There’s something magical about seeing butterflies flutter through the garden—and Monarchs? They’re the crown jewel. One plant that keeps them coming back is the Ageratum, and it’s not hard to see why.
These little puffs of purple are like an open invitation to every winged visitor in the neighborhood. I’ve planted a few and watched the butterflies throw a party.
Let’s look at why this plant is such a magnet and which ones you’ll want to grow.
1. Blue Horizon
Powder-blue blooms create a stunning backdrop in any butterfly garden. The fluffy flower clusters reach up to 30 inches tall, making them perfect for the middle or back of garden borders.
Monarchs can’t resist the sweet nectar these plants produce from midsummer until frost. Blue Horizon thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts well to various soil conditions, making it an easy addition to your butterfly sanctuary.
2. Hawaii Royal
Royal purple blooms form dense clusters that create a striking display in containers or borders. These compact plants grow only 6-8 inches tall but pack a powerful punch of color that lasts all summer long.
What makes them special is their ability to attract monarchs even in small urban gardens. Hawaii Royal performs beautifully in full sun and resists heat better than many other ageratum varieties, making it perfect for warm-climate butterfly enthusiasts.
3. High Tide Blue
Waves of azure flowers create a sea of color that monarchs find irresistible. This variety forms a neat, mounded shape reaching 14-16 inches tall, making it versatile for both containers and landscape plantings.
The densely packed blooms provide plenty of landing spots for butterflies seeking nectar. High Tide Blue maintains its compact habit without getting leggy, even in humid conditions, and continues flowering vigorously without deadheading – a true low-maintenance butterfly magnet.
4. Red Flint
Unique reddish-pink flowers stand out among traditional blue ageratums, creating diversity in your butterfly garden. The warm-toned blooms add unexpected color that complements orange monarch wings perfectly.
Butterflies particularly love how these plants bloom continuously from early summer through fall. Red Flint grows to a moderate 12-15 inches tall and performs exceptionally well in containers, making it ideal for patio gardens where you can observe butterfly visitors up close.
5. Artist Purple
Vibrant purple pom-pom blooms create a dramatic display that lasts for months. Growing to about 10-12 inches tall, this variety maintains a tidy, rounded shape that works beautifully along garden edges.
The rich nectar content makes Artist Purple especially attractive to monarchs during their migration. These plants establish quickly and fill in spaces nicely, creating a dense carpet of color that suppresses weeds while providing butterflies with plentiful feeding opportunities throughout the growing season.
6. Dondo White
Crisp white blooms offer a clean, refreshing contrast to colorful butterfly wings. This lesser-known ageratum variety grows to about 24 inches tall, creating an elegant backdrop for shorter garden plants.
The bright white flowers actually reflect moonlight, attracting evening pollinators while still appealing to daytime monarchs. Dondo White performs exceptionally well in partial shade conditions, making it perfect for woodland garden edges where butterflies often seek shelter during hot afternoons.
7. Cloud Nine
Soft lavender-blue flowers float like clouds above lush green foliage. This variety reaches about 20 inches tall and spreads nicely, creating a substantial presence in mixed butterfly gardens.
The airy flower heads provide perfect landing pads for monarchs to rest while feeding. Cloud Nine tolerates light frost better than most ageratums, extending the butterfly feeding season well into fall when monarchs need energy for migration, making it an essential addition to butterfly way stations.
8. Timeless Pink
Delicate pink blooms create a romantic atmosphere that butterflies find enchanting. This newer variety maintains its compact 8-10 inch height without getting leggy, even in humid conditions.
The soft color actually helps monarchs feel secure, as predators have difficulty spotting them against the textured blooms. Timeless Pink flowers continuously without deadheading and maintains good mildew resistance, making it ideal for gardeners who want beautiful butterfly plants without high maintenance requirements.
9. Blue Danube
Intense blue flowers create a river of color that flows through garden beds. Growing to about 10 inches tall, this variety forms a neat, rounded shape that works beautifully in formal butterfly gardens.
The deep blue color actually helps butterflies regulate their temperature in hot weather. Blue Danube blooms earlier than many ageratums and continues flowering reliably through summer heat, providing consistent nectar sources when many other plants have stopped producing.
10. Aloha White
Pure white fluffy blooms create a clean, bright display that stands out in evening gardens. This compact variety grows just 6-8 inches tall but spreads to form a lush carpet of flowers and foliage.
