Perennials that attract butterflies fall into two categories, one that feeds the adults and the other that feeds the young. Some plants fill both roles.
Adult Food Plants These plants produce flowers filled with nectar accessed by a an adult butterfly's long tongue. This is the best selection of perennials for the garden.
Larval Food Plants Butterflies lay their eggs on larval food plants to ensure the caterpillar hatchlings will have plenty of leaves and flowers to feed on. These plants become caterpillar havens, which not only tatters the leaves but the larvae can travel to feed on other plants in your garden as well.
This list includes some of the most attractive perennials that are strictly adult nectar plants and
do not support larvae:
Armeria meritima Common Thrift
Chrysanthemum maxima Shasta Daisy
Eupatorium greggii Joe Pye Weed
Penstemon hybrids Beard Tongue
Rudbeckia hirta Black Eyed Susan