Imagine a garden without the flutter of butterfly wings—it would feel empty, wouldn’t it? With their kaleidoscopic wings, butterflies aren’t just a feast for the eyes; they play a pivotal role in the cycle of pollination. Crafting a garden that captivates both human senses and butterflies’ discerning tastes involves selecting flora that dazzles and nourishes.
By choosing plants that serve dual purposes—offering nectar for the graceful adults and plants that caterpillars need for growth—you create an oasis that beckons these winged wonders.
In their adult form, butterflies seek out nectar to sip on, fluttering from bloom to bloom in a delicate dance of survival. Yet, their young, the caterpillars, are bound to the land, dependent on a very specific nursery of sorts: their host plant. This plant, chosen by their mothers to lay her eggs on, becomes their sole food source when the caterpillars hatch.
It’s a fascinating lifecycle, one that your garden can support. It can enrich the biodiversity of your backyard while providing a front-row seat to one of nature’s most enchanting shows.
Below are thirty-three native perennials (and a few annuals) that butterflies prefer for nectar and host plants. (Follow this link for a list of specific butterfly species and their preferred host plants.) Please take care never to apply insecticides to butterfly habitats. Also see: Native annuals for butterflies
(* A special thanks to all the excellent photographers who generously allow their images to be used to enhance pages like this.)
Nectar perennials for butterflies
![An Aromatic Aster plant covered with purple-colored flowers.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjI1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIyNSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Aromatic Aster, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Andrey Zharkikh / Flickr; CC BY 2.0)
Aster (Aromatic, New England, Smooth, et al.) |
Aster spp. |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Late spring–Early fall |
Zones: 3–9 |
![](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMTk5IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDE5OSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta (Frank Mayfield / EOL; CC BY-SA 2.0)
Black-eyed Susan |
Rudbeckia hirta |
Annual, Perennial |
Bloom time: Mid-summer–Early-fall |
Zones 5–10 |
![A stand of Dense Blazing Star filled with pink blooms.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjgxIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDI4MSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Dense Blazing Star, Liatris spp. (Marc Ryckaert / Wiki; CC BY-SA 2.5(
Blazing Star (Dense, Prairie, et al.) |
Liatris spp. |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Mid-spring–Early-fall |
Zones 3–10 |
![Blue False Indigo plant in bloom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjczIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDI3MyI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Blue False Indigo, Baptisia australis (Fritzflohrreynolds / Wiki; CC BY-SA 3.00
Blue False Indigo |
Baptisia australis |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Late spring–Mid-summer |
Zones: 3–10 |
![Common Boneset plant in bloom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjI1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIyNSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Common Boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum (H. Zell / Wiki; CC BY-SA 3.0)
Boneset (aka Snakeroot, Thoroughwort) |
Eupatorium perfoliatum |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Early fall–Late fall |
Zones 3–9 |
![Butterfly weed plant in bloom growing amongst Yellow Corydalis, also in bloom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjk2IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDI5NiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa (SB Johnny / EOL; CC BY-NC 3.0)
Butterfly Weed |
Asclepias tuberosa |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Mid-summer–Early-fall |
Zones: 4–10 |
![Cardinal Flower blossom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjI1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIyNSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis (H. Zell / Wiki; (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Cardinal Flower |
Lobelia cardinalis |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Late summer–Early fall |
Zones: 2–10 |
![Copper Iris blossom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjEzIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIxMyI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Copper Iris, Iris fulva (Scott Loarie / EOL; CC BY3.0)
Copper Iris |
Iris fulva |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Early spring–Spring |
Zones: 5–11 |
![Close up of several Daisy Fleabane flowers, which are white with yellow centers.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjIyIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIyMiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Daisy Fleabane, Erigeron annuus (contri / Wiki; CC BY-SA 2.0)
