#Pollinator #Plants #Garden #Thriving #Wildlife
Last Updated on April 26, 2025 by April
Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds do a lot of heavy lifting for healthy gardens and even our food supply. Picking the right plants can really help attract and support these helpful visitors, boosting biodiversity and making your garden feel more alive.
If you know which plants are best for pollinators, you’re already halfway to creating a space they’ll want to come back to again and again. The right mix means you’ll get a more colorful, lively garden that keeps buzzing all season long.
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma), Zones 3-9
Bee Balm is a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Its bright red, pink, or purple flowers show up in summer and are loaded with nectar.
It likes full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Expect it to grow up to four feet tall and spread out over time.
Plus, Bee Balm brings a nice scent and quirky texture to your beds—something a little different from the usual.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Zones 3-10
Purple Coneflower stands out with its pinkish-purple petals and bold orange cone. It’s a tough perennial that handles full sun and well-drained soil, so it fits into most gardens.
Bees, butterflies, and even some beetles can’t resist its blooms. It flowers from early summer to early fall, offering nectar for months.
Maintenance is pretty minimal—these plants are drought-tolerant and sturdy. You’ll see them in native gardens and wildflower meadows all the time.
Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Zones 3-10
Milkweed is a go-to for attracting butterflies and bees. Its pinkish-purple flower clusters are a summer staple for nectar and pollen.
If you want to help Monarch butterflies, Milkweed is a must—it’s their host plant. It’s tough, handles poor soils, and likes full sun. It spreads on its own, so you might find it popping up in new spots year after year.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Zones 5-9
Lavender draws in bees and butterflies with its fragrant purple blooms. The flowers stick around all summer, keeping pollinators coming back.
Give it a sunny, well-drained spot and it’ll thrive—even if you forget to water now and then. It’s a good pick for low-maintenance gardeners.
If you snip off spent blooms, you’ll get even more flowers. Lavender in the garden almost guarantees you’ll see more buzzing activity out there.
Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), Zones 3-9
Goldenrod’s bright yellow flower clusters show up from late summer into fall. This perennial likes full sun and isn’t picky about soil.
It’s a favorite of bees, butterflies, and wasps, especially late in the season when not much else is blooming.
People often blame Goldenrod for allergies, but honestly, ragweed is the real culprit. Goldenrod’s pollen doesn’t float around much.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Zones 3-10
Black-eyed Susan is a sturdy, native perennial with cheerful yellow petals and dark centers. It’s happy in all sorts of soils, even the rough stuff.
Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators flock to its summer flowers. It keeps blooming with barely any fuss—deadheading helps it last even longer.
Borage (Borago officinalis), Zones 3-10
Borage is easy to grow from seed and doesn’t mind most garden conditions. Its blue, star-shaped flowers are a big hit with bees all season.
If you pick off old blooms, you’ll get more flowers. The leaves and flowers are edible—toss them in a salad or a drink if you’re feeling adventurous.
This annual tends to self-seed, so don’t be surprised if it comes back on its own next year.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Zones 4-9
Sunflowers are hard to miss with their tall stems and big, sunny faces. Native to North America, they pop up in gardens and fields everywhere.
Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators love the nectar and pollen. Growing sunflowers means you’re supporting a whole crew of insects.
All they really need is full sun and decent drainage. They’re unfussy and can handle a range of conditions.
Penstemon (Penstemon spp.), Zones 4-9
Penstemon has tubular flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white—perfect for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
It likes well-drained soil and lots of sun. Many types are drought-tolerant and native to North America. Some fit right into rock gardens or mixed borders.
Zinnia (Zinnia elegans), Zones 2-11
Zinnias are easy annuals that attract bees and butterflies in droves. You’ll find them in just about every color—red, pink, orange, yellow, you name it.
They like sunny spots and well-drained soil. With a long blooming period, zinnias keep pollinators happy all summer. You can toss them in beds or containers, whatever works.
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Zones 6-10
California poppy is a drought-tolerant native with bright orange and yellow blooms. Bees and hoverflies can’t resist it, so it’s great for local pollinators.
It likes full sun and soil that drains well. California poppy reseeds easily—perfect for wildflower patches or naturalized corners.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Zones 3-9
Butterfly weed is a native perennial with eye-popping orange flowers. Plant it in full sun and well-drained soil for best results.
Its blooms bring in butterflies, bees, and more from late spring through summer. This one’s tough and doesn’t ask for much attention.
The narrow leaves and upright habit make it a good fit for beds, borders, or wildflower mixes.
Catmint (Nepeta faassenii), Zones 3-9
Catmint offers clusters of purple-blue flowers that bees and butterflies love. It’s happy in full sun or part shade and isn’t fussy about soil.
Once established, it handles drought well. The aromatic leaves might even help keep some pests away.
Catmint blooms from late spring into summer. Trim it back after flowering and you might get a second round of blooms.
Cilantro Flowers (Coriandrum sativum), Zones 7-11
Cilantro flowers are tiny, white, and grow in airy clusters. If you let your cilantro bolt, you’ll see them in late spring or early summer.
These blossoms attract hoverflies and small bees. Letting some cilantro flower helps support beneficial bugs in your garden.
The flowers turn into coriander seeds, which you can harvest for the kitchen or let self-sow for next year.
Salvia (Salvia nemorosa), Zones 5-9
Salvia nemorosa draws in bees and butterflies with spikes of purple-blue flowers from late spring through summer.
It likes full sun and well-drained soil, and once it’s settled in, it’s pretty drought-proof. Good for folks who don’t want to fuss too much.
Deadhead the old blooms for more flowers. It’s also deer-resistant, which is a real bonus in some areas.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Zones 4-9
Fennel is a reliable perennial that’s super easy to grow and a real pollinator favorite. Its umbrella-shaped yellow flower clusters attract bees, butterflies, and even beneficial wasps.
Plant fennel in full sun and well-drained soil. It can self-seed and spread if you let it go, so keep an eye on it.
The tall, airy stems give your beds some structure. Fennel offers nectar and pollen for quite a stretch during its bloom time.
Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum), Zones 4-9
Joe-Pye Weed is a tall perennial with big clusters of mauve or pink flowers. It blooms in mid to late summer and is a big draw for butterflies and bees.
Give it moist, well-draining soil and plenty of sunlight. It gets pretty large, so plan for some space.
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Zones 5-10
Milk thistle’s spiky purple flowers bring in lots of pollinators, especially bees. It’s easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil—doesn’t need much from you.
The blooms offer nectar through the summer, and the tall stems make them easy for insects to find.
If you let it self-seed, milk thistle can spread, so keep that in mind. The leaves are prickly, so avoid planting it where you’ll brush by often.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritime), Zones 5-9
Sweet alyssum is a low, spreading annual with clusters of tiny white or purple flowers. It’s great for edging, containers, or filling in gaps, and pollinators love it.
The blooms have a light fragrance and offer nectar for bees and butterflies. Sweet alyssum likes full sun but can handle some shade if it gets hot.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), Zones 3-10
Planting chives isn’t just about flavor—they’re a magnet for pollinators too. Those purple, globe-like flowers? Bees and even a few butterflies can’t seem to resist them.
Chives are pretty unfussy. Give them full sun and a bit of space, and they’ll mostly take care of themselves. You’ll usually see them bloom around late spring or early summer, so they’re a nice early food source for visiting insects.
And if you snip the leaves for your kitchen, no worries—the plants bounce back and keep putting out flowers for the pollinators.
