Butterfly Plants for Zone Nine in Full Sun

Broadleaf Evergreens

• Cuphea is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that grows to 30 inches in full sun. It is tropical in nature, with zone 9 being the coldest zone in which it is winter hardy. The red, tubular flowers attract butterflies, as do the blooms of trailing lantanas, a shrub with stems resembling vines that allows the species to double as ground cover. Trailing lantana is evergreen and produces flowers year-round. Other broadleaf evergreen types capable of attracting butterflies and growing in full sun in this zone include Adam's needles, yucca, Spanish dagger and yellow bells.

Deciduous Shrubs

• Lead plant is a versatile shrub, since it grows in a climate as warm as zone 9's as well as one as cold as zone 2. This deciduous shrub turns out purple-blue flowers and attracts butterflies. Butterfly bush hybrids designed to lure butterflies to them and suitable for full sun include "Miss Ruby" and "Golden Glow." The seven-son flower and various species of bluebeard work in zone 9 butterfly gardens. Rose shrubs of many kinds, such as floribunda rose, hybrid tea rose and miniature rose, all prove irresistible to butterflies.

Perennials

• The list of herbaceous perennials suitable for growing in zone 9 full sunshine, with butterflies in mind, is long. It includes species like hollyhock, green milkweed, swamp aster, tickseed, sweet William, button flower and ox-eye daisy. Hibiscus in particular blooms for lengthy periods, with cultivars such as "Sweet Caroline" starting in July and continuing through September. Coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, rosemary and many kinds of sages also bring butterflies to your property.

Vines

• Trumpet honeysuckle does grow in shade, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden, but flowers more plentifully when planted in full sun. The tubular blossoms of this North American native vine are orange and scarlet, making it hard for passers-by and butterflies to miss. Hybrids of trumpet honeysuckle, such as "Alabama Crimson" and "John Clayton" grow to 20 and 12 feet respectively. Trumpet honeysuckle vines sprawl along the ground or climb and cover trellises, arbors, fences and slopes. In addition to butterflies, hummingbirds hover over their flowers and sip their nectar.