I’ve always tried to fill my garden with flowers that flutter with butterflies—but without drawing a swarm of bees to every bloom. Over the years, I’ve found a few gorgeous picks that butterflies can’t resist, and bees usually pass right by.
These 18 flowers bring color, movement, and that magical butterfly charm without all the buzzing. If you’ve been hoping for a peaceful, pollinator-friendly garden, this list is a game-changer.
It’s the perfect mix of beauty and balance—I couldn’t keep it to myself!
1. Lantana
Clusters of tiny blooms in sunset colors make these flowers a butterfly magnet in warm gardens. The flat flower clusters provide perfect landing pads for butterflies to rest while sipping nectar.
Most bees overlook lantana because its tubular flowers are often too narrow for their tongues. Plant these heat-loving perennials in full sun and enjoy the parade of butterflies that will visit all summer long.
2. Butterfly Bush
With a name that doesn’t disappoint, this shrub produces long, cone-shaped flower clusters that butterflies find irresistible. The sweet nectar and sturdy stems provide perfect feeding stations for butterflies of all sizes.
Bees generally show less interest because they prefer different flower shapes. Available in purple, white, pink, and blue varieties, butterfly bushes bloom from summer through fall, offering a continuous buffet for your colorful winged visitors.
3. Milkweed
Famous as the monarch butterfly’s nursery, milkweed produces clusters of star-shaped flowers rich in nectar. The unique flower structure allows butterflies to easily access the sweet reward while many bee species struggle with it.
Beyond feeding adult butterflies, milkweed leaves serve as the only food source for monarch caterpillars. Native varieties like common milkweed and butterfly weed are particularly valuable for supporting local butterfly populations.
4. Pentas
Star-shaped flowers clustered in bright bouquets make pentas a butterfly favorite in warm climates. Their tubular structure perfectly matches butterfly feeding habits while being less attractive to bees.
Available in red, pink, purple, and white, these flowers bloom continuously from spring until frost. Pentas thrive in containers and garden beds alike, making them versatile additions to any butterfly garden regardless of your space limitations.
5. Ageratum
Fluffy blue-purple blooms create a soft landing spot that butterflies adore. These fuzzy flowers have a structure that’s perfect for butterfly feeding but awkward for most bees to navigate.
Low-growing varieties make excellent border plants while taller types work beautifully in butterfly garden beds. Ageratum blooms continuously from summer through fall with minimal care, providing reliable butterfly nectar sources when many other flowers have finished their show.
6. Verbena
Flat clusters of tiny blooms create perfect butterfly landing pads in vibrant purple, pink, or white. The small, tubular flowers within each cluster provide nectar that butterflies can easily access with their long proboscis.
Many verbena varieties spread to create colorful ground covers that butterflies will visit repeatedly. Their drought tolerance and long blooming period from spring through fall make them practical additions to any butterfly-friendly landscape.
7. Salvia
Tall spikes of tubular flowers in vibrant colors attract butterflies from across the garden. The long, narrow blooms perfectly match butterfly feeding methods while being less accessible to many bee species.
Salvias come in countless varieties with colors ranging from deep blue to bright red. Many types bloom from early summer until frost, providing reliable nectar sources throughout the growing season while requiring minimal maintenance once established.
8. Impatiens
Shade-loving blooms with flat, open faces make perfect landing spots for butterflies in darker garden corners. Their simple flower structure allows butterflies to easily access nectar without the specialized skills many bees need.
Traditional impatiens thrive in shade while newer SunPatiens varieties tolerate full sun. Both types bloom continuously from spring until frost in colors ranging from white to orange, pink, and red, bringing butterfly activity to parts of your garden where other nectar plants might struggle.
9. Heliotrope
Clusters of tiny, fragrant purple flowers create irresistible butterfly feeding stations with their sweet vanilla scent. The small tubular blooms within each cluster are perfectly sized for butterfly proboscises but less accessible to many bees.
