Butterfly Nectar Plants * Bee Pollinator Garden Plants * Plant Nursery

ButterflyBushes.com
(Rose Franklin's Perennials)

Butterfly Nectar Plants

During the shipping season (May thru October), our Facebook fans will receive notification of special promotions being offered on our web site. They will also be periodically posted on which plants are especially nice at that particular time (making these plants a better buy at that particular time).

     Butterfly gardening involves essentially two things: (1) planting the perennials and annuals which attract butterflies and then (2) refraining from the use of chemical insecticides (which would likely kill the butterflies you attract).
     At our plant nursery, we grow some of the best butterfly nectar plants (pollinator garden plants) available. For best results, plant your butterfly garden in full sun and plant the tallest flowers behind the shorter ones--so you'll be able to see all the flowers and butterflies that appear in your garden.
     If you have limited space and want to plant the best-of-the-best butterfly attracting plants, Purple Coneflower, Phlox 'Jeana', Meadow Blazing Star, and Verbena should be your top choices from this page. Then order a Butterfly Bush (from the 'Butterfly Bushes' page) and a few Milkweed plants from the 'Milkweed Plants' page. With these plants, your butterfly garden should be off to a great start.
     If your primary goal is to assist the honey bee in its struggle to survive, I recommend Anise Hyssop and Short-toothed Mountain Mint from this page, Swamp Milkweed (from the 'Milkweed Plants' page, and a butterfly bush or two. These are among the best of pollinator garden plants for bees.

We ship orders from our plant nursery from May through October.
Important Note: Before you order plants from our nursery, please check to see that we are able to ship to your state. We can only ship plants to 28 states in the USA.
We ARE permitted to ship plants to the following states within the USA: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. State and Federal regulations prohibit us from shipping to other destinations. If you do not live in one of the states we are permitted to ship to, please do not order. We will not ship your order and will charge you a $3.00 service charge to cancel your order and return your payment.
For an explanation of why we are not permitted to ship to states not listed above, please visit the 'F.A.Q.' page of the web site.

Butterfly Nectar Plants Available for May Shipping:
Most of these perennials are shipped in 3" to 4" nursery pots or liners.
A few might be shipped bare root. All will likely bloom this summer.
Unless otherwise noted, the plants shown on this page prefer full sun.
Orders are shipped via USPS Priority Mail.

Phlox 'Jeana' (Phlox paniculata 'Jeana')

Founded by and named after Jeana Prewitt of Nashville, TN, this native wildflower possesses outstanding mildew resistance. Maturing at 30"-36" high, 'Jeana' produces lavender flower heads (smaller than those of most Garden Phlox) July thru August. Fragrant. Deer resistant and drought tolerant. While some garden phlox are not highly attractive to butterflies, this particular Phlox is exceptionally attractive to butterflies, and especially to Swallowtails.
High on Rose Franklin's list of the best butterfly nectar plants.

Perennial, zones 4-8. $7.00 each

'Triple Play' Meadow Phlox
(Phlox glaberrima 'Triple Play')

Meadow Phlox is a native which grows in most of the eastern U.S. (Wisconcin south to Florida). 'Triple Play is a selection with creamy white-edged leaves. It grows 12" - 18" high and produces lavender-pink flowers May thru June. Great plant for the pollinator garden. Deer resistant.

Note: Most of these plants have lost their variegation. Please expect to receive a plant with solid green leaves, not variegated leaves.

Perennial, zones 5-9. $7.00 each

'David' Garden Phlox
(Phlox paniculata 'David')

Large clusters of bright white flowers adorn 'David' Phlox from July thru August. 'David' is mildew resistant, grows 30" - 36" tall, and has a wonderful fragrance. Plant it where you will enjoy the aroma when you walk by. Deer resistant and drought tolerant.

Perennial, zones 4-8. $7.00 each

There are more Garden Phlox available on our 'More Perennials P-Z' page.

'Norah Leigh' Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata 'Norah Leigh')

Beautiful variegated leaves and high mildew resistance make 'Norah Leigh' one of the best garden Phloxes. It grows 30"-36" high and generally blooms July thru August. An attractive plant even before it blooms, it produces clusters of pink/white flower heads Deer resistant. A nectar source for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Good mildew resistance and highly recommended by Rose Franklin.

Perennial, zones 4-9. $7.00 each

Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea)

Among the best perennials for attracting butterflies, purple coneflower bears large daisy-like flowers of lavender-pink. Grows 30"-36" high and blooms from mid July through frost. Highly recommended at our plant nursery. Deer resistant and drought tolerant.
High on Rose Franklin's list of the best butterfly nectar plants.

