Butterfly Towers Magenta Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Towers Magenta Buddleia  (Buddleia davidii ‘Tobud1305’) is a unique vertical growing butterfly bush variety with vibrant magenta flowers. "This butterfly bush is easy to care for and has an attractive vertical growth habit," says Linda Vater, plant expert for the Southern Living Plant Collection. "It's a perfect silhouette for hedges, screens, or a focal point in an area. The panicles of sweet-smelling blooms also make a lovely cut flower."

Miss Ruby Butterfly Bush

Miss Ruby butterfly bush (Buddleia x 'Miss Ruby') has blue-green leaves that give rise to ruby red flowers from the end of May to the first frost. "The ruby red flowers are held on 4- to 6-inch panicles and cover the plants from head to toe," says Adrienne Roethling, garden director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden.

Summer Skies Butterfly Bush

Variegated plants are a wonderful way to add more interest to your landscape, and Summer Skies butterfly bush (Buddleia x 'Summer Skies') rings true to that statement. The cultivar has subtle green and creamy margined leaves, which stay variegated all summer long. "Lavender blue spikes of flowers await the butterflies all summer," says Roethling.

Purple Haze Butterfly Bush

Part of a series of butterfly bushes with short growing habits, Purple Haze (Buddleia x 'Purple Haze') was one of the first of its kind to hit the market. "Blue-green leaves emerge from bare stems in spring giving rise to pale purple, arching flowers," says Roethling. "This one has more of a loose habit overall."

Grand Cascade Butterfly Bush

By early June, large panicles with an arching habit form all over Grand Cascade butterfly bush (Buddleia 'Grand Cascade'). Though the plant can survive with minimal watering once established, during periods of drought it should be watered as it may become prone to spider mites, says Roethling.

Purple Coneflower and Butterfly

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) has it all—it's heat-, drought-, and disease-resistant, plus it attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. Two varieties that are known for being especially hardy are Pow Wow Wild Berry and Pow Wow White. "They emerge in spring with a rosette of elongated leaves, quickly giving rise to stalks of brilliant pink or pure white daisy-like flowers," says Adrienne Roethling. "The center or cone are cinnamon in color and quite large—a pollinator's delight."

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."

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.