The Big Benefits of Butterflies in Your Garden (and How to Attract Them)

Colorful critters with a big role to play

Closeup of a garden with orange butterflies
Photo: MilaDrumeva / iStock / Getty Images
Closeup of a garden with orange butterflies
Photo: MilaDrumeva / iStock / Getty Images
Highlights
  • Butterflies can help pollinate plants 

  • Winged insects indicate a healthy ecosystem

  • Keep your yard pesticide-free

  • Plant native flora for both caterpillars and adults

Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
Geo Icon

With vibrant wings that look like stained glass, butterflies are always a marvelous sight to behold, whether they are migrating and merely passing through or local longtime residents. 

But these winged critters are more than eye candy—they offer benefits for your garden’s plants and the larger ecosystem. Read on to learn why it’s important to attract butterflies to your garden and how to do it.

Why Butterflies Are Good for Your Garden

Butterflies are beneficial to your garden—and the wider ecosystem—in numerous ways.

Pollination

Butterflies are pollinators, helping plants to reproduce. The adults feed on plant nectar, and in the process, get pollen on their bodies, which they carry over to other plants to start the reproduction cycle. Bees, wasps, moths, and beetles are a few other pollinators; some plants don’t even need insects, relying on wind or water to bring them pollen. 

Ecological Benefits

Beyond plant reproduction, butterflies are an indication of a healthy ecosystem. A thriving garden that attracts butterflies will attract other helpful critters, such as bees and birds, as well as other insects that can provide natural pest control, like ladybugs. 

In addition, butterflies are an important member of the food chain, sometimes becoming dinner for spiders, lizards, mice, and other creatures. In turn, they help plants and many other living things survive. 

Educational Value 

If you have kids, butterflies are wonderful little teachers. Their metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and finally to adult butterfly shows children the lifecycle of one of nature’s most important (and beautiful!) insects.

Little ones might also want to learn about butterfly migration, which is most famously done by Monarch butterflies, but other species—such as Common Buckeye, Skipper, Sachem, and American Lady—do it as well. 

Many butterflies from Mexico and southern states fly north during the warmer months to populate these regions, and vice versa for those from northern areas. Seeking out warmer weather helps migratory butterflies to find the flower nectar they need to survive.

Gardening for Butterflies

With vibrant wings that look like stained glass
Photo: _LeS_ / iStock / Getty Images

Butterflies love flowers, so a garden rich in flowering plants is key to attracting butterflies and helping them on their migratory routes. Here are some other considerations.

Sunshine- and Wind-Free

Butterflies are cold-blooded and rely on the sun’s warmth for energy. Plant your butterfly-friendly plants in a warm spot, with wind coverings—wind makes for less than ideal conditions for butterflies.

Limit or Forgo Pesticides

Keep your butterfly garden organic and limit your use of insecticides and herbicides, which can kill helpful insects in addition to the harmful ones. In addition, herbicides can poison caterpillars and destroy their food sources. Look for all-natural solutions to pest and weed control.

Add Garden Enhancements

A few accessories or enhancements in your garden will encourage butterflies to hang out there. Rocks in sunny spots will give butterflies a landing pad to bask in the sun, and wet sand or mud is appealing to butterflies while courting; males give female butterflies mud or wet sand during mating.

 3 tips to make you garden butterfly-friendly, including adding rocks in sunny spots

Host and Nectar Plants to Grow in Your Garden

For your garden to have a thriving butterfly population, plant both host plants for caterpillars and nectar plants for full-grown butterfly adults. Look for plants that are native to your area, which you can check by searching on the Audubon Society’s website.

Here’s a look at plants that attract pollinators, but if you need help creating your butterfly-friendly garden, hire a local gardener

Host Plants for Common Caterpillar Species

Great Spangled Fritillary Violets
Pipevine SwallowtailPipevines
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Black Cherry, Tulip Tree, Sweet Bay Magnolia
Red-Spotted Purple Black Cherry, Willows, Deerberry
Tawny EmperorAmerican Hackberry
American Painted Lady Cudweed, Everlast
MonarchMilkweed
Henry's Elfin Redbud, Yaupon Holly, Blueberries
Great Purple Hairstreak Mistletoe
Gray Comma Gooseberry, Azalea, Elm
Joe-Pye weedPerennial, zones 4-9
IronweedPerennial, zones 3-9
Yellow coneflowerPerennial, zones 3-9
GoldenrodPerennial, zones 3-9
AstersPerennial, zones 3, 6, 7 and 8
Blueberry bushesPerennial, zones 3-9 (varies by species)
MilkweedPerennial, zones 3-9
LilacPerennial, zones 2-7
HollyhockPerennial, zones 3-8
SnapdragonPerennial, but usually grown as an annual, zones 7-11
Need professional help with your project?
Get quotes from top-rated pros.
The homeowners guide to landscaping services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
wooden retaining wall
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
Railroad tie retaining wall costs can vary widely, so getting an accurate estimate for your needs is a good idea to set your budget appropriately.
grey large house with beautiful landscaping
Dec 20, 2024
Dec 20, 2024
A landscape designer can elevate your outdoor space and bring your vision to life. Use this landscape design cost guide to budget for your next project.
Luxury concrete patio with fireplace
Dec 18, 2024
Dec 18, 2024
How much does hardscaping cost project by project? Check out our breakdown for every price tag you need to know, from outdoor fireplaces to patios.
 house with large backyard facing the woods
Aug 16, 2024
Aug 16, 2024
Learn how to hire a forestry mulcher and land-clearing service with these quick and easy tips. Brush clearing has never been easier.
A father and child plant a tree
Aug 12, 2024
Aug 12, 2024
Although spring and summer are often the most popular times to do garden work, the best time of year to redo your landscaping is in the fall.
A house with beautifully trimmed shrubs
Oct 25, 2024
Oct 25, 2024
Shrubs come in a huge array of shapes and colors. Here are 25 beautiful and low-maintenance types of shrubs to consider for your landscape.