Oftentimes, our clients ask us what plants work best to attract beautiful butterflies to their yard. For over ten years we’ve been working with homeowners and property managers to create an outdoor oasis, that naturally draws wildlife visitors to their property.

Butterflies are great at pollinating plants that produce fruit and seeds. They are attracted to easy-to-spot native flowers that grow in full sun and also produce nectar. Native plants also provide an important habitat and food source for caterpillar eggs. Butterfly milkweed is essential for the migrating Monarch butterfly, so it makes for a great plant selection for any outdoor butterfly garden.

Consider adding one or more of the below listed native plants into your landscape this year, and you’ll start to a new fluttering of activity at your very own home!

Essential Plants for the Midwest Butterfly Garden

• Missouri Coneflower
• Butterfly Milkweed
• Buttonbush
• Purple Coneflower
• Foxglove Beardtongue
• Blue False Indigo

Looking for more ideas or inspiration? Check out the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Native Landscaping Manual, or feel free to email us your native landscaping question or idea – we would love to work with you to design your own native plant paradise.