There’s nothing quite like watching butterflies flutter through the garden—it’s like your yard comes to life. Over the years, I’ve planted all sorts of bushes, but these 20 always seem to steal the show.
They bloom like crazy and keep butterflies coming back again and again. Some even surprised me with how fast they worked their magic.
If you’re dreaming of a garden that hums with color and wings, this list’s for you.
1. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Named for its butterfly-magnet abilities, this sun-loving shrub produces long, cone-shaped flower clusters in purple, pink, white, or blue. The sweet nectar attracts monarchs, swallowtails, and countless other species throughout summer.
Look for newer, non-invasive cultivars like ‘Blue Chip’ or ‘Miss Molly’ that won’t take over your garden. With proper deadheading, these beauties will keep blooming from June until frost, providing a continuous butterfly buffet.
2. Lilac (Syringa)
Few spring experiences match the intoxicating fragrance of lilacs in bloom. These hardy shrubs burst with lavender, purple, pink, or white flower clusters that butterflies can’t resist during their May flowering period.
Choose reblooming varieties like ‘Bloomerang’ for extended butterfly visits. Though their blooming season is shorter than some shrubs, their reliability and minimal care requirements make them perfect anchors in any butterfly garden.
3. Bluebeard (Caryopteris)
Late summer gardens come alive when this compact shrub unfurls its misty blue flowers. Butterflies particularly appreciate this August-September bloomer when many other nectar sources have faded.
Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, Bluebeard thrives in sunny spots with well-drained soil. Cut it back in early spring to encourage dense growth and maximum flowering, ensuring a butterfly feast when many gardens have lost their luster.
4. Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
Vanilla-scented white flower spikes make this native shrub irresistible to butterflies in mid-to-late summer. Unlike many butterfly plants, Summersweet performs beautifully in partial shade, perfect for woodland garden edges.
The fragrant blooms appear when many other shrubs have finished flowering. After butterflies enjoy the nectar, the interesting seed capsules provide winter interest while the golden fall foliage adds another season of beauty.
5. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Native to wetland areas, this unique shrub produces spherical white flowers that resemble pincushions or golf balls. The unusual blooms are butterfly magnets in summer and early fall, especially for swallowtails and fritillaries.
Happy in moist soil or even standing water, buttonbush makes an excellent choice for rain gardens or pond edges. Its adaptability to wet conditions fills a niche many other butterfly plants can’t handle.
6. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
When summer heat intensifies, Rose of Sharon steps up with trumpet-shaped blooms in white, pink, purple, or blue. The large, showy flowers provide landing pads for butterflies from July through September when many gardens lack color.
These tough shrubs handle urban conditions with ease. Newer varieties stay compact and produce sterile flowers that won’t self-seed around the garden, making them low-maintenance butterfly magnets for busy gardeners.
7. Weigela
Spring gardens burst with tubular pink, red, or white flowers on this easy-care shrub. The trumpet-shaped blooms attract early-season butterflies, while reblooming varieties like ‘Sonic Bloom’ continue to produce flowers periodically throughout summer.
Modern varieties offer colorful foliage in burgundy, gold, or variegated patterns. This provides garden interest even when the plant isn’t flowering, while still supporting butterflies with nectar during its extended blooming period.
8. Abelia
Small but mighty, the tubular flowers of abelia feed butterflies from June until frost. The arching branches covered with white or pink blooms create a fountain-like appearance that adds movement to garden borders.
Fragrant flowers and colorful foliage make this semi-evergreen shrub a multi-season performer. In warmer climates, the leaves persist through winter, providing structure even in the dormant season after butterflies have enjoyed months of nectar.
9. Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
This native woodland shrub serves double duty in the butterfly garden. The early spring yellow flowers provide nectar for adult butterflies, while the leaves feed spicebush swallowtail caterpillars throughout the growing season.
Female plants produce bright red berries in fall that attract birds. The aromatic leaves turn golden yellow in autumn, making this a beautiful four-season plant that supports the complete butterfly life cycle.
10. Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)
Honey-scented white flower spires make this native shrub a butterfly favorite in mid-summer. The fragrant blooms appear when many spring-flowering shrubs have finished, extending the nectar season for hungry butterflies.
