Oregon gardens are full of charm, but adding a little fragrance can make them unforgettable. I’ve spent hours sipping coffee while butterflies danced around my favorite blooms, and it never gets old.
The right perennials don’t just smell amazing—they turn your garden into a lively, fluttering paradise. Here are 14 fragrant perennials that will have butterflies flocking to your yard all season long.
1. Lavender
The purple spikes release a calming aroma that draws Oregon’s Painted Lady butterflies like magnets. Native to the Mediterranean but thriving in Oregon’s climate, this drought-tolerant beauty needs full sun.
Plant lavender in well-drained soil and minimal watering for best results. The fragrant oils intensify in hot weather, making summer the perfect time to enjoy both the butterflies and the relaxing scent in your Oregon garden.
2. Butterfly Bush
Despite its controversial invasive status in Oregon, many gardeners still appreciate this butterfly magnet. The honey-scented flower clusters bloom from summer through fall, attracting Swallowtails and Monarchs with sweet nectar.
Choose sterile varieties to prevent spreading beyond your garden boundaries. With proper maintenance in Oregon’s climate, these woody perennials provide years of butterfly-watching enjoyment while releasing a pleasant fragrance throughout your outdoor space.
3. Bee Balm
With its minty fragrance and crown-like blooms, bee balm creates quite the buzz in Oregon butterfly gardens. Hummingbirds and bees join the butterfly party around these vibrant red, pink, or purple flowers.
Hardy in Oregon’s varying climates, this native perennial spreads readily in moist conditions. The aromatic leaves can be used for tea, while the flowers provide a spectacular display that keeps Painted Ladies and Tiger Swallowtails returning throughout summer.
4. Coneflower
The subtle honey scent of these daisy-like blooms might be faint to humans but acts like a dinner bell to Oregon’s butterflies. Their distinctive raised centers provide perfect landing pads for feeding butterflies while adding architectural interest to gardens.
Thriving in Oregon’s summer heat, these drought-tolerant natives keep flowering for months. Purple coneflowers are most common, but newer varieties offer sunset hues of orange, yellow and red that complement any Oregon garden design.
5. Phlox
Sweet vanilla-clove scented clusters cover these easy-care perennials from mid-summer through fall in Oregon gardens. The star-shaped blooms form dense mounds that provide both nectar for butterflies and wonderful fragrance for gardeners.
Tall garden phlox varieties thrive in Oregon’s climate, especially in morning sun locations. Powdery mildew can be an issue in Oregon’s damp conditions, so choose resistant varieties and provide good air circulation around plants.
6. Milkweed
Beyond being the essential host plant for Monarch butterflies, certain milkweed varieties offer a sweet honey fragrance that enhances Oregon gardens. The clusters of star-shaped flowers produce abundant nectar that attracts numerous butterfly species.
Oregon gardeners should choose native milkweed species for best results. The seed pods that follow the flowers add interesting texture through fall and winter, while providing essential breeding habitat for the declining Monarch population across Oregon.
7. Dianthus
The spicy clove scent of these cottage garden classics earns them the common name ‘pinks’ while attracting numerous Oregon butterfly species. Low-growing varieties form tidy mounds covered with delicately fringed blooms in shades from white to deep magenta.
Thriving in Oregon’s climate, dianthus prefers full sun and excellent drainage. Plant them along pathways or garden edges where both butterflies and humans can enjoy their sweet fragrance as they brush against the silvery-blue foliage.
8. Catmint
The aromatic gray-green foliage releases a minty fragrance that attracts butterflies while repelling less desirable garden pests. Lavender-blue flower spikes bloom for months in Oregon gardens, requiring minimal care once established.
Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, catmint thrives in Oregon’s varied growing conditions. Trim plants back after the first flush of blooms to encourage a second showing, doubling your butterfly-watching opportunities while enjoying the refreshing scent.
9. Joe-Pye Weed
Despite its unfortunate name, this impressive native perennial produces vanilla-scented mauve flower clusters that tower majestically in Oregon gardens. Reaching heights of 5-7 feet, it creates a dramatic backdrop while attracting numerous butterfly species.
Thriving in Oregon’s moist areas, Joe-Pye weed is perfect near water features or in rain gardens. The late summer blooms provide essential nectar when many other perennials have finished flowering, extending butterfly season well into fall.
10. Yarrow
The spicy, herbal scent of yarrow’s feathery foliage complements its flat-topped flower clusters that serve as perfect butterfly landing pads. Native to Oregon, these drought-tolerant perennials thrive in poor soils where other plants struggle.
Colors range from traditional white to vibrant yellows, reds and pinks that brighten Oregon gardens. Butterflies particularly love the wild species with their accessible nectar, while gardeners appreciate yarrow’s long-lasting blooms and drought resistance during Oregon’s dry summers.
11. Peony
The intoxicating rose-like fragrance of these spring bloomers makes them irresistible to both butterflies and gardeners across Oregon. Their lush, multi-petaled flowers create spectacular displays while providing abundant nectar for early-season pollinators.
Herbaceous peonies thrive in Oregon’s climate, returning reliably for decades with minimal care. Plant them where you can enjoy both their sweet scent and the butterflies they attract, as these long-lived perennials become the fragrant anchors of Oregon butterfly gardens.
12. Russian Sage
The aromatic silver-gray foliage releases a sage-like scent that permeates Oregon gardens while attracting numerous butterfly species. Airy spires of tiny lavender-blue flowers create a cloud-like effect from midsummer through fall.
Extremely drought-tolerant once established, Russian sage thrives in Oregon’s hot, dry summers. Pair with yellow coneflowers or black-eyed Susans for a striking butterfly garden combination that stands up to challenging growing conditions throughout Oregon.
13. Daylily
Many daylily varieties offer a sweet fragrance that intensifies in the warm Oregon sunshine, attracting butterflies throughout their long blooming season. Though each flower lasts just one day, established plants produce dozens of buds for weeks of continuous color.
Reblooming varieties extend the show in Oregon gardens from early summer through fall. Their adaptability to various soil conditions makes them reliable performers throughout Oregon, while their sweet scent and nectar-rich blooms keep butterflies returning day after day.
14. Garden Phlox
The sweet honey-like fragrance of these summer bloomers perfumes Oregon gardens while attracting countless butterflies. Tall stems topped with dense clusters of star-shaped flowers create impressive displays in borders and cutting gardens.
Available in shades from pure white to deep purple, garden phlox thrives in Oregon’s climate with adequate moisture. Choose mildew-resistant varieties for best performance in Oregon’s varying conditions, ensuring both you and the butterflies can enjoy their sweet scent all summer long.