Types

• Eastern red columbine and wild perennial lupine plants are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. New England aster is hardy in zones 3 through 9, while butterfly weed is hardy in zones 3 through 10.
  
  

Identification

• Eastern red columbine grows to approximately 2 feet tall. It has drooping red-and-yellow, bell-shaped flowers, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Wild perennial lupine grows between 1 and 2 feet tall; it has elongated clusters of blue or purple blossoms. New England aster grows to over 6 feet tall; it produces radiating purplish-pink blossoms with orange centers. Butterfly weed, which grows between 1 1/2 and 2 feet tall, has showy clusters of orange blossoms.
  
  

Benefits

• Many butterflies rely on particular flowers as food sources and shelter for their larvae. The Eastern red columbine is a nectar source and larval host for the columbine duskywing butterfly. Wild perennial lupine is the larval host and only nectar source for the karner blue butterfly, an endangered species, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It is also an important nectar and larval source for the elf and frosted elfin butterflies. New England aster is a larval host and source of nectar for the pearl crescent butterfly, while the queen and monarch butterflies rely on the butterfly bush for food and shelter.