At Details Landscape Art, one of Sonoma County’s finest landscape contractors, we encourage homeowners to participate in their gardens, to linger, sit on a pathway bench, deadhead some perennials, smell the flowers, take some photos. Nothing adds to the ambiance of a beautiful garden like the presence of butterflies and hummingbirds, and even the occasional dragonfly.

By adding plants that attract these small flying creatures, as well as other birds, we can encourage them to visit and dine on the sweet floral nectar. And store bought hummingbird feeders work well also. How delightful to be sitting with a cool drink in the shade on a hot summer day and watching hummingbirds flit from branch to branch, lingering while they suck the nectar from a flower, and then dance away to their next flowering meal. Be careful using pesticides, however – they can be harmful to butterflies. An organic approach to pest control is safer.

Caterpillars (larvae) require food plants, while adult butterflies require nectar plants. Sunny protected areas such as meadows sheltered from the wind are ideal gardens for butterflies. They especially love garden situations where there are dried leaves, moist areas, compost piles and weeds. They need protection from the elements and from predators. So leaving a dead branch to decompose or let an ornamental grass grow wild will provide a nesting place for larvae. Some plants will attract butterflies in some regions but not others.And pesticides will definitely harm butterflies. A pollinator garden will provide pollen and nectar, but don’t forget that birds and butterflies also need water. A succession of perennials and shrubs and even seasonal annuals is best so a continuous supply of pollen and nectar are available all year long.

Hummingbirds will eat half their weight in food every day.

Following are two lists of trees, shrubs and perennials (both for sun and for shade) that are favorites of butterflies and hummingbirds:

Plants that attract butterflies:

  • Achillea (Yarrow)
  • Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile)
  • Alyssum
  • Aquilegia (Columbine)
  • Astilbe (False Spiraea)
  • Calendula
  • Cosmos
  • Daylily
  • Delphinium
  • Dianthus
  • Erigeron (Fleabane)
  • Fennel
  • Goldenrod
  • Hollyhock
  • Nasturtium
  • Oregano
  • Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
  • Penstemon (Beard Tongue)
  • Phlox
  • Queen Anne’s Lace
  • Salvia
  • Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)
  • Sedum (Stonecrop)
  • Shasta daisy
  • Lantana
  • Lavandula (Lavender)
  • Liatris
  • Marigold
  • Verbena
  • Zinnia
  • Abutilon (Flowering Maple)
  • Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
  • Ceanothus (Wild Lilac)
  • Choisya ternata (Mexican Orange)
  • Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
  • RhododendronBartel Rhodies
  • Spiraea
  • Syringa (Lilac)
  • Citrus
  • Salix (Willow)
  • Acer (Maple)

 

Plants that attract hummingbirds:

  • Ajuga
  • Aquilegia (Columbine)
  • Begonia
  • Bleeding heart
  • Canna
  • Crepe Myrtle
  • Dahlia
  • Delphinium
  • Digitalis (Foxglove)
  • Fuchsia
  • Gewranium
  • Gladiolus
  • Glossy abulia
  • Heuchera (Coral Bells)
  • Hollyhocks
  • Impatiens
  • Iris
  • Lantana
  • Liatris
  • Lily
  • Lupine
  • Nasturtium
  • Nicotiana
  • Paintbrush
  • Penstemon (Beard Tongue)
  • Petunia
  • Phlox
  • Salvia
  • Scabiosa
  • Sweet William
  • Zinnia
  • Lonicera (Honeysuckle)
  • Abutilon (Flowering Maple)
  • Arctostaphylos (Manzanita)
  • Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
  • Callistemon (Bottlebrush)
  • Ceanothus (Wild Lilac)
  • Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud)
  • Correa (Australian Fuschia)
  • Feijoa sellowiana (Pineapple Guava)
  • Fuschia
  • Lavandula (Lavender)
  • Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
  • Syringa (Lilac)
  • Weigela
  • Citrus
  • Eucalyptus
  • Albizia julibrissin (Silk Tree)

 

As you can see, there are many plants that appear on both lists…you can attract both butterflies and hummingbirds…what fun!