FLOWERS: BUTTERFLY NECTAR PLANTS

Common name	Scientific name	Zones	Flower color	Height	Exposure	Comments
Ageratum	Ageratum houstonianum	Annual	Blue, pink, white	6 to 24"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in summer; moderate drought tolerance
Allium	Allium spp.	Perennial	Blue, pink, white	2 to 3'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers late spring to early summer
Armeria	Armeria maritima	Perennial	Pink, white, lavender	6 to 12"	Sun	Cab be used as a ground cover; need good soil drainage
Aster, New England	Aster novae-angliae	Perennial	Violet-purple	3 to 5'	Sun	Flowers in late summer to early fall
Aster, Stokes	Stokesia laevis	Perennial	Lavender, blue, white	12 to 24"	Sun to partial shade	Native; flowers in early summer
Aster	Aster spp.	Perennial	Blue, pink, violet, white	12 to 48"	Sun	Flowers late summer, fall; well drained soil
Astilbe	Astilbe spp.	Perennial	Pink, red, white	24 to 48"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers early to mid summer; moist, fertile soil
Balsam	Impatiens balsamina	Annual	Pink, purple, red, rose, white	12 to 36"	Sun to partial shade	Summer; low drought tolerance
Bachelor button	Centaurea macrocephlala	Annual	Blue, pink, white, wine	12 to 36"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers early summer
Bee balm	Monardia didyma	Perennial	Pink, red, rose, violet, white	24 to 48"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in summer; moist soil
Begonia	Begonia semperflorens	Annual	Red, white, pink	6 to 12"	Sun to shade	Flowers spring to frost
Bellflower	Campanula spp.	Perennial	Blue, lavender white	9 to 60"	Sun	Summer; Well drained soil
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta pulcherrima	Perennial	Gold with black center	18 to 30"	Sun to partial shade	Late summer; well drained soil
Bluet, Mountain	Centaurea montana	Perennial	Blue	12 to 24"	Sun to partial shade
Boltonia	Boltonia astroides	Perennial	White, lavender, purple	3 to 5'	Sun	Flowers summer to fall
Bonset	Eupatorium spp.	Perennial	White	1 to 4'	Sun	Flowers summer to fall
Bouncing bet	Saponaria officonalis	Perennial	Pink	1 to 2'	Sun to partial shade	Moist but well drained soil
Brown-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia triloba	Perennial	Gold with black center	18 to 30"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers late summer
Butterfly weed	Asclepias tuberosa	Perennial	Orange, red, yellow	24 to 36"	Sun	Flowers spring, summer; dry; well drained
Calendula	Calendula officinalis	Annual	Gold, red, yellow	12 to 24"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer to fall; low drought tolerance
Candytuff	Iberis amara, I. umbellata	Annual	Lilac, pink, red, white	12 to 18"	Sun to partial shade	Late spring to early summer
Cardinal flower	Lobelia cardinalis	Perennial	Red	36 to 48"	Partial shade	Late summer; moist soil high in organic matter
Clemone; Spider flower	Clemone hasslerana	Annual	Pink, purple, white	36 to 72"	Sun	Flowers summer to early fall
Columbine	Aquilegia canadensis	Perennial	Red and yellow	1 to 2'	Partial shade	Flowers in spring; prefers moist, well drained soil
Coneflower, Purple	Echinacea purpurea	Perennial	Rose pink or white with gold centers	24 to 36"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer; well drained soil; drought tolerant
Coreopsis, Threadleaf	Coreopsis verticillata	Perennial	Yellow, gold	9 to 18"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer; well drained; dry soil
Coreopsis, Lance	Coreopsis lanceolata	Perennial	Gold, yellow	12 to 24"	Sun to partial shade
Cosmos	Cosmos bipinnatus	Annual	Lilac, pink, red, white, yellow,	36 to 72"	Sun	Flowers spring to early fall
Daffodil	Narcissus spp.	Perennial	White, yellow, bicolor, orange	12 to 18"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers early spring
Dahlia	Dahlia spp.	Perennial	Red, pink, white, yellow, bicolor	24 to 84"	Sun	Flowers summer to fall; semihardy
Daisy, Glorisa	Rudbeckia hirta 'Glorisa'	Annual	Yellow, orange, reddish	24 to 30"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer to fall; moderate drought tolerance
