21 Beautiful Butterfly Attracting Plants in India

Check out our guide on Butterfly Attracting Plants in India and get ready to be dazzled by these delicate creatures!

India is home to a wide variety of plants, each with its own unique set of characteristics and benefits. Some are famous for their medicinal properties, while others are popular for their ornamental value in gardens and parks. These plants not only add beauty to your landscape but also serve a vital role in supporting the ecosystem by encouraging the presence of these winged wonders. We’ve rounded up a variety of friendly and beautiful Butterfly Attracting Plants in India that will make your outdoor space a haven for fluttering friends.

Butterfly Attracting Plants

Butterfly-attracting plants are a group of different types of plants that are popular for their ability to attract butterflies. Additionally, these plants are typically bright and colorful, making them highly visible to butterflies as well as hummingbirds and other pollinators.

Some common examples of butterfly-attracting plants include milkweed, coneflower, bee balm, and Joyweed. Along with providing a food source for butterflies, these plants also serve as breeding areas and shelter. Additionally, this type of plant in your garden or landscape can help create a vibrant and diverse ecosystem while also providing aesthetic beauty.

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Here are some Butterfly Attracting Plants that are commonly found in India:

1. Butterfly Bush

Botanical Name: Buddleia davidii

The Butterfly Bush, also known as Buddleja, is a shrub that is specifically designed to attract butterflies. It produces large, fragrant flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white, and is a favorite of many species of butterflies, including the Painted Lady and the Red Admiral. Butterfly Bush is easy to grow and can be used as a hedge or in mixed flower beds.

2. Milkweed

Botanical Name: Asclepias

Milkweed is a native Indian plant that produces large, showy flowers. The flowers are rich in nectar, which makes them a popular spot for butterflies to feed. Milkweed is particularly attractive to the Blue Tiger butterfly, which feeds on the nectar and lays its eggs on the plant.

3. Marigold

Botanical Name: Tagetes

Marigolds are an easy-to-grow plant that produces bright yellow and orange flowers. They are a popular addition to gardens in India and are often used for religious and cultural purposes. Marigolds are particularly attractive to the Common Tiger and Plain Tiger butterflies.

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4. Zinnia

Botanical Name: Zinnia elegans

Zinnias are an easy-to-grow annual plant that produces brightly colored flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink. They are attractive to many species of butterflies, including the Cloudless Sulphur and the Common Buckeye. Zinnias are often used in mixed flower beds or as a border plant.

5. Lantana

Botanical Name: Lantana camara

Lantana is a hardy shrub that produces clusters of small flowers in shades of red, orange, and yellow. Additionally, it is a favorite of many species of butterflies, including the Gulf Fritillary and the Monarch. Lantana is easy to grow and can be used as a hedge or in mixed flower beds.

6. Verbena

Botanical Name: Verbena bonariensis

Verbena is a fragrant plant that produces clusters of small flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white. Additionally, it is attractive to many species of butterflies, including the Red Admiral and the Common Buckeye. Verbena is easy to grow and can be used as a ground cover or as a border plant.

7. Salvia

Botanical Name: Salvia splendens

Salvia is a popular garden plant in India that produces long spikes of red, pink, or purple flowers. Additionally, the flowers are a good source of nectar for many species of butterflies, including the Common Mormon and Lime Butterfly. Salvia is also a hardy plant that is easy to grow in many different types of soil.

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8. Pentas

Botanical Name: Pentas lanceolata

Pentas is a shrub that produces clusters of small, star-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, and white. Additionally, it is a favorite of many species of butterflies, including the Gulf Fritillary and the Zebra Longwing. Pentas is easy to grow and can be planted in garden beds or in containers.

9. Asters

Botanical Name: Symphyotrichum spp.

Asters are a hardy perennial plant that produces daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, and blue. Additionally, they are attractive to many species of butterflies, including the Painted Lady and the Checkered Skipper. Asters are easy to grow and can be used as a border plant or in mixed flower beds.

10. Cosmos

Botanical Name: Cosmos bipinnatus

This plant produces colorful flowers in shades of pink, red, and white, and blooms in the summer and fall. Additionally, It is a popular choice for attracting butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

11. Verbascum

Botanical Name: Verbascum thapsus

Verbascum, also known as Mullein, is a tall, stately plant that produces tall spikes of flowers in shades of pink, purple, and yellow. Additionally, the flowers are rich in nectar and attract many species of butterflies, including the Painted Lady and the Red Admiral. Verbascum is easy to grow and can thrive in a variety of soil types.

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12. Phlox

Botanical Name: Phlox paniculata

Phlox is a hardy perennial plant that produces clusters of small, fragrant flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white. The flowers are attractive to many species of butterflies, including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and the Monarch. Phlox is easy to grow and can be used as a ground cover or as a border plant in gardens.

13. Shevanti

Botanical Name: Jasminum grandiflorum

Shevanti, also known as Chrysanthemum, is a popular garden plant in India that produces large, showy flowers in shades of pink, yellow, and white. Additionally, the flowers are attractive to many species of butterflies, including the Common Mormon and the Lime Butterfly. Shevanti is easy to grow and can be planted in garden beds or in containers.

14. Passion Flower

Botanical Name: Passiflora incarnata

This plant produces exotic looking flowers in shades of purple, pink, and white, and is popular to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Additionally, it blooms in the summer and fall.

15. Globe Amaranth

Botanical Name: Gomphrena globosa

This plant produces small, brightly colored flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white, and is a popular choice for attracting butterflies and other pollinators. Additionally, it blooms in the summer and fall.

16. Cockscomb

Botanical Name: Celosia cristata

This plant produces striking, brightly colored flowers in shades of red, pink, and orange, and is a great choice for attracting butterflies and other pollinators. Additionally, It blooms in the summer and fall.

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17. Joyweed

Botanical Name: Alternanthera spp.

This plant produces small, colorful flowers in shades of pink, red, and white, and is known to attract butterflies and other pollinators. Additionally, it blooms in the summer and fall.

18. Wedelia

Botanical Name: Sphagneticola trilobata

This plant produces small, yellow flowers and is a great choice for attracting butterflies and other pollinators. Additionally, it blooms in the summer and fall and is often used as a groundcover or in hanging baskets.

19. Flame of the Forest

Botanical Name: Butea monosperma

The Flame of the Forest is a tree that is native to India. It produces large clusters of bright orange-red flowers that are attractive to many species of butterflies. The Common Mime butterfly is particularly fond of the Flame of the Forest and will lay its eggs on the leaves of the tree.

20. Indian Paintbrush

Botanical Name: Clerodendrum infortunatum

Indian Paintbrush is a shrub that produces small, pink and white flowers. Additionally, the flowers are attractive to many species of butterflies and provide a good source of nectar. Indian Paintbrush is also used in traditional Indian medicine to treat various ailments.

21. Lemon Verbena

Botanical Name: Aloysia citrodora

Lemon Verbena is a fragrant herb that produces small, white flowers. Additionally, the plant is known for its lemony scent and is used in teas and as a natural remedy for digestive issues. Lemon Verbena is particularly attractive to the Lime Butterfly.