Birds and butterflies seek the same comforts in a garden that travelers want in a bed-and-breakfast: good food and drink, a refreshing bath, and a cozy place to rest. Provide these amenities, and winged visitors will flock to your yard—and may even stay awhile.
Steve and Donna Brigham discovered this firsthand when they installed a half-acre demonstration garden for butterflies and hummingbirds at their nursery, Buena Creek Gardens. They planted nectar-rich flowers, added birdbaths, and included shrubs for cover. The garden was barely finished before wildlife began checking in; within months, it was at full capacity every day.
You can create your own backyard wildlife B&B by incorporating the plants and features below.
Top Plants for Hummingbirds
- Abutilon hybrids – Evergreen shrubs with bell-shaped blooms in white, yellow, pink, and red. Zones 8, 9, 12–24, H1, H2.
- Agastache – Perennial with whorled spikes of pink, purple, blue, red, or orange flowers in summer.
- Alstroemeria hybrids – Evergreen perennials with pink, purple, orange, or white flowers spring through summer.
- Bee balm (Monarda didyma) – Lavender, red, or pink summer blooms. Zones A2, A3, 1–11, 14–17.
- Bird of paradise (Caesalpinia) – Yellow or orange-red summer blossoms above ferny foliage.
- Bottlebrush (Callistemon) – Red flowers in spring and summer.
- California fuchsia (Zauschneria) – Orange to red tubular blooms late summer to fall. Zones 2–11, 14–24.
- Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) – Flame-red summer spikes; needs moist soil. Zones 1–7, 14–17.
- Columbine (Aquilegia) – Delicate spring flowers in yellow, orange, blue, and red.
- Coral bells (Heuchera sanguinea) – Bright red or coral-pink bell-shaped flowers spring to summer. Shade. Zones A1–A3, 1–11, 14–24.
- Foxglove (Digitalis) – Tubular flowers on tall spring spikes.
- Fuchsia – Bell-shaped flowers in pink, purple, and orange from late spring to frost.
- Kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos) – Red, yellow, or green flowers spring through fall.
- Nicotiana – White, pink, or red tubular flowers summer to early fall.
- Penstemon – Reds and blues predominate; spring and summer bloom.
- Red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) – Rose-red to bright red flowers late spring through summer. Zones 2b, 3, 7–16, 18–24.
- Salvia – Blues, reds, and many other colors spring through fall.
- Veronica – Small flowers in white, rose, pink, or blue on pointed spikes.
Top Plants for Butterflies
- Abelia – Pink, red, or lilac bell-shaped blossoms summer to fall.
- Aster – Daisylike blooms in pink to purple; A. x frikartii blooms early summer to fall. Zones 2b–24.
- Bluebeard (Caryopteris) – Blue flowers midsummer to frost.
- Butterfly bush (Buddleja) – Purple flowers peaking in summer.
- Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) – Orange or yellow summer clusters.
- Coreopsis – Yellow, orange, maroon, or red flowers spring and summer.
- Goldenrod (Solidago) – Bright yellow late-summer to fall clusters. Zones 1–11, 14–23.
- Jupiter's beard (Centranthus ruber) – Crimson to pink and white clusters late spring to early summer. Zones 2–9, 12–24, H1.
- Lantana – Wide color range; long bloom season.
- Lavender (Lavandula) – Lavender to purple spikes late spring and summer.
- Lilac (Syringa) – Fragrant spring clusters.
- Pincushion flower (Scabiosa) – Blue, pink, and white flowers spring and summer.
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Pink, white, or orange daisies in summer. Zones A2, A3, 1–24.
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) – Small blue or white flowers winter through spring. Zones 4–24, H1, H2.
- Shasta daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum) – White daisies with gold centers in summer. Zones A1–A3, 1–24, H1.
- Verbena – Purples, pinks, reds summer and fall.
- Yarrow (Achillea) – Flat-topped clusters in yellow, white, rose, red, and salmon. Zones A1–A3, 1–24.
Essential Amenities
Babysitting Services
Provide larval food plants for local butterflies: milkweed for monarchs, fennel for anise swallowtail, buckwheat for hairstreaks. Add birdhouses and set out nesting materials like pine needles and small pieces of string.
Dust Baths
Birds need dry dirt to rid themselves of parasites. Set aside a few square feet bordered with rocks or brick, filled with loose, sandy soil.
Mineral Water
Butterflies need minerals and salts. Create a permanent puddle: dig a shallow depression, line with pebbles, and keep the soil moist.
Tanning Salon
Butterflies love basking in the sun. Place flat rocks in a sunny spot protected from wind by shrubs.
Info: Buena Creek Gardens (10–4 Thu–Sun; 418 Buena Creek Rd., San Marcos, CA; 760/744-2810)
