Whether the calendar says summer or fall, these flowers that attract butterflies will keep on going until the first frost – and sometimes beyond. It’s important to keep flowers blooming as long as possible to help butterflies and hummingbirds later in the season. With thousands of monarchs and hummingbirds migrating south for the winter, these amazing fliers still need good nectar sources to fuel their journeys. While some hummers and monarchs start their flights south as early as late July, many of them are still passing through in late October or even early November.
To make it easier to choose the right plants, we put together this “Sweet 16” list of blooms to grow in your yard this time of year. We chose them because they are some of the hardiest plants you can find – and they also happen to be gorgeous. Enjoy the late season color while attracting hummingbirds and butterflies galore!
Coreopsis
Coreopsis (Coreopsis species, Zones 3 to 11)
This two-for-one bloom attracts both seed-eating birds and butterflies. Skippers, buckeyes, painted ladies and monarchs often stop by for the plant’s sweet nectar, especially in late summer when it’s growing strong while other blooms are wilting away.
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Which of the Sweet 16 you listed are both heat and drought tolerant?
Be carful with Russian Sage. Invasive in certain areas. Maryland is one.
I was searching for the easy container recipes for container plants that attract humming birds and butterflies as shown in the mew issue it directed me to come to your
web site /bonus to find them.
Can all of the 16 butterfly plants be grown in a planter? If so, what would be the best flower arrangment?
I’ve planted ‘Iron weed’. Is Joe Pye weed the same plant. From the pictures, they look the same and the butterflies and hummers like it.
Hi, I was wondering how a mix of these would work in a bed with gladeolias. I would like to do a bed at the back of her garage which gets full sun. If we can keep the dogs and cats out. What do you think, starti g the growing season off with glads then a mix of these listed?
Oh her in my comment is mama’s garage. My thought process is faster than my typing…
You are a master artist, with a camera. All your butterfly and flower pictures, are a masterpiece of beauty and color. I love all your nature pictures. Other artists paint with a paint brush to create beauty, you create beauty with a camera……..
All the butterfly and flower photographs, were, super, super, beautiful….. Print more photographs of butterflies and flowers…….There are a lot of butterfly lovers out there…..