Daisy Fleabane |
Erigeron annuus |
Annual or biennial |
Bloom time: Mid-spring–Mid-summer |
Zones: 2–8 |
![Photo of a large planting of Hemp Dogbane in bloom with tiny white flowers.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMTk5IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDE5OSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Hemp Dogbane, Apocynum cannabium, and Gray Hairstreak Butterfly, Strymon melinus (Tony Frates / Flickr; CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Dogbane |
Apocynum cannabinum |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Summer |
Zones: 2–8 |
![Downy Phlox plant in bloom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjk2IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDI5NiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Downy Phlox, Phlox pilosa (Aaron Gunnar / EOL; CC BY-SA 3.0)
Downy Phlox |
Phlox pilosa |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Mid-spring |
Zones: 4–9 |
![Golden Rod plant in bloom with bright yellow flowers.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMzQ0IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDM0NCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Goldenrod, Solidago sp. (WelcomeWildlife.com CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
Goldenrod (Showy, Carolina Moonlight, et al.) |
Solidago spp. (can be invasive) |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Varies; most in late-summer–Fall |
Zones: 2–8 |
![A Great Blue Lobelia plant with several purplish-blue blooms.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjE1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIxNSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Great Blue Lobelia, Lobelia siphilitica (Doug McGrady / Wiki; CC BY 2.0)
Great Blue Lobelia |
Lobelia siphilitica |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Late summer–Early fall |
Zones: 3–9 |
![A photo of a stand of Indian Blanket plants in bloom. The blossoms are red with a yellow fringe around them.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjQwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDI0MCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Indian Blanket (Duane Bryce / Flickr; CC BY 2.0)
Indian Blanket |
Gaillardia pulchella |
Annual |
Bloom time: Summer–Early-fall |
Zones: 3–9 |
![Joe-pye Weed plant in bloom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjg1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDI4NSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Joe-Pye Weed, Eupatorium fistulosum (H. Zell / EOL; CC BY-SA 3.0)
Joe-Pye Weed |
Eupatorium fistulosum |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Mid-summer–Early-fall |
Zones: 3–8 |
![Lanceleaf coreopsis plant in bloom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMzIzIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDMyMyI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Coreopsis Ianceolata (Eleanor / Flickr; CC BY-NC 2.0)
Lanceleaf Coreopsis |
Coreopsis Ianceolata |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Late spring–Mid-summer |
Zones: 4–9 |
![Spotted jewelweed blossom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjI1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIyNSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Spotted jewelweed, Impatiens capensis (Fritz Geller-Grimm / EOL; CC BY 3.0)
Spotted Jewelweed |
Impatiens capensis |
Annual |
Bloom time: Mid-summer–Early-fall |
Everywhere except arid regions |
![Sundial lupine plant in bloom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMzQ1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDM0NSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Sundial Lupine, Lupinus perennis (Marc Ryckaert / EOL;C BY 3.0)
Lupine (Sundial, Perennial, et al.) |
Lupinus spp. |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Spring–Summer |
Zones: 3–9 |
![A close up of a Purple Milkweed stem showing three different of blooms, from buds to open blooms.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIxOTkiIGhlaWdodD0iMzAwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTk5IDMwMCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Purple milkweed, Asclepias purpurascens (Derek Ramsey / Wiki; GNU Free Documentation 1.2)
Milkweed (Marsh, Rose, Swamp, Purple, et al.) |
Asclepias spp. |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Varies |
Zones 2–9 |
![Missouri primrose blossom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjI1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIyNSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Missouri primrose, Oenothera missouriensis (Joshm / Flickr; CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Missouri Primrose |
Oenothera missouriensis |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Late spring–Early-summer |
Zones: 4–8 |
![Native Yellow honeysuckle in bloom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjM0IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIzNCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Native Yellow Honeysuckle, Lonicera flava (Missouri Dept. of Conservation; PD)
