Butterflies enjoy the nectar from a wide variety of plants. Quite a few of these plants grow in containers, allowing you to make your deck, porch, patio, balcony, or backyard a feeding haven for the colorful winged ones.

Choosing a Plant

When you're choosing a plant, make sure it can survive in your climate, or be prepared to bring it in during the hottest or coldest parts of the year. You also want to place the container where it has full sun from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Further considerations can be found here.

Will the Plant Survive?

You can check survivability by finding out the USDA zones a plant can live in. You can find out what zone you live in by the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Butterfly-Favored Plants

While butterflies love many flowers, they seem to prefer certain colors and certain shapes over others. In general, they favor red, orange, yellow, and purple to other colors, and flat, plate shapes to trumpet-shaped flowers.

Perennial Examples

Examples of perennial butterfly-favored plants that will grow in containers:

• most kinds of mint
• plants in the monarda family
• most kinds of salvia, aka sage
• verbena

Annual Examples

Examples of annual butterfly-favored plants that will grow in containers:

• zinnia
• marigold
• moss rose
• dwarf sunflower

Related Articles

• "4 Basics to Attract Butterflies"