Plants That Attract Butterflies
Butterflies are an important part of our ecosystem. They support birds and amphibians, as well as insects. No matter what stage of its life cycle (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis or adult), the butterfly is a source of food for some other creature. When you create a garden that attracts butterflies, you create a habitat for a variety of beneficial insects, birds, bees and other wildlife.
The plants listed below will allow you to grow the perfect butterfly habitat in your California Landscape. Please note that while we carry many if not all the plants listed here, selection may vary by location and may only be available in select seasons. Please contact your local SummerWinds Nursery for selection. Our Trusted Garden Advisors are also great resources for helping you choose the right plants for your garden.
Plants That Attract Butterflies
Perennials That Attract Butterflies
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
| Aster | Aster |
| Beard Tongue | Penstemon spp. |
| Bee Balm | Monarda spp. |
Black-Eyed Susan
 |
Rudbeckia hirta |
| Blanket Flower | Gaillardia spp. |
Bleeding Heart
 |
Dicentra spp. |
| Broadleaf/Common Plantain | Plantago major |
| Buckwheat | Eriogonum spp. |
| California Aster | Symphyotrichum chilense |
| Canna Lily | Canna spp. |
Clover
 |
Trifolium spp. |
| Columbine | Aquilegia spp. |
| Coneflower | Echinacea spp. |
| Coreopsis | Coreopsis spp. |
| Cosmos | Cosmos spp. |
| Coyotemint | Monardella villosa |
| Deerweed | Acmispon glaber/Lotus scoparius |
| Dusty Miller | Senecio cineraria |
| Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare |
Foxglove
 |
Digitalis spp. |
Gayfeather
 |
Liatris spp. |
| Geum | Geum |
| Goldenrod | Solidago spp. |
| Grasses | Carex, Festuca, others |
| Heliotrope | Heliotropium arborescens |
| Hollyhock | Alcea rosea spp. |
| Jacobs Ladder | Polemonium spp. |
| Japanese Bellflower | Platycodon spp. |
Lily Of The Nile
 |
Agapanthus spp. |
| Lippia | Lipia repens, Phyla nodiflora |
| Lupine | Lupinus spp. |
| Mallow | Lavatera spp. |
| Matilija Poppy | Romneya coulteri |
Mexican Sunflower
 |
Tithonia spp. |
| Michaelmas Daisy | Aster novi-belgii, others |
| Milkweed | Asclepias spp. |
| Monkey Flower | Diplacus, Mimulus spp. |
Mullein
 |
Verbascum spp. |
| Nettle | Urtica spp. |
| Pearly Everlasting | Anaphalis spp. |
| Peter's Gold Carpet | Bidens ferulifolia |
Phlox, Summer Phlox
 |
Phlox paniculata |
| Pincushion Flower | Scabiosa spp. |
| Plumbago | Ceratostigma plumbaginoides |
| Red Valerian | Centranthus ruber |
| Russian Sage | Perovskia atriplicifolia |
| Sage | Salvia spp. |
| Santa Barbara Daisy | Erigeron karvinskianus |
| Scented Geranium | Pelargonium graveolens |
Sea Holly
 |
Eryngium spp. |
| Sea Lavender/Statice | Limonium spp. |
Sea Thrift
 |
Armeria spp. |
| Seaside Daisy | Erigeron spp. |
| Shasta Daisy | Leucantheyaum superbum |
| Snapdragon | Antirrhinum spp. |
| Snow In Summer | Alyssum spp. |
| Speedwell | Veronica spp. |
| Stoke's Aster | Stokesia laevis |
| Thistle | Cirsium, Eryngium, others |
| Thyme | Thymus spp. |
Toadflax
 |
Linaria purpurea |
Torch Lily
 |
Kniphofia spp. |
| Verbena | Verbena spp. |
| Vinca | Vinca minor |
| Wall Flower | Erysimum spp. |
| Wild Radish | Raphanus raphanistrum |
| Yarrow | Achillea spp. |
Shrubs That Attract Butterflies
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
| Bluebeard/Blue Mist | Caryopteris spp. |
| Butterfly Bush | Buddleja spp. |
California Coffeeberry
 |
Rhamnus californica |
| California Wild Lilac | Ceanothus spp. |
| Chaste Tree | Vitex agnus-castus |
Hebe
 |
Hebe spp. |
| Lantana | Lantana spp. |
| Lavender | Lavandula spp. |
| Oak | Querus spp. |
| Rosemary | Rosmarinus officinalis |
Spirea
 |
Spiraea spp. |
| Strawberry Tree | Arbutus unedo or marina |
| Tree Mallow | Lavatera arborea |
Viburnum
 |
Viburnum spp. |
| Willow | Salix spp. |
Vines That Attract Butterflies
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
Black-Eyed Susan Vine
 |
Thunbergia alata |
| Dutchman's Pipe | Aristolochia spp. |
| Wisteria | Wisteria spp. |
Annuals That Attract Butterflies
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
Marigold
 |
Tagetes spp. |
| Mustard | Brassica spp. |
| Sunflower | Helianthus spp. |
| Violet (native) | Viola adunca & pedunculata |
Zinnia
 |
Zinnia spp. |
Other Pollinators...
| Create A Hummingbird Habitat | Create A Bee Habitat | Creating A Bird Habitat |
| Plants to Attract Hummingbirds | Plants to Attract Bees | Plants To Attract Birds |
