Blooms, Birds & Butterflies

The season is upon us for blooms to color our lawns while birds serenate the early morning air, and butterflies fluttering from flower to flower. My favorite is nature’s little acrobat…the hummingbird. With excitement I watch for the first one to find my feeder and let the others know where the best sugar wells are located.

Choose the right flowers for a beautiful Lawn.

Who doesn’t want a beautiful lawn or a place to be able to enjoy the warmer seasons of the year? However, if you are like me, you may need some assistance creating a space with blooms that will draw butterflies and hummingbirds and keep them coming back for more. Hopefully, this blog will boost your confidence as you create a space that you can enjoy throughout the season. Below you will find a “Sweet 16” list of blooms that will invite the butterflies and hummingbirds. Most of these flowers will bloom late into the fall season and are very hardy plants with gorgeous blooms.     

Attract butterflies & hummingbirds with the following Flowers.

Joe Pye Weed - Zones 3 to 9 - This tall perennial (grows up to 7 feet) definitely deserves a spot in your flower bed. It has large medium-pink blooms and interesting foot-long, whorled leaves. The flowers smell like vanilla; it’s no wonder they’re great at attracting butterflies! 

Russian Sage - Zones 4 to 9 – The big and showy purple blooms of Russian sage are magnets for butterflies. This one is one for serious consideration to plant in your garden, and you’ll see a difference in a single season. With its silvery foliage and bursts of small purple blooms, it’s a great accessory anywhere. Discover the top 10 purple flowers that attract hummingbirds.

Butterflies enjoy nectar from a Black-Eyed Susan.

Black-Eyed Susan - Zones 3 to 9 - Hummingbirds and butterflies love the Black-Eyed Susan! These flowers start the wildlife parade followed by seed-eating birds. It’s common to see butterflies at these yellow, orange and russet blooms. Also, these flowers are some of the most drought-tolerant blooms you can find...a bonus for sure! 

Chrysanthemum - Zones 5 to 8 or annual - When it comes to great fall flowers, the list wouldn’t be complete without chrysanthemums. Whether you start with bare-root mums in spring or buy container-grown plants in late summer, these stunners are a great source of nectar. They’re one of the last blooms in the garden attracting butterflies in the fall. Check out the top 10 fall flowers for a perennial garden.

A hummingbird satisfies his thirst on the blooms of a Bee Balm.

Bee Balm - Zones 4 to 9 - Hummingbirds feast on the tubular blooms of this bright red flower, that can grow as tall as 4 feet. Though many consider it as predominantly a summer plant it also offers a great nectar source through early fall, too. These are the top red flowers that attract hummingbirds.

Aster - Zones 3 to 9 - Growing up to 6 feet tall (dwarf varieties are shorter), asters sport dozens of blooms on a single plant. Plant them early in the season in order for them to have plenty of time to get established for winter. Or try your luck by picking up some end-of-season deals. You’ll be glad you did. Learn why butterflies love asters.

Sedum - Zones 3 to 8 - Fall is the peak time for this backyard favorite, which grows up to 2 feet high and is a popular choice for attracting butterflies. The star-shaped blooms on Autumn Joy start out pale green and then become a rich burgundy color as the leaves change and finally turn a rust color after frost.

Coreopsis - 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.

Dahlia - Zones 9 to 11 - Big and beautiful, a dahlia is a shining star in the garden. Though in most regions gardeners have to dig up the tubers in late fall and replant in spring, the effort is well worth it. The end result is huge blooms (some as big as 10 inches) that are excellent for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. 

Cosmos – annual - This beautiful flower comes in shades of pink, white, red and purple, growing as high as 6 feet tall. It will bloom into fall and is like a bright beacon to hummingbirds and butterflies passing through as they head back south. 

Purple Coneflower - Zones 3 to 9 - Birds, bees and butterflies love this perennial.  While birds will pause to snack on its drying seed heads, butterflies and hummingbirds will stop for its nectar in fall.

Goldenrod - Zones 3 to 9 -Be sure to give these beauties plenty of room to spread. They grow up to 48 inches high and 30 inches wide, with a beautiful golden shade. 

Zinnia – annual - Another surefire annual, this beauty is guaranteed to extend the season until the first frost. If you’re looking for variety, zinnias are the perfect flower for you. You can find bloom shapes in daisy- or dahlia-like configurations and in just about any color, and nearly all are excellent when attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Also, zinnias are easy to grow from seed.

Petunia – annual - Get your pinchers ready—deadheading these blooms will keep them going all the way until frost in beautiful shades of pink, red, pale yellow, violet-blue, white and various combinations. A favorite for hanging baskets, petunias attract hummingbirds in late summer and early fall. Check out more easy plants you can grow in containers.

Pansy - perennial in Zones 8 to 11 or annual – Pansies do well in a cooler climate and can paint any garden with vibrant colors. Many cultivars are specifically developed to survive spring and autumn temperatures. Some even work as winter annuals.  

Sunflower – annual - Summer wouldn’t be complete without giant stalks of sunflowers. They are a favorite among seed-eaters, but since they last into early autumn, they’re a great nectar source as well. Though the classic sunflower is yellow, you can now find varieties in red, brown and more. Gardeners are often surprised to find these are flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds as well as songbirds. 

Lantanas with a hummingbird resting on the feeder after a long journey.

Last, but not least is my personal favorite…Lantanas. These flowers are drought resistant with bright blooms that allure both butterflies and hummingbirds. I have never been known for my “green thumb”, but when visitors lay eyes on them, they rave about how beautiful they are, and want to know my secrets. Unfortunately, I have no secrets or tips other than Lantanas are very hardy, easy to grow and they bloom even through the first light frost. You will not be disappointed with the beauty of the Lantana.  

If you have enjoyed this info on flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, you may want to check out more articles from Stacy Tornio, former editor at Birds & Blooms. Stacy is also a journalist, marketer and content director, and author of more than a dozen books on gardening and the outdoors. Read more about this exceptional gardener and author at Stacy Tornio, Author at Birds and Blooms at Stacy Tornio, Author at Birds and Blooms.