Pollinator Plants: Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden
Below, we’ll introduce you to some of the top pollinator plants that will support native species of bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.
A good pollinator garden should have several key features, including a water source and shelter for pollinators. But the number one thing all pollinator habitats should have are pollinator plants.
What Are Pollinator Plants?
Pollinator plants are rich in pollen and nectar, providing an important food source for pollinators and other beneficial insects. Many of the best pollinator plants are native plants, but other flowering plants, vegetables, and herbs can also benefit pollinators.
If you have a small space garden, you can create a pollinator habitat by growing just a single plant for pollinators in a window box or container garden.
But, if you have the space for it, try growing a variety of plants, including native plants that flower at different times of the year and plants with various flower shapes. This will provide more resources for pollinators and ensure that any pollinators that visit your garden will always find something good to eat.
While there are other beautiful flowers, herbs, and veggies that can benefit wildlife, if you’re looking for the best plants to grow for pollinators, the species listed below are hard to beat. These plants provide shelter and food for bees; some also serve as host plants for caterpillars and other insects.
Try growing a few of these plants in your garden beds and planters and see how many native pollinators you can attract this growing season!
Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) Marigolds are often planted in vegetable gardens to attract pollinators, but their orange to yellow flowers can also hold their own in ornamental beds. Blooming from early summer to fall, marigolds can draw ladybugs, bees, and other beneficial insects to your garden.
Zinnias
Zinnias (Zinnia spp.) Like marigolds, Zinnias are also grown as companion plants in vegetable gardens, but they are showy enough for porch planters or ornamental beds. These colorful plants come in nearly any shade you could want, and they are easy to grow from seed.
Sunflower (Helianthus spp.) Sunflowers are among the best pollinator plants you can grow due to their large, flat flower heads. Sunflower blooms are easy for pollinators to access and are packed with pollen and nectar. In autumn, sunflowers also produce lots of seeds for wild birds.
Cosmos (Cosmos spp.) Cosmos are hardy plants that love full sun and well-drained soil. A top plant to grow if you love gathering cut flowers from your garden, cosmos are often included in pollinator seed mixes. They are famous for their delicate, feathery leaves and white, pink, lavender, yellow, orange, and red flowers.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) Sweet Alyssum can be cultivated from seeds or nursery starts that are set out in your garden in early spring. These flowering annuals have purple and white flowers that emit a mild fragrance, and their sprawling growth habit makes them ideal for planting in container gardens and towards the front of flower beds.
Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) Showy bee balm has spiky flower heads in pinks, reds, and purples and it’s often coated with bees in summer. This plant can bloom throughout summer, especially when regularly deadheaded, but it will spread vigorously.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Another good option for pollinator gardens, Black-Eyed Susans have warm, golden-orange petals and deep dark flower centers. These plants are spread readily by seeds unless birds get to those seeds first!
Lantana (Lantana spp.) If you want a colorful garden, you need to grow lantana. These plants feature white, yellow, pink, orange, red, or lavender flowers that are irresistible to hummingbirds. Lantanas are considered perennial plants in zones 7 and up but can grow as annuals in cooler climates.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Yarrow’s broad, flat flower heads come in white, pink, orange, red, and yellow, and they’re easy for pollinators to feed from. These plants make lovely dried flowers too.
Salvia (Salvia spp.) With over 1000 types of salvia to choose from, you can find a salvia to suit any garden. These easy-going plants come in many different colors, shades, and sizes. There are both perennial and annual varieties too.
Purple coneflower: (Echinacea purpurea) Purple coneflower is a great plant to try in drier soil since it has lower-than-average watering needs. These plants are famous for their lavender petals, and they look spectacular with Yarrow and Black-Eyed Susan.
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) If you love milkweed, you may also want to try the closely related Butterfly Weed. This plant is also a host for monarch caterpillars, but it has eye-catching orange flowers that are sure to stand out in any garden.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.) Lavender prefers drier soil than many other plants, but it’s a good choice for gardens with sandy soil. Allow lavender to produce its purple blooms to get the most pollinator benefits.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja spp.) When butterfly bushes blooms in summer, hummingbirds are sure to be nearby. Butterfly bushes can be invasive in some areas, but when properly maintained, their pink, purple, or white flowers are staples in pollinator habitats.
Conclusion
If you want to help pollinator populations make a comeback, one of the best things you can do is to grow your own pollinator garden.
When planted with different pollinator plants, these gardens can be an oasis for bees, butterflies, and other wildlife, and they can help combat habitat loss and fragmentation. Not to mention, when planted with spring, summer and fall-blooming flowers, pollinator gardens can be a wonderful place for you to connect with nature and relax after a hard day’s work!
Happy Gardening,
-JoyUsGarden
Frequently asked questions
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