Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A butterfly nectar plant that blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Utah · Zones 4–8
Native Butterfly Plants in Utah
Nectar and host plants that bring butterflies to your garden — and give their caterpillars something to eat once they arrive. Every species here is genuinely native to Utah and the wider flora of the Mountain West and hardy through zones 4–8 — proven performers for Utah's arid, cold winters, high sun climate across Wasatch Range & Colorado Plateau, not a generic list. Local standouts include Wild Bergamot and Common Yarrow. 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.
The plants
16 native species for Utah
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–8 · see this collection in other states.
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
A butterfly nectar plant that blooms Mar through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Oct
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
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
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
A butterfly nectar plant that blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Gregg's Mistflower
Conoclinium greggii
A butterfly nectar plant that blooms May through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii
Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms Apr through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Oct
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
A caterpillar host — its leaves feed the next generation; it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
A caterpillar host — its leaves feed the next generation, and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
A caterpillar host — its leaves feed the next generation, flowering as it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
A caterpillar host — its leaves feed the next generation, flowering as it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Does both jobs of a butterfly garden — nectar and host leaves — it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
A caterpillar host — its leaves feed the next generation.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Utah
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome 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.