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Planting a pollinator garden may conjure up images of a cluster of multicolored blooms surrounded by delicately fluttering butterflies. This may be a moment in the life of a pollinator garden, but there’s a lot more than that.
Pollinators are most obvious when they are flittering, buzzing, and drifting from flower to flower on a warm sunny day. You can provide flowers to attract pollinators throughout the growing season, and you can provide much-needed habitat for the entire year.
In this article, we will look at what it takes to create a sustainable year-round pollinator garden. This includes learning a little about the pollinators that will come to visit, and what they need for their entire life cycle. We will also recommend specific pollinator-friendly plants that will really help make your pollinator garden come to life.
What Are Pollinators?
Basically, a pollinator is anything that helps transport pollen from one flower to another. This can include many types of insects: butterflies, moths, bees, beetles, flies, and wasps. Pollinators can also be other small animals, such as birds, bats, or rodents.
Pollinators are important in our ecosystem. Plant communities depend on pollinators to maintain genetic diversity for healthy plant populations. We all depend on plants for clean air, clean water, and the oxygen we breathe. Many plants rely on pollinators to produce seeds and fruits, which are then eaten by animals. Much of the food we eat depends on pollinators. Providing a patch of habitat that helps pollinators benefits everyone!
Pollinator Gardening Basics
By creating a pollinator garden, you are creating wildlife habitat. Your pollinator garden can provide valuable sources of food, nectar, water, protection, and larval host plants. Many plants can provide for multiple pollinator needs, such as being a food source for both adult and larval insects, or providing both nectar for insects and seeds or fruit for birds.
A well-planned pollinator garden includes the following:
Food
Flowering plants provide nectar sources throughout the growing season. Host plants provide food sources for larval stages of butterflies and moths. Don’t always deadhead your flowers. Many flower seed heads will continue to attract seed and fruit-eating birds
Water
Fountains, bird baths, and puddles all provide water sources for insects, birds, and other small wildlife.
Shelter and nesting sites
You can provide nesting sites for some species of bees that use hollow plant stems (for cavity nesting bees) and bare earth (for ground-nesting bees). You can provide shrubs for birds to use for nesting sites and as protected places to rest.
Many people are particularly interested in butterflies because the winged adults are such a beautiful sight in the garden. A compete butterfly habitat should provide for all stages of the butterfly life cycle: nectar plants for adults, larval food plants for caterpillars, and safe places for the changing pupae. In the chrysalis stages between caterpillar and adult, they need undisturbed areas, often resting in standing dead vegetation.
Many butterfly caterpillars feed exclusively on one or two species of plant. These plants are commonly referred to as larval host plants. There are several larval host plants in this list that provide both food for caterpillars as well as flowers that are attractive to multiple other pollinators.
Don’t use pesticides
It’s important to remember that many pollinators are insects, and other pollinators eat insects. Don’t use pesticides in your pollinator garden as this will kill your pollinators and potentially harm the wildlife that feeds on insects. If you have an infestation of unwanted insects, use a very targeted approach to removing them either by hand or using the safest products you can find.
Year Round Pollinator Garden
Pollinators don’t magically appear only when your favorite flowers bloom. You can attract pollinators to your garden throughout the year by providing a wide variety of plants. Choose plants that flower at different times to provide nectar sources from spring through fall.
To create a thriving pollinator garden that provides reliable blooms year after year, choose perennials that grow well in your climate zone. Consider also what your yard can provide in terms of moisture, sunlight, and soil type. Choose plants that will grow best in the conditions you have.
Grow Natives
If you want to garden with native plant species, you are supporting ecosystem restoration and providing native habitat. Native plants are more likely to be a food source for multiple species because these are the plants that are adapted to grow in your area and with your local naitive wildlife. Native plants also tend to be easier to control and less likely to have invasive growth habits.
Multiple Benefits
Pollinators aren’t the only ones to benefit from a pollinator garden. Many other animals may take advantage of this desirable habitat. People also benefit by enjoying the colorful garden activity and the simple pleasure of gardening to benefit our local wildlife.