Daisy, Oxeye	Chrysanthemum leucanthemum	Perennial	Yellow and white	1 to 2'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers spring to summer
Daisy, Shasta	Leucanthemum x superbum	Perennial	White, yellow centers	12 to 36"	Sun	Flowers spring, summer; well drained soil
Dame's rocket	Hesperis matronalis	Perennial	White, pink, mauve, purple	2 to 3'	Sun	Flowers in summer
Daylily	Hemerocallis spp.	Perennial	Yellow, pink, red, purple	12 to 36"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in summer
Erigeron	Erigeron speciosus	Perennial	Lavender, pink, mauve	18 to 24"	Sun	Prefers dry, infertile soil
Evening primrose	Oenothera speciosa	Perennial	Pink, white	12 to 24"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in summer; well drained, infertile soil
Everlasting pea	Lathrus latifolius	Perennial	Pink, red, white, lavender	4 to 8'	Sun	Native; flowers in summer
False indigo	Baptisia filipendulina; B. australis	Perennial	Blue	3 to 4'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in spring; well drained soil
Fire pinks	Silene virginica	Perennial	Red	1 to 1.5'	Sun to partial shade	Well drained average soil; flowers in spring and summer
Flowering tobacco; Nicotiana	Nicotiana alata	Annual	Lime green, red, white, yellow	12 to 24"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer to fall; low drought tolerance
Forget-me-not	Myosotis sylvatica	Annual	Blue, pink, white	6 to 18"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in spring; low drought tolerance
Four O'Clock	Mirabillis jalapa	Annual	Mahogany, red, pink, purple, yellow,	20 to 24"	Sun to partial shade	Summer to fall; moderate drought tolerance
Foxglove	Digitalis purpurea	Perennial	Purple, white	24 to 60"	Partial shade	Late spring; moist; well drained soil
Gaillardia	Gaillardia x grandiflora	Perennial	Red and yellow	12 to 36"	Sun	Summer, long flowering
Gas plant	Dictamnus albus	Perennial	White	36 to 48"	Sun	Early summer
Geranium, Wild	Geranium manculatum	Perennial	Blue, purple, white	1 to 2'	Partial shade to shade	Flowers in spring, summer
Geranium, Zonal	Pelargonium x hortorum	Annual	Bicolors, red, pink, white	1 to 2'	Sun	Flowers late spring to fall
Gladiolus	Gladiolus spp.	Perennial	White, red, pink, yellow, orange	36 to 48"	Sun	Flowers in summer; semihardy - dig and store corms
Globe amaranth	Gompherena globosa	Annual	Lavender, orange, pink, purple, red, white	12 to 24"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers late spring to early fall; high drought tolerance
Glorisa daisy	Rudbeckia hirta	Annual	Orange, red, yellow	24 to 30"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in summer
Goat's beard	Aruncus dioicus	Perennial	White	48 to 60"	Partial shade	Flowers late spring; moist, rich soil
Golden aster	Pityopsis graminifolia	Perennial	Yellow	1 to 3'	Sun	Flowers summer to fall
Goldenrod	Solidago spp.	Perennial	Gold, yellow	18 to 72"	Sun	Late summer to fall; well drained soil with high organic matter
Grape hyacinth	Muscari spp.	Perennial	Purple	6 to 12"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers early spring
Heliotrope	Heliotropium arborescens	Annual	Blue, purple, white	18 to 36"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in summer; low drought tolerance
Hibiscus	Hibiscus spp.	Perennial	Red, white, pink	3 to 8'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers midsummer to fall
Hollyhock	Alcaea rosea	Perennial	Apricot, pink, purple, white, yellow	24 to 60"	Sun	Spring to fall; well drained soil
Honesty; Moneyplant	Lunaria annua	Biennial	Pink, purple	2 to 3'	Sun to partial shade	Grown for flat fruits
Houstonia	Houstonia spp.	Perennial	Blue, lavender	6 to 12"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers spring to summer; native
Impatiens	Impatiens wallerana	Annual	Orange, pink, purple, red, white	8 to 24"	Partial shade to shade	Flowers late spring to fall; low drought tolerance
Iris, German	Iris gemanica	Perennial	Blue, white, pink, lavender	4 to 48"	Sun	Flowers in spring
