Incorporating butterfly-friendly plants into the garden is a delightful way to enhance the beauty and biodiversity of your outdoor space. By planting nectar-rich plants, you can attract and support a vibrant community of butterflies whilst bringing a burst of colour and life into the garden too! Whether you have a sprawling garden or a small patio, incorporating these butterfly-friendly plants will help attract and nurture butterflies in your garden.

Buddleia
Buddleia, commonly known as the butterfly bush, is renowned for its ability to attract butterflies. This hardy shrub produces large, fragrant flower spikes in a range of colours, including purple, pink and white. The blooms appear in summer and continue into autumn, providing a long-lasting source of nectar. It smells amazing too!
Buddleia is a magnet for butterflies, providing abundant nectar during their peak season. Its long flower spikes allow multiple butterflies to feed simultaneously, making it a bustling hub of activity in your garden.
Growing Tips
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained soil
Watering: Moderate; avoid waterlogging
Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth and abundant flowering

Salvia
Salvia is a diverse genus of plants, with many species producing vibrant, tubular flowers that are highly attractive to pollinators. Common garden varieties include Salvia nemorosa and Salvia officinalis. The flowers come in shades of blue, purple, red, and pink, and bloom from late spring to autumn. We have so many varieties in the plant area, you will be spoilt for choice!
Salvia’s tubular flowers are perfect for butterflies, offering easy access to nectar. The bright colours and prolonged blooming period make it an excellent addition to a butterfly-friendly garden.
Growing Tips
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained soil
Watering: Drought-tolerant once established; water moderately
Maintenance: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming

Echinacea
Echinacea is a sturdy perennial with large, daisy-like flowers. The most common variety, Echinacea purpurea, features striking purple-pink petals surrounding a spiky, orange centre. These flowers bloom from mid-summer to autumn and are highly attractive to butterflies.
Echinacea provides a rich source of nectar and a landing platform for butterflies. Its long blooming period ensures a consistent food supply, and the seed heads also offer food for birds in the winter.
Growing Tips
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained soil, tolerates poor soil conditions
Watering: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
Maintenance: Deadhead to extend blooming period; leave seed heads for winter interest

Lavender
Lavender is a fragrant, evergreen shrub known for its spikes of small, purple-blue flowers. It’s not only adored by humans for its soothing scent but also by butterflies and other pollinators. Lavender blooms from late spring to early summer and sometimes again in late summer.
Lavender’s sweet scent and abundant nectar make it a favourite among butterflies. The flowers provide a reliable food source during their blooming periods, and the plant’s aromatic foliage can also deter some garden pests.
Growing Tips
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
Watering: Low; avoid waterlogging
Pruning: Prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new growth
These plants not only enhance the beauty of your garden but also play a vital role in sustaining butterfly populations and the health of our ecosystem! Happy gardening and butterfly spotting!