Want to enhance your garden while supporting local ecosystems? Planting a butterfly-friendly garden not only boosts your landscape’s aesthetic appeal but also creates a thriving environment for butterflies, which is especially important as the monarch butterfly population faces decline. At Sunnyside Gardens, we’re passionate about helping you grow a vibrant garden that attracts these beautiful pollinators.

Why Plant a Butterfly Garden?
Creating a garden that butterflies love enhances your outdoor space with colorful blooms while supporting the local ecosystem. By planting the right flowers and plants, you provide essential nectar sources and host plants for caterpillars, encouraging butterflies to visit your garden throughout the season.

Top Plants to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden

1. Asclepias Tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)
   No milkweed, no monarchs! Asclepias Tuberosa is a must-have for any butterfly garden. This perennial produces bright orange flower clusters and is the exclusive food source for monarch butterfly larvae. Ideal for wildflower gardens, Butterfly Weed thrives in full sunlight with dry or moist soil and grows up to 1-2 feet tall.

2. Asclepias ‘Hello Yellow’
   For a vibrant color contrast, plant Asclepias ‘Hello Yellow’ alongside the classic orange Butterfly Weed. Its bright yellow blooms attract butterflies throughout the summer. It shares the same easy-growing conditions, preferring sunny spots with well-drained soil.

3. Nepeta (‘Walker’s Low’ Catmint)
   Looking for an easy-to-grow garden plant that butterflies can’t resist? Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ is a hardy perennial that produces clouds of blue flowers resembling lavender. It’s perfect for filling space in your garden and thrives with minimal maintenance, tolerating various soil types.

4. Echinacea (Coneflower)
   A staple in any flower garden, Echinacea is known for its sturdy, colorful blooms ranging from pinks to yellows and oranges. Its prairie heritage makes it drought and heat-resistant, ensuring your garden remains colorful even in tough conditions. Butterflies are particularly attracted to its nectar-rich flowers.

Tips for Creating a Butterfly-Friendly Garden:

• Plant in Clusters: Grouping the same type of plant together makes it easier for butterflies to locate nectar sources.
• Choose Native Plants: Native plants are better suited to the local climate and more appealing to native butterfly species.
• Provide Sun and Shelter: Butterflies are cold-blooded and need sunny areas to warm up. Incorporate rocks or garden décor in sunny spots for resting.
• Avoid Pesticides: Chemical pesticides can harm butterflies and other beneficial insects. Opt for organic pest control methods.

Get Started on Your Butterfly Garden at Sunnyside Gardens!
Visit Sunnyside Gardens, your local Minneapolis garden center, to find all these butterfly-attracting plants and more. Our team of experts can help you design a beautiful and eco-friendly garden space that brings color and life to your outdoor area. 

Ready to grow a butterfly haven? Visit us in-store or check out our website for more garden tips and to see what’s in bloom this season!