Want to turn your garden into a butterfly paradise? These 18 blooming plants aren't just beautiful. They’re butterfly magnets! From spring to fall, and even beyond in warmer climates, each one offers long-lasting blooms that provide a steady nectar buffet for fluttering visitors. You can use them in containers, borders, or open beds to suit your space and style. Most are low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and easy to grow. Let’s explore the top plants that keep butterflies coming back all season long!
1. Lantana
Lantana offers clusters of tiny blooms in a rainbow of colors that bloom from late spring through fall. In frost-free areas, it can even bloom year-round. This heat-loving, sun-thriving plant is a butterfly magnet thanks to its high nectar content. It’s also drought-tolerant, making it a great pick for low-maintenance gardens. Use it in containers, borders, or hanging baskets; some varieties have a trailing habit. Just be sure to deadhead regularly to keep blooms coming.
2. Verbena
Verbena shines with vibrant flower clusters that start blooming in spring and keep going until fall. In warm regions, it can even flower until the first frost or longer. It loves full sun and tolerates heat well, making it a butterfly favorite. Trailing varieties cascade beautifully from containers or hanging baskets, while upright types are perfect for borders. This low-maintenance plant rewards you with constant color and pollinator traffic.
3. Marigold
Marigolds are cheerful, pest-repelling annuals that bloom from late spring until the first frost. Their bright orange and yellow blooms are rich in nectar and loved by butterflies. These sun-loving flowers are easy to grow and come in dwarf or tall varieties to suit any space. They also help repel garden pests like aphids and nematodes, making them ideal companion plants. Deadheading encourages fresh blooms all season.
4. Pentas
Pentas are tropical perennials grown as annuals in cooler climates, blooming from spring through fall, and even beyond in warm zones. Their dense clusters of star-shaped flowers provide rich nectar that butterflies love. Colors include red, pink, lavender, and white. They prefer full sun and do well in containers, garden beds, and butterfly gardens. Keep them watered and deadheaded to ensure non-stop blooms.
5. Catmint
Catmint (Nepeta) begins blooming in late spring and often continues into fall with minimal care. Its soft, lavender-blue flowers and fragrant silver-gray foliage make it a garden favorite. Butterflies are drawn to the long-lasting blooms, which also resist deer and rabbits. It’s ideal for sunny borders and rock gardens. In warm climates, a light trim in midsummer can prompt a second flush of flowers.
6. Alyssum
Sweet alyssum forms low-growing mats of tiny, honey-scented flowers that bloom from spring through fall. In warmer climates, it can bloom into winter, making it one of the longest-lasting butterfly-friendly options. The delicate white, pink, or purple flowers attract small butterflies and beneficial insects. It works well as an edging plant or filler in containers, thriving in sun to partial shade.
7. Cosmos
Cosmos are tall, airy annuals that bloom from late spring until frost. Their daisy-like flowers in white, pink, and orange are rich in nectar and attract butterflies all season long. These sun-loving plants thrive in poor soil and require little care. They also reseed easily, returning each year in most climates. Cosmos are perfect for wildflower gardens, borders, and cut flower arrangements.
8. Yarrow
Yarrow blooms from late spring into fall, with timing that can vary depending on the cultivar and local conditions. It offers flat-topped clusters in yellow, pink, or white that butterflies find irresistible. This drought-tolerant perennial grows well in full sun and poor soil. It spreads easily and is ideal for borders or naturalized areas.
9. Ageratum
Also known as floss flower, ageratum produces soft, fuzzy blue or purple blooms that appear from late spring all the way into fall. In warmer climates or with mild autumns, they may even keep blooming until the first frost. These nectar-rich flowers are a favorite of butterflies, adding color and life to borders, beds, and containers. Ageratum prefers full sun to partial shade and appreciates regular deadheading to promote continuous blooming. With its compact habit and long flowering period, it’s a must-have for butterfly-friendly gardens.
10. Gaura
Gaura, also called bee blossom, is known for its dainty, butterfly-like blooms that flutter in the breeze. These white or pink flowers begin blooming in late spring and continue well into fall, sometimes even surviving until early frost in milder zones. Drought-tolerant and sun-loving, gaura is perfect for naturalistic or informal gardens. Its airy appearance makes it ideal for mixing with grasses or placing in the middle of borders. Low-maintenance and long-lasting, it provides consistent beauty and butterfly appeal.
11. Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa, often called "million bells," produces a cascade of small, petunia-like flowers in a rainbow of colors from late spring all the way to frost. In many regions with mild autumns, it’s one of the last flowers standing as cooler weather sets in. However, in areas with early or harsh frosts, blooming may stop sooner. Its trumpet-shaped blooms are beloved by butterflies and hummingbirds alike. Best suited for hanging baskets, containers, or window boxes, calibrachoa thrives in full sun and well-draining soil. Regular watering and fertilization will keep it blooming nonstop throughout the season.
12. Osteospermum
Osteospermum, or African daisy, boasts eye-catching daisy-like flowers in bold shades of purple, orange, pink, and white. These flowers typically bloom from spring through fall, but in hot climates, they may pause during the peak of summer and resume blooming in cooler weather. In mild regions, they can continue until the first frost. These sun-loving flowers open during the day and close at night or in cloudy weather. Osteospermum is excellent for butterfly gardens, providing a colorful landing pad for nectar seekers. Use it in borders, rock gardens, or containers for a long-lasting burst of vibrant color.
13. Angelonia
Angelonia, often called summer snapdragon, blooms profusely from late spring through fall. With its spiky stems lined with tiny, orchid-like flowers, this plant is a magnet for butterflies and other pollinators. In warmer zones, it may bloom until the first frost, though blooming may end earlier in areas with sudden cold snaps. Thriving in hot, sunny conditions, angelonia is both heat and drought-tolerant. It’s a reliable choice for gardeners looking for low-maintenance, high-impact color in beds, borders, or containers.
14. Borage
Borage produces beautiful star-shaped blue flowers from late spring through fall, often blooming right up to the first frost in temperate areas. However, in regions with early frosts, flowering may end sooner. Its subtle cucumber scent and abundant nectar attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. This self-seeding annual is a charming addition to herb and vegetable gardens, where it also acts as a companion plant. Easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil, borage offers both ornamental and ecological benefits.
15. Scabiosa
Scabiosa, or pincushion flower, delights with delicate, dome-shaped blooms that appear from late spring into the fall. In frost-free areas or with mild autumns, they may flower well into the cooler months. However, in colder zones with early frosts, blooming may end earlier. These airy blossoms are packed with nectar and are irresistible to butterflies. Scabiosa prefers full sun and average, well-drained soil. Their long stems also make them a favorite for cut flower arrangements, adding value beyond the garden.
16. Gazania
Also called treasure flower, gazania features striking, daisy-like blooms in brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red, and pink. These flowers bloom from late spring until fall and can last until frost in sunny, warm locations. In colder regions, blooming may end earlier with the arrival of cold weather. Gazania thrives in hot, dry spots where other flowers might falter. The blooms open in direct sunlight and close at night or on cloudy days. It's a perfect choice for drought-tolerant borders, containers, or rock gardens.
17. Diascia
Diascia, or twinspur, is a charming, low-growing plant that produces clusters of soft, pastel flowers from spring through fall. In regions with mild autumns, it can continue blooming into early winter. However, in climates with early frosts, flowering may stop sooner. Butterflies are drawn to its sweet nectar, especially smaller species. Diascia grows well in containers, hanging baskets, or the front of garden beds. It enjoys cool nights and full to partial sun, and benefits from regular watering and light trimming to encourage new blooms.
18. Cuphea
Cuphea, commonly known as cigar plant or firecracker plant, displays bright, tubular flowers in shades of red, orange, or purple from spring through fall. In many areas with mild autumns, it will bloom until the first frost, offering a long-lasting nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds. In colder regions, blooming may end sooner with early frost. Cuphea is heat-tolerant, low-maintenance, and thrives in sunny spots. It’s ideal for borders, mass plantings, or containers, adding fiery color and nonstop pollinator activity to the garden.
Colorful Blooms That Butterflies Love All Season
These 18 blooming plants offer a winning combo of beauty, easy care, and nonstop butterfly activity from spring through fall. Many thrive in full sun, tolerate heat, and bloom for months with little attention. Use them to brighten beds, borders, and containers while supporting pollinators. Always consider the variety of each flower and how well it suits your climate for the best results. Mix and match your favorites to create a garden of color, life, and fluttering wings!