Monarchs-And-Milkweed.com
(Rose Franklin's Perennial Perennial & Butterfly Farm)

     Butterfly gardening involves essentially two things: (1) planting the perennials and annuals which attract butterflies (both for nectaring and egg-laying) and then (2) refraining from the use of chemical insecticides (which would likely kill the butterflies you attract). For best results, plant your butterfly garden in full sun and plant the tallest flowers behind the shorter ones--so you'll be able to see all the flowers and butterflies that appear in your garden.
     While some flowering plants, like Butterfly Bush and Purple Coneflower, attract a lot of butterfly species for nectar, others attract none or maybe just a few butterfly species. Monarchs are especially fond of the nectar produced by Butterfly Bush, Purple Coneflower, Meadow Blazing Star, Joe-Pye Weed, Brazilian Verbena, Zinnia, and Mexican Sunflower. These plants are pictured and described below. For 20 years we offered these plants to our customers but as of 2020, now in semi-retirement, we will be offering only milkweed plants (the host plant for Monarchs) and a few plants that serve as hosts for other butterfly species. Whatever host plants we offer, you'll find them on the 'Milkweed Plants' page of the web site. None of the plants show below will be available through our web site any more. Most though, are easy to find at garden centers.

Butterfly Bushes grow 24" to over 6' high depending upon the cultivar and produce flower spikes that somewhat smell like lilacs. They generally bloom mid July thru frost and are  magnets for many butterfly species and also hummingbirds, hummingbird moths, and other pollinators.


Perennial, zones 5-9.  

Purple Coneflower grows 24" - 36" high and produce lavender or pink colored daisy-like flowers mid July thru September.  Easy to grow in full sun or part shade and a generally a long-lived perennial. Purple Coneflower is another Monarch favorite.


Perennial, zones 4-9.     

Mexican Sunflower grows 36"-60" high (depending upon the cultivar and growing conditions) and produces large orange diasy-like flowers from around mid July thru frost. Butterflies, especially Monarchs, are lured to this plant for the tasty nectar produced in the flowers. Mexican Sunflower is an annual and thus, must be replanted every year. Harvest some of the seeds so you can start your own plants next year.  Deer resistant.

Annual    

Zinnias grow 12"-48" high (depending upon the cultivar and growing conditions) and bloom all summer long. Several butterfly species are lured to this plant for the tasty nectar produced in the flowers. Zinnia is an annual and thus, must be replanted every year. Harvest some of the seeds so you can start your own plants next year.

You should choose single-pedaled cultivars, not doubles, as the butterflies need access to the nectar which is inside the yellow center of the flower.

Annual   

Milkweed (Asclepias) also produces a sweet nectar which lures Monarchs (and other butterflies also) to the garden for feeding. You'll find the milkweed species we offer on our 'milkweed plants' page.

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