Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms Mar through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Oct
Arizona · Zones 5–10
Native Butterfly Plants in Arizona
Nectar and host plants that bring butterflies to your garden — and give their caterpillars something to eat once they arrive. For Arizona, the right natives are shaped by Sonoran & Chihuahuan deserts, Mogollon Rim and a arid, hot low desert to cool high country climate. Every species below, from Desert Marigold and Wild Bergamot to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Arizona and the wider flora of the desert Southwest and hardy through zones 5–10. A real butterfly garden does two jobs: nectar for the adults and host leaves for the caterpillars. Flat-topped flowers make the best landing pads, and warm, sheltered, sunny spots out of the wind get the most visits. Tolerate a little leaf damage — those chewed leaves are the whole point, and a caterpillar today is a butterfly next month.
The plants
16 native species for Arizona
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–10 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Gregg's Mistflower
Conoclinium greggii
Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms May through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii
A butterfly nectar plant that blooms Apr through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Oct
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
A landing pad and nectar stop for butterflies that blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
Does both jobs of a butterfly garden — nectar and host leaves; it blooms Jun through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Oct
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
A butterfly nectar plant that blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Easy nectar for visiting butterflies that blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
A butterfly nectar plant that blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
A host plant whose foliage raises the caterpillars; it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
A host plant whose foliage raises the caterpillars, flowering as it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Does both jobs of a butterfly garden — nectar and host leaves, and it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
A caterpillar host — its leaves feed the next generation; it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
A host plant whose foliage raises the caterpillars, and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
A host plant whose foliage raises the caterpillars.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Arizona
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.