Plants for Pollinators
Now that you understand the need for pollinators in your garden, let’s examine some of the best plants you can add to your garden to attract them. There are plenty of different options to choose from, no matter what hardiness zone you reside in. Let’s dig in and take a deeper look!
Anise Hyssop
Scientific Name: Agastache foeniculum
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 2 to 4 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-8
- Bloom Time: Summer to fall
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds
- Larval host plant: No
This is a good low-maintenance plant for average soils. Anise Hyssop is a member of the mint family and has fragrant foliage. It will grow into clumps, with spikes of small purple flowers that are very attractive to a number of different pollinators. It can spread rapidly by self-seeding to be sure to keep an eye on it and remove extra plants that you won’t want.
Astilbe
Scientific Name: Astilbe spp.
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: Asia, North America
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade to shade
- Plant Height: 1 to 2 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 3-8
- Bloom Time: Late spring through early summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: No
Astilbe bursts into bloom early in the growing season with beautiful, feathery pink flowerheads. It prefers rich, moist soil, and does well with partial shade. It tends to stay fairly low and compact, but the foliage may die back by late summer if it gets too dry. This is a great perennial for a lush moist shade garden.
Basil
Scientific Name: Ocimum basilicum
- Plant Type: Annual herb
- Geographic Origin: Tropical Asia
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 1.5 to 2 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 2-11
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: No
Basil is a familiar culinary herb. It is equally at home when grown in a container, as a companion plant in the vegetable garden, or planted with a pollinator garden. It is easily grown from seed sown in the spring. Basil produces small white flowers throughout the summer which attract birds, bees, and butterflies.
Bee Balm
Scientific Name: Monarda fistulosa
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 2 to 4 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 3-9
- Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds
- Larval host plant: No
There are many cultivars of Monarda. Bee Balm, also known as Wild Bergamot, being native to North America. Scarlet Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) is another commonly grown species, with similar characteristics, but bright red in color. Bee Balm flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds.
Blazing Star
Scientific Name: Liatris spicata
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 2 to 4 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 3-8
- Bloom Time: mid to late summer into fall
- Attracts: Bees, butterflies, birds, hummingbirds
- Larval Host Plant: Yes. Flower Moths
The Blazing Star is an excellent flower for a pollinator garden. Tall spikes of bushy purple flowers are hard to miss and attract a wide variety of insects and birds.
This striking perennial prefers full sun and moist soils but will tolerate occasional drought. Blazing Star is also a frost-hardy perennial, and can tolerate colder temperatures in winter.
Blue Wild Indigo
Scientific Name: Baptisia australis
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 3 to 4 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 3-9
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval Host Plant: Yes, for many different types of butterfies.
The Blue Wild Indigo (also called Blue False Indigo) is a large bushy plant that is the larval host plant for several species of butterfly. In late spring, it produces a cluster of showy purple pea-like flowers that attract a variety of pollinators.
Once established, this hardy legume can look like a small shrub. It is resistant to deer, rabbits, drought, and poor soil conditions.
Blue Vervain
Scientific Name: Verbena hastata
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 2 to 6 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 3-8
- Bloom Time: Summer through early fall
- Attracts: Birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Verbena Moth, Common Buckeye Butterfly
Blue Vervain is native to the eastern United States and is an excellent wildflower for a pollinator garden. Small spikes of purple flowers appear in summer and attract a variety of pollinators. After flowering, seed eating songbirds will visit to eat the seeds.
This plant can spread by underground rhizomes and by seed, so be sure to give it plenty of space. It can be controlled by regular pruning and thinning.
Borage
Scientific Name: Borago officinalis
- Plant Type: Annual herb
- Geographic Origin: Mediterranean region
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 2 to 3 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 2-11
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Attracts: Bees and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Painted Lady Butterfly
Borage is an attractive annual herb that grows readily from seed. It will self-seed freely if allowed. Borage has attractive purple flowers and very fuzzy leaves and stems. It is quick and easy to grow and makes an appealing garden addition that attracts a variety of pollinators.
