What’s a butterfly garden without . . . hummingbirds? Some of the plants favored by butterflies are also sought out by hummingbirds. So, go big and plant for butterflies AND hummingbirds.
The following are native plants favored by both, and many have other varieties in their plant family to choose from, too. So check with your local garden center or online for those best suited to your area.
Native plants for butterflies and hummingbirds
Anise Hyssop, Agastache foeniculum (Pau Pamies Gracia / Wiki; CC BY-SA 4.0) | |
Bee Balm, Monarda fistulosa (Joshua Mayer / Flickr; CC BY-SA 2.0) | |
Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis (bobistraveling / Flickr; CC BY 2.0) | |
Chapman’s Gayfeather, Liatris chapmanii (Bob Peterson / Wiki; CC BY-SA 2.0) | |
Great Blue Lobelia, Lobelia siphilitica (Joshua Mayer / Wiki; CC BY-SA 2.0) | |
Indian Blanket, Gaillardia pulchella (Mary Keim / EOL; CC BY NC-SA 2.0) | |
Joe Pye Weed, Eutrochium purpureum (homeredwardprice / EOL; CC BY 2.0) | |
Low Larkspur, Delphinium bicolor (S. Zenner, NPS / Wiki; PD) | |
Texas Lantana, Lantana horrida. A shrubby plant that can become invasive in southern areas, so manage its growth. (TDogg310 / Wiki; CC BY SA 3.0) | |
Sky Blue Lupine, Lupinus diffusus (Bob Peterson / Flickr; CC BY-SA 2.0) | |
Common Mallow, Mallow silvestris. Many mallows are also called hibiscus. (David Short / Flickr; CC BY 2.0) | |
Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca (Jacob Enos / Flickr; CC BY-SA 2.0) | |
Foxglove Penstemon, Penstemon digitalis (Fritz Flohr Reynolds / Flickr; CC BY-SA 2.0 | |
Scarlet Sage, Salvia coccinea (Carl Lewis / Flickr; CC BY 2.0) | |
Wild Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata (Fritz Flohr Reynolds / Flickr; CC BY-SA 2.0) | |
Yellow Honeysuckle, Lonicera flava. A twining, woody vine. (Missouri Department of Conservation; PD) | |
More reading:
Build an insect house
Free online butterfly garden brochures and plant lists by region
All about earthworms