Attracting Butterflies

I always loved watching butterflies and how gracefully they would go from flower to flower and flutter in the air.  The simplicity would make me feel good and smile inside and out.  A couple of years ago we had Folks Butterfly Farm come out and do a butterfly class.  I learned that not only is it important to have food for the butterflies but also for the caterpillars as well.  In my garden the parsley attracted the swallowtail year after year and I would find eggs and then pretty soon little caterpillars.  They would eat (alot) and get so big so fast. Then one year I planted Milkweed and sure enough I had 2 diff cycles of Monarch Butterflies.  So I wanted to share with you this list of plants that you can plant and enjoy these beautiful creatures as well. You can click directly on the flower name it will take you to that flower to make your shopping easy (please note some of the flowers are coming soon so you may not find it linked). 

You can download a pdf version of this list right off Folk's website.  http://www.folksbutterflyfarm.com

Have some new friends growing this year but not sure what they are.. Don't worry Folks website has a caterpillar and  butterfly identifier tool to help figure out which graceful friend you made. 

;0)

PERENNIALS

Asters – late summer to fall

Bee Balm – Bergamot – summer to fall

Butterfly bush (buddleia)- mid-summer to fall

Butterfly weed – summer to fall

Coreopsis – all summer

Hollyhock – summer

Lavender – summer

Lupine – late summer to early spring

Mints – all summer

Passionflower – summer to fall

Phlox – all summer

Purple coneflower – late summer into fall

Salvia – summer into fall

Shasta Daisy – summer

Violet – spring

Yarrow – mid to late summer

ANNUALS

Alyssum – summer to mid-fall

Candy Tuft – Spring to summer

Common Stock – spring to summer

Cornflower – summer

Cosmos – late summer to fall

Dianthus – spring to fall

Heliotrope - late spring to summer

Impatients – summer to fall

Lobelia - summer into fall

Marigold – summer into fall

Mexican Sunflower

Nasturtium – late summer

Parsley – green from spring to fall

Sage – summer to fall

Salvia – summer through fall

Scabiosa – summer through fall

Sweet William – summer into fall

Verbena – spring to fall

Zinnia – mid summer to fall

BIENNIALS

Black-eyed Susan – summer to fall

Red Clover – summer

Queen Anne’s lace – late spring to fall

Sweet William – spring through early summer

VINES

Wisteria

Trumpet Vine