Top 10 Gorgeous Spring Flowers to Attract Butterflies

5. Zinnia: A Butterfly Magnet That’s Perfect for Beginners

Let me tell you about my absolute favorite flower for attracting butterflies – the wonderful zinnia! I remember the first time I planted these beauties in my garden. I was honestly a bit nervous since everyone kept telling me how “easy” they were to grow (which sometimes makes me more anxious about messing things up!). But wow, they weren’t kidding.

Getting Started with Zinnia Seeds

You know what’s amazing about zinnias? They’re practically foolproof! I’ve found that these hardy annual flowers can be directly sown into your garden bed after the last frost. My first attempt at growing them was actually a happy accident – I scattered some seeds rather haphazardly in my flower bed, and before I knew it, I had this gorgeous rainbow of blooms!

Pro tip: Start your seeds about 1/4 inch deep and space them about 6 inches apart. Don’t worry too much about precision – these flowers are pretty forgiving.

Height Varieties and Color Options

Here’s something cool I’ve learned over the years – zinnias come in basically every size imaginable! From the cute little Thumbelina series (perfect for borders) that tops out at 6 inches, to the stunning Giant Dahlia varieties that can reach 4 feet tall.

The color palette is just as diverse:

• Bright coral (butterflies go crazy for these!)
• Deep purple
• Sunny yellow
• Crisp white
• Every shade of pink imaginable

Maintaining Your Zinnia Patch

Let me share a mistake I made early on – I used to be shy about cutting the flowers. Big mistake! The secret to keeping your zinnias blooming continuously is to cut them regularly. It’s like giving them a little haircut that encourages more growth.

Key maintenance tips:

• Water at the base of the plant (wet leaves can lead to powdery mildew)
• Deadhead spent blooms regularly
• Provide full sun for best results
• Space plants properly for good air circulation

Best Varieties for Butterfly Attraction

Through years of observation, I’ve noticed that butterflies seem to have their favorites! The ‘Cut and Come Again’ mix and ‘California Giants’ are absolute butterfly magnets. I’ve literally counted up to five different butterfly species on these varieties at once!

Some top performers in my garden:

• Benary’s Giant Series (especially the coral and pink ones)
• Oklahoma Series (disease resistant and sturdy)
• Profusion Series (perfect for containers)

Ready to discover another amazing butterfly-attracting flower? Click the next button below to learn all about Pentas – those star-shaped clusters that butterflies simply can’t resist! I’ve got some fascinating tips about how to get the most blooms from these beauties that you won’t want to miss.