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Butterfly Plant Picture Gallery

Butterflies are welcome visitors and essential pollinators in gardens. Their grace and beauty are almost hypnotic. What do butterflies eat? Salvias are among the best flowers for butterflies, which are attracted by the nectar and pollen of sages as well as their color.

Salvias are nectar plants for adult butterflies. This list contains top sages and companion plants for feeding them. It also includes some companion plants that are important hosts for butterfly caterpillars.

Please refer to the Sage Words About Wildlife section of our Everything Salvias Blog for more in-depth information about butterflies in your garden.

At Flowers by the Sea, we continue to expand our offerings of Salvias and companion plants for wildlife habitat. Please check our online plant nursery catalog regularly for new listings and feel free to contact us<

Related Blog entries for plants in the Butterfly Plant Picture Gallery

Salvias Down South: Southern California Butterfly Favorites:

Wildscaping a butterfly-friendly garden in Southern California is an act of kindness, especially toward imperiled species. Gardeners from Santa Barbara southward may want to group coastal sage and chaparral plants in their butterfly gardens, because those are among favorite sources of nectar for adult butterflies and host plants for caterpillars. Sages are popular nectar choices. Plants, such as Milkweeds and Impatiens, that work well both as nectar providers and caterpillar hosts are important additions.

Sage Words About Wildlife: Threats to Monarch Butterfly Migration:

Declining numbers of Monarch butterflies is an ongoing problem. Due to research by organizations such as Monarch Watch and the Xerces Society as well as tracking efforts by the Mexican government, we now know about the dramatic ups and downs the species has experienced in the past 20 years. At Flowers by the Sea Online Nursery, we grow butterfly favorites to help you plant gardens supporting the migration of Monarchs and other butterflies.

Leaving the Light on for Butterflies at the Leaf Litter Motel & Wood Pile Lodge:

If you want to invite butterflies to lodge in your backyard overnight or during winter, building pretty butterfly houses won't succeed. They need all kinds of messy hangouts to ride out a rain storm, sleep through the night safely and endure winter in your garden. You can build a butterfly hostel without hammer and nails.

Salvia Small Talk: A Bodacious Butterfly Name:

You may have better luck finding the Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail among your Salvias than pronouncing its many long names.

Salvias Down South: Texas Butterfly Favorites:

Wildscaping is a way to landscape to attract pollinators. Butterflies are one of the most important. In Texas there are 463 species. Steering some of this herd of Lepidoptera toward your yard is easier if you know what butterflies frequent your region and which plants they favor for nectar and for laying their eggs, including Salvias. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Flowers by the Sea all can help Southwestern butterfly gardeners.

Book Review: Nature-Friendly Garden by Marlene A. Condon:

Reading Marlene A. Condon's Nature-Friendly Garden is like observing a game of toppling dominoes. All the pieces are lined up standing on end in a complex, maze-like pattern. Flick one domino and the whole structure tumbles. Similarly, the author shows how simple choices we make in our gardens have consequences that can build or destroy wildlife habitat.

Ask Mr. Sage: What Hummingbird and Butterfly Salvias Tolerate Lots of Moisture:

Ask Mr. Sage answers questions based on calls and emails that Flowers by the Sea receives. This one explains how to cruise the Flowers by the Sea online catalog to find butterfly and hummingbird Salvias that can handle lots of moisture.

Portraits in Gardening: Ward Dasey:

Portraits in Gardening is a blog series from Flowers by the Sea that profiles customers who are passionate about the Salvia genus. This article focuses on wildlife gardener, birder and dedicated volunteer Ward W. Dasey III, who grows Salvias at New Jersey's Palmyra Cove Nature Park. Dasey and nature-loving friends proposed the park to make bird watching easier on the Delaware River.

Salvia Small Talk: Flowers by the Sea Is Monarch Waystation 7671:

Flowers by the Sea recently received classification as a certified Monarch Waystation by Monarch Watch. When you purchase milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.) from FBTS or seed from Monarch Watch, you can grow your own waystation and help Monarchs start making a comeback from their precipitous decline of recent years.

Creating a Butterfly Garden with Delectable Salvias and Milkweeds:

Creating a butterfly garden is like creating a teen-friendly home. You need to offer tasty snacks, healthy beverages, and comfortable accommodations that aren't too tidy. Like the teens that fill your basement and backyard, butterflies will keep coming back if you give them what they need. The variety of plants in your yard is the main reason why butterflies do or don’t visit. Salvias are among the popular plants for adult butterflies that love nectar.

 

Salvia Small Talk: Backyard Wildlife Habitat:

Gardeners interested in developing wildlife habitat on balconies or in backyards can acquire certification

