Awesome Flowering Plants that Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies
When you plant flowers in your yard or garden you are adding color and interest to your property. Choosing the right flowering plants can add even more interest by attracting those colorful butterflies and those dazzling little hummingbirds.
Not only do butterflies and hummingbirds add beauty to your garden, but they also help with pollination, helping your garden to thrive.
Whether you are planning on planting just one or two butterfly and hummingbird attracting plants or want to plant an entire butterfly and hummingbird garden, choosing just the right plants to accomplish your goal is the first step.
Here is a look at some fantastic plants that are sure to attract those hummingbirds and butterflies to your property.
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Plants that Attract Butterflies and Hummingbirds
#1. Zinnias
Zinnias are low maintenance annual flowering plants that come in a wide range of colors including pink, purple, yellow, orange, red, white and green. These flowers grow best in warmer climates such as zones 3 through 10.
Different varieties of zinnias have different shaped leaves, while the flowers themselves are round and brightly colored and blooms most or all of the summer. These flowers grow to be between 1 and 4 feet tall and enjoy full sunlight and well-drained soil.
Zinnias are highly attractive to both butterflies and hummingbirds and are native to both South and North America. They are also one of the best flowers to grow in raised beds.
#2. Daylilies
Daylilies come in red, yellow, white, orange, pink and purple and are known for their large flowers with blue/green leaves that are attractive to butterflies. However, each flower only lasts for one day.
These perennials can grow to be 1 to 3 feet tall on average (with some varieties reaching 6 feet). And if you are looking for yellow flowering perennials to add brightness to your garden, then you can’t go wrong with yellow Daylilies.
Although these flowers prefer full sunlight and moist well-drained soil, they are drought tolerant and considered to be low maintenance. These flowers grow best in zones 3 through 10.
#3. Coneflowers
Coneflowers are native wild flowers in North America, but over the past couple of decades these traditional purple daisy looking flower with orange centers have been developed to include a wide range of colors including pink, red, orange, white, yellow and green.
The flowers have a long bloom period, running from June through August.
Depending on the variety, Coneflowers grow well in zones 3 through 10. They prefer full sun to part shade and most grow over a foot tall with the tallest flowers standing over 3 feet tall.
Coneflowers are highly attractive to butterflies, although hummingbirds like them as well. They are also considered to be deer resistant and are one of the flowers that symbolize strength.
#4. Peonies
Native to Europe, Asia and Western America Peonies are flowering plants with huge blooms made up of several layers. These flowers look almost like tissue paper flowers.
They come in a wide variety of colors including white, red, pink, dark purple, rose and coral.
Grown in zones 3 through 9 Peonies prefer full sun and well-drained soil and bloom from late spring to late summer.
Although attractive to both hummingbirds and butterflies, these flowers are mildly toxic to humans and animals.
#5. Impatiens
Impatiens are extremely popular bedding flowers that are native to Africa and New Guinea. They come in a variety of colors including red, pink, white, purple, violet, yellow and coral and bloom in late spring to summer.
These flowers are perennials that are often treated as annuals. Grown best in zones 10 and 11 Impatiens love partial shade and well-drained soil. They grow to be between 6 and 36 inches tall.
#6. Phlox
The butterfly and hummingbird loving perennial phlox comes in several varieties and colors including purple, pink, white, red, and red and white peppermint striped.
These flowers bloom in spring and summer and range in height from short grown covering blooms to taller blossoms.
Phlox grows best in zones 2 through 9 and does equally well in full sun, partial sun and shade.
#7. Common Milkweed
Common Milkweed is a perennial flowering plant native to the Eastern United States. It is is known to attract Monarch butterflies with both the Larvae and caterpillars feeding off this plant.
Common milkweed is a fast grower, reaching 2 to 4 feet tall when fully mature and can have leaves that grow up to 8 inches long. The pink, mauve, or white flowers attract full-grown butterflies and blooms from June to August.
This plant grows best in zones 3 through 9 and loves full sunlight and well-drained soil.
#8. Lantana
Lantana is a hummingbird loving perennial flowering plant with blue/green or chartreuse/gold foliage. The flowers of this plant are tiny and grow in clumps with flower colors including red, pink, orange, yellow, blue and white.
This plant grows best in zones 8 through 11 and loves full sunlight and well-drained soil, though it is drought tolerant. This plant can grow to be 5 to 6 feet tall.
#9. Columbine Flower
Native to North America, Europe and Asia, the Columbine flower has clover like foliage and colorful flowers that look like jester hats. The flowers come in a variety of colors including red, blue, purple, orange, yellow, white and pink. The flowers bloom anywhere from spring to summer.
Columbine grows best in zones 3 through 8 and loves full or at least partial sunlight and moist well-drained soil. At maturity this flowering plant grows 1 to 3 feet tall.
#10. Butterfly Bush
The butterfly bush is a deciduous shrub that grows like a perennial in cooler climates. This shrub has coarse leaves and flower spikes that come in a variety of colors including pink, blue, purple, yellow and white.
Native to Asia, this bush grows best in zones 5 through 9. It loves full sunlight and the flowers of this plant bloom in summer. At maturity this plant can reach a height of anywhere from 3 to 12 feet.
#11. Bee Balm
Bee balm is a flowering plant native to North America. It is part of the mint family and the flowers are square stemmed with the flower heads made up of tubular petals that gives the flower a raggedy look. The flowers come in red, pink, white and purple.
Bee Balm grows best in zones 3 through 9 and loves full sunlight and well-drained soil. At maturity this flower grows to be anywhere from 10 inches to 4 feet tall.
Final Thoughts on Plants that Attract Butterflies and Hummingbirds
Attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden or yard not only adds beauty to your space, but helps with pollination, which is essential for a thriving garden. While the above flowering plants are not the only plants to attract butterflies and hummingbirds one or more of these plants should be an excellent addition to your garden.