Adaptable to sun or partial shade and tolerant of wet soils, sweet pepperbush fits into many garden situations. The bottlebrush-like flowers stand upright above the glossy green foliage, creating perfect perches for feeding butterflies.
11. Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)
Dramatic white flower spikes stretch 8-12 inches long on this understory shrub, creating a spectacular display in early summer. The upright panicles resemble bottlebrushes and attract swallowtails, fritillaries, and skippers.
Growing wider than tall, this native forms colonies that can cover substantial ground in partial shade. The palm-shaped leaves turn buttery yellow in fall, adding seasonal interest after the butterfly buffet has ended.
12. New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
Small but mighty, this native shrub produces clouds of tiny white flowers that butterflies adore. Growing just 3-4 feet tall, it fits perfectly in smaller gardens or front positions in borders where you can observe butterfly visitors up close.
Incredibly drought-tolerant once established, New Jersey Tea thrives in poor soils where many plants struggle. Its deep taproot makes it difficult to transplant but helps it survive challenging conditions while supporting numerous butterfly species.
13. Viburnum
With over 150 species, viburnums offer something for every garden and butterfly. Spring-flowering varieties like Korean Spice Viburnum produce intensely fragrant blooms that attract early-season butterflies seeking nectar.
Beyond flowers, many viburnums produce berries that support birds and wildlife. The diversity of sizes, bloom times, and growing requirements means there’s a perfect viburnum for every garden spot, ensuring butterfly visitors throughout the growing season.
14. Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Arching branches covered with fragrant white flower racemes make this native shrub a butterfly magnet in late spring and early summer. The slightly drooping flower clusters provide perfect landing spots for feeding butterflies.
After flowering, the glossy green leaves transform to spectacular burgundy-red in fall, lasting for weeks. Adaptable to sun or shade and various soil conditions, Virginia Sweetspire performs reliably while attracting numerous butterfly species.
15. Potentilla (Cinquefoil)
Cheerful yellow, white, or pink flowers cover this compact shrub from late spring until frost. The simple, open blooms provide easy access to nectar for smaller butterfly species that can’t navigate complex flower structures.
Incredibly cold-hardy and drought-tolerant, potentilla keeps flowering through summer heat when many plants take a break. The small size (2-4 feet) makes it perfect for borders or containers where you can observe butterfly visitors up close.
16. Elderberry (Sambucus)
Large, flat clusters of tiny white flowers attract numerous butterfly species to elderberry shrubs in early summer. Beyond nectar, elderberry supports the entire butterfly life cycle by serving as a host plant for several species.
After flowering, purple-black berries develop that birds adore. Newer varieties with purple or golden foliage add season-long color to butterfly gardens while providing the same ecological benefits as the native green forms.
17. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis)
Unusual timing makes witch hazel special in the butterfly garden. Fall-blooming varieties produce spidery yellow flowers when most plants are dormant, providing late-season nectar for lingering butterflies preparing for migration or hibernation.
Spring-blooming types flower when snow may still cover the ground, offering the first nectar of the season. The fragrant blooms appear on bare branches, creating an ethereal effect while supporting early-emerging butterfly species.
18. Ninebark (Physocarpus)
Clusters of white or pink flowers cover this native shrub in late spring, attracting numerous butterfly species. The exfoliating bark provides winter interest after the butterfly season ends, giving this shrub its common name.
Modern varieties offer colorful foliage in burgundy, gold, or copper tones. These colorful leaves provide a beautiful backdrop for butterfly visitors while the plant’s tough nature ensures reliable performance in challenging garden conditions.
19. Chokeberry (Aronia)
White flower clusters in spring attract early-season butterflies to this tough native shrub. Beyond spring blooms, chokeberry offers three-season interest with glossy summer foliage, brilliant fall color, and persistent winter berries.
Adaptable to wet or dry conditions and various light levels, chokeberry performs reliably in challenging spots. The compact size of newer varieties makes them perfect for smaller gardens while still providing valuable nectar for butterfly visitors.
20. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum)
Sunny yellow flowers with prominent stamens make this low-growing shrub a butterfly favorite in early summer. The simple, open blooms provide easy access to nectar for many butterfly species, including smaller varieties.
Growing just 1-3 feet tall, St. John’s Wort fits perfectly at the front of borders or in rock gardens. The blue-green foliage provides an attractive backdrop for the golden flowers that butterflies find irresistible.