Herbs that Attract Butterflies

Butterfly gardening is an increasingly popular trend among gardeners of all skill levels. It involves transforming gardens into ideal habitats for butterflies by incorporating nectar-producing plants.   

Not only does planting herbs that attract butterflies add vibrant colors and delicate beauty to your outdoor space. It also helps the environment, as butterflies are essential pollinators for many plants, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers. By providing them with a food source (nectar) and habitat, you're contributing to a healthy and balanced ecosystem in your garden.

The Growers Exchange offers an extensive selection of herbs known to draw in these beneficial insects. Learn more about some of them below. 


Herbs for Butterflies Offered by The Growers Exchange 

Fennel "Green"

This is an attractive, feathery herb with a unique licorice flavor that butterflies love. It is an excellent host plant for several species of butterflies, including the black swallowtail, which lays its eggs on the leaves. This perennial herb is easy to grow and requires minimal maintenance.

Chives

Chives are a versatile and easy-to-grow herb that adds a mild onion-like taste to dishes. This perennial plant attracts butterflies with its beautiful, pale purple flowers that bloom from mid-spring to summer. Apart from serving as a nectar source for butterflies, chives also have the added benefit of repelling aphids, making them a great companion plant for your butterfly garden.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is a hardy perennial that lives up to its name with its delightful, lemon-scented leaves. It is a magnet for butterflies thanks to its nectar-rich, tiny white flowers that bloom throughout the summer months. In addition to attracting butterflies, lemon balm is known for its soothing properties and can be used to make a refreshing tea.

Butterfly Bush "Bicolor"

The Butterfly Bush "Bicolor" is a true butterfly haven, offering stunning, fragrant flowers in shades of lavender and orange that bloom from early summer through fall. These vibrant flowers are irresistible to butterflies, who are drawn in by the sweet nectar and the plant's large, showy blooms. This deciduous shrub is a fast grower and can reach up to 6 feet tall, making it a striking focal point in your butterfly garden.

Vietnamese Coriander

This attractive, low-growing herb's leaves have a spicy, lemony flavor that is popular in Southeast Asian cuisine. It is a favorite among butterflies drawn to its small, pretty white flowers and the nectar they provide. This tropical herb loves warm temperatures and humidity. Ideal for gardens with limited space, it can be grown successfully in containers.

Butterfly Bush "Golden Glow"

Butterfly Bush "Golden Glow" is a magnificent, fast-growing shrub that produces clusters of brilliant yellow flowers from early summer to late fall. As its name suggests, it is a powerful butterfly attractant, with its large, fragrant blooms and abundant nectar supply. It also draws in bees and hummingbirds. With proper care, the Butterfly Bush "Golden Glow" can grow up to six feet tall and make a stunning centerpiece in your garden.

Hyssop 

Hyssop is a perennial herb, and its flowers – which come in various colors, including white, blue, orange and purple – are known to attract bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. The flowers bloom from mid-summer to early autumn. 
Not only does hyssop provide a continuous source of nectar for butterflies, but it is also deer-resistant and drought-tolerant. These qualities make it ideal for low-maintenance gardens.

"Walker's Low" Catmint 

This compact, low-growing perennial herb produces gorgeous lavender-blue flowers during its long blooming period (early summer to early autumn in most climates). "Walker's Low" catmint is known to be an irresistible treat for Monarch butterflies and hummingbirds.

Phoenician Mullein 

Phoenician mullein is a biennial herb known for its tall spikes of eye-catching flowers in shades of purple, pink, and white. Its flowers, which bloom in late spring to early summer, have a unique structure that provides an ideal landing platform for butterflies. 

"Goodwin Creek Grey" Lavender

"Goodwin Creek Grey" Lavender is a hybrid variety known for its silvery-gray foliage and dark purple-blue spikes of flowers. It blooms from late spring to early fall.

This herb is not only attractive to butterflies but also highly drought-tolerant. "Goodwin Creek Grey" Lavender is perfect in perennial borders and raised garden beds. However, they also grow well in containers, indoors or outdoors. 

Lavender "Grosso"

No list of herbs that attract butterflies is complete without Lavender "Grosso." This large, hybrid variety produces deep purple-blue flower spikes with an intense fragrance that butterflies can't resist. 

This herb is easy to grow and ideal for beginner gardens. Apart from attracting pollinators, Lavender "Grosso" has other uses. Its foliage can be shaped into a topiary or a border plant, and its flowers can be harvested, dried and used to make sachets and potpourri. 

Rudbeckia "Goldsturm" 

Although no stranger to most gardeners, 'Goldstrum' is a must have for the mid-summer to fall garden; golden yellow 2" ray flowers with a deep black central cone, you will have a non stop color show for up to 2 months. Mixed with other long blooming natives and ornamental grasses, you will have a true 'gold storm' in your garden.

Marshmallow

Marshmallow is a beautiful perennial herb that has historically been used as a medicinal plant due to its soothing and healing properties. The ancient Egyptians used the root of the marshmallow plant to create a topical remedy, and the name comes from the Greek words for "mallow" and "to heal." 

Marshmallow features a foliage with downy leaves. It produces showy, pale pink flowers that serve as butterfly magnets during its blooming season. 

Borage "Blue"

To make your garden more inviting to butterflies, consider planting Borage "Blue." This annual herb produces eye-catching, star-shaped blue flowers and hairy leaves.

Borage "Blue" is not just an excellent nectar source for butterflies. Its blossoms are also edible, adding a fresh, cucumber-like flavor to cocktails, salads and other dishes or beverages.

Discover More Herbs for Butterflies at The Growers' Exchange 

By incorporating these butterfly-attracting herbs in your garden, you'll not only improve the visual appeal of your outdoor space but also provide a valuable habitat for these delicate creatures. 

Explore The Growers Exchange's selection of herbs that attract butterflies, and place your order today!