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Native flowers have a wonderful place in today's wildly popular butterfly gardens. These choices below will give you lush foliage, colorful blooms, and features that butterflies adore. Each one has planting instructions, a general overview, and little trivia tidbits where applicable.
Ageratina altissima (L.) King & H.E. Robins. var. altissima (white snakeroot)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae -
Order Asterales -
Family Asteraceae - Aster family
Genus Ageratina Spach - snakeroot
Species Ageratina altissima (L.) King & H.E. Robins. - white snakeroot
Variety Ageratina altissima (L.) King & H.E. Robins. var. altissima - white snakeroot
This 4-6 foot tall clump forming perennial will need to be spaced 3-4 feet apart in moist, alkaline, well drained soil. Erect dark purple/brown stems with white fluffy flowers from August to October; it is a great butterfly draw. Make sure that White Snakeroot is planted in partial sun to full shade. Historically it has been used as a medicinal treatment for colds, liver disease, and fever.
Ampelaster carolinianus (Climbing Aster)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae -
Order Asterales -
Family Asteraceae - Aster family
Genus Ampelaster Nesom - climbing aster
Species Ampelaster carolinianus (Walt.) Nesom - climbing aster
This fragrant vine may get invasive, so take care to keep an eye on it as it grows. It will grow up to 12 feet long and needs a spacing of 4 feet across. It prefers to grow in sun to partial shade in moist soil. Butterflies and birds love this vine. Expect pink/purple blooms in late summer to mid fall. You may divide the rootball on this one to propagate.
Asclepias incarnata L. (Swamp Milkweed)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae -
Order Gentianales -
Family Asclepiadaceae - Milkweed family
Genus Asclepias L. - milkweed
Species Asclepias incarnata L. - swamp milkweed
This flower is a favorite among butterflies. It gets up to 2-3 feet high and you need to space it around 18-24 inches apart. It prefers sun to partial shade in acidic soil. The flowers are pink or purple, and bloom from mid-summer to late fall. It is a clump forming plant, and you can divide these clumps to propagate or just direct sow the seeds outside after frost. Milkweeds tend to be susceptible to aphids, but being that they are the only plant that the Monarch Butterfly's larvae can survive on makes it worth it. It is a fragrant and beautiful plant to have in any garden. BEWARE: All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested.
Asclepias tuberosa L. (Butterfly Milkweed)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae -
Order Gentianales -
Family Asclepiadaceae - Milkweed family
Genus Asclepias L. - milkweed
Species Asclepias tuberosa L. - butterfly milkweed
This fine milkweed gets up to 2-3 feet high and needs a spacing of around 14-18 inches apart. Its fire-orange blooms will appear from mid summer to early fall, and they prefer full sun. Since it is a milkweed, butterflies will flock to this plant. It is drought tolerant and prefers mildly acidic soil. Don't be alarmed if there aren't blooms in the first years; it may take up to 3 years to see flowers. You will need to find an aphid killer, as milkweeds tend to have aphids. To propagate you may divide or direct sow seeds outdoors after frost. BEWARE: Parts of this milkweed are poisonous. Remember Monarch larvae can only survive on Asclepias, therefore to have these incredible butterflies you will need to have some milkweeds around.
Dicentra eximia (Fringed Bleeding Heart, Turkey Corn)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Magnoliidae -
Order Papaverales -
Family Fumariaceae - Fumitory family
Genus Dicentra Bernh. - bleeding heart
Species Dicentra eximia (Ker-Gawl.) Torr. - turkey corn
This pretty flower gets up to 12-18 inches tall and needs a 6-8 inch spacing. It prefers full sun to partial shade and average moist soil. The pinkish red blooms come mid spring to mid summer, and it will bloom repeatedly. Butterflies love this flower, and will flock to it. It is fern like, and you can pinch off stems for more blooms. To propagate you can direct sow seed outdoors in the fall or divide the rhizomes. BEWARE: All parts are poisonous if ingested.