The bright white color actually helps guide monarchs to nectar sources in low light conditions. Aloha White thrives in hot, humid conditions where other ageratums might struggle, making it particularly valuable for butterfly gardens in southern regions where monarchs often breed.
11. Southern Cross
Sky-blue star-shaped flowers create a heavenly display that butterflies can’t resist. This versatile variety reaches about 18 inches tall and performs equally well in ground beds or large containers.
The abundant blooms provide multiple feeding stations for hungry monarchs. Southern Cross tolerates both heat and humidity exceptionally well, continuing to flower profusely even during the most challenging summer conditions when butterflies need reliable nectar sources the most.
12. High Tide Silver
Silvery-lavender blooms shimmer in the sunlight, creating an ethereal effect that draws butterflies from afar. This sturdy variety grows to about 15 inches tall with excellent branching that produces abundant flower clusters.
The unusual color actually helps butterflies find these plants even in crowded gardens. High Tide Silver resists fading in intense sunlight and maintains its compact habit without pinching, making it a low-maintenance choice for busy butterfly gardeners who want maximum results with minimal effort.
13. Mexicanum Blue
True-blue flowers represent the original wild species from which all cultivated ageratums descended. Growing to about 30 inches tall, this heirloom variety has a more natural, meadow-like appearance that creates an authentic habitat.
The nectar-rich flowers have co-evolved with butterflies for centuries. Mexicanum Blue self-seeds readily, creating sustainable butterfly habitat year after year, and its taller growth provides valuable shelter where monarchs can rest between feeding sessions.
14. Dondo Blue
Deep sapphire blooms create dramatic contrast against green foliage. This robust variety grows to about 24 inches tall with strong stems that rarely need staking, even in windy butterfly garden locations.
The large flower clusters provide substantial feeding platforms for multiple butterflies at once. Dondo Blue blooms later than many ageratums, extending the nectar season into fall when monarchs are actively preparing for migration and need reliable energy sources to fuel their long journey.
15. Leilani Blue
Periwinkle-blue blooms create a tropical feel that transforms ordinary gardens into butterfly paradises. This heat-loving variety grows to about 12 inches tall and thrives in the hottest garden locations.
The consistent flowering habit ensures nectar is always available for visiting monarchs. Leilani Blue maintains exceptional mildew resistance even in humid conditions, making it particularly valuable in coastal gardens where salt spray and moisture can challenge many other butterfly plants.
16. Patina Purple
Rich royal purple blooms create a luxurious display that monarchs find irresistible. This newer variety grows to about 14 inches tall with excellent branching that produces waves of color throughout the season.
The dense flower clusters provide ideal landing platforms for butterflies to rest while feeding. Patina Purple maintains good color even in partial shade, making it perfect for woodland garden edges where monarchs often seek shelter during the hottest parts of summer days.
17. Blue Mink
Soft powder-blue flowers create a gentle, calming presence in butterfly gardens. This classic variety grows to about 12 inches tall with a naturally rounded shape that requires minimal pruning.
The fuzzy texture of the blooms actually helps butterflies grip while feeding in windy conditions. Blue Mink establishes quickly from seed, making it economical for creating large butterfly habitats, and its reliable blooming habit ensures consistent nectar production from early summer until frost.
18. Fiesta Pink
Bright rose-pink flowers create a festive atmosphere that celebrates butterfly visits. This colorful variety grows to about 10 inches tall with exceptional heat tolerance that keeps it blooming when other plants have faded.
The vibrant color actually helps monarchs locate these plants from a distance. Fiesta Pink performs beautifully in containers, making it perfect for apartment balconies or small spaces where gardeners want to support butterfly populations without having a traditional in-ground garden.
19. Horizon Purple
Deep violet-purple blooms create a stunning horizontal band of color in garden borders. This reliable variety grows to about 15 inches tall with excellent lateral branching that fills spaces beautifully.
The rich nectar content makes these flowers particularly attractive to monarchs needing energy. Horizon Purple starts blooming earlier than many ageratums and continues flowering consistently through summer heat, providing dependable nutrition for multiple butterfly generations throughout the growing season.
20. Everest Blue
Sky-blue flowers reach impressive heights, creating vertical interest in butterfly gardens. This taller variety grows to about 26 inches, making it perfect for the back of borders or as a standalone feature.
The sturdy stems provide ideal perches for monarchs to rest between feeding sessions. Everest Blue maintains good air circulation through its branching structure, reducing disease issues even in humid conditions, and the continuous bloom cycle ensures nectar is available throughout the entire butterfly season.