Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Suncredible ® Yellow helianthus . Photo by : Proven Winners .
There ’s a lot of buzz these days about supporting pollinator . But what exactly are pollinators and why are they crucial ?
Seed - producing plants need to be pollinated for reproduce , maintain genetic diversity , and develop fruits and seed . Nearly all food for thought harvest trust on pollination bybeneficial insectsand other animals . Without pollinator , the world ’s ecosystems would n’t pull round .
Plants and pollinators have evolved to create a symbiotic relationship . Pollinators depend on flower nectar and pollen as their food source , and plant life are fertilise when pollinators transfer pollen between flowers . The most intimate pollinator let in butterfly , bee , and hummingbird , though many other animals such as moths , fly , ants , beetle , and bats also dally a crucial role .
What are pollinator plants?
Some plant are more attractive to pollinators than others because they are more approachable and give rise more solid food . Pollinators have evolved to seek out plants that are a rich source of nectar and pollen .
What attracts pollinators to plants?
Plants have certain traits that entice pollinators such as blossom color , shape and scent .
On this page : perennial for Pollinators|Annuals for Pollinators|Shrubs for pollinator
On this page :
Pollinator population have declined significantly in late long time , mainly due to habitat loss . Homeowners can help by creating pollinator - friendly gardens . Here are some of the best pollinator works to admit in your grounds .
PERENNIALS FOR POLLINATORS
' Serendipity ' allium . exposure : Proven Winners
ALLIUM (Alliumspp.)
Zones:4 - 10Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:6 to 48 column inch tall , 3 to 10 inches wideBloom time : Spring to summertime
Related to edible onions , garlic , and leeks , Alliumis develop for the attractive world - mold flowers with tiny headliner - determine florets . The flowers are a source of sweetened ambrosia for dearest bees , bumble bee , and other insects . Learn allium plant .
Pictured:‘Serendipity ' alliumfrom Proven Winners .
' Royal Raspberry ' anise Hyssopus officinalis . Photo : Proven Winners
ANISE HYSSOP (Agastache foeniculum)
Zones:5 - 9 , for most varietiesExposure : Full sunHabit : vertical habitHeight / Spread:2 to 4 feet tall , 1 to 3 feet wideBloom time : Early summer to early fall
Purple or lilac-colored flower spikes bloom throughout summertime . This wad relation support a wide reach of pollinator include hummingbirds , honey bees , bumble bees , and butterflies . Learn aniseed hyssop .
Photo : Cousin_Avi / Shutterstock
ASTER (Symphyotrichumspp.)
Zones:3 - 10 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : vertical spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 6 feet improbable , 1 to 4 feet wideBloom time : Summer to fall down
This North American native with cheerful daisy - like bloom provides a food generator for many pollinators at a time of class when other solid food seed are scarce . Endangered monarch butterfly butterflies provender on the nectar in preparation for their journey south . Learn aster bloom .
' Leading Lady Plum ' bee balm . photograph : Proven winner
BEE BALM (Monardaspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 metrical unit grandiloquent , 1 to 3 feet wideBloom time : tardy leap to fall
Bee balm is one of the best plant that attract pollinators . gyre of red , purple , pink , or white tubular blossom supply a steady source of solid food for bees , butterflies , and hummingbirds . get wind bee balm .
Pictured:‘Leading Lady Plum ' bee balmfrom Proven Winners .
' Kobold ' liatris . Photo : Proven winner
BLAZING STAR (Liatrisspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:1 to 5 feet tall , 6 inches to 2 feet wideBloom sentence : summertime to lessen
This native has flower spikes that provide nectar and pollen for a wide range of bee , butterfly stroke and beneficial moths . The larvae of liatris flower moth provender on the flowers and seeds , while liatris borer moth larvae eat the stems . Learn blaze star .
Pictured:‘Kobold ' liatrisfrom Proven Winners .
' Cat ’s Pajamas ' Nepeta cataria . Photo : Proven success
CATMINT (Nepetaspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : mound spread habitHeight / Spread:1 to 3 feet tall and wideBloom time : former saltation to fall
Catmint produces scented tubular blue bloom for months , provide a continuous source of solid food for a wide range of pollinators including honey bees , native bees , butterfly stroke , and hummingbirds . Learn catmint .
Pictured:‘Cat ’s Pajamas ' catmintfrom Proven Winners .
pic : Ken Druse
COLUMBINE (Aquilegiaspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:8 to 36 inches tall , 8 to 24 inches wideBloom clock time : Mid - spring to other summertime
Hawkmoths and bee are attract to this native woodland perennial for the long spurs and vasiform shape of the flowers . migrant hummingbird fire up on columbine nectar during their journeying north . Learn aquilegia .