Ironweed	Veronia fasciculata, V. novebroracensis	Perennial	Purple	5 to 9'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in fall
Joe-pye weed	Eupatorium maculatum	Perennial	Pink-purple	10 to 15'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer to fall
Lanatana	Lantana camara, Lantana montevidensis	Perennial	Orange, pink, yellow	6 to 12"	Sun	Flowers summer to fall; drought tolerant
Larkspur	Delphinium spp.	Annual	Blue, pink, purple, white	18 to 36"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in spring; moderate drought tolerance
Liastris	Liastris spp.	Perennial	Lavender, pink	1 to 5'	Sun	Flowers summer, fall; well drained soil
Lily, Turk's cap	Lilium superbum	Perennial	Orange	6 to 9'	Partial shade	Flowers in summer; deep, fertile, moist soil; native
Lily, Asiatic	Lilium asiatic	Perennial	Pink, white, red	2 to 6'	Sun	Flowers in summer
Lily, Madonna	Lilium candidum	Perennial	White	35 to 45"	Sun
Lily, Blackberry	Belamcanda chinensis	Perennial	Orange	30 to 36"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in summer
Lily, Torch	Kniphofia uvaria	Perennial	Orange, red, yellow, apricot	18 to 80"	Sun	Flowers in spring
Mallow	Hibiscus spp.	Perennial	Pink, white	3 to 6'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer to fall; prefers moist to damp soil
Mallow, Seashore	Kosteletzkya virginica	Perennial	Pink	18 to 48"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer to fall; prefers moist to damp soil
Maltese cross	Lychnic chalcedononica	Perennial	Scarlet	18 to 24"	Sun to partial shade	Late spring to early summer; moist; well drained, fertile soil
Marigold	Tagetes erecta, T. patula	Annual	Gold, orange to red-brown, yellow	8 to 48"	Sun	Flowers late spring to fall
Mealycup sage	Salvia farinacea	Perennial	Blue, white	24 to 36"	Sun	Flowers in summer; well drained, moist soil
Melampodium	Melampodium paludosum	Annual	Yellow	18 to 24"	Sun	Late spring to early fall; moderate to high drought tolerance
Milkweed, Swamp	Asclepias incarnata	Perennial	Pink	2 to 4'	Sun	Prefers moist to wet soil; flowers summer to fall
Milkweed, Common	Asclepias syriaca	Perennial	Rose, lavender, brownish purple	3 to 5'	Sun	Native; flowers in summer
Mist flower; Hardy ageratum	Eupatorium coelestinum	Perennial	Violet to blue	1 to 3'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer to fall; moist soil
Moss verbena	Verbena tenuisecta	Perennial	Purple	8 to 12"	Sun	Flowers in spring
Nasturtium	Tropaelum majus	Annual	Orange, pink, red, speckled, yellow, white	12"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers late spring to early fall
Obedient plant	Physostegia virginiana	Perennial	Pink	36 to 48"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers late summer to early fall; well drained, moderately fertile soil
Pentas	Pentas lanceolata	Annual	Lilac, red, pink, white	12 to 36"	Sun	Flowers summer to fall; moderate to high drought tolerance
Pearly everlasting	Anaphalis margaritacea	Perennial	Grayish white	12"	Sun	Flowers late summer; well drained
Peony	Paeonia latiflora	Perennial	Pink, white	24 to 36"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers early summer
Petunia	Petunia x hybrida	Annual	White, pink, red, purple, yellow	6 to 18"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers spring to summer
Phlox	Phlox spp.	Perennial	White, pink, red, blue, purple	2 to 4'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in summer
Pincushion flower	Scabiosa caucasica	Perennial	Blue, deep blue, lavender, white	18 to 24"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers early summer; well drained soil; near neutral pH
Poppy, Oriental	Papavar orientale	Perennial	White, red, pink	2 to 4'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in summer
Primrose	Primula x polyantha	Perennial	Blue, red, violet, yellow	6 to 12"	Partial shade	Flowers in spring; cool, moist soil high in organic matter
Lobelia	Lobelia erinus	Annual	Purple, blue, white	4 to 8"	Partial shade	Flowers spring to frost
Pussytoes	Antennaria spp.	Perennial	Silver	2 to 6"	Partial shade to shade	Flowers in spring
