Want to transform your garden into a fluttering, buzzing paradise? Drawing vibrant hummingbirds and delicate butterflies to your yard is simpler than you might imagine. The secret lies in planting the right perennial flowers, the kind of beautiful blooms that keep these winged wonders returning year after year.
This guide will walk you through a collection of incredible perennial flowers that are practically irresistible to both hummingbirds and butterflies.
20 Perennial Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies
Here is a curated list of perennial flowers that hummingbirds and butterflies simply adore:
1. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)
Any garden designed to attract butterflies needs this perennial. It’s a non-negotiable. Hummingbirds are also huge fans of its long, arching stems packed with fragrant flower clusters.
The blooms appear in a wonderful variety of colors, including shades of purple, yellow, and pink. The butterfly bush flowers from summer all the way through fall, providing a nectar-rich buffet that butterflies flock to. For the best results, plant it in a spot with full sun and give it moderate water.
Hardiness zones: 5-10
For an effortless way to bring in hummingbirds and butterflies, you can try a wildflower seed mix. Some are packed with over 480,000 seeds, featuring pollinator favorites like Lupine and Shasta Daisy. A one pound mix is typically perfect for zones 3 through 10 and blooms beautifully whether planted in spring or fall.
2. Bee Balm (Monarda)
Gardeners are not the only ones captivated by this perennial. Its nectar filled tubular flowers are a magnet for both butterflies and hummingbirds. Plus, just as the name suggests, bees absolutely adore Bee Balm.
Bee Balm grows best in soil that stays consistently moist, so never let it dry out completely. While this perennial performs best in full sun, it can handle partial shade. Expect blooms from mid-summer into early fall.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
3. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
This stunning perennial is a total hummingbird magnet, thanks to its brilliant red tubular flowers. That’s not all; butterflies find it just as appealing. The cardinal flower is an outstanding source of nectar, making it a perfect addition to a pollinator friendly garden.
Cardinal flowers crave moisture, so they are an excellent choice for a rain garden or a spot near a pond.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
4. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Attract a crowd of butterflies, hummingbirds, and even bees with this iconic perennial. Its broad, flat petals create a perfect landing pad for butterflies, giving them easy access to nectar. Although hummingbirds typically prefer tubular flowers, they will make a stop at coneflowers for their high nectar content.
For the most robust blooms, grow your coneflowers in full sunlight. Be sure to deadhead the spent flowers to encourage even more flowering.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
5. Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Coral bells deliver a one two punch of beautiful flowers and stunning foliage. Their ruffled leaves come in shades of green, purple, bronze, and silver, with some varieties showing off multicolored patterns. The small, bell shaped flowers in red, pink, white, or green are a huge draw for hummingbirds and butterflies.
It’s not just the nectar; the very shape of the flowers makes this perennial a hit with pollinators. To keep your coral bells healthy and prevent overcrowding, divide them every three to four years.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
6. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Black-eyed Susans offer a valuable food source for butterflies, whose open, daisy like shape makes the nectar incredibly easy to access. Hummingbirds will also stop by for an occasional visit.
This cheerful, vibrant perennial adds a pop of sunshine to gardens from mid-summer to fall with its brightly colored flowers and dark green, textured foliage. Thanks to their hardy nature and long blooming period, Black-eyed Susans are a favorite for late season color.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
7. Salvia (Salvia spp.)
Famous for their gorgeous, long-lasting blooms that last from late spring until early fall, salvias provide a continuous nectar source. Salvia flowers are a favorite for butterflies because they are rich in nectar and easy to access, with their bright colors acting like a beacon.
Hummingbirds are particularly drawn to red and orange Salvia varieties, but they will visit other colors too. The tubular flower shape is perfectly suited for their long beaks.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
8. Lantana
Lantana is another perennial that hummingbirds absolutely love. These tiny birds are especially attracted to varieties with red and orange hues. Butterflies visit lantanas as well, since the flat topped clusters offer an ideal landing spot for sipping nectar.
If you’re starting a new landscape, consider lantanas. They are beloved by creatures and provide a lot of vegetation at a minimal cost. They bloom from late spring right up until the first frost.
Hardiness zones: 8-11
9. Phlox
The gorgeous, large flower clusters of this fragrant perennial can appear in spring, summer, or even fall. The flowers are typically tube-shaped with five petals, creating an easy landing pad for pollinators. The bright colors and sweet fragrance of phlox flowers attract a wide range of butterfly species.