Native Yellow Honeysuckle |
Lonicera flava |
Perennial vine (avoid non-native bush variety) |
Bloom time: Spring |
Zones: 4–9 |
![A close up of the pink flower of an Annual Phlox](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjI1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIyNSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Annual Phlox, Phlox drummondii (Neelix / EOL; PD)
Phlox |
Phlox spp. |
Annual, Perennial |
Bloom time: Spring |
Zones: 2–10 |
![Purple coneflower blossom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIyODciIGhlaWdodD0iMzAwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMjg3IDMwMCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea (Danny Stevens / EOL; CC BY-SA 3.0)
Purple Coneflower et al. |
Echinacea spp. |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Summer–Late-fall |
Zones: 3–9 |
![Purple poppy mallow plant in bloom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjM1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIzNSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Purple Poppy Mallow, Callirhoe involucata (John Hilty / EOL; CC BY 3.0)
Purple Poppy Mallow |
Callirhoe involucata |
Perennial |
Bloom Time: Early spring–Mid-summer |
Zones: 3–9 |
![](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjI1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIyNSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Red Thistle, Cirsium occidentale (Matt Lavin / Wiki; CC BY-SA 2.0)
Red Thistle |
Cirsium occidentale |
Biennial |
Bloom time: Spring |
Zones: 2–9 |
![Scarlet Sage plant in bloom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMzAwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDMwMCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Scarlet Sage., Salvia coccinea (Carl Lewis / Flickr; CC BY 2.0)
Scarlet Sage |
Salvia coccinea |
Annual |
Bloom time: Summer–Fall |
Zones: 4–9 |
![Spiked Gayfeather plants in bloom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjk4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDI5OCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Spiked Gayfeather, Liatris spicata (H Zell / EOL; CC BY-SA 3.0).jpg
Spiked Gayfeather |
Liatris spicata |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Mid-summer–Late-summer |
Zones: 3–10 |
![Common sunflower blossom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjcyIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDI3MiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Common Sunflower, Helianthus annuus (Evening / EOL; CC BY-NC 3.0)
Sunflower (Common, Plains, Woodland, et al.) |
Helianthus spp. |
Annual, Perennial |
Bloom time: Late summer–Fall |
Zones 3–9 |
![A close up of a Swamp Rose Mallow flower, which is white with a small red center.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIwMCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Swamp Rose Mallow, Hibiscus Moscheutos (Virginia State Parks / Flickr; CC BY 2.0)
Swamp Rose Mallow |
Hibiscus Moscheutos |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Late-summer |
Zones 5–8 |
![Southwestern mock vervain blossoms](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjExIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIxMSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Southwestern Mock Vervain, Glandularia gooddingii (Keir Morse / EOL; CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
Verbena (Rose, Pink, Southwestern, et al.) |
Verbena spp. |
Annual, Perennial |
Bloom time: Late summer–Early fall |
Zones: 3–8 |
![wild ageratum blossom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjkwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDI5MCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Wild Ageratum, Eupatorium coelestinum (Michael P. Riggs; EOL; CC BY-NC 3.0)
Wild Ageratum (aka Blue Mistflower) |
Eupatorium coelestinum |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Late summer–Early fall |
Zones: 5–9 |
![Wild geranium blossom](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjQxIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDI0MSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Wild geranium, Geranium maculatum (Anita / EOL; CC BY-NC 3.0)
Wild Geranium |
Geranium maculatum |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Late spring–mid-summer |
Zones: 3–8 |
![Common Yarrow blossoms](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjE2IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzAwIDIxNiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Common Yarrow, Achillea millefolium (Anita / EOL; CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
Yarrow (Common, Mountain) |
Achillea spp. |
Perennial |
Bloom time: Mid-summer–Fall |
Zones: 1–11 |
More reading:
Native plants for hummingbirds
Attract butterflies to your yard
General anatomy of insects
In your yard: butterfly species
Guidelines for collecting seeds
Online native plant nursery: Prairie Nursery