Perennial, zones 3-8. $7.00 each

New Dwarf Coneflowers:

'Sombrero Hot Coral' Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Sombrero Hot Coral')

'Sombrero Hot Coral' Coneflower grows 18" to 20" high and yields an abundance of vivid coral, daisy-like flowers mid July thru frost. Easy to grow, this newer introduction is deer resistant and drought tolerant once established.

Perennial, zones 3-8. $8.00 each

'Sombrero Salsa Red' Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Sombrero Salsa Red')

'Sombrero Baja Burgundy' Coneflower grows 18" to 20" high and yields an abundance of deep red, daisy-like flowers mid July thru frost. Easy to grow, this newer introduction is deer resistant and drought tolerant once established.

Perennial, zones 3-8. $7.00 each Should be available by late May. Please check back then.

'Sombrero Adobe Orange' Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Sombrero Adobe Orange')

'Sombrero Adobe Orange' Coneflower grows 18" to 20" high and yields an abundance of orange, daisy-like flowers mid July thru frost. Easy to grow, this newer introduction is deer resistant and drought tolerant once established.

Perennial, zones 3-8. $7.00 each Should be available by late May. Please check back then.

Meadow Blazing Star (aka Rocky Mountain Blazing Star)
(Liatris ligulistylis)

While most Liatris do not attract butterflies, this particular species is a butterfly magnet. Especially attractive to Monarchs, Meadow Blazing Star is native to the north central states and generally blooms August thru September. Grows 36"-48" tall.
High on Rose Franklin's list of the best nectar plants for Monarch butterflies.

Perennial, zones 6 - 9. $7.00 each Should be available by early June. Please check back then.

Gaillardia grandiflora 'Goblin', butterfly nectar plants

'Goblin' Blanket Flower (also known as Fiesta Daisy)
(Gaillardia grandiflora 'Goblin')

Growing 12"- 16" high, 'Goblin' Blanket Flower produces an abundance of 3" bright yellow/red daisy-like flowers. It usually blooms June thru August and attracts several butterfly species for nectar. Deer resistant and drought tolerant.

Perennial, zones 4-9. $7.00 each

Eupatorium 'Little Joe', butterfly nectar plants, pollinator

'Little Joe' Joe Pye Weed
(Eupatorium ''Little Joe')

'Phantom' Joe Pye Weed grows 36"-48" high and produces large mauve-pink flower heads in late summer. Several butterfly species are attracted to Joe Pye Weed for nectar. Prefers a moist location but generally does well even in a dry location. Spreads fast to become a large clump. Deer resistant.

Perennial, zones 4-8. $7.00 each

Yellow Tickseed
(Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise')

Growing 20"- 38" high, Yellow Coreopsis produces an abundance of 2" bright yellow flowers. It usually blooms June thru July and attracts several butterfly species for nectar. Deer resistant and drought tolerant.
Also shown on our 'Butterfly Nectar Plants' page.

Perennial, zones 4-9. $6.00 each

Coreopsis 'Tequila Sunrise'

Coreopsis 'Tequila Sunrise' grows to about 16" high and blooms June thru July. Its distinctive variegated foliage makes this plant a pretty one though, even when it is not covered with flowers. 'Tequila Sunrise' produces bright yellow daisies with a brownish-red eye.

Perennial, zones 4-9. $7.00 each

'Blue Danube' Stoke's Aster
(Stokesia laevis 'Blue Danube')

Large (3" +) lavender-blue flowers from early July through late August. Grows 16"-20" tall and attracts numerous species of butterflies, including the Baltimore Checkerspot pictured here. A great plant for the butterfly garden!

Perennial, zones 5-9. $7.00 each

'May Night' Sage (Salvia nemorosa 'May Night')

'May Night' Sage grows to about 18" high and produces long lasting blue violet spikes May thru June. Easy to grow, this particular Sage is in high demand. Deer resistant and drought tolerant. Good pollinator plant, especially for bees.

Perennial, zones 5-9. $7.00 each

'Sky Dance' Sage (Salvia pratensis 'Sky Dance')

'Sky Dance' Sage grows to about 18"- 24" high and produces blue flower spikes June thru July. Easy to grow, it generally reblooms if dead-headed.. Deer resistant and drought tolerant. Good pollinator plant, especially for bees.

