This Bird and Butterfly Garden Plan Brims with Pollinator Favorites

Every gardener knows the thrill of peering out your window and spotting birds or butterflies enjoying your plants. Of course, to attract these gorgeous guests, you'll need to offer food, water, and shelter in your yard. Enter the bird and butterfly garden, a specially designed haven for pollinators, filled with the right types of plants to encourage these winged creatures to return to your garden again and again. This Better Homes & Gardens butterfly garden plan includes their favorite tubular and cup-shaped flowers, which are filled to the brim with nectar. Grouping these pollinator-friendly plants creates eye-catching layers of color that you'll enjoy, too, with at least one plant in bloom all summer and into fall. Choose a spot that gets full sun and that gives you a great vantage point for watching your fluttering visitors come and go.

Plants for Creating the Bird and Butterfly Garden Plan

• 3 Phlox paniculata 'Flame Pink': Zones 4-8
• 2 Penstemon 'Rock Candy Blue': Zones 3-8
• 2 Bee balm (Monarda 'Balmy Purple'): Zones 4-8
• 1 Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii 'Buzz Sky Blue'): Zones 7-9
• 3 Coreopsis 'Solanna Golden Sphere': Zones 4-9
• 1 Sedum 'Brilliant': Zones 4-9
• 2 Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum 'Sweet Daisy Jane'): Zones 4-8

If you aren't able to find the exact cultivars listed above, substitute with others that have similar colors, shapes, and sizes (the downloadable plan includes a few alternative plants to consider). And because some plants can become overly aggressive and spread out of control in certain climates, always check which species are considered invasive in your area before planting.

Download the Free Bird and Butterfly Garden Plan

This free garden plan is available as a printable PDF that includes an illustrated version of the planted garden, a layout diagram, a list of plants for the garden as shown, and complete instructions for installing the garden.

Tips for Planting Your New Garden

Preparation is the key to creating a garden that will offer a lifetime of pleasure. Before you start plant shopping, review all garden plan materials. Then, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I have a suitable spot for this plan?

The layout diagram shows the rough dimensions for the plan. In general, you can enlarge or reduce the size of the garden by adding or eliminating plants, although the character of the garden may change if you alter the size dramatically.

Do I have the right growing conditions?

Check the plant list to see if the plan will do best in sun, part shade, or full shade. Be sure that the plants are suited to your USDA Hardiness Zone.

Do I need to amend my soil?

Most plants thrive in moist, but well-drained soil. If you have soil with lots of sand or clay, amend it liberally with lots of organic matter, such as compost. You may also want to do a soil test to see if you need to adjust the soil pH or add fertilizer before planting.

More Garden Plans to Try for Attracting Wildlife

• No-Fuss Bird and Butterfly Garden Plan
• Prairie Garden Plan
• Easy-Care Butterfly Garden Plan