• Many butterfly-friendly plants will thrive in shade.Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
  
  Planting butterfly-friendly plants is a double boon for your garden. Not only do you get to enjoy the butterflies they attract, but you also get to enjoy the blooms that attract the butterflies. Most butterfly plants like bright or filtered sunshine, but a large number will tolerate or even thrive in shade.
  
  

Sky Blue Aster

• Sky blue aster is a shade-tolerant plant that attracts a variety of butterflies including sulfur, white and pearl crescent species. This plant has a light green, straight stem growing up to a dense cluster of flowers. The plant stands between 18 inches and 3 feet tall and has flowers with delicate blue petals and yellow centers. It blooms for up to two months beginning in late summer. It can grow in a range of soil conditions and is drought tolerant.
  
  

Glossy Abelia

• Glossy abelia is a popular Southern shrub with a long blooming season. Although glossy abelia prefers sun, it is quite shade tolerant. It blooms in May with clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers in white or pink, and continues to bloom until the fall. In addition to attracting butterflies, glossy abelia also will draw hummingbirds into your garden. It can grow up to 6 feet tall and equally wide, depending on the species. It prefers moist soil but is adaptable.
  
  

Jewelweed

• Jewelweed is an ideal butterfly plant for deep shade. This 2- to 5-foot-tall plant has small, pendulous flowers in a range of colors with seeds that will pop out if touched. It prefers extremely moist soils and is commonly found growing along creek beds. In addition to drawing butterflies, jewelweed also will attract butterflies. The juice from the plant also can be used to ease skin irritation and prevent breakouts from poison ivy, poison oak and stinging nettles.