Perennials That Attract Butterflies

Unsurprisingly, when most people think about attracting butterflies they think immediately butterfly bushes, which do in fact, attract butterflies. However, butterfly bushes are not the only way to entice butterflies to visit your yard—butterflies are also smitten by several different varieties of perennials. Although butterfly bushes are a great addition to any landscape, perennials offer a couple of advantages of these shrubs: They are less expensive to purchase initially and are easier to plant, after all, the hole you have to dig for a perennial is several times smaller than the hole you have to dig for a butterfly bush. Remember, too, that hummingbirds will compete with butterflies for nectar, it is wise to plant perennials in several different parts of the yard, so there is plenty of nectar to go around. In addition, be sure to plant your butterfly-enticing perennials in a sunny spot that gets little or no wind—that way butterflies not only have a quality food source, but a place to rest as well.