Fill your garden with gorgeous plants that feed the butterflies

By Staci-lee Sherwood

Butterflies depend on nectar to survive.  In the northern states they only have spring and summer to fill up on food before either migrating south or going into dispause (where they remain in their chrysalis motionless until warmer weather).  For southern states feasting and breeding is a year round lifestyle.  Some species of butterflies have specific nectar plants while others have a larger more diverse group.   I’ve listed some of the best nectar plants for most species of butterflies and bonus they also attract moths, hummingbirds and other insects.  Butterfly populations have drastically declined over the years due to habitat loss and degradation, lack of nectar and host plants, spraying of pesticides that kill the plants which are their food source.  

Native wildflower populations are being mowed down, poisoned by pesticides and removed for non-native flowers sold in nurseries.  Butterflies are the only ones that need wildflowers, the entire ecosystem does too.  Here are some great ideas for plants to add to any garden, big or small, to help attract and feed butterflies.  Some of these plants prefer moist areas while others like full sun and dry land.  Included are their scientific names in bold to insure you get the correct native plant.  

Firebush

This plant is an all time favorite for butterflies and hummingbirds.  Firebush (Hamelia patens var. patens) is part of the Rubiaceae family, is a hardy heat loving southern plant found from Texas to Florida.  It can grow up to 10’ and get very dense providing lots of flowering nectar.  Easy to spot with their bright orange and red tubular flowers it’s  also known as "Guardian of the Forest" in Belize.   The non-native version (Hamelia patens var. glabra) is widely sold in local nurseries and used in landscaping and while butterflies will use it as food it’s best to buy the native species.  The native firebush has bright red/orange flowers while the non-native has yellow flowers.

The native variety has bright red tubular flowers

A male Orange-barred Sulphur

A female Large Orange Sulphur enjoys breakfast

A rare sighting of a Pink-spot Sulphur

Ironweed

This stunning purple plant (Vernonia Fasciculata) loves the wetlands and moist prairie.  It’s hardy and can be grown in nearly half the U.S. states.  This plant has a broad range from Massachusetts to Florida on the east, to Ohio and Missouri in the Midwest and down to Louisiana and Texas.  There are 500 species of ironweed globally with approximately 20 of those species native to North America.   It attracts a variety of butterflies and other insects and makes a colorful addition to any garden.

Ironweed growing in the wilds of Florida

A Monarch butterfly sipping Ironweed nectar

A Southern Broken Dash Skipper

Railroad Vine

This coastal vine is part of the Convolvulaceae family (like the morning-glory) and  loves salty sandy environments and is found along the coast from Georgia to Florida and west Texas.  Railroad vine (Ipomoea pes-caprae) has stunning large purple flowers that attract many species of butterflies, moths and bees.  If you live in a coastal environment this makes a great addition to your garden adding both color and food for wildlife. This vine grows on the ground and makes for great ground cover.

A male Clouded Sulphur digs in a Railroad vine

A Brazilian Skipper looks tiny inside the large Railroad vine

Spanish Needle

This plant feeds a long list of insects from butterflies to bees and beetles. It’s part of the Bidens family (Bidens alba) and found primarily in Florida and in bordering gulf states.  Spanish Needle is very hardy and loves full sun.  This plant makes a great addition to any garden with their white and yellow flowers that resemble daisies. Despite recent controversy as to whether it’s truly native it’s widespread and feed many species at a time when wildflowers are vanishing and food for butterflies is becoming scarce.

Spanish Needle (also called Beggarticks) with an Orange Spotted Flower Moth

A male Fiery Skipper

A Dainty Sulphur isn’t much bigger than the flower she sits on

A Tropical Checkered Skipper having lunch

How to help butterflies

Here are some things to do and look for when buying plants designed to feed butterflies.

• Providing nectar plants that are native to your region and non-GMO is a great start.

  
  

• Never use any pesticides

  
  

• When buying plants or seeds, buy from reputable nurseries that do not spray their plants or use GMO seeds.

  
  

• Buttonbush is a hardy shrub that provides food for many species of butterflies, bees, insects and hummingbirds.  It’s grown across the U.S. from the north to the south.  Click here to read more about this plant https://www.realitycheckswithstacilee.com/post/common-buttonbush-a-star-nectar-plant-for-butterflies

  
  

• Provide some host plants for butterflies as well

  
  

• Look up your local NABA (North American Butterfly Association) chapter for great advice on which are the best nectar and host plants for your area

  Click here to find a local chapter near you

  https://naba.org/chapters/

  
  

• Check out these sites for information on native species for your area - USDA PLANTS Database or consult your local University Extension Office.  https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/

  
  

• North American Native Plant Society lists commercial growers of native plants by state 

  https://nanps.org/commercial-growers/

  
  

• Mossy Oak Native Nursery ships seeds to zones 6-10

  https://www.nativnurseries.com/products/buttonbush-seedlings-for-sale-cephalanthus-occidentalis#:~:text=Buttonbush%20is%20naturally%20found%20in,plant%20it%2C%20including%20upland%20sites.