Big Butterfly Count 2026 – Hardy's Top Ten Plants for Butterflies
Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count is back for 2026 — and after this summer's heatwaves, there's real excitement that we could be in for a bumper season of butterflies across the UK. It's the perfect moment to think about how your garden can play its part.
At Hardy's, we've long championed planting for wildlife, and butterflies are among the most rewarding visitors any garden can attract — whether you have a sprawling herbaceous border, a compact patio, or just a few well-chosen containers on a balcony. Here are our top ten plants to help you roll out the welcome mat.
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Hardy's Top Ten Plants for Butterflies
1. Agastache 'Black Adder'
If you want to attract butterflies to your garden, Agastache 'Black Adder' — commonly known as Giant Hyssop — should be on your list. From July until late October, its bottlebrush-like spikes of rich purple flowers put on a long-lasting display that pollinators cannot resist, coupled with deliciously aniseed-scented foliage.
A great choice for adding rich colour and verticality to borders or meadow plantings, it also works beautifully in a sunny container near a door, where you will brush the leaves as you pass and release the scent. To thrive it needs a sunny site and free-draining soil. Currently only available via our Nursery Shop.
2. Echinacea purpurea
The classic Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea has stout, upright stems which rise to around 100cm, clothed in coarsely textured, lance-shaped mid-green leaves, and topped with large, elegant flowerheads from midsummer well into autumn. The slightly reflexed, light purplish-pink petals sweep back from a prominent golden-brown central cone — a form that bees and butterflies find quite irresistible, offering both nectar and a perfect landing platform.
3. Eryngium 'Big Blue'
This plant really lives up to its name — the intense blue of the large flower heads is stunning, and butterflies find it utterly irresistible. It forms good-sized clumps in reasonably fertile soil in full sun, making it ideal for the middle of a herbaceous or mixed border. Once the flowers have finished, the sculptural seed heads continue to provide a striking focal point well into autumn. Both the Ringlet and Small Tortoiseshell (as seen in our header photo) are regular visitors to its vivid, nectar-rich blooms.
The Ringlet is widespread throughout Britain and Ireland, favouring damp woodland glades, shady hedgerows and riverbanks where vegetation is lush. On warm summer days adults can be seen seeking mates and nectaring from a wide variety of flowers — including, as you can see here, Eryngium 'Big Blue'. Eggs are laid in July and August on coarse grasses such as Cock's-foot, False Brome and Tufted Hair-grass, hatching after around 18 days. The caterpillar feeds nocturnally, pausing through the coldest months before resuming in spring, and is fully grown by June at around ten months old. It pupates in a loose silken cocoon on the ground, with adults emerging after approximately two weeks.
4. Eutrochium 'Baby Joe'
The fluffy flowerheads of Eutrochium 'Baby Joe' are a magnet for bees and butterflies in late summer — few plants draw them in quite so reliably at that time of year. This compact variety is shorter than others in the genus and not quite so quick to form clumps, making it ideal for the smaller garden, it combines beautifully with the taller forms to create a pleasing contrast in height and scale. Best in full sun with any moist soil, it is particularly useful in heavier ground where other plants may struggle.
5. Hylotelephium 'Carl'
Hylotelephium 'Carl' is a superb late-season perennial whose broad, flat flowerheads open from dusky pink buds to rich rose-pink in late summer and autumn, held above handsome, glaucous blue-green foliage. As the season winds down and other plants begin to fade, 'Carl' comes into its own — the Red Admiral is among the butterflies most drawn to its generous, nectar-rich blooms, making it one of the most valuable plants in the wildlife garden at a time when food sources are becoming scarce. Robust and drought-tolerant once established, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, equally at home in a gravel garden, a sunny border, or a large container. The flowerheads age to a warm russet-brown, providing structural interest well into winter.
6. Origanum laevigatum
Commonly known as smooth oregano for the tiny, fragrant evergreen leaves that cloak its woody stems, this ornamental herb deserves to be far better known. From midsummer onwards it produces clusters of tiny pink flowers on dark, willowy stems that attract bees, hoverflies and butterflies in their droves, before forming attractive seedheads that can last well through winter. Mediterranean in origin, it thrives in poor, well-drained soil in full sun, though it will tolerate partial shade with a modest reduction in flowering. Perfect for a gravel or wildlife garden, it also works beautifully in a sunny container — and easy to grow, a quick trim in spring or autumn will keep its slightly informal habit looking its best.
7. Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'
'Goldsturm' is a cultivar of Rudbeckia, commonly known as Coneflower, and one of the hardest-working plants in the late-season butterfly garden. Stunning, vibrant yellow daisies with rich dark brown centres appear from late summer through to autumn — exactly when many butterflies are feeding up before winter, and as you can see here, the Gatekeeper is particularly drawn to it. An upright, clump-forming perennial with erect stems and narrow lance-shaped foliage, it is ideal for prairie-style planting and cottage gardens alike. Plant in any reasonable soil in sun or dappled shade, towards the back of the border, and divide large clumps after flowering in autumn to maintain vigour.
Also known as the Hedge Brown, the Gatekeeper is found across much of England and Wales, reaching as far north as Cumbria and Yorkshire. Colony sizes vary enormously — from a handful of individuals to many thousands in the richest southern habitats. True to its name, it favours sunny lanes, hedgerows and woodland rides, particularly where bramble and long grasses edge a warm, sheltered gateway. It is also found on sea cliffs, scrubby downland and heathland wherever there is shelter and lush vegetation. Adults love to bask in the sun and feed from bramble, ragwort and a range of other flowers — including, as you can see here, Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'.
Eggs are laid from July to September on a variety of grasses including Cock's-foot, meadow grasses, Timothy, Common Couch and fescues, hatching after around three weeks. The caterpillar — which may be pale green or ochre depending on its surroundings — feeds during the day through summer, then hibernates before switching to nocturnal feeding in spring, becoming fully grown at around nine months old. The chrysalis, similarly variable in colour, is suspended among low vegetation near the ground and produces an adult after approximately three weeks.
8. Scabiosa 'Kudo Pink'
Large, soft pink blooms with an inner dome of pin-like flowers encircled by flouncy ruffled petals, float on slender stems above clumping, deeply cut grey-green leaves. This Japanese introduction has swiftly gained popularity for its large flowers that are borne prolifically throughout the summer and autumn. It can be grown towards the front of a border or, if you have limited space, it is perfect for containers — seen here with a Peacock Butterfly.
One of our most instantly recognisable butterflies, the Peacock is a common and welcome visitor to gardens on warm summer days, where it is frequently seen nectaring on buddleia and a wide range of cultivated flowers. It also frequents woodland glades, meadows and downland, feeding on knapweeds, teasels and thistles. When alarmed it has a remarkable defence — flashing its vivid eye-spots and producing an audible hiss by rubbing its wings together, enough to startle most predators.
The Peacock is often the first butterfly of the year, appearing as early as February or March to bask in the first warm sunshine, having hibernated since the previous September in hollow trees, sheds and woodpiles. The offspring of these hibernators emerge in July, when the species is at its most abundant.
Eggs are laid in dense clusters of up to 500 on the underside of common nettle leaves — a process that can take up to two hours. Large, sheltered plants in the middle of nettle patches are preferred. The eggs hatch after around two weeks, and the caterpillars feed gregariously in untidy clusters beneath webs spun over the nettle tops. Velvety black with rusty-coloured legs, covered in spines and tiny white dots, they are larger than Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars and quite distinctive. When fully grown they disperse to pupate individually, suspended from a silken pad; the chrysalis, which varies in colour according to its surroundings, lasts for almost two weeks before the adult emerges.
9. Symphyotrichum 'Little Carlow'
Clouds of small, vivid violet-blue daisies with bright yellow centres are carried on stout stems with mid-green, narrow foliage. 'Little Carlow' is widely admired not only for the sheer quantity of flowers it produces, but also for the striking intensity of those blue flowerheads — a colour that bees and butterflies find quite irresistible as the season turns. The blooms really sing out of an autumn border, combining beautifully with yellows such as Rudbeckia, echoing the warm tones of their own centres. For a more naturalistic effect, plant in gentle drifts with grasses and other daisies such as Echinacea and Helenium for a prairie-style planting that pollinators will love. After flowering, stems can be cut back or left until spring for additional winter interest. This easy-to-grow perennial thrives in fairly fertile, moisture-retentive soil in part shade, but will tolerate full sun with a little less moisture — avoid very free-draining conditions.
