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Native Butterfly Plants

Nectar and host plants that bring butterflies to your garden — and give their caterpillars something to eat once they arrive.

Tip: open your state below for the version of this list filtered to plants native to your region and hardy in your zone.
The plants

63 native species in this collection.

A real butterfly garden does two jobs: nectar for the adults and host leaves for the caterpillars. Flat-topped flowers make the best landing pads, and warm, sheltered, sunny spots out of the wind get the most visits. Tolerate a little leaf damage — those chewed leaves are the whole point, and a caterpillar today is a butterfly next month.

Evergreen shrub

California Lilac

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus

Nectar for the adults and a caterpillar host for their young, in one plant, flowering as it blooms Mar through May.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 6–20 ft
  • Blooms Mar–May
Perennial

Desert Marigold

Baileya multiradiata

A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms Mar through Oct.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 12–18 in
  • Blooms Mar–Oct
Small tree

Eastern Redbud

Cercis canadensis

Does both jobs of a butterfly garden — nectar and host leaves, flowering as it flowers in Mar and Apr.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 20–30 ft
  • Blooms Mar–Apr
Subshrub

Autumn Sage

Salvia greggii

A butterfly nectar plant that blooms Apr through Oct.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry
  • 2–3 ft
  • Blooms Apr–Oct
Small tree

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida

Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that flowers in Apr and May.

  • Part shade
  • Average
  • 15–25 ft
  • Blooms Apr–May
Perennial wildflower

Golden Alexanders

Zizia aurea

Does both jobs of a butterfly garden — nectar and host leaves — it blooms Apr through Jun.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 1.5–2.5 ft
  • Blooms Apr–Jun
Small tree

Serviceberry

Amelanchier canadensis

Nectar for the adults and a caterpillar host for their young, in one plant, and it flowers in Apr and May.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 15–25 ft
  • Blooms Apr–May
Vine

Trumpet Honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens

Does both jobs of a butterfly garden — nectar and host leaves — it blooms Apr through Sep.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 8–15 ft
  • Blooms Apr–Sep
Shrub

Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum dentatum

Nectar for the adults and a caterpillar host for their young, in one plant — it flowers in May and Jun.

  • Sun to shade
  • Average–wet
  • 6–10 ft
  • Blooms May–Jun
Perennial wildflower

Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms May through Aug.

  • Full sun
  • Dry–average
  • 1.5–3 ft
  • Blooms May–Aug
Subshrub

Turk's Cap

Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii

Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms May through Oct.

  • Sun to shade
  • Dry–average
  • 2–5 ft
  • Blooms May–Oct
Perennial wildflower

Anise Hyssop

Agastache foeniculum

Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms Jun through Sep.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Sep
Perennial wildflower

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

Does both jobs of a butterfly garden — nectar and host leaves, and it blooms Jun through Aug.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 1.5–2.5 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Aug
Shrub

Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms Jun through Aug.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 5–10 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Aug
Shrub

Flame Acanthus

Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii

Nectar for the adults and a caterpillar host for their young, in one plant; it blooms Jun through Oct.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Oct
Perennial wildflower

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms Jun through Aug.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Aug
Browse by state

Butterflies, near you.

Native ranges differ across the country — open your state for the list that actually applies to your yard.

AlabamaALArizonaAZArkansasARCaliforniaCAColoradoCOConnecticutCTDelawareDEFloridaFLGeorgiaGAIdahoIDIllinoisILIndianaINIowaIAKansasKSKentuckyKYLouisianaLAMaineMEMarylandMDMassachusettsMAMichiganMIMinnesotaMNMississippiMSMissouriMOMontanaMTNebraskaNENevadaNVNew HampshireNHNew JerseyNJNew MexicoNMNew YorkNYNorth CarolinaNCNorth DakotaNDOhioOHOklahomaOKOregonORPennsylvaniaPARhode IslandRISouth CarolinaSCSouth DakotaSDTennesseeTNTexasTXUtahUTVermontVTVirginiaVAWashingtonWAWashington, D.C.DCWest VirginiaWVWisconsinWIWyomingWY
Sourcing

Where to find butterflies plants

Seeds & live plants on Amazon

Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.

Browse on Amazon

Some links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.