Gardening Ideas Plants that Attract Butterflies By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 10, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Attract butterflies by planting pinks, purples, reds, yellows, and oranges. We'll show you the best flower varieties to get your garden fluttering. We all know that the butterfly bush, such as Ultra Violet™ Buddleia, is one of the best shrubs we can plant to attract butterflies to the garden. On a smaller scale, Pink Moody Blues™ Veronica produces similar flower spikes rich in nectar. A gold-toned swallowtail butterfly sipping nectar from agapanthus is picture-worthy. You'll enjoy watching butterflies land on the bold blossoms of Little Blue Fountain™ Agapanthus. Also include flowering shrubs such as Confetti® Abelia and Little Bonnie™ Dwarf Spiraea to provide butterflies with shelter as well as nectar-rich blooms. Make sure these plants take well to their new home by with this guide. Take a closer look at these butterfly-attracting blooms to turn your garden into a magical butterfly oasis like this hidden cottage garden. 01 of 10 Rainbow Sensation™ Weigela This beauty will provide a rainbow of color from spring to fall. It features attractive, variegated foliage with dense clusters of soft pink, funnel-shaped flowers that will bloom in profusion in May. USDA Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8Exposure: Full sun to part shade Learn more about Rainbow Sensation™ Weigela 02 of 10 'Princess Dark Lavender' Verbena This stunner blooms from spring until fall. Pale purple flowers form crowns around deep green foliage. The best part? They're disease and pest resistant and drought-tolerant. USDA Zones: 8, 9, 10, 11Exposure: Full sun Learn more about 'Princess Dark Lavender' Verbena 03 of 10 Stars and Stripes Pentas™ Bounds of scarlet flower clusters with pink centers are a butterfly paradise. Lush dark green and white variegated foliage will provide a hearty addition to your garden. Grows 12-24" high with a clumping habit. USDA Zones: 9, 10, 11Exposure: Full sun Learn more about Stars and Stripes Pentas™ 04 of 10 'Real Charmer' Leucanthemum Real Charmer is a summer-blooming perennial with large cream to lemon decorative blooms with fancy fringed deep golden central petals. This variety will provide plentiful blooms with improved disease resistance. It prefers well-drained soil in the sunny border. USDA Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9Exposure: Full sun Learn more about 'Real Charmer' Leucanthemum 05 of 10 Ultra Violet™ Buddleia This buddleia grows compactly into an attractive rounded shape, unlike other butterfly bushes that often become tall and lanky. Its violet blooms are a beacon for butterflies and honeybees and will rebloom from late spring into fall. USDA Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9Exposure: Full sun Learn more about Ultra Violet™ Buddleia 06 of 10 Pink Moody Blues™ Veronica This compact bush is covered in pink spikes of blooms all season long. It will flower up to the first frost and is drought-tolerant. USDA Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9Exposure: Full sun Learn more about Pink Moody Blues™ Veronica 07 of 10 Little Blue Fountain™ Agapanthus With its deep blue coloring and dwarf size, Blue Fountain is perfect for patio containers and useful as a cut flower. As with other agapanthus this one tolerates near coastal conditions, frost and neglect. If you live close to the coast you'll likely see even more plentiful blooms. USDA Zones: 8, 9, 10Exposure: Full sun to part shade Learn more about Little Blue Fountain™ Agapanthus 08 of 10 Confetti® Abelia This compact, rounded shrub is a winner for borders. It features pink, white, and green variegated foliage that will provide year-round color. USDA Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9Exposure: Full sun to part shade Learn more about Confetti® Abelia 09 of 10 Little Bonnie™ Dwarf Spiraea Expect profuse lavender-pink spring blooms along with sporadic blooms throughout summer. It's heat tolerant and will attract both birds and butterflies. USDA Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9Exposure: Full sun to part shade Learn more about Little Bonnie™ Dwarf Spiraea 10 of 10 Bells of Fire Tecoma™ This evergreen mid-sized shrub with a subtropical to tropical appearance and bell-shaped flowers will bloom continuously until frost. Use it as a border, in a container, as an accent, or in mass for a colorful punch. USDA Zones: 8, 9, 10, 11Exposure: Full sun Learn more aboutBells of Fire Tecoma™ Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit