Pollinators like bees and butterflies are vital to ecosystems and agriculture, playing a critical role in pollinating crops and wild plants. With pollinator populations declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, creating pollinator-friendly gardens is more important than ever. By planting species that attract bees and butterflies, you can support these essential creatures while enhancing the beauty of your outdoor space.
This article explores nine pollinator-friendly plants that are particularly effective at drawing bees and butterflies, offering a mix of vibrant colors, easy maintenance, and ecological benefits.
Why Pollinator-Friendly Plants Matter
Before diving into the plant list, it’s worth understanding why pollinator-friendly plants are so important. Bees and butterflies transfer pollen between flowers, enabling plants to produce fruit and seeds. This process supports biodiversity and food production, as roughly one-third of global food crops—including fruits, vegetables, and nuts—depend on pollinators. However, pollinators face significant threats, with studies showing a 30-50% decline in some bee and butterfly populations over recent decades. Gardens filled with nectar- and pollen-rich plants provide critical food sources and habitats, helping to sustain these species. Choosing native or well-adapted plants also reduces the need for pesticides, further protecting pollinators.
Below are nine plants that excel at attracting bees and butterflies, selected for their appeal to pollinators, ease of growth, and aesthetic value. Each plant includes details on its characteristics, care requirements, and specific benefits for pollinators.
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender is a fragrant, drought-tolerant perennial that’s a magnet for bees and butterflies. Its spikes of purple flowers are rich in nectar, making it a favorite for pollinators during its long blooming season, typically from early summer to early fall. Lavender’s silvery-green foliage adds texture to gardens, and its scent is a bonus for humans.
Why Pollinators Love It: Lavender’s nectar is easily accessible to both bees and butterflies, with short-tubed flowers that accommodate a variety of species, including honeybees and bumblebees. Butterflies like painted ladies and monarchs are also frequent visitors.
Care Tips: Plant lavender in full sun with well-drained soil. It thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and requires minimal watering once established. Prune annually to maintain shape and encourage blooming.
Garden Benefits: Beyond attracting pollinators, lavender repels deer and rabbits, making it a practical choice for mixed gardens. Its dried flowers can also be used in crafts or sachets.
2. Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Coneflowers, also known as purple coneflowers, are native to North America and a staple in pollinator gardens. Their daisy-like flowers, with vibrant pink-purple petals and raised, spiky centers, bloom from summer to early fall, providing a long-lasting food source.
Why Pollinators Love It: The large, flat centers of coneflowers serve as landing pads for butterflies, while the abundant pollen and nectar attract bees. Monarchs, swallowtails, and native bees are particularly drawn to this plant.
Care Tips: Coneflowers prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. They’re hardy in USDA zones 3-9 and drought-tolerant once established. Deadheading can extend blooming, but leaving seed heads in fall provides food for birds.
Garden Benefits: Coneflowers are low-maintenance and resistant to pests, making them ideal for beginner gardeners. Their bold colors add drama to borders or wildflower meadows.
3. Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Milkweed is a must-have for any butterfly garden, serving as a host plant for monarch butterflies. Its clusters of star-shaped flowers, ranging from pink to orange, bloom in summer and produce nectar that attracts both bees and butterflies.
Why Pollinators Love It: Milkweed is the sole host plant for monarch caterpillars, making it essential for their lifecycle. Its nectar-rich flowers also draw bumblebees, honeybees, and other butterfly species like fritillaries.
Care Tips: Milkweed grows best in full sun with well-drained soil and is hardy in USDA zones 3-9. Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) can spread aggressively, so consider swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) for smaller gardens. Avoid pesticides, as they harm monarch caterpillars.
Garden Benefits: Planting milkweed supports monarch conservation while adding a pop of color. Its seed pods are visually striking and can be used in dried arrangements.
4. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
Bee balm, also called bergamot, is a vibrant perennial with spiky, tubular flowers in shades of red, pink, or purple. Blooming in mid-to-late summer, it’s a pollinator powerhouse that lives up to its name.
Why Pollinators Love It: The tubular flowers are perfectly shaped for long-tongued bees like bumblebees and butterflies like swallowtails. Hummingbirds are also frequent visitors, adding to the garden’s liveliness.
Care Tips: Bee balm thrives in full alembic sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. It’s hardy in USDA zones 4-9. To prevent powdery mildew, ensure good air circulation by spacing plants 18-24 inches apart. Divide every few years to maintain vigor.
Garden Benefits: Bee balm’s bold colors and height (up to 4 feet) make it a stunning focal point in borders. Its aromatic leaves can be used to make herbal tea.
5. Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
Zinnias are cheerful annuals that come in a rainbow of colors, from red and pink to yellow and white. Their single or double blooms flower from summer to frost, providing a continuous food source for pollinators.
Why Pollinators Love It: Zinnias’ flat, open flowers are ideal for butterflies, offering easy access to nectar. Bees, particularly smaller native species, are drawn to the abundant pollen. Varieties with single blooms are more accessible than double blooms.
Care Tips: Plant zinnias in full sun with well-drained soil. They’re easy to grow from seed and thrive in warm weather. Deadhead regularly to encourage more blooms. Zinnias are suitable for most regions but perform best in warm climates.
Garden Benefits: Zinnias are versatile, fitting into containers, borders, or cutting gardens. Their bright colors create a festive atmosphere and attract a diverse array of pollinators.
6. Salvia (Salvia spp.)
Salvia, or sage, is a diverse genus with many pollinator-friendly species. Perennial salvias like Salvia nemorosa and annual types like Salvia splendens produce spikes of tubular flowers in blue, purple, red, or white, blooming from late spring to fall.
Why Pollinators Love It: Salvia’s tubular flowers are a favorite of long-tongued bees and butterflies, including monarchs and painted ladies. The extended blooming period ensures a steady food supply.
Care Tips: Salvias prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They’re hardy in USDA zones 4-10, depending on the species. Cut back after blooming to encourage reblooming and maintain a tidy shape.
Garden Benefits: Salvias are low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, making them ideal for xeriscaping. Their vertical flower spikes add structure to garden designs.
7. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Sunflowers are iconic for their large, sunny blooms and towering stems. While often grown for their seeds, they’re also excellent pollinator plants, blooming in summer and early fall.
Why Pollinators Love It: Sunflowers’ wide, flat centers are packed with nectar and pollen, attracting bees of all kinds. Butterflies, including monarchs, visit for nectar, and the sturdy stems provide perching spots.
Care Tips: Plant sunflowers in full sun with well-drained soil. They grow best in USDA zones 2-11 as annuals. Choose dwarf varieties for small spaces or containers. Support taller varieties with stakes to prevent toppling.
Garden Benefits: Sunflowers add height and drama to gardens, and their seeds attract birds in fall. They’re easy to grow, making them a great choice for kids or novice gardeners.
8. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Butterfly bush is a fast-growing shrub known for its long, cone-shaped flower clusters in purple, pink, or white. Blooming from summer to fall, it’s a pollinator magnet.
Why Pollinators Love It: The dense flower clusters are rich in nectar, attracting butterflies like monarchs, swallowtails, and painted ladies. Bees also visit frequently, especially bumblebees.
Care Tips: Butterfly bush thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, hardy in USDA zones 5-9. Prune heavily in early spring to control size and encourage blooming. Note that it can be invasive in some regions, so choose sterile cultivars like ‘Lo and Behold’ to prevent spreading.
Garden Benefits: Butterfly bush is a low-maintenance shrub that adds height and color to landscapes. Its arching branches create a graceful silhouette.
9. Aster (Symphyotrichum spp.)
Asters are late-season perennials that produce star-shaped flowers in purple, blue, pink, or white. Blooming from late summer to fall, they provide a critical food source when other plants fade.
Why Pollinators Love It: Asters’ open flowers are accessible to bees and butterflies, including monarchs preparing for migration. Native asters, like New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), are especially beneficial for local pollinators.
Care Tips: Asters prefer full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. They’re hardy in USDA zones 3-8. Pinch back stems in early summer for bushier growth and more blooms.
Garden Benefits: Asters extend the garden’s color into fall and pair well with grasses or coneflowers. Their compact size suits borders or containers.
Tips for Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
To maximize the impact of these plants, consider the following tips:
- Plant in Clusters: Group plants of the same species together to make them easier for pollinators to find.
- Diversify Bloom Times: Choose plants that bloom at different times to provide food throughout the growing season.
- Avoid Pesticides: Use organic pest control methods to protect pollinators.
- Provide Water and Shelter: Include shallow water sources and native shrubs or grasses for nesting and resting.
- Go Native: Whenever possible, choose native plants, as they’re best adapted to local pollinators and climates.
Conclusion
Incorporating pollinator-friendly plants like lavender, coneflowers, and milkweed into your garden is a simple yet powerful way to support bees and butterflies. These nine plants offer a mix of beauty, resilience, and ecological benefits, ensuring your garden buzzes with life while contributing to pollinator conservation. By creating a welcoming habitat, you’ll not only enjoy a vibrant, colorful landscape but also play a vital role in sustaining the ecosystems that depend on these remarkable creatures.