Most butterflies dine on nectar and prefer brightly colored, fragrant flowers that are wide enough to land on. When deciding on which nectar plants to include in your garden, try to select plants so that a few are always in bloom.
 
Nectar plant information is available via the listing of nectar plant families and in the following table.
 
In the table, the regions of the state in which the plant will grow are indicated by N=north, C=central, and S=south. The blooming seasons are indicated by Sp=spring, Su=summer, F=fall, and W=winter. An asterisk indicates a member of the composite, or daisy, family.
 
Click on the botanical name for more information, including native plants within the plant's family
and which butterflies, birds, and other wildlife the plant attracts.
 
Click on the    to see a photo of the plant.
 

Perennials -- plants that live many years

name region bloom season botanical name     Aster NCS lavender, blue SuF Aster spp.* Blazing star NCS rose-purple SuF Liatris spp.*   Dalea NC various SpSuF Dalea spp.   Florida Paintbrush NCS lavender F Carphephorus corymbosus*   Goldenrod NCS yellow SuF Solidago fistulosa*   Lobelia NC red, white, blue SpSuF Lobelia spp. Milkweed NCS various SpSuF Asclepias spp. Mistflower NCS blue SuF Eupatorium coelestinum* Pennyroyal NCS lavender SpW Piloblephis rigida   Phlox NC various SpSuF Phlox spp. Purple coneflower NCS purple Su Echinacea purpurea* Sage NC various SpSuF Salvia spp. Stoke's aster NC various SpSuF Stokesia laevis*   Sunflower NC yellow SpSuF Helianthus spp.* Tick-seed NCS yellow SpSuFW Coreopsis spp.* Verbena NCS red-pink SpSuF Verbena

Annuals -- plants that live one year (some reseed themselves)

name region bloom season botanical name     Beach sunflower NCS yellow SpSuFW Helianthus debilis* Black-eyed Susan NCS yellow SpSuF Rudbeckia hirta* Gaillardia NC various SpSu Gaillardia pulchella* Spanish needles NCS orange SpSuF Bidens pilosa*

Shrubs

name region bloom season botanical name       Azalea NC various Sp Rhododendron spp. Blue porterweed CS blue SpSuFW Stachytarpheta spp.   Fetterbush NCS purple Sp Lyonia lucida Firebush CS red SpSuFW Hamelia patens   Garberia NC pink F Garberia fruticosa*   Hibiscus NCS various SpSuFW Hibiscus spp. Honeysuckle NCS various SpSu Lonicera sempervirens Lantana NCS various SpSuFW Lantana spp.   New Jersey Tea NCS white SpSu Ceanothus americanus   Red Buckeye NC red Sp Aesculus pavia   Sweet pepperbush NC fragrant white Su Clethra alnifolia   Tarflower NC white, pink Sp Befaria racemosa Viburnum NC white Sp Viburnum spp.

 
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