10. Verbena bonariensis
Commonly known as Argentinian Vervain, Verbena bonariensis is one of the most reliably pollinator-friendly plants you can grow. Its tall, columnar stems branch into clusters of tiny violet flowers throughout summer, creating an airy, see-through effect that works beautifully in borders and gravel gardens alike. Native to South America, it self-seeds freely, ensuring a reliable presence year after year with very little effort on your part.
Butterflies and bees are drawn to it — and on warm summer days at the nursery we regularly spot the extraordinary Hummingbird Hawk-moth hovering at the blooms. Rated H4, Verbena bonariensis is hardy through most of the UK, though plants in pots and those in colder gardens may experience some stem dieback in a harsh winter. Give it a position in full sun and well-drained soil and it will reward you season after season.
Strictly speaking not a butterfly at all, the Hummingbird Hawk-moth is nonetheless one of the most thrilling wildlife encounters a garden can offer — and well worth looking out for during your Big Butterfly Count. This day-flying moth is a migrant from southern Europe, arriving in Britain from late spring onwards, with numbers varying considerably from year to year. On warm, sunny days it can be seen hovering at speed in front of flowers, its wings beating so fast they are almost invisible, as it probes for nectar with its long proboscis — the resemblance to a tiny hummingbird is quite remarkable. Verbena bonariensis is a particular favourite, and we see them regularly at the nursery on warm summer afternoons. If you spot one during your count, do record it — Butterfly Conservation welcomes records of day-flying moths alongside butterflies.
Creating a Butterfly-Friendly Garden
A few simple choices can make a real difference to the butterflies visiting your garden, whatever its size.
Butterflies are cold-blooded and need warmth to fly, so position nectar plants in sunny, sheltered spots where they can bask as well as feed. Grouping the same plants together in blocks is far more effective than dotting them singly around the garden — a drift of Verbena bonariensis or a generous clump of Hylotelephium will draw butterflies in from a distance.
Think about the whole season too. Spring flowers are vital for butterflies emerging from hibernation, while late-season plants such as Symphyotrichum and Rudbeckia help them build up reserves before winter. Deadheading regularly will help prolong flowering and keep plants looking their best.
Avoid insecticides and pesticides entirely — they are harmful not only to butterflies but to the whole community of beneficial insects your garden depends on. And if you're buying compost, choose a peat-free option; peat bogs are precious habitats for wildlife, including some of our rarest butterfly species — something very close to our hearts at Hardy's.
How to Take Part in the Big Butterfly Count
The Big Butterfly Count runs from Friday 17 July to Sunday 9 August 2026. All you need is 15 minutes on a sunny day to count the butterflies you spot in your garden or local green space. Every record helps Butterfly Conservation build a picture of how UK butterfly populations are faring. Visit the Butterfly Conservation website to download the identification chart and submit your count — seen here, a Red Admiral on Hylotelephium 'Iceberg'.
One of Britain's most instantly recognisable butterflies, the Red Admiral is in fact a migrant — arriving from North Africa and southern Europe each year, having already mated before departure. The main influx reaches our shores in May and June, with adults gradually spreading northwards and fresh arrivals continuing as late as August. From August onwards the movement reverses, and a partial re-migration takes place southwards; on occasion, impressive gatherings can be seen along the south coast as they prepare to cross the Channel. In recent decades, however, there is growing evidence that some individuals are successfully overwintering here.
In summer, these strong, purposeful fliers are enthusiastic feeders, particularly drawn to buddleia, Hylotelephium and Symphyotrichum — so if you grow 'Little Carlow', keep an eye out for one nectaring there in autumn. Later in the season they switch to rotting fruit and ivy flowers as they build their reserves ahead of the southward migration.
Eggs are laid singly on nettle leaves, occasionally on Pellitory-of-the-wall, and hatch after around a week. The caterpillar — which may be greyish-yellow or predominantly black — constructs a small tent at the base of a leaf and remains hidden throughout its development, building progressively larger and more conspicuous shelters as it grows. After feeding for around three weeks, the fully grown caterpillar creates a final tent from several nettle leaves and pupates inside, suspended from the roof. These tents are surprisingly easy to spot from July through to October — well worth looking out for.
Whether you spot a Peacock nectaring on your Echinacea or a Small Tortoiseshell resting on a warm stone, every sighting matters. Happy counting — and happy planting. 🦋