Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds to the Garden

Most people welcome butterflies and hummingbirds into their gardens. If you choose the right plants, you can even encourage them to stay for awhile. Butterflies will find a sunny area such as a meadow that is sheltered from the wind to be the most welcoming. They will especially love such amenities as leaf litter, rock crevices, damp places, brush piles and even weeds.

When you choose plants for your garden, keep in mind that not every plant will attract butterflies in every region. You should also be very careful to not use pesticides unless you are able to target the specific pest without harming the butterflies.

Hummingbirds ingest half of their food every day. Flowering plants provide nectar; spiders and insects supply protein. Hummingbirds will visit a wide variety of plants. The following plants and flowers are some of their favorites.

Flowers

Botanical Name (Common Name)

• Achilla–(Yarrow)

• Alcea–(Hollyhock)

• Allium–(Chives)

• Anaphalis–(Pearly Everlasting)

• Antirrhinum–(Snapdragon)

• Aquilegia–(Columbine)

• Arabis–(Rock Cress)

• Armeria–(Thrift)

• Asclepias–(Butterfly Weed)

• Aster–(Aster)

• Astilbe–(False Spirea)

• Borago–(Borage)

• Calamintha–(Calamint)

• Catananche–(Cupid’s Dart)

• Centaurea–(Cornflower)

• Centranthus ruber–(Jupiter’s Beard)

• Crysanthemum–(Shasta Daisy)

• Coreopsis–(Coreopsis)

• Cosmos–(Cosmos)

• Delphinium–(Delphinium)

• Dianthus–(Pink)

• Digitalis–(Foxglove)

• Echinacea–(Purple Coneflower)

• Echinops–(Globe Thistle)

• Erigeron–(Fleabane)

• Eupatorium–(Joe-Pye Weed)

• Fuchsia–(Fuchsia)

• Gaillardia–(Blanket Flower)

• Heliotropium–(Heliotrope)

• Heuchera–(Coral Bells)

• Iberis–(Candytuft)

• Iris–(Siberian Iris)

• Knifophia–(Red Hot Poker)

• Lantana–(Lantana)

• Lavendula–(Lavender)

• Liatris–(Gayfeather)

• Lobelia–(Cardinal Flower)

• Lobularia–(Sweet Alyssum)

• Lupinus–(Lupine)

• Mimulas–(Monkey Flower)

• Monarda–(Bee Balm)

• Nasturtium–(Nasturtium)

• Nepata–(Catmint)

• Origanum–(Oregano)

• Penstemon–(Beard Tongue)

• Petunia–(Petunia)

• Phlox–(Phlox)

• Physostegia–(Obedient Plant)

• Rudbeckia–(Gloriosa Daisy)

• Salvia–(Sage)

• Scabiosa–(Pincushion Flower)

• Sedum–(Stonecrop)

• Tagetes–(Marigold)

• Veronica–(Speedwell)

Vines

Botanical Name (Common Name)

• Campsis–(Trumpet Vine)

• Clematis–(Clematis)

• Lonicera–(Honeysuckle)

Trees

Botanical Name (Common Name)

• Aesculus–(Horsechestnut)

• Malus–(Apple)

• Salix–(Willow)

Shrubs

Botanical Name (Common Name)

• Buddleia–(Butterfly Bush)

• Caryopteris–(Bluebeard)

• Chaenomeles–(Flowering Quince)

• Cornus–(Dogwood)

• Lonicera–(Honeysuckle)

• Mahonia–(Mahonia)

• Philadelphus–(Mockorange)

• Pontentilla–(Cinquefoil)

• Ribes–(Currant, Gooseberry)

• Sambucus–(Elderberry)

• Spiraea–(Spirea)

• Syringa–(Lilac)

• Vaccinium–(Blueberry, Lingonberry)

Now you have an idea of some of the favorite plants for butterflies and hummingbirds. Which of these do you already have planted in your yard or garden? Which ones are you planning to add to your garden or yard?

Photos by Prisonbreak and Bert Glibbery