The plant that attracts the most butterflies and bees in our garden in southern VA is cosmos. In our area, cosmos begin blooming in early September and continue till frost. It is the place to be even over many other butterfly favorite flowers. It provides food late in the season when many other flowers are spent. The bees love it so much that they will sleep on the plant over night and are slow to wake up in the morning (particularly when the nights and mornings are cool). Cosmos love dry poor soil so do not fertilize or over water them. Because our variety grows 6 feet tall, we plant it next to a tall fence and occasionally, we have to tie them up. The blooms are a brilliant orange. They are an annual but reseed profusely.
The plant that attracts the most butterflies and bees in our garden in southern VA is cosmos. In our area, cosmos begin blooming in early September and continue till frost. It is the place to be even over many other butterfly favorite flowers. It provides food late in the season when many other flowers are spent. The bees love it so much that they will sleep on the plant over night and are slow to wake up in the morning (particularly when the nights and mornings are cool). Cosmos love dry poor soil so do not fertilize or over water them. Because our variety grows 6 feet tall, we plant it next to a tall fence and occasionally, we have to tie them up. The blooms are a brilliant orange. They are an annual but reseed profusely.