Red and pink phlox varieties, on the other hand, are absolute magnets for hummingbirds. Phlox is versatile and works well in borders, as ground cover, in woodland gardens, and in rock gardens.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
10. Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
This tall perennial springs to life from late summer to fall, producing large, domed clusters of tiny, tubular flowers in shades of pink, mauve, or purple. Its impressive height makes it perfect for adding a bit of drama to your garden.
Joe-Pye Weed is a butterfly magnet, especially for monarchs, swallowtails, and painted ladies. Hummingbirds are also drawn to its nectar rich tubular flowers.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
11. Penstemon (Penstemon spp.)
Also known as Beard Tongue, penstemon produces clusters of tubular flowers that are especially attractive to hummingbirds. They often visit varieties in red and pink hues. These lively flowers also appeal to butterflies, who are drawn in by the bright colors and abundant nectar.
These perennials are known for their resilience. While some types can handle partial shade, full sun is always best for promoting robust flowering and healthy growth.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
12. Columbine (Aquilegia)
Columbine’s nectar filled spurs will bring hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden from late spring to early summer. This distinctive perennial features intricate, nodding flowers with backward pointing spurs, all held on slender stems above soft, bluish green leaves.
Butterflies, particularly those with longer proboscises, can easily reach the nectar in the long flower spurs. The tubular shape is also a perfect match for the long beaks of hummingbirds.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
13. Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
This perennial is absolutely essential for monarch butterflies. It is the only host plant where they will lay their eggs, and their caterpillars feed exclusively on its leaves. Beyond monarchs, the nectar rich flowers attract many other butterfly species.
Red or orange milkweed flowers will also draw in hummingbirds. Milkweed blooms from June to August and thrives in spots with full sunlight and well drained soil.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
14. Lupine (Lupinus)
If you want to see butterflies and hummingbirds in your garden early, plant Lupine. It blooms from late spring through the first weeks of July. For a garden that stays colorful all season, pair them with late bloomers like Zinnias and Coneflowers.
The plant’s ample nectar attracts butterflies, and some species even lay their eggs on Lupine, using it as a food source for their larvae. Red and purple Lupine flowers are especially enticing to hummingbirds.
Hardiness zones: 4-8
15. Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
This fragrant perennial is highly valued for its tall purple flower spikes that bloom for a very long time and its licorice scented foliage. But that’s not all; hummingbirds and butterflies are drawn to the nectar rich blossoms of Anise Hyssop.
In addition to providing food and habitat for pollinators, Anise Hyssop is deer resistant. This is a huge benefit in areas where deer browsing can be a problem.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
16. Aster (Aster spp.)
Aster is an irresistible late summer treat for butterflies and hummingbirds. Its small, star shaped flowers, rich with nectar, feature a central disc surrounded by numerous delicate petals. These beautiful pollinators flock to asters for their nectar and vibrant colors.
You’ll often see Monarchs, Painted Ladies, and various skipper butterflies visiting asters. It’s worth noting that this perennial isn’t a primary nectar source for hummingbirds, but they will visit.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
17. Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
This North American native perennial, known for its tall purple flower spikes, offers a rich source of nectar that hummingbirds and butterflies find very appealing. Many butterfly species, including painted ladies, monarchs, and swallowtails, favor its blooms.
The structure of the flowers also makes them accessible to the long bills and tongues of hummingbirds, allowing them to feed efficiently.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
18. Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.)
While best known for their showy, colorful blooms, Daylilies also produce nectar that serves as a food source for butterflies and hummingbirds. The open, wide shape of Daylilies provides a convenient landing pad for butterflies to gather nectar.
At the same time, the tubular base of the flower is well suited to a hummingbird’s beak, making it an irresistible stop for these tiny birds.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
19. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Beyond its ornamental value and medicinal properties, you can use Yarrow to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Although Yarrow flowers are not tubular like many other hummingbird favorites, they still offer plenty of nectar, which is what draws them in.
As for butterflies, species such as swallowtails, monarchs, and painted ladies are common visitors to yarrow flowers.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
20. Hummingbird Bush (Hamelia patens)
The name says it all. The Hummingbird Bush is a definite favorite of hummingbirds. Its tubular, nectar-rich flowers are a major draw for these tiny birds, who use their long bills to reach the nectar deep inside.
Butterflies are not the primary visitors to the Hummingbird Bush, but species like swallowtails and monarchs may still frequent the blooms.
Hardiness zones: 8-10
Conclusion
The perennial flowers listed above will provide plenty of nectar and beautiful blooms to entice hummingbirds and butterflies into your garden. By incorporating flowers of different shapes and colors with varied blooming times, you can create a continuous food supply for these delightful creatures. The flowers in this guide do more than just attract wildlife; they are fabulous additions that will make your garden or yard truly stand out.
