Getting started creating a butterfly garden means knowing what plants and flowers will attract butterflies. Many specific plants are the larvae feeding plants for monarch butterflies and some just have the nectar they drink. These choices will definitely start getting more butterflies to visit and stay in your landscape.
Florida Horsemint
Florida horsemint, Pycnanthemum floridanum, is a plant in the mint family that is fragrant and easy to grow. It is a drought resistant perennial that will get approximately four feet tall with two inch long leaves and lavender flowers in terminal clusters. Flowers will appear all summer long for a great showy display. To plant Florida horsemint you’ll need a full sun or partial shade location and any soil will do. You’ll propagate this by seed and by division to create more plants at the end of the season. USDA hardiness maps put this hardy to zones 8 and 9.
Butterfly milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa, is a plant in the milkweed family that is easy to grow and a drought resistant perennial. It will get two feet tall with orange or red flowers in a cluster come summer. To plant butterfly milkweed there should be a well drained soil and full sun or partial shade. Propagate by tuber division or by seed. USDA hardiness maps have this hardy in zones 4 through 10. Monarch butterfly caterpillars will feed only on milkweeds.
Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, is a plant in the mint family that is a perennial. Leaves are light green and hairy, 1 to 3 inches long. Flowers are small and yellow that mature to a pale lilac color. The entire plant will get 2 to 3 feet tall. Grow this in well drained soil and full sun. It will tolerate partial shade. Propagate via division or seed and in USDA hardiness zones of 3 to 9.
Lanceleaf tickseed, Coreopsis lanceolata, is a plant in the aster/daisy family that is easy to grow and a perennial. It has two feet tall stems and linear leaves that are 6 inches long. Flowerheads are 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches wide. Flowers are yellow. Plant a lanceleaf tickseed in full sun to partial shade conditions in a poor soil. Propagate this plant by seed, by root division, or by cuttings. It will be hardy while in USDA hardiness zones of 4 to 9. There is plenty of nectar on these for butterflies.
Source:
Floridata: Butterfly Plants
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