Not Milkweed Or Coneflower: The Sunny Annual Flower That Butterflies Love

When you start researching what plants that will fill your garden with butterflies, there are probably two flowers that come up the most: milkweed (Asclepias) and coneflower (Echinacea). As stunning as these two flowers are, they are not the only options to choose from. In fact, there are a plethora of other plants that can easily bring more pollinators like butterflies to your garden, and the iconic sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is one of them. The sunflower is always a popular choice for summer gardens, thanks to not just its bold yellow petals and striking height, but also for its ability to bring multiple butterflies to your property. 

Thanks also to their open and accessible design, sunflowers are magnets for all types of pollinators, including birds, bees, and beetles. One of the first parts of a sunflower that attracts a pollinator is its color. The vibrant shades of a sunflower's petals help signal critters closer. The head of sunflower is composed of the ray florets (the petals) and the disc florets (the spiral flowers of the center). Both florets are nutritious for the visiting creatures. Not only do sunflowers provide pollen and nectar, but they can also serve as a source of shelter. There are many types of sunflowers you can plant in your garden, depending on what color, height, and flower production you desire. Some produce flowers for months on end, while others have shorter bloom times. 

Sunflowers are typically grown as annuals, and are usually planted in late spring. There are several types of the flower, including giant, dwarf, perennial, double, and specialty. While giant sunflowers can grow up to 16 feet tall, the dwarf varieties usually measure about 1 to 4 feet. There are some varieties that produce flowers all throughout the summer, which is an excellent choice if you want to attract butterflies all season long. These "everblooming" hybrids can produce multiple blooms, as opposed to just a single head. But as tempting as it may be to plant double sunflowers in your garden, these fluffy, petal-filled flowers can actually make it more difficult for pollinators to reach the plants' nutrients. Instead, try and opt for a sunflower with multiple branches and blooms to bring in more butterflies. 

When you picture a sunflower, your brain probably conjures up an image of a bright yellow flower. However, sunflowers can come in a wide variety of shades, including brown, orange, cream, and red. There are approximately 70 varieties of sunflowers for you to choose from. One striking specialty sunflower variety that is a total pollinator magnet? The Chocolate Cherry sunflower (Helianthus annuus 'Chocolate Cherry'). This stunning variety produces rich, burgundy petals with a chocolatey dark center. Another popular variety is the Autumn Beauty (Helianthus annuus 'Autumn Beauty'), which shows off an autumnal collection of colors, like red, gold, brown, and orange. However, no matter what type of sunflower you choose, avoid the common mistakes everyone makes when growing sunflowers so you end up with a thriving butterfly garden.