Buttonbush
Scientific Name: Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 5 to 12 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 5-9
- Bloom Time: Mid-summer
- Attracts: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
- Larval host plant: Yes. Titan Sphinx Moth, Hydrangea Sphinx Moth, Royal Walnut Moth
Buttonbush is a large bushy shrub. It loves moist soils and does well in both full sun and partial shade. In mid-summer, a multitude of fluffy-looking, round, sweet-scented blooms appear. The flowers are very attractive to a variety of pollinators.
In the fall, this shrub ends its growing season covered with beautiful red foliage. If you have a large moist area that needs vegetation, consider planting a Buttonbush.
Coral Honeysuckle
Scientific Name: Lonicera sempervirens
- Plant Type: Vine
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 8 to 15 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-9
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Attracts: Hummingbirds, birds, butterflies, bees
- Larval host plant: Yes. Spring Azure, Snowberry Clearwing Moth
Also called Trumpet Honeysuckle, this attractive native vine sports a multitude of slender red trumpet-like flowers. Hummingbirds love them.
Because it is a vigorously growing vine that gets rather long, it is an excellent plant to grow on a large trellis or along a fence. It is tolerant of a variety of soils, but prefers a rich moist soil.
Cosmos
Scientific Name: Cosmos spp.
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin: Central and South America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 1 to 4 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 2-11
- Bloom Time: Late spring through fall
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees
- Larval host plant: No.
If you need a quick, easy-to-grow, space-filler annual for your butterfly garden, Cosmos flowers are a great choice. They can bloom from spring through fall, and in ideal conditions, will reseed themselves. Their bright, colorful flowers attract many bees and butterflies.
Dill
Scientific Name: Anethum graveolens
- Plant Type: Annual herb
- Geographic Origin: Northern Africa, Arabian Peninsula
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 3 to 5 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 2-11
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Black Swallowtail
Dill is a familiar and very aromatic herb. It can be grown in an herb garden, vegetable garden, flower garden, pollinator garden, or in a container. Broad umbels of tiny flowers mingle with delicate frilly foliage, adding their unique texture to any gardening arrangement. It is a larval host plant for the Black Swallowtail Butterfly and many pollinators visit the flowers for nectar.
Dogwood
Scientific Name: Cornus florida
- Plant Type: Small tree
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 15 to 30 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 5-9
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and birds
- Larval host plant: Yes. Spring Azure Butterfly
There are a few small trees that add to a pollinator-friendly landscape butterfly host plants. The Flowering Dogwood is one of these. It is a familiar spring-blooming flowering tree whose flowers attract springtime pollinators. In the fall, fruit-eating birds eat the small red fruits.
Other well-known small trees that are caterpillar host plants include the Pawpaw, Redbud, and Wax Myrtle. If you have space for a small tree in your landscape, consider adding one of these beautiful trees with wildlife appeal.
Fennel
Scientific Name: Foeniculum vulgare
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: Mediterranean region
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 3 to 5 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-9
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Black Swallowtail
Fennel is an aromatic herb at home in both a traditional garden setting and as part of a pollinator garden. It has fine feathery foliage and clusters of tiny yellow flowers that attract large numbers of pollinators. Fennel is a low maintenance plant that will freely reseed itself.
Foxglove
Scientific Name: Digitalis purpurea
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: Europe
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 2 to 5 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-8
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Attracts: Hummingbirds, bees
- Larval host plant: No
There are many varieties of foxglove, blooming in shades of pink, purple, and white, but all have long tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees.
Foxglove is a biennial, or short-lived perennial, but will reseed itself and come back year after year. These plants prefer moist soil and a bit of afternoon shade. The Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is native to the United States and has white flowers.
Hibiscus, Rose Mallow
Scientific Name: Hibiscus grandiflorus
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: United States
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 3 to 7 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 5-9
- Bloom Time: Summer to fall
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Gray Hairstreak Butterfly, Painted Lady Butterfly
There are many different types of hibiscus, and most are quite attractive to pollinators. The Rose Mallow (H. grandiflorus) is native to the southeastern United States and thrives in moist soil.
Flowers are large and quite showy and attract many pollinators. This is a rather large plant that would do well near the edge of a pond or stream, or as a larger plant for a border or landscaping edge.
Joe Pye Weed
Scientific Name: Eupatorium purpureum
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 4 to 7 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-9
- Bloom Time: Summer through fall
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Pearl Crescent Butterfly
Joe Pye Weed is a flowering giant. By mid to late summer, the tall leafy stalks produce large clusters of purple flowers that are a magnet for a variety of pollinators. Joe Pye Weed prefers full sun and moist soil. If you need a tall accent plant, Joe Pye Weed would make a great choice.
Lavender
Scientific Name: Lavandula angustifolia
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: Europe
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 2 to 3 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 5-8
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: No
Lavender is a very aromatic perennial herb that attracts many pollinators. It can be grown in a container or incorporated into an herb garden, flower garden, or pollinator garden. Spikes of small purple flowers bloom during summer months, and in warmer climates, the foliage may stay green throughout the year.
Lobelia “Great Blue”
Scientific Name: Lobelia siphilitica
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 2 to 3 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-9
- Bloom Time: Mid-summer to fall
- Attracts: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
- Larval host plant: Yes. Pink-washed Looper Moth
The Great Blue Lobelia is a native wildflower that occurs naturally in areas with rich, moist soil. It does not like dry soil. This would be a great low-maintenance plant for a moist partially-shaded wooded edge.
Spikes of showy blue flowers bloom during the summer. A related plant, Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), has similar qualities and habitat requirements. Cardinal Flower also blooms in midsummer with tall spikes of brilliant red flowers.
Lupine
Scientific Name: Lupinus spp
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 3 to 4 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-8
- Bloom Time: Late spring through summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds
- Larval host plant: Yes. Karner Blue Butterfly, Frosted Elfin Butterfly
Lupines come in a variety of bright, showy flower colors and can be grown easily from seed as annuals or short-lived perennials. Once established, these plants can grow vigorously for a few years, but often die back.
They will, however, reseed themselves if allowed. They prefer cooler climates with well-drained, rich, moist soil with full sun, but also do well with partial shade.
Milkweed
Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 1 to 2 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 3-9
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, Bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Monarch Butterfly
If there’s one plant that every pollinator garden should have, it’s Milkweed. There are several species of native Milkweeds available, all are attractive to pollinators, and they all grow readily from seed.
The different milkweed varieties may have different leaf shapes and different flower colors, but they are all enjoyed as a larval host plant by the Monarch Butterfly caterpillar.
Mountain Mint
Scientific Name: Pycnanthemum spp
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 1 to 3 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-8
- Bloom Time: Summer through fall
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: No
The Mountain Mints are a group of plants with very minty-scented leaves and clusters of small inconspicuous flowers that attract a multitude of pollinators. Mountain Mint tends to form a clump and, like many other varieties of mint, may spread quickly.
Growth and spreading can be controlled by regular pruning or by growing in containers. They grow best in moist to dry, well-drained soil, and full sun.
Narrow Leaf Sunflower
Scientific Name: Helianthus angustifolius
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 5 to 8 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 5-9
- Bloom Time: Summer to fall
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, birds, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly
These are tall plants with an abundance of cheerful yellow mid to late summer blooms. The Narrow Leaf Sunflower makes a wonderful accent plant for a pollinator garden. There are other species of Helianthus that also do well in a pollinator-friendly garden.
Each has its own characteristics and environmental adaptations, so if you want a Sunflower, choose whichever Helianthus best suits your specific needs and conditions.
Nasturtium
Scientific Name: Tropaeolum spp
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin: Central and South America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 1 to 2 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 2-11
- Bloom Time: Late spring through fall
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Great Southern White Butterfly
Nasturtiums grow readily from seed and will self-seed if allowed. Most Nasturtiums are smallish, clumping annuals, but there are varieties of climbing Nasturtium that can grow to 10 feet tall.
These plants fit nicely in an herb garden, annual flower garden, or to fill in open spots in a pollinator garden. The cheerful orange and yellow flowers attract an assortment of pollinators.
New England Aster
Scientific Name: Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 3 to 6 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-8
- Bloom Time: Late summer through fall
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Pearl Crescent Butterfly
An established patch of New England Aster makes a stunning fall flower display. Because these plants start blooming when other summer flowers are starting to fade, Asters provide a much-needed nectar source from late summer until frost. Be sure to give these native plants plenty of space, as they can grow into robust clusters.
New Jersey Tea
Scientific Name: Ceanothus americanus
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Geographic Origin: North American
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 3 to 4 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-8
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Mottled Duskywing Butterfly, Spring Azure Butterfly, Summer Azure Butterfly
In the spring, New Jersey Tea blossoms with clusters of small, fragrant, white flowers. This is an attractive native shrub that grows nicely in a home landscape. It grows well in average, well-drained soils. It develops a deep root system which, once established, helps it tolerate dry conditions.
Panic Grass
Scientific Name: Panicum virgatum
- Plant Type: Ornamental grass
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 4 to 6 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 5-9
- Bloom Time: Late summer through fall
- Attracts: Birds, butterflies
- Larval host plant: Yes. Common Wood Nymph Butterfly, various Skipper Butterflies
If you have a large area and would like to feature a large native ornamental grass, Panic Grass is a good option. This plant forms clumps that make an interesting and varied addition to a traditional flower garden.
It can be planted along edges and borders, or in a wide open area as an accent plant. Panic Grass is the host plant for several species of butterflies, and birds will forage for the seeds throughout the fall and winter months.
Parsley
Scientific Name: Petroselinum crispum
- Plant Type: Annual herb
- Geographic Origin: Greece, Yugoslavia
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 0.75 to 2 foot
- USDA Plant Zone: 2-11
- Bloom Time: Spring to summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Black Swallowtail Butterfly, Anise Swallowtail Butterfly
Parsley is at home grown in a container, in the herb garden, and as part of a pollinator garden. Don’t worry if you see green, yellow, and black-striped caterpillars munching on your parsley leaves; these will turn into the beautiful Black Swallowtail butterfly. The clusters of tiny flowers attract many different insect pollinators.
Passionflower
Scientific Name: Passiflora incarnata
- Plant Type: Vine
- Geographic Origin: United States
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 6 to 8 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 5-9
- Bloom Time: Summer to early fall
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Many different types of butterflies
Passionflower is a native vine with beautiful and unusual purple flowers. This plant can grow along the ground as a ground cover, or it can be grown on a trellis, wall, or fence.
Passionflowers produce flowers that are fragrant and attractive to a variety of pollinators, plus they are a butterfly host plant. Passionflower can, however, grow rather vigorously, so be sure to allow it plenty of space and remove any unwanted new sprouts.
Phlox
Scientific Name: Phlox paniculata
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 2 to 4 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-8
- Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: No
While there are many cultivars of Phlox available, the Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) is native to the United States. Clusters of 5-petaled purple flowers appear in early summer and may last into early fall. This is a good flower to grow in a partially shaded spot with rich, moist, well-drained soil. This easy-to care for perennial makes an excellent ground cover.
Pipevine
Scientific Name: Aristolochia tomentosa
- Plant Type: Woody vine
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 20 to 30 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 5-8
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Attracts: Butterflies
- Larval host plant: Yes. Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly
Pipevine, or Dutchman’s Pipe, is a woody vine that can grow quite large. It prefers moist soils and full sun. Because of it’s large size and persistent growth habit, it should be planted in an area where it can have plenty of space.
It’s a great plant for a pollinator garden because it is the host plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly, whose caterpillars enjoy munching the leaves. It has unique but rather inconspicuous flowers that somewhat resemble little yellow pipes.
