Anise Hyssop, butterfly and flowers

Anise Hyssop, a member of the mint family, produces tall cones of small purple flowers, and exudes a minty scent from its crushed leaves. The nectar draws butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. "This plant has a long bloom period—at least a couple months in summer, possibly longer if deadheaded," says Talabac.

Butterfly Weed, beautiful flowers

While its cousin, common milkweed, is likely to spread through as much of your garden as it can, the "more restrained" butterfly weed will attract plenty of its namesake pollinators without the aggressive takeover. "Butterfly weed is vibrant orange or yellow-orange (or more rarely reddish-orange)," says Talabac. "They bloom around midsummer, and some species have appealing fragrances. Monarch and Queen butterflies will use many species of milkweed as host plants for their caterpillars."

Salvia flowers

Salvia is a member of the sage family (the herb you've probably consumed in a myriad of culinary dishes). As a plant, salvia has many small brightly colored flowers that bloom in the summer and fall. "Both butterflies and hummingbirds adore the nectar of these small flowers," MacLean says.

Black-Eyed Susans, flowers

Butterflies flock to this North American flowering plant—specifically to their dark center, which contains about 200-300 small tubular-shaped flowers. For these critters, this acts as a shallow cup of nectar, MacLean says. "They prefer full sun, well-drained and fertile soil, and are best used as a backdrop to any pollinator garden, as they can get up to 3 feet tall."

Zinnias beautiful flowers

This multi-colored flower, which is most often seen in shades of cream, red, and purple, attracts butterflies thanks to its bright color and alluring smell. However, Mavec warns that butterflies do not like double zinnias; this variety makes it too hard for them to get the nectar—it becomes too much work. "It is best not to crowd zinnias, as they develop powdery mildew," she adds.

Lantana beautiful flowers

Butterflies love the color and sweet nectar smell of this perennial flowering plant. "Lantana does best in well-draining, slightly acidic soil and can tolerate full sun," MacLean says. "It can be grown in borders, mixed beds, and containers."

Echinacea | Butterfly | Flowers

Also known as the coneflower, this pinkish-purple bloom makes a beautiful addition to any garden. Both butterflies and bees love its sweet nectar and color, notes MacLean. "Be sure to leave some spent blooms on the plants in fall because their seeds provide winter food for finches and other birds," he adds.

Bottlebrush Buckeye

This beautiful green-and-white shrub attracts butterflies by the dozen in midsummer when it is in full bloom, according to Janet Mavec, owner of Birdhaven Farm in New Jersey. "It is one of the best summer-flowering shrubs for shade."

Dolomitic Limestone

Dolomitic limestone is a great soil amendment, helping to raise soil pH levels and neutralize acidity. It provides essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium, improving soil structure and fertility. By balancing pH, dolomitic limestone enhances nutrient availability, promoting healthier plant growth and creating a more productive garden environment.

Test the Soil Before Using It

When trying to figure out how to use Epsom salt for plants, always remember that testing and retesting is key. So, before adding Epsom salt to your garden, it’s a good idea to test your soil’s magnesium levels. If your soil already contains adequate magnesium, adding more could be unnecessary and potentially harmful.

Anise Hyssop, butterfly and flowers

Anise Hyssop, a member of the mint family, produces tall cones of small purple flowers, and exudes a minty scent from its crushed leaves. The nectar draws butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. "This plant has a long bloom period—at least a couple months in summer, possibly longer if deadheaded," says Talabac.

Butterfly Weed, beautiful flowers

While its cousin, common milkweed, is likely to spread through as much of your garden as it can, the "more restrained" butterfly weed will attract plenty of its namesake pollinators without the aggressive takeover. "Butterfly weed is vibrant orange or yellow-orange (or more rarely reddish-orange)," says Talabac. "They bloom around midsummer, and some species have appealing fragrances. Monarch and Queen butterflies will use many species of milkweed as host plants for their caterpillars."

Salvia flowers

Salvia is a member of the sage family (the herb you've probably consumed in a myriad of culinary dishes). As a plant, salvia has many small brightly colored flowers that bloom in the summer and fall. "Both butterflies and hummingbirds adore the nectar of these small flowers," MacLean says.

Black-Eyed Susans, flowers

Butterflies flock to this North American flowering plant—specifically to their dark center, which contains about 200-300 small tubular-shaped flowers. For these critters, this acts as a shallow cup of nectar, MacLean says. "They prefer full sun, well-drained and fertile soil, and are best used as a backdrop to any pollinator garden, as they can get up to 3 feet tall."

Zinnias beautiful flowers

This multi-colored flower, which is most often seen in shades of cream, red, and purple, attracts butterflies thanks to its bright color and alluring smell. However, Mavec warns that butterflies do not like double zinnias; this variety makes it too hard for them to get the nectar—it becomes too much work. "It is best not to crowd zinnias, as they develop powdery mildew," she adds.

Lantana beautiful flowers

Butterflies love the color and sweet nectar smell of this perennial flowering plant. "Lantana does best in well-draining, slightly acidic soil and can tolerate full sun," MacLean says. "It can be grown in borders, mixed beds, and containers."

Echinacea | Butterfly | Flowers

Also known as the coneflower, this pinkish-purple bloom makes a beautiful addition to any garden. Both butterflies and bees love its sweet nectar and color, notes MacLean. "Be sure to leave some spent blooms on the plants in fall because their seeds provide winter food for finches and other birds," he adds.

Bottlebrush Buckeye

This beautiful green-and-white shrub attracts butterflies by the dozen in midsummer when it is in full bloom, according to Janet Mavec, owner of Birdhaven Farm in New Jersey. "It is one of the best summer-flowering shrubs for shade."

Dolomitic Limestone

Dolomitic limestone is a great soil amendment, helping to raise soil pH levels and neutralize acidity. It provides essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium, improving soil structure and fertility. By balancing pH, dolomitic limestone enhances nutrient availability, promoting healthier plant growth and creating a more productive garden environment.

Test the Soil Before Using It

When trying to figure out how to use Epsom salt for plants, always remember that testing and retesting is key. So, before adding Epsom salt to your garden, it’s a good idea to test your soil’s magnesium levels. If your soil already contains adequate magnesium, adding more could be unnecessary and potentially harmful.