The 9 Best Plants That Attract Monarch Butterflies

Aster

Attract butterflies with aster flowers' cheery purple and pink blooms in well-drained soil and full sun, perfect for perennial gardens.

Yarro

Dense blooms of yarrow offer a lush landing pad for butterflies, thriving in dry soil and full sunlight, with low maintenance care.

Butterfly Bush

Lush purple blossoms of seedless butterfly bush attract butterflies, growing best in fertile soil and full sun, with regular deadheading for optimal blooms.

Lavender 

Soothing-scented lavender lures butterflies to gardens, thriving in drier soil and low humidity, with a calming presence for humans too.

Coneflower 

Coneflower's pink, yellow, and orange petals surround a cone-shaped center, attracting songbirds and butterflies, with drought-tolerant and low-maintenance care.

Allium 

Dramatic blooms of allium signal to butterflies, thriving in well-drained soil and full sunlight, with a unique, oversized sphere shape.

Native Milkweeds

Milkweed is crucial for monarch butterflies, with native species not interfering with migration patterns, providing a vital food source for caterpillars.

Marigold 

Easy-to-grow marigolds bloom all summer, repelling pests and attracting pollinators like butterflies and bees, with disease-free and versatile growth habits.

Goldenrod 

Goldenrods are deer- and drought-resistant, tolerating dry conditions and attracting butterflies, with a lovely golden-yellow bloom in late summer and fall.