Queen Ann's lace	Daucus carota	Biennial	White	3 to 6'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer to fall
Red valerian	Centranthus ruber	Perennial	Pink, red, white	36"	Sun	Flowers in spring; well drained, alkaline soil
Rock cress	Arabis caucasica	Perennial	White	12"	Sun	Flowers spring to summer
Scabiosa	Scabiosa atropurpurea	Annual	Lavender, pink, purple, red, yellow, white, maroon	1 to 3'	Sun	Flowers summer to frost
Scarlet sage	Salvia splendens	Annual	Blue, red, white	12 to 36"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers late spring to fall; moderate to low drought tolerance
Sedum	Sedum spp.	Perennial	White	3 to 18"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers in spring
Sneezeweed	Helenium spp.	Perennial	Yellow, orange	12 to 18"	Sun	Flowers late summer to fall; native
Snapdragon	Antirrhinum magus	Annual	Lavender, orange, pink, red, yellow, white	6 to 36"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers spring to early summer, fall
Solomon's seal	Polygonatum biflorum	Perennial	Yellowish green maturing to cream	24 to 36"	Partial shade to shade	Flowers late spring; cool, moist, well drained soil
Statice	Limonium incana	Perennial	Pink, red, white, yellow	12 to 18 "	Sun	Flowers in summer; well drained; slightly acidic
Stoke's aster	Stokesia laevis	Perennial	Lavender blue	12 to 24"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers early summer; well drained
Strawflower	Helichrysum bracteatum	Annual	Orange, pink, red, salmon, white, yellow	18 to 30"	Sun	Flowers summer to fall; moderate drought tolerance
Sunflower, Mexican	Tithonia rotundifolia	Annual	Orange, yellow	36 to 60"	Sun	Flowers summer to fall; moderate drought tolerance
Sunflower, Swamp	Helianthus angustifolius	Perennial	Yellow	6 to 12'	Sun	Flowers late summer to fall
Sunflower, Common	Helianthus annus	Annual	Gold, red, brown, yellow	12 to 108"	Sun	Flowers summer; moderate to high drought tolerance
Sunflower, Tickseed	Bidens aristosa	Annual	Yellow	1 to 5'	Sun	Flowers in fall; moderate to moist soil
Sunflower, Heliopsis; Ox-eye	Heliopsis helianthoides	Perennial	Yellow	3 to 5'	Sun	Flowers summer to fall; native
Sweet William	Dianthus barbatus	Annual	Pink, red, scarlet	18"	Sun	Flowers in spring
Sweet pea	Lathyrus odoratus	Annual	Pink, purple, white	4'	Sun	Flowers in spring; dislikes hot weather
Sweet alyssum	Lobularia maritima	Annual	Purple, red, white	3 to 10"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers spring to early fall
Thistle	Cirsium spp.	Biennial	Purple, lilac, pink	1 to 5'	Sun	Native; flowers summer to fall
Touch me not	Impatiens capensis, I balasamia	Annual	Orange, yellow	3 to 5'	Shade	Flowers summer to fall; moist soil
Turtlehead	Chelone lyonii	Perennial	White, pink, rose purple	2 to 4'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer, fall; rich, moist soil
Verbena	Verbena hybrida	Annual	Apricot, blue, pink, salmon, red, white	6 to 12"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers late spring to early fall
Verbena, Clump	Verbena canadensis	Perennial	Pink, purple, white, red	8 to 18"	Sun	Flowers late spring to fall; well drained soil
Verbena, Brazilian	Verbena bonariensis	Perennial	Violet	36 to 48"	Sun	Flowers summer to frost; well drained soil
Vinca, Annual	Catharanthus roseus	Annual	Pink, purple, red, salmon, white	6 to 18"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers spring to fall; moderate to high drought tolerance
Viper's bugloss	Echium vulgare	Biennial	Purple	1 to 2'	Sun to partial shade	Flowers summer to fall; moderate drought tolerance
Wallflower	Cheiranthus cheiri	Annual	Yellow, orange, brown	1 to 2'	Sun	Flowers spring to summer; prefers a cool moist location
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium	Annual	Pink, purple, red, salmon, white	6 to 18"	Sun	Flowers spring to fall
Zinnia	Zinnia elegans	Annual	Orange, pink, red, white, yellow	6 to 36"	Sun	Flowers late spring to early fall
Zinnia, Creeping	Zinnia angutifolia	Annual	Orange, yellow, white	6 to 12"	Sun to partial shade	Flowers late spring to early fall; high drought tolerance