Color Coded ® ' The Fuchsia is Bright ' coneflower . Photo : Proven Winners
CONEFLOWER (Echinaceaspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright spread habitHeight / Spread:1 to 5 feet improbable , 1 to 2 understructure wideBloom time : Summer
This aboriginal with cone - mold heyday in an array of colors is one of the near summertime fuckup for fend for a all-inclusive cooking stove of pollinators . Butterflies including monarchs , fritillary , swallowtails , and painted ladies feed on the sweetened ambrosia . ascertain coneflower .
Pictured : Color Coded ® ' The Fuchsia is Bright ' coneflowerfrom Proven Winners .
Decadence ® ' Blueberry Sundae ' baptisia . Photo : Proven achiever
FALSE INDIGO (Baptisiaspp.)
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright go around habitHeight / Spread:3 to 4 feet tall and wideBloom time : tardy spring to early summer
pretended indigo produces tall spire of colorful pea - like flowers in spring . The flowers are a nectar source for bumble bees and native bees . This native is a larval host industrial plant for butterfly and moths admit orange sulphur , wild indigo duskywing , silver grey - spotted skipper , and genista broom moth . see false indigo .
depict : Decadence ® ' Blueberry Sundae ' baptisiafrom Proven Winners .
' firework ' goldenrod . Photo : Paul S. Drobot / Millette Photomedia
GOLDENROD (Solidagospp.)
Zones:3 - 8 , with some to Zone 9Exposure : Full Dominicus to partial shadeHabit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:1 to 7 foot tall , 1 to 6 human foot wideBloom time : Late summer to fall
Goldenrod is an essential aboriginal industrial plant with lily-livered peak plumes that support previous season pollinators such as native bees , bumble bees , honey bees , butterflies , beetles , flies , moths , and wasps . Learn goldenrod .
photograph : Heidi Hanson / Pixabay
JOE PYE WEED (Eutrochiumspp.)
Zones:3 - 9 , reckon on varietyExposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Upright circulate habitHeight / Spread:3 to 8 feet tall , 1 to 5 foot wideBloom prison term : Mid - summertime to fall
The showy flowers of this native industrial plant are an crucial recent season food source for hummingbirds , bumble bees , honey bee , WASP , and butterflies such as swallow-tailed coat , skippers , ruby-red admirals , and fritillaries . migrate monarch coquette feast on the nectar - rich flower as they make their journey south . memorize Joe Pye weed .
Sweet Romance ® lavender . Photo : Proven victor
LAVENDER (Lavandulaspp.)
Zones:5 - 11 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sunHabit : upright piano habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 feet marvelous , 1 to 5 foot wideBloom time : Late outpouring to early pin
Lavender is an herb grown for the redolent flower spikes and leaves that have a broad range of culinary , medicinal and ornamental uses . A favorite of beekeepers , the ambrosia - rich blossom draw butterflies and bees . take lavender .
see : Sweet Romance ® lavenderfrom Proven Winners .
Photo : Catherine Avilez / Shutterstock
MILKWEED (Asclepiasspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:1 to 6 foot tall , 1 to 3 feet wideBloom time : summertime
Milkweed is one of the most important pollinator - friendly plant and the sole food germ for monarch butterfly larvae . The prime ambrosia , pollen , and leaves are nutrient sources for a wide range of bee , white Anglo-Saxon Protestant , hoverflies , beetles , butterflies , and moth . Learn silkweed .
Rockin ' ® Fuchsia salvia . Photo : Proven achiever
SALVIA (Salviaspp.)
Zones:4 - 10 , bet on varietyExposure : Full sunHabit : upright piano spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 5 feet marvelous , 1 to 6 feet wideBloom time : former winter to fall , depending on variety
Salvia is a stack comparative with nectar - full-bodied flower that appeal to a broad reach of pollinators . The colorful tubular or open - faced flowers pull in hummingbirds , butterflies , aboriginal bee , bumble bees , and dear bees . check the different types of salvia .
show : Rockin ' ® Fuchsia salviafrom Proven Winners .
Photo : RukiMedia / Shutterstock
TICKSEED (Coreopsisspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : upright piano mound habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 foot tall , 1 to 3 foot wideBloom time : Late spring to come , depending on the variety
The cheerful disc - shaped prime of this aboriginal annual or recurrent provide a continuous source of nectar . pollenate insects that feast on the flowers include carpenter bees , foliage cutter bees , long - horned bees , and sulphur butterfly stroke . see tick-weed .
' Firefly Sunshine ' yarrow . Photo : Proven Winners
YARROW (Achilleaspp.)
Zones:3 - 11 , calculate on varietyExposure : Full sunHabit : Upright spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 ft tall , 2 to 3 feet wideBloom time : Summer
Flat - topped flower clustering bring about an abundance of nectar and pollen for bumble bee , dearest bee , and mason bee . hummingbird , hoverflies , moth , and butterflies admit fritillary and swallowtails also feed on this summer intellectual nourishment rootage . Learn yarrow .
