Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are essential for the health of your garden, aiding in the pollination of both edible and ornamental plants. Create a garden pollinators love by planting flowers that provide the nectar and pollen these insects need to thrive. Native plants are always a great choice, but many ornamental flowers will do the trick as well. When selecting plants, choose those that bloom throughout the year to ensure pollinators are healthy year-round.
Butterfly Bush
Characteristics: As you might expect, butterfly bushes are great at attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. Colorful, fragrant flowers bloom in spring and summer. Growing Conditions: Thrives in zones 5 to 9, prefers full sun, and can grow 8-to-10 feet tall if left unpruned. Benefits: Excellent for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.
Bee Balm
Characteristics: Another aptly named flower, bee balm deserves a place in every pollinator garden. You’ll be surprised to see bees and hummingbirds flock to this native plant. Its leaves can be dried to make tea. Growing Conditions: Thrives in full sun in zones 4 to 9. Benefits: Attracts bees and hummingbirds, and can be used for making tea.
Lavender
Characteristics: Lavender is a low-maintenance plant that tolerates dry conditions and loves the heat. Bees love it, but deer and rabbits tend to skip it. Plus, the lavender blooms add perfume to the entire garden and can be used to flavor dishes. Growing Conditions: Grows well in full sun in zones 5 to 10. Benefits: Attracts bees, adds fragrance, and can be used in cooking.
Coneflower
Characteristics: Coneflower’s daisy-like blossoms in pink, yellow, orange, or white are guaranteed to draw bees and butterflies from midsummer to late fall. Growing Conditions: Best in full sun in zones 3 to 9. Plant at the back of the garden so their tall stems form a backdrop to smaller flowers. Benefits: Long bloom period and attracts bees and butterflies.
Black-Eyed Susan
Characteristics: Black-eyed Susan’s cheerful daisy-like flower is popular with bees and other pollinators. Besides the signature sunny yellow, the flowers come in bronze, mahogany, and red. Growing Conditions: Easy to grow, even in poor soil and dry conditions. Best in full sun in zones 4 to 9. Benefits: Hardy and attracts a variety of pollinators.
Borage
Characteristics: The star-shaped flowers of borage appear in summer and last until the first frost. It’s a drought-tolerant, native herb that is self-seeding. Growing Conditions: Grows up to 2 feet, tolerates drought well. Benefits: Attracts bees and is self-seeding.
Milkweed
Characteristics: Spring is an extremely important time for monarch butterflies who use milkweed as a host for their larvae. This early spring plant should be a staple in all pollinator gardens. Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun in zones 3 to 7. Benefits: Essential for monarch butterfly larvae.
Asters
Characteristics: The lovely pink or lavender blooms of asters attract a wide range of late-season butterflies and beneficial insects. Darker purple strains look stunning against a light background such as a white picket fence. Growing Conditions: Space plants one to three inches apart in a sunny spot. Most asters are hardy in zones 4 to 8. Benefits: Attracts late-season butterflies and beneficial insects.
Joe Pye Weed
Characteristics: Moist spots are perfect for Joe Pye weed, which produces billows of airy pink florets in late summer. The native form can reach 3 to 12 feet tall, but improved cultivars grow to half that size and bloom in brighter colors. Growing Conditions: Best in moist areas with plenty of room to grow. Hardy in zones 3 to 8. Benefits: Attracts butterflies and grows well in moist conditions.
Sedum
Characteristics: One of the most dependable perennials, ‘Autumn Joy’ and other varieties quickly establish themselves as permanent garden residents in any sunny spot. The early fall flowers attract a wide range of beneficial insects. Growing Conditions: Thrives in sunny spots in zones 3 to 8. Benefits: Attracts beneficial insects and provides excellent cut flowers.
More Plants Pollinators Love
Plan to plant for pollinators all season long. Here are some ideas for your garden:
Spring Pollinator Plants:
- Crabapple
- Crocus
- Lungwort
- Pansy
- Viola
Early Summer Pollinator Plants:
- Allium
- Cherry
- Columbine
- Dianthus
- Elderberry
- Foxglove
- Fuchsia
- Heuchera
- Winterberry
Mid-Summer Pollinator Plants:
- Clethra
- Cleome
- Cosmos
- Gladiolus
- Morning glory
- Nasturtium
- Nicotiana
- Penstemon
- Petunia
- Scarlet runner bean
- Rose
- Spirea
- Sunflower
- Zinnia
Late Summer Pollinator Plants:
- Delphinium
- Goldenrod
- Lobelia
- Obedient plant
Conclusion
Flowers that attract pollinators bring life to your garden and yard. By planting a variety of these plants, you can support bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects throughout the year. Whether you need the right tools, seeds, or garden soil, The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them.
