Herbs That Attract Butterflies
Answered by: Richters Staff

George Brinkmann, Horticulturalist, Butterfly Pavilion & Insect Center inquires

I am looking for a source of herbs that provide nectar for butterflies. Presently, I have some herbs that have been successful, salvias and mints. If you have any suggestions that I could try, please let me know.

According to the Butterfly Gardeners’ Quarterly (No. 8, Spring 1996), some herbs that attract butterflies are: borage, calendula, cornflower, fennel, sunflower, marigold, nasturtium, hollyhock, pleurisy root, echinacea, joe-pye weed, bergamot, nettle, milkweed, passionflower and black-eye susan. Some of these produce nectar but we do not know whether they all do. Among tropical plants that were mentioned are banana and ginger.

For subscription information, write to The Butterfly Gardener’s Quarterly, PO Box 30931, Seattle, WA 98103, USA.

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