Create Your Own Butterfly Sanctuary

The pictures on this page show the flowers that were planted in the Montessori Butterfly Sanctuary. All of these wonderful plants are native to Northern Virginia and great for butterflies. Visit your local garden store to purchase these flowers or similar ones. Be sure to plant during the fall and water regularly. Top off your garden with some mulch to give it a finishing touch and maintain moisture! With these tips, you will no doubt have some garden visitors!

Click on each box below to learn more about that type of plant!

For some more plant recommendations, visit this website:

Merrifield Garden Center

Swamp Milkweed – Asclepias incarnata

A native North American plant, this flower is a known butterfly favorite! Growing to be 4-5 feet tall, this plant will bloom during the summer. This plant needs full sun.

Tickseed- Coreopsis v. ‘Moonbeam’

Deer resistant, the Tickseed is a great addition to your garden! Growing to be about 18 inches tall, this plant will bloom early to late summer.

Creeping Phlox – Phlox stolonifera

Great for ground cover, this beauty spreads over time to create a carpet of flowers. This blooms middle to late spring.

Joe Pye Weed – Eupatorium purpureum

The Joe Pye Weed is famous for being a pollinator magnet! Growing to be 24-36 inches tall, this plant will bloom late summer to fall. This plant needs full sun.

Goldenrods – Solidago shortii

The Goldenrod would put on a stellar performance in your garden! Growing to be 24-30 inches tall, this plant blooms late summer to fall. This plant needs full sun to partial shade.

Starship Scarlet – Lobelia x speciosa

With its stellar flowers, this plant can be great for wet areas. It grows to be around 24 inches tall and blooms late summer to early fall. This plant needs full sun to partial sun.

Garden Phlox – Phlox paniculata

With its lovely flowers, this plant will be sure to add some color to your garden! This plant grows to be 30-48 inches tall and blooms in the summer. This plant needs full sun.

Marigolds – Tagetes erecta

Marigolds are famous for attracting pollinators! This plant will grow to be 6-24 inches tall and blooms midsummer to early fall.

Purple Haze Hyssop – Agastache x ‘Purple Haze’

With its smoky purple flowers, the Purple Haze Hyssop is sure to put on a show! This plant will grow to be 2-3 feet tall and blooms in the late summer. This plant needs full to partial sun.

Coneflower – Echinacea purpurea

Known for attracting butterflies along with other pollinators, the Coneflower would do wonders in your garden! Growing to be 18-36 inches tall, this plant blooms late spring to early summer. This plant needs full sun.

Let me know how your experience went!

Please fill out this quick form to let me know if you created your own Butterfly Sanctuary!