Dyschoriste oblongifolia (Michx.) Kuntze (Twinflower, Oblongleaf Snakeherb)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae -
Order Scrophulariales -
Family Acanthaceae - Acanthus family
Genus Dyschoriste Nees - snakeherb
Species Dyschoriste oblongifolia (Michx.) Kuntze - oblongleaf snakeherb
An interesting flower that will get 6-18 inches tall and needs a spacing of 3-9 inches. It prefers full sun to partial shade and has average water needs. Its violet or purple flowers bloom all year and it will self-sow on its own. It is a favorite of butterflies. Its common name comes from the trait to have back to back flowers blooming at the same time. It is not salt tolerant, so be careful around coastal gardens.
Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt. (Pale Purple Coneflower)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae -
Order Asterales -
Family Asteraceae - Aster family
Genus Echinacea Moench - purple coneflower
Species Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt. - pale purple coneflower
This flower gets up to 3-4 feet tall and needs a 12-18 inch spread zone. It prefers full sun and has average water needs. Its ray flowers are pink, magenta, or white on stiff erect stems and will appear in mid summer to late fall. It has herbaceous smooth leaves and is deer resistant. Butterflies, songbirds, and goldfinches love this flower. To propagate you can direct sow from seed outdoors.
Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus (Barratt) King & H. E. Robins. (Trumpetweed)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae -
Order Asterales -
Family Asteraceae - Aster family
Genus Eupatoriadelphus King & H. E. Robins. -
Species Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus (Barratt) King & H. E. Robins. - trumpetweed
This flowering plant gets up to 2-6 feet tall and prefers full sun. It has a large head of purple or dull pink flowers from July to September. Its blooms have nectar for butterflies, and will attract many to your garden. This is a good choice for a bog garden, especially with Sarracenia.
Filipendula rubra (Hill) B. L. Robins. (Queen of the Prairie)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Rosidae -
Order Rosales -
Family Rosaceae - Rose family
Genus Filipendula P. Mill. - queen
Species Filipendula rubra (Hill) B.L. Robins. - queen of the prairie
This plant is a favorite of butterflies, birds, and bees. It grows up to 4 feet tall and has a 2-3 foot spread. It loves full sun and moist soil. Its blooms are pink and grow from spring to summer. You need to cut the foliage back when it starts to brown.
Helianthus angustifolius L. (Swamp Sunflower)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae -
Order Asterales -
Family Asteraceae - Aster family
Genus Helianthus L. - sunflower
Species Helianthus angustifolius L. - swamp sunflower
This flower gets up to 6-8 feet tall and needs a spacing zone of 9-12 inches. It loves full sun and has high moisture needs. Butterflies and birds love it, birds mainly for the seeds. It has bright yellow flowers in mid fall. You can plant this in just about any soil so long as you don't let it dry out. It is deer resistant. Propagate this by dividing the root ball. Cut back after bloom to really insure a healthy growth pattern the next year.
Impatiens capensis Meerb. (Jewelweed)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Rosidae -
Order Geraniales -
Family Balsaminaceae - Touch-me-not family
Genus Impatiens L. - touch-me-not
Species Impatiens capensis Meerb. - jewelweed
This flower gets 2-6 feet tall with an 18-24 inch spread zone. It likes partial to full shade and moist acidic soil. There are trumpet like red or orange blooms in mid summer to early fall. It self sows, so deadhead to prolong bloom life and self sowing if you want it contained. Butterflies and hummingbirds love jewelweed's blooms, and so will you. This is an herbal remedy: crush leaves to put on bug bites, poison ivy, or razor burn.
Lonicera sempervirens L. (Coral Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae -
Order Dipsacales -
Family Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle family
Genus Lonicera L. - honeysuckle
Species Lonicera sempervirens L. - trumpet honeysuckle
This vine is great for wildlife gardens; growing up to 15 feet in length. It likes sun or partial shade and has red or yellow trumpet like flowers. Bloom season is April to August. This is very fragrant; a favorite of birds, bees, and butterflies. It has evergreen foliage. Propagate this from stem cuttings. BEWARE: Some parts of this are poisonous.
Silphium perfoliatum L. (Cup Plant)
Kingdom Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Subclass Asteridae -
Order Asterales -
Family Asteraceae - Aster family
Genus Silphium L. - rosinweed
Species Silphium perfoliatum L. - cup plant
This member of the Aster family will get up to 3-8 feet high. It has yellow rays from June to September and prefers full sun or partial shade. To propagate you can divide or grow from seed. Butterflies love this plant.
Above is a article extract from Associated Content.