Perennial flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies can turn your garden into a lively, colorful haven, season after season. These blooms offer lasting beauty while drawing in two of the most captivating visitors that nature has to offer.
Hummingbirds seek out nectar-rich flowers with bright colors and tubular shapes. Butterflies favor flat, open blooms for landing. And perennials make it easy to meet both needs without replanting every year, giving your garden reliable color and movement over time.
The key is choosing the right mix of plants that bloom at different times to ensure a steady food source from spring through fall. Many of these flowers are low-maintenance and thrive in a variety of climates, making them ideal for gardeners of all experience levels.
Below, I share with you 15 perennial flower ideas that not only beautify your space but also invite hummingbirds and butterflies:
1. Bee Balm
Bee Balm is a vibrant perennial that attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees with its nectar-rich tubular blooms.
This plant thrives in full sun and moist soil, though it can handle some shade. Blooming from mid-summer to early fall, Bee Balm can add both color and ecological value to your landscape.
2. Lantanas
Lantanas are a hummingbird magnet, especially in red and orange shades, and butterflies flock to their flat-topped flower clusters for easy nectar access.
Ideal for new landscapes, lantanas provide lush growth with little investment. Blooming from late spring until frost, they bring continuous color and life to the garden with minimal effort.
3. Black-eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan offer butterflies an easy nectar source with their open, daisy-like blooms, and even hummingbirds make occasional visit to their bright yellow petals and dark centers.
These perennials are popular for their resilience and long blooming season. Their rough-textured green foliage adds contrast, making them a staple for late-season garden interest.
4. Milkweed
Milkweed plays a vital role in the monarch butterfly lifecycle, serving as the exclusive host plant for their eggs and caterpillars. Its nectar-rich blooms also draw various other butterfly species, thus enhancing its value in pollinator gardens.
Blooming from June to August, it thrives in sunny, well-drained locations, making it a resilient and essential garden addition. With red or orange flowers that appeal to hummingbirds, milkweed adds both beauty and function.
5. Cardinal Flowers
Cardinal flower stands out with its vivid red tubular blooms with a rich nectar source that entice hummingbirds and butterflies alike.
This perennial thrives in moist environments, making it a perfect choice for rain gardens or planting near ponds and water features. Cardinal flower is equally a good perennial for borders, especially in moist settings.
6. Lupine
Lupine brings an early burst of life to the garden, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds from late spring through early July. Its red and purple flower spikes brim with nectar, making them irresistible to pollinators, while certain butterflies even lay eggs on the plant.
For extended color and activity, combine Lupine with later bloomers such as Zinnias and Coneflowers. This mix ensures a vibrant, nectar-rich haven for garden visitors across the growing season.
7. Cornflower
Coneflowers are a pollinator favorite. They easily attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies with their nectar-rich blooms and broad petals that offer easy landing space.
Though not tubular, their abundant nectar still tempts hummingbirds from time to time. Their bold, beautiful appearance adds lasting charm to any garden.
For strong, continuous blooming, plant coneflowers in full sun and remove spent flowers to promote new growth.
8. Anise Hyssop
Anise Hyssop features tall purple flower spikes and fragrant, licorice-scented foliage that adds both beauty and aroma to the garden. Its nectar-rich blooms attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees throughout a long blooming season.
Beyond being a pollinator magnet, this perennial offers practical benefits, including resistance to deer. It’s therefore a smart choice for gardeners in areas where wildlife browsing threatens plants that are more delicate.
9. Phlox
Phlox produces vibrant, fragrant flower clusters that bloom from spring through fall, attracting butterflies with their sweet scent and tubular, five-petal shape.
Versatile in design, phlox fits beautifully in borders, ground covers, rock gardens, and woodland landscapes. The red and pink varieties especially appeal to hummingbirds while adding movement and color to the garden.
10. Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bush is a must-have for any garden designed to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Its long, arching clusters of fragrant flowers bloom from summer through fall and draws pollinators with their rich nectar.
Available in colors like purple, yellow, and pink, this full sun perennial adds vibrant beauty while supporting local wildlife. Plant it in full sun and water it moderately for the best results.
11. Asters
Asters bloom in late summer and offer a profusion of star-shaped flowers that lure butterflies and, occasionally, hummingbirds, monarchs, painted ladies, and skippers with their vivid colors and nectar.
Although not a primary nectar source for hummingbirds, asters still add late-season charm and vital sustenance for butterflies preparing for migration. Their colorful display makes them a staple in pollinator-friendly gardens.
12. Salvia
Salvias light up the garden from late spring to early fall with vibrant, nectar-rich blooms that consistently attract butterflies. Their bright colors serve as natural lures, and the flowers’ easy access makes them a reliable food source.
Hummingbirds draw to red and orange varieties, though they visit other shades too. The tubular shape of Salvia blooms suits their long beaks perfectly, making this perennial a pollinator magnet throughout the growing season.
13. Columbine
Columbine adds elegance to the garden with its intricate, nodding flowers and nectar-rich spurs that bloom from late spring to early summer. The backward-pointing spurs and tubular shape make it ideal for hummingbirds and butterflies with long proboscises.
Perched on slender stems above soft, bluish-green foliage, columbine offers both visual charm and pollinator appeal. Its unique form and early-season bloom provide a welcoming feast for garden visitors.
14. Joe-Pye Weed
Joe-Pye Weed can add vertical interest to gardens with its tall form and dome-shaped clusters of tiny tubular flowers in shades of pink, mauve, or purple. Blooming from late summer to fall, it creates a striking presence during the season’s end.
This perennial is a favorite among butterflies such as monarchs, swallowtails, and painted ladies, while its tubular blooms also attract hummingbirds. It’s a bold, pollinator-friendly choice for gardeners seeking both height and habitat.
15. Penstemon
Penstemon, or Beard Tongue, displays tubular flower clusters that appeal strongly to hummingbirds, especially in red and pink shades. Butterflies also draw to its vibrant colors and plentiful nectar.
Tough and adaptable, penstemons thrive best in full sun, though certain types tolerate partial shade. Their resilience and striking blooms make them a standout choice for pollinator-friendly gardens.