterflies will too!

10. Wildflower mix

Wildflower Mix

As a mix of perennial and annual plants, the wildflowers seed mix covers all the bases for all growers. Just scatter these seeds in spring and allow them to flourish in full sun for the remainder of summer. At this point, you'll witness a burst of colour, a selection of the finest aromas, and plenty of butterflies around your garden. What could be better? This seed mix will ensure your garden is completely cared for. So, if you pick out only one seed pack from our list, these wildflowers could be a serious contender.

Experience the butterfly effect

No, we're not talking chaos theory here; we just mean that if you plant any of the above-mentioned flowers, herbs, and shrubs in your garden, you're bound to see an influx of butterflies around your home. So once the hard work is done and you've grown and maintained your plants, kick back and marvel at just how alive and bustling your garden is. We promise it's worth every second of effort. To get started today, head to the Zamnesia Plantshop and get your pick of all these seeds, and more!