Attract More Butterflies with These 13 Colorful Blooms

If you want to bring more butterflies into your garden, planting the right flowers is key. Butterflies are drawn to bright colors and nectar-rich blooms—and some plants are more irresistible than others.

These 13 vibrant flowers don’t just look beautiful—they also help support pollinators with the nourishment they need.

Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)

With fiery orange blooms and tall stems, Tithonia is a butterfly favorite that thrives in heat and poor soil. It’s especially attractive to monarchs and swallowtails and adds bold color to the back of garden beds.

Agastache (Anise Hyssop)

Fragrant and spiky, Agastache produces tall lavender or coral blooms full of nectar. Butterflies flock to it in midsummer, and it also repels deer—a double win.

Gaura (Whirling Butterflies)

This airy, delicate plant dances in the breeze with pink or white blooms that look like tiny butterflies themselves. It blooms nonstop in warm climates and adds movement and charm to any border.

Eryngium (Sea Holly)

Its spiky, metallic-blue blooms aren’t just visually striking—they’re loaded with nectar. Sea holly thrives in dry, sunny spots and attracts a surprising number of pollinators, including butterflies.

Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)

These charming, pincushion-like flowers in soft purples and blues are long bloomers and butterfly magnets. They’re compact and perfect for containers or front-of-border spots.

Heliotrope

Heliotrope’s deep violet blooms give off a rich vanilla scent and attract butterflies in droves. It prefers partial sun and moist soil—great for patios or shaded flower beds.

Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’

While coreopsis isn’t rare, the ‘Moonbeam’ variety offers pale yellow, daisy-like blooms on wispy stems that butterflies adore. It blooms for months with little fuss.

Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

Don’t let the name fool you—this late-summer bloomer produces vibrant red, gold, or orange flowers rich in nectar. It’s a favorite among migrating butterflies.

Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum)

A powerful pollinator magnet, mountain mint’s small clusters of white or pale lavender blooms bring in swarms of butterflies. It’s deer-resistant and smells amazing when brushed.

Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats)

This ornamental grass isn’t known for flashy flowers, but its airy seed heads provide shelter and perching spots for butterflies, especially in naturalized or meadow-style gardens.

Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum)

This tall native perennial sports spires of white or pale purple flowers. Butterflies love its upright clusters, and it thrives in moist, sunny spots—perfect for rain gardens.

Joe-Pye Weed ‘Baby Joe’

While regular Joe-Pye can get massive, ‘Baby Joe’ is a compact variety that fits in smaller spaces. Its mauve blooms are just as loved by butterflies and bloom late when nectar is scarce.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

This exotic-looking vine has stunning purple blooms that attract both butterflies and hummingbirds. It’s also a host plant for Gulf Fritillary and Zebra Longwing butterflies.

Want to turn your garden into a butterfly haven? These colorful blooms provide the nectar and beauty to do just that. Mix and match a few varieties, and you’ll be rewarded with fluttering visitors all season long.