Purple Coneflower
Scientific Name: Echinacea purpurea
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 2.5 to 3 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 3-8
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, birds, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly, Wavy-lined Emerald Moth
Purple Coneflowers are an easy-to-grow native wildflower. They support not only insect pollinators but seed-eating songbirds, particularly the American Goldfinch, that loves to eat the dried seeds. Coneflowers do well in a sunny spot with average well-drained soil. These low-maintenance perennials are sure to please with their large purple flowers.
Spicebush
Scientific Name: Lindera benzoin
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Part shade
- Plant Height: 6 to 12 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 4-9
- Bloom Time: Early spring
- Attracts: Butterflies and other pollinators, birds
- Larval host plant: Yes. Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
In early spring, before leaves appear, small, fragrant, yellow flowers adorn the stems of the Spicebush shrub. These spring flowers attract the earliest pollinators. Later in the season, two species of Swallowtail Butterfly can be seen eating the spicy-smelling leaves.
In fall, the female plants produce small red berries which are eaten by fruit-eating birds. Spicebush is a plant that is “dioecious” which means male and female flowers are formed on different plants, and must be cross-pollinated in order to set fruit. These plants grow well in a moist shaded woodland garden.
Stokes’ Aster
Scientific Name: Stokesia laevis
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 1 to 2 feet
- USDA Plant Zone:
- Bloom Time: Late spring through summer
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Pearl Crescent Butterfly, Checkerspot Butterfly
Native to the southeastern United States, the Stokes’ Aster is a beautiful addition to a pollinator garden. Showy purple flowers appear from spring to early summer and attract a variety of pollinators. This plant prefers moist, well-drained soils, but will also do well with dryer soil conditions.
Violets
Scientific Name: Viola spp
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Plant Height: 6”
- USDA Plant Zone: 3-9
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Attracts: Fritillary butterflies as larval host plant
- Larval host plant: Yes. Greater Fritillary Butterfly, Lesser Fritillary Butterfly
If you have violets in your yard and you think they’re a nuisance, think again. Keeping a small patch of violets in the corner of your yard can be a plus for your pollinator garden.
While they may not attract many adult pollinators, Violets are the host plant for both Greater and Lesser Fritillary butterflies. Violet flowers come in purple, yellow, white, and multicolor birdfoot varieties.
Yarrow
Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Geographic Origin: Europe, Asia, North America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 2 to 3 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 3-9
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early fall
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
- Larval host plant: Yes. Painted Lady Butterfly
Native varieties of Yarrow tend to have white blooms, but cultivars can be found with flower colors in white, yellow, and many shades of pink. Yarrow has frilly fern-like leaves that make a nice garden accent, even when not blooming.
It grows quite well in full sun and poor soil. Yarrow has a tendency to spread rapidly by both self-seeding and underground rhizomes, but can be controlled by regular pruning and thinning.
Zinnia
Scientific Name: Zinnia spp
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin: North and South America
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Height: 0.5 to 4 feet
- USDA Plant Zone: 2-11
- Bloom Time: Early summer through frost
- Attracts: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and songbirds
- Larval host plant: No
Zinnias are extremely diverse flowering plants. They can be short or tall, large-flowered or miniature-flowered, and have a vast array of flower colors. A patch of Zinnias in a pollinator garden will almost always have insects and birds visiting to enjoy the nectar and seeds.
Final Thoughts
Whether your yard is large or small, you can make room for pollinator-friendly plants. There are so many options to choose from, including annuals, perennials, native species, herbs, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees. If you have the space, plant a variety of flowering plants that will bloom throughout the growing season to provide a constant supply of nectar.
Be sure to consider the entire life cycle of pollinators. The adults need flowers to feed on, butterfly and moth larvae need host plants to nourish their caterpillars, and insects need safe havens to overwinter. Avoid using insecticides in your pollinator-friendly landscape. Most of all, have fun creating your own pollinator-friendly habitat!
