There are many butterfly-friendly perennials to choose from, with various textures, colors and flowers, which are sure to please every gardener.Discover how plants like salvia, agastache, monarda, milkweed and coneflower can be effectively combined to attract butterflies.
Here are some eye-catching combos to get you started:
This is a textural, loose, flowing design that attracts beneficial insects and butterflies. The white plumes of the Aruncus enliven this predominantly cool colour scheme. Aruncus d. ‘Kneiffi’ has fine, fernlike foliage for all-season interest. This perennial is only 24 inches high without the bloom. Tip: All height guidelines on plant tags are usually including the bloom stem.
Aruncus dioicus ‘Kneiffii’ |
Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ |
Salvia ‘Sensation Deep Rose Improved’ |
A split complementary colour scheme harmoniously brings together two uniquely shaped spires. Hummingbirds and butterflies love Salvia and Agastache.
Agastache ‘Kudos Gold’ |
Salvia nemorosa ‘May Night’ |
Iris germanica ‘Cajun Spice’ |
Incorporating plants in your garden for the monarch butterfly’s larvae is essential for their survival. Monarch larvae eat only milkweed plants. Asclepias tuberosa is a beautiful native perennial well suited to any garden. Orange, blue and green colours make up this triadic colour scheme.
Asclepias tuberosa |
Veronica spicata ‘Royal Candles’ |
These mouthwatering perennials unite to bring on the butterflies and beneficial insects. The long-blooming Phlox p. ‘David’ prominently lights up the back garden and is one of the most powdery mildew-resistant varieties.
Echinacea ‘Solar Flare’ |
Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ |
Phlox paniculata ‘David’ |
Bring on the hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects. With these plants they’ll be able to dine all in one location. Butterflies love blazing star, shasta daisies attract a long list of beneficial insects and hummingbirds can’t resist the red Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, all contributing to the health of your garden.
Liatris spicata |
Leucanthemum ‘Goldfinch’ |
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ |
These differing flower shapes are kept harmoniously together because of the analogous colour scheme. Create a thriving butterfly and pollinator garden with this combination.
Phlox paniculata ‘FLAME™ Series Pink’ |
Monarda didyma ‘Pardon My Purple’ |
Agastache ‘Blue Boa’ |
Here is a sizzling combination for a butterfly garden. Including the colour green, this is a triadic colour scheme with the dominant “hot” colours having the same tint of white.
Monarda ‘Grape Gumball’ |
Agastache ‘Kudos Coral’ |
The textural umbels of Sedum ‘Autumn Charm’ take on a light pink hue that perfectly complements Echinacea p. ‘PowWow Wild Berry’. This is an easy-to-grow, low maintenance combination that provides food for the pollinators.
Sedum ‘Autumn Charm’ |
Echinacea purpurea |
These plant combinations originally appeared in the new book,Spectacular Plant Combinations for the Perennial Garden, by Lorraine Roberts. Lorraine and her husband Robert are the owners of Plant Paradise Country Gardens™ a botanical garden and nursery in Caledon, Ontario, Canada.
All photography is by Lorraine Roberts on location at Plant Paradise Country Gardens, except where noted. Small photo of Agastache ‘Blue Boa’ courtesy www.terranovanurseries.com. Small photos of Phlox paniculata ‘FLAME™ Series Pink’ and Monarda didyma ‘Pardon My Purple’ courtesy www.waltersgardens.com.