Heliotrope’s rich fragrance carries across the garden, helping butterflies locate these nectar sources from afar. The deep purple varieties are particularly striking, though white and lighter lavender cultivars are also available for gardens with different color schemes.
10. Nicotiana
Evening-blooming flowers with long, tubular shapes attract night-flying moths and day-active butterflies alike. The slender flower tubes perfectly match butterfly feeding habits while being less suitable for many bee species.
Commonly called flowering tobacco, nicotiana releases its sweet fragrance in the evening hours. White varieties glow beautifully in moonlight gardens, while pink, green, and red cultivars add interesting color to butterfly gardens during both day and night.
11. Petunias
Trumpet-shaped blooms in every color imaginable create butterfly feeding stations throughout the garden. Their open, accessible structure allows butterflies to easily reach the nectar while the flower shape is less appealing to many bees.
Modern varieties bloom continuously without deadheading and come in spreading, mounding, or trailing forms. This versatility makes petunias perfect for containers, hanging baskets, and garden beds, bringing butterfly activity to every corner of your outdoor space.
12. Phlox
Star-shaped flowers gathered in rounded clusters create perfect butterfly landing platforms in summer gardens. The flat-faced blooms with their long nectar tubes match butterfly feeding preferences while being less attractive to many bees.
Tall garden phlox creates dramatic back-of-border displays while creeping phlox forms colorful ground covers. Both types produce fragrant blooms in shades of pink, purple, white, and bi-colors that butterflies will visit repeatedly throughout their blooming season.
13. Four O’Clocks
Trumpet-shaped flowers that open in late afternoon create perfect feeding stations for evening-active butterflies. Their long, tubular structure matches butterfly feeding methods while being less accessible to many bee species.
These old-fashioned favorites produce fragrant blooms in white, yellow, pink, and magenta. Four o’clocks are remarkably easy to grow from seed and often self-sow, creating carefree butterfly gardens that return year after year with minimal effort.
14. Snapdragons
Spikes of uniquely shaped blooms provide landing platforms that butterflies can navigate easily. Their complex flower structure requires the precise feeding technique that butterflies possess but many bees find challenging.
Available in nearly every color except true blue, snapdragons bring rainbow hues to butterfly gardens. Cool-season bloomers, they perform best in spring and fall in most regions, providing crucial nectar during seasonal transitions when other butterfly plants may not be flowering.
15. Cleome
Spider-like blooms with long, whisker-like stamens create distinctive feeding stations that butterflies love. The open flower structure provides easy access for butterflies while being less appealing to many bee species.
Growing up to 5 feet tall, these dramatic annuals create impressive vertical elements in butterfly gardens. Cleome blooms continuously from early summer until frost in shades of pink, white, and lavender, providing reliable nectar sources throughout the growing season.
16. Cosmos
Daisy-like flowers with open centers create perfect landing pads for butterflies in summer gardens. Their simple structure allows butterflies to easily access nectar while being less rewarding for many bee species.
These easy-growing annuals bloom prolifically from summer until frost in shades of pink, white, and orange. Cosmos require almost no care once established and often self-seed, creating carefree butterfly gardens that return year after year.
17. Mexican Sunflower
Brilliant orange blooms with velvety centers create irresistible feeding stations for butterflies, especially monarchs. The flat, daisy-like structure provides perfect landing pads while the specific nectar chemistry appeals more to butterflies than bees.
Growing up to 6 feet tall, these dramatic annuals create stunning backdrops in butterfly gardens. Mexican sunflowers bloom continuously from midsummer until frost without deadheading, providing reliable nectar sources during the crucial late-season butterfly migration period.
18. Dianthus
Frilly blooms with flat, open faces create perfect butterfly landing platforms in spring gardens. Their accessible structure allows butterflies to easily reach nectar while being less rewarding for many bee species.
Available in shades from white to deep red, many varieties offer spicy clove-like fragrance. Both annual and perennial types bloom profusely in cool weather, providing crucial early-season nectar for the first butterflies emerging from winter hibernation or arriving from southern migrations.