Properties for plants in the Butterfly Plant Picture Gallery
Name Mature height Mature width Flower color Bract color Exposure
Salvia clevelandii 'Winnifred Gilman' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia coccinea 'Forest Fire' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Vivid Reddish Orange Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia elegans 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia elegans 'Golden Delicious' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Red Strong Yellowish Green Partial shade
Salvia elegans 'Honey Melon' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Vivid Red Moderate Olive Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia verticillata 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x 'Waverly' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia Raspberry Delight® 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Purplish Red Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia elegans 'Tangerine' 1 to 2 feet 2 to 3 feet Deep Yellowish Pink Moderate Red Partial shade
Salvia leucantha 'Danielle's Dream' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Moderate Purplish Pink Pale Yellowish Green Full sun
Salvia greggii x karwinskii 'Brent's' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Vivid Red Dark Purple Full sun
Salvia azurea 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia x 'Pozo Blue' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia greggii 'Cherry Chief' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Red Dark Purple Full sun to partial shade
Salvia leucantha 'Greenwood' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Yellowish white Vivid Violet Full sun
Salvia leucantha 'Purple Dwarf' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Reddish Purple Light Purple Full sun
Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel Red' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Vivid Reddish Orange Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph' 1 foot or less 1 foot or less Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Playa Rosa' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Pale Purplish Pink Strong Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia microphylla var. neurepia 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Vivid Red Deep Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Texas Wedding' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Pure White Strong Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia microphylla 'San Carlos Festival' 1 to 2 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Red Strong Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Black Cherry' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Strong Purple Dark Purple Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii x lemmonii 'Raspberry Royale' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Red Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Elk Pomegranate' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Deep Red Strong Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Lowrey's Peach' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Moderate Reddish Orange Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Burgundy Seduction' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Reddish Purple Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Dark Dancer' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Strong Purplish Red Moderate Olive Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia microphylla 'Mesa Azure' 1 foot or less 1 foot or less Strong Purplish Blue Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Wild Thing' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Purplish Red Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Plum Wine' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Strong Purplish Red Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia leucantha 'Midnight' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Purple Vivid Violet Full sun
Salvia leucantha 'White Mischief' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Yellowish white Very Pale Green Full sun
Salvia pitcheri grandiflora 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia reptans 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Pink Preference' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Vivid Red Strong Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia ringens 1 foot or less 1 foot or less Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia carnea 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Dark Red Dark Red Partial to full shade
Salvia splendens 'Sao Borja' 5 to 6 feet 5 to 6 feet Deep Purplish Red Dark Red Partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Cold Hardy Pink' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Vivid Purplish Red Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara' 2 to 3 feet 3 to 4 feet Vivid Reddish Purple Light Purple Full sun
Salvia x 'Celestial Blue' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia ballotaeflora 6 feet plus 6 feet plus Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia cadmica 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia amplexicaulis 1 to 2 feet 2 to 3 feet Light Purple Deep Purple Full sun to partial shade
Salvia recognita 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia microphylla 'Honey Rose' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Vivid Reddish Orange Strong Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x jamensis 'Tangerine Ballet' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Reddish Orange Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x jamensis 'Caviar' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Strong Red Dark Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Tweedia caerulea 2 to 3 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia x 'Gayle Nielson' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia greggii 'Salmon' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Deep Yellowish Pink Moderate Purplish Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia VIBE® 'Ignition White' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Pale Yellowish Green Strong Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Cuphea x 'David Verity' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Cuphea x 'Kristen's Delight' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Cuphea micropetala 1 to 2 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Agastache x 'Ava' 3 to 4 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Agastache x 'Kudos Coral' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Agastache x 'Kudos Mandarin' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Leonotis leonurus 6 feet plus 5 to 6 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Cuphea schumannii 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Cuphea 'Minnie Mouse' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Cuphea 'Strybing Sunset' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia 'Dancing Dolls' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Pale Orangish Yellow Light Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia 'Fancy Dancer' 1 to 2 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia 'Orchid Glow' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Vivid Reddish Purple Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x sylvestris 'Wild Form' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Brilliant Violet Moderate Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Cuphea aff. aequipetala 1 to 2 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Cuphea nelsonii 1 to 2 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Anisacanthus wrightii 'Select Red' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Anisacanthus wrightii 'Pumpkin Orange' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia coccinea 'Snow Nymph' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Yellowish white Strong Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Reddish Orange Dark Purple Full sun to partial shade
Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel Pink' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Strong Yellowish Pink Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Stormy Pink' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Moderate Purplish Pink Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Lobelia laxiflora var angustifolia 3 to 4 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Leonotis nepetifolia 6 feet plus 5 to 6 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia reptans 'Summer Skies' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia elegans 'Freida Dixon' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia x jamensis 'Dyson's Orangy Pink' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Moderate Reddish Orange Strong Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Radio Red' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Vivid Red Dark Red Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Grace Pink' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel White' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x 'Jean's Jewel' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Vivid Purple Strong Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x 'Wendy's Wish' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Strong Purplish Red Strong Yellowish Green Full sun to partial shade
Cuphea salvadorensis 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia BODACIOUS 'Rhythm and Blues' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Vivid Violet Dark Grayish Purple Full sun to partial shade
Agastache 'Blue Boa' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia reptans 'Autumn Sapphire' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia elegans 'Elk Sonoran Red' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Strong Red Moderate Red Full sun
Salvia deserta 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x auriculata 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet+ Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia x 'Big Blue' 2 to 3 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Cuphea ignea 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x 'Elk Morning Sun' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia austriaca 2 to 3 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x 'White Flame' 2 to 3 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x 'Elk Grape Ape' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x 'Elk Smokey Grape' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x 'Elk Pink Cloud II' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia x 'Mysty' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Cuphea Hummingbird’s Lunch 2 to 3 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Cuphea Blackberry Sparkler 1 to 2 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia greggii 'Raspberry' 2 to 3 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia BODACIOUS 'Hummingbird Falls' 1 to 2 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia yangii 'Rocketman' 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Cuphea purpurea 'Firecracker' 1 foot or less 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia SALLYFUN™ Blue Lagoon 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Agastache x 'Poquito Butter Yellow' 1 foot or less 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun
Salvia 'Indigo Spires' 3 to 4 feet 3 to 4 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
Salvia verticillata 'White Rain' 1 to 2 feet 1 to 2 feet Not yet defined * Not yet defined * Full sun to partial shade
* We have not yet defined this plants colors