Perennial, zones 5-9. $6.00

Pycnanthemum muticum, clustered mountain mint, bee pollinator garden plant

Short-Toothed Mountain Mint (aka Clustered Mountain Mint)
(Pycnanthemum muticum)

Growing 24"- 30" high, highly aromatic Short-Toothed Mountain Mint produces white flowers July thru August. It grows native in moist woods and meadows and prefers full sun or part shade. Its distribution range includes most states in the eastern half of the U.S. The minty-fresh leaves can be used to make a refreshing tea. They can also be used as a mint substitute in cooking. I (Rose Franklin) have used them to make chocolate chip mint cookies. I have also made mint infusion to make blueberry-mint jelly. Deer resistant.
It is also a great bee attractant, and thus, is great for planting in the pollinator garden or near food crops that need to be pollinated by bees.

Note: while this is a mint, it does not generally spread rapidly by underground runners like most mints do.

Perennial, zones 5-9. $6.00 each

'Purple Dome' Aster
(Aster novae angliae 'Purple Dome')

'Purple Dome' Aster grows 18"-24" high and produces an abundance of bright purple daisies which are 1�"-2" across. It usually blooms August thru September. Deer resistant and drought tolerant.

Perennial, zones 5-8. $7.00 each Might be available by early June.

'Angel of Desire' Sweet William
(Dianthus Scent from Heaven� 'Angel of Desire')

'Angel of Desire' Sweet William grows 12" - 16" high and produces clusters of fragrant, frilly, dark pink pedals with a light pink center. Blooms June thru August. . The fragrant flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Deer resistant.

Perennial, zones 5-9. $7.00 each

'Balmy Purple' Beebalm
(Monarda didyma 'Balmy Purple')

Growing just 10"-15" high, 'Balmy Purple' Beebalm produces purple blooms June thru July. Because we've seen butterflies (Tiger Swallowails, Fritillaries, and American Ladies) on this plant every day for weeks, I'm moving this plant to the 'Butterfly Attracting Plants' page. 'Balmy Purple' prefers full sun or part shade. Deer resistant.

Perennial, zones 4-9. $7.00 each

'Claire Grace' Beebalm (also known as 'Claire Grace' Wild Bergamot)
(Monarda fistulosa 'Claire Grace')

While most Beebalms are hummingbird attracting plants, this one lures in the butterflies. Growing 24"-36" high, 'Claire Grace' Beebalm produces lavender pink flowers in June and July. Both fragrant and mildew- resistant , this plant prefers full sun or part shade. Deer resistant.

Perennial, zones 4-9. $7.00 each

Verbena canadensis 'Homestead Purple, butterfly attracting plant

'Homestead Purple' Verbena
(Verbena canadensis 'Homestead Purple')

A tender perennial, 'Homestead Purple' Verbena grows to about 12" high and usually spreads to a diameter of about 30" wide. A favorite nectar source of Swallowtail butterflies, it blooms mid June thru September. Grows fast and is deer resistant and drought tolerant.

Tender Perennial. Zones 7-9. $6.00 each Should be available by early June.

Milkweed (Asclepias) also produces a sweet nectar which lures butterflies to the garden for feeding. You'll find the milkweed species we have available for shipment on our 'milkweed plants' page.

butterfly gardening, butterfly attracting plants

Fast Track BUTTERFLY GARDENING (August, 2012)

by Rose Franklin

Within the pages of this book you will learn how to design and plant a nectar-rich butterfly garden, identify many of the butterflies that visit your garden, lure butterflies to your property for egg-laying, and lots more.

Book format: 8.5" X 11"; 104 pages; over 100 color photos.

$20.00

Two ways to order: (1) Utilize our on-line shopping cart or (2) print our online order form, fill it out, and then mail it to us, along with your check or money order. Some of the features of our online shopping cart fail to work correctly with some Internet Service Providers. If you have problems using our shopping cart, please print our order form, fill it out, and then mail it to us. Sorry for the inconvenience. We do not accept phone orders.

Quantities are limited on some of our nursery stock. Plants will be reserved to fill orders in the sequence in which orders are received. Please order at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment. Please do not order plants which are not currently posted with a picture, plant description, and price. When plants are removed from our availability lists, they are temporarily or permanently out of stock.

Don't know what zone you live in? Check out our USDA plant hardiness zone map.

If you are a beginner to butterfly gardening, please
read our Butterfly Gardening article.

We are a plant nursery that specializes in growing butterfly and hummingbird attracting plants.

Rose Franklin's Perennials
Our plant nursery is located in Spring Mills, PA 16875

(814) 422-8968 Email: RoseFranklin@aol.com

During our busy shipping season (April 15 thru September 30), please email, don't call.

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