10 Flowers That Attract Pollinators

• Avoid pesticide use around plants that attract bees. Be sure to read product labels to learn the safest ways to use them. When possible, use organic-approved, non-toxic insecticides, pest barriers or repellents, especially around bees.
• Grow bee-friendly plants. Bees need both nectar, which has sugars for energy, and pollen, a “food” rich in proteins and fats. Therefore, you must choose plants that provide these essentials. To meet their needs year-round, plant flowers, trees or shrubs that bloom in different seasons. For example, try crocus and hyacinths in spring, zinnias in summer and asters in autumn. Native plants and wildflowers are also excellent. See our list below for suggestions.
• Grow colorful flowers. Bees are especially fond of blue, white, yellow, purple and violet blooms. Plant in clumps, as they’re easier for bees to spot. And grow blossoms with different shapes. As there are thousands of bee species, with differently shaped tongues, this helps attract a variety. But plant single flowers; it’s harder for bees to get into doubled blossoms.
• Shrink your lawn. Lawns don’t have to be sterile grass carpets. Instead, leave parts natural, or plant shrubs and trees. As a bonus, you’ll get a break from mowing.
• Offer water. Bees need drinking water. They may visit a shallow birdbath or other water feature. Or they'll sip drops of water from garden sprinklers or irrigation systems.
• Add a bee box. Yes, honeybees live in hives. But many wild bees take shelter in dead trees or branches, weedy hedgerows, abandoned animal burrows or underground nests. For example, mason bees, which are especially helpful for pollinating fruit trees, use holes in dead wood left by other insects. You may consider leaving a portion of your yard untended for them. You can also put up a bee box in the yard or garden.
• Plant a patch of wildflowers. Bees are drawn to native plants and wildflowers. They often produce much more pollen and nectar than modern, hybridized flowers.

Asters' lovely pink or lavender blooms attract a wide range of late-season butterflies and beneficial insects. Darker purple varieties look stunning with a light background, such as a white picket fence. In a sunny spot, space plants one to three inches apart, depending on the variety. Most asters are hardy in zones 4 to 8.
They do well in Northeastern, Midwestern and Southern gardens.

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. Plus, its leaves can be dried to make tea. Bee balm thrives in full sun in zones 4 to 9, particularly in Northeastern gardens.

Black-eyed Susan's smiling, daisy-like flower is popular with bees and other pollinators. Also called rudbeckia, black-eyed Susans bloom in colors ranging from sunny yellow to bronze, mahogany and red. This native perennial is easy to grow, performing well even in poor soil and dry conditions. Black-eyed Susans grow best in full sun in zones 4 to 9. They’re found in gardens throughout the Northeast, Midwest, South, Texas and Oklahoma and the Pacific Northwest.

The star-shaped flowers of borage appear in summer and last until first frost. It’s a drought-tolerant, native herb that is self-seeding. Borage can grow up to 2 feet.

As you might expect, butterfly bushes are great at attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to gardens. Colorful, fragrant flowers bloom in spring and summer. When left unpruned, butterfly bushes can grow 8 to 10 feet in height in zones 5 to 9.

Tip: Look for newer, compact butterfly bush varieties in the Garden Center. These petite plants can be grown in containers on your deck or patio.

Coneflowers sport daisy-like blossoms, in pink, yellow, orange or white. They are guaranteed to draw bees and butterflies from midsummer to late fall. Plant these at the back of the garden. That way, their tall stems provide a backdrop to smaller flowers in the foreground. Grow coneflowers in full sun in zones 3 to 9. Coneflowers tend to grow well in Northeastern, Midwestern, Southern and Gulf Coast gardens, as well as those in Texas and Oklahoma.

Moist spots are perfect for Joe Pye weed. This plant produces billows of airy pink florets in late summer. Its native form can reach 3 to 12 feet tall. But improved cultivars grow to half that size, and they bloom in brighter colors, too. Joe Pye weed is best planted in a space with plenty of room to grow. Joe Pye weed is hardy in zones 3 to 8, especially in Southern gardens.

Lavender is a low-maintenance plant that tolerates dry conditions and thrives in the heat. Bees love lavender, while deer and rabbits tend to skip over it. Plus, the lavender blooms add perfume to the entire garden and can be used to scent your home. Grow lavender in full sun in well-draining soil in zones 5 to 10.

Milkweed is early spring native plant. This plant is essential for monarch butterflies, as it serves as a host for their larvae in springtime. But really, milkweed should be a staple in all pollinator gardens. Milkweed prefers full sun in zones 3 to 7. They do well in Northeastern and Southern gardens.

Sedums are one of the most dependable perennials you can grow. ‘Autumn Joy’ and other vigorous varieties will quickly establish themselves as permanent garden residents in any sunny spot. The plant's early fall flowers attract a wide range of beneficial insects. Sedums make excellent cut flowers, as well. Autumn Joy and other sedums thrive in zones 3 to 8. Check plant tags when selecting sedums for your location.

Plan to plant for pollinators all year long. Following 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

If you prefer, you can plant pollinating flowers based on where you live. Be sure to look for a wildflower seed mix formulated for your specific region. It will likely include many of the flowers below.

• Southern gardens: Clover, thistle, poppy, foxglove, goldenrod, milkweed, wild bergamot, African marigold, zinnia, lupine, echinacea, Agastache, liatris, gaillardia, sunflower, rudbeckia, daisy.
• Northeastern gardens: Coreopsis, foxglove, sunflower, poppy, azalea, rhododendron, goldenrod, hawthorn, lobelia, lupine, wild indigo, wild mint, sunflower, turtlehead, wild geranium.
• Western gardens: Liatris, penstemon, gaillardia, California poppy, corn poppy, lupine, coreopsis, cleome, Clarkia amoena (Farewell-to-Spring), bluehead or blue field gilia, nemophila, California bluebell, sage, sunflower, Mexican hat, Shasta daisy, African daisy.
• Gulf Coast gardens: Shasta daisy, coreopsis, cosmos, larkspur, California poppy, primrose.
• Pacific Northwest gardens: Columbine, Shasta daisy, coreopsis, larkspur, California poppy, lupine, corn poppy.
• Texas and Oklahoma gardens: Sage, Texas bluebonnet, coreopsis, cosmos, Prairie coneflower, primrose.
• Midwestern gardens: Coreopsis, Indian blanket, lupine, primrose, corn poppy.
• Trees and shrubs for bees: Tulip poplar, orange, sourwood, broom, alder, blackthorn, holly, rhododendron, willow, oak, maple, roses, sumac; most fruit trees, including apple/crabapple, pear, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, crabapple.