They add a splash of color to your landscape and rival traditional ornamental flowers in beauty. The nectar of wildflowers is an important food source for honeybees, butterflies and hummingbirds that rapidly burn carbohydrates during flight. These nectar feeders, in turn, ensure plant reproduction through the transfer of pollen. If you want to lure colorful dancing butterflies, plant your wildflower meadow in a sunny spot protected from the wind. Flower shape, color, fragrance and time of bloom should all be considered when selecting plants.
Butterflies recognize color and seem to prefer intensely sweet scents to delicate ones.
Plants flower at different times of the year, so include a variety in your meadow, giving butterflies access to blossoms throughout the growing season. Creating a meadow with a diversity of wildflowers attracts many butterflies while providing colorful blooms March through October. Include plants and herbs, such as alfalfa, red clover, parsley, fennel, dill and butterfly weed, that make up an important part of a butterfly's caterpillar stage diet. The fragrant flowers of lilac bushes draw butterflies easily. Butterflies like clusters of tiny flowers because they can perch and feed from one flower to another without leaving the cluster.