Not Sweet Alyssum Nor Petunias: Attract Butterflies With A Fast-Growing Flower For Pots

Let's be honest, a garden just feels incomplete without butterflies. Luckily, attracting them is easy. All you have to do is plant the right flowers, and they will fly right in. Even if you don't have much space, you can still attract butterflies to your garden by growing flowers like petunias and sweet alyssum in pots. If you want something more uncommon, however, then it is worth checking out fan flower (Scaevola aemula). This heat-loving perennial native to Australia is known for its uniquely shaped fan-like blooms and impressive drought tolerance.

It grows really well in containers and has a trailing growth habit that looks wonderful when planted in pots on borders and windowsills. Even better? It can flower for months without any trouble. The flowers are typically pink, purple, white, violet, and lavender, and appear abundantly on the plants if they are fertilized well. The flowers are full of nectar, too, which is why butterflies can't stay away. Fan flower is also generally trouble-free when it comes to pests. As for size, it grows about 6 inches high and 1 to 2 feet wide. Plus, it grows fast, filling pots and containers in almost no time.

One thing worth noting is that fan flower is only hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11. If you live outside these zones, you will either have to take it indoors during the winter or grow fan flower as a warm-season annual. However, if none of these options work, you can always look for another vibrant, container-friendly flower that keeps butterflies visiting your yard.

When it comes to growing fan flowers in pots, you should select something that has excellent drainage. They hate wet soil and develop root rot if the soil is kept moist for too long. Besides drainage, you also need to make sure the pot is the right size. If you are growing plants individually, use a pot that is at least 6 inches wide and deep. If, however, you want to grow it in pots with other plants or multiple fan flowers in one pot, use something that is about 10 to 12 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Then, space three to four fan flower plants in it for a fuller look.

Keep in mind that no matter what arrangement you use to grow fan flowers, you want to keep them in groups if your aim is to attract butterflies. That's because pollinators like butterflies are more attracted to clusters of flowers. It makes it easy for them to find flowers and also provides them with a consistent, more reliable food supply.

Another thing you want to make sure of when growing fan flowers is that you keep the pots in full sun. They will tolerate part-shade, too, but they won't flower as much in it. If your space does not get much sun, skip the fan flower and instead grow other flowers that grow perfectly in shade. Lastly, fertilize the fan flower regularly, making sure to follow all the label instructions and avoid using fertilizers that are rich in phosphorus. Fan flowers are sensitive to it, and the plant's foliage becomes dry and loses its color if exposed.