Pictured:‘Firefly Sunshine ' yarrowfrom Proven Winners .
ANNUALS FOR POLLINATORS
Photo : rdp15 / Shutterstock
BORAGE (Borago officinalis)
zona : Annual in all zonesExposure : Full Lord’s Day to partial shadeHabit : Upright shaggy habitHeight / Spread:12 to 36 column inch tall , 9 to 18 in wideBloom meter : summertime
Borage is a warm growing yearly herbaceous plant with vivid blue star - shaped flowers that attract pollinators such as hummingbirds , butterfly , beneficial wasps , hoverflies , love bee , and other bee coinage . Plant borage in a vegetable garden to assist get food crops pollinated .
' Candy Stripe ' world . Photo : Proven Winners
COSMOS (Cosmosspp.)
Zones : Most cosmos are yearly in all zones . Chocolate cosmos is a attender perennial , hardy in Zones 7 - 11.Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright branching habitHeight / Spread:1 to 5 feet marvellous , 1 to 3 feet wideBloom time : summertime until hoar
Cosmos have large subject - confront flush that provide easy access to many type of bees . Other pollinator include butterfly , lacewings , lady beetle , hoverflies , and ground beetles . check cosmos flowers .
Vermillionaire ® cuphea . Photo : Proven Winners
CUPHEA (Cupheaspp.)
Zones : Most cuphea are grown as annuals in all zona , but are sensitive perennials in Zone 8 or above . vulnerability : Full sunHabit : Upright shaggy habitHeight / Spread:1 to 3 feet tall and wideBloom time : Late spring until freeze
Known as cigar plant , hummingbirds find the vividly colored tubular flowers to be irresistible . This one-year , perennial , or shrub blooms nonstop from summer until frost , providing a continuous source of ambrosia for bee and butterflies as well . Learn cuphea .
Pictured : Vermillionaire ® cupheafrom Proven Winners .
Sunstar ® Rose pentas . Photo : Proven Winners .
EGYPTIAN STAR FLOWER (Pentas lanceolata)
geographical zone : Most often grown as an one-year , but tender perennial in Zones 10 - 11Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright mound habitHeight / Spread:1 to 3 feet grandiloquent and wideBloom sentence : Summer
Egyptian star bloom grow nectar - fat clusters of brightly colour mavin - shaped peak . Plants bloom nonstop throughout the summertime until frost , attracting hummingbirds , butterflies , and bees . Grow in container or as a bedding plant . get word Egyptian star flower .
image : Sunstar ® Rose pentasfrom Proven Winners .
' Blue Horizon ' floss flower . Photo : InfoFlowersPlants / Shutterstock
FLOSS FLOWER (Ageratumspp.)
Zones : Most often grown as an annual , but overwinter in Zones 10 - 11Exposure : Full Dominicus to fond shadeHabit : Upright or mounding habitHeight / Spread:4 to 36 column inch improbable , 6 to 18 inches wideBloom time : Late spring to frost
Floss efflorescence has clusters of pompom - mold flowers that come about in shades of aristocratic , pink , white , lavender , and red-faced . Butterflies , bees , and moths are attracted to the fluffy blooms . Learn dental floss flower .
Truffula ™ pinkish genus Gomphrena . picture : Proven winner
GLOBE AMARANTH (Gomphrenaspp.)
Zones : one-year in all zonesExposure : Full sunHabit : vertical or mound habitHeight / Spread:6 to 48 inches tall , 6 to 24 column inch wideBloom time : Early summer to frost
Globe - shaped flowers , which are in reality colour leaf bracts , bloom over a long menstruation of time to support a wide range of bee and butterflies , including sea captain . Learn earth amaranth .
Pictured : Truffula ™ Pink gomphrenafrom Proven Winners .
voluptuous ® Goldengate ™ lantana . Photo : Proven Winners
LANTANA (Lantanaspp.)
Zones:9 - 11 , count on the variety , normally grow as an yearbook in areas with cool wintersExposure : Full sunHabit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:3 to 4 base tall , 1 to 3 feet tall when grown as an yearly ; 2 to 6 feet improbable , 3 to 10 foot broad when grown as a perennial bush . flush meter : Late spring through twilight when grown as an annual ; nearly year - rhythm in frost - free climates
jazz as shrub verbena , this tender recurrent shrub is one of the best flowering plants to attract pollinators , the tropical - hue blossom clump pass for much of the growing season , provide a uninterrupted intellectual nourishment informant for hummingbirds , butterflies , moths , and bee . Learn lantana .
Pictured : Luscious ® Goldengate ™ lantanafrom Proven Winners .
SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus)
Zones : Grown as an annual in all zones . Exposure : Full sunHabit : upright piano habitHeight / Spread:5 to 6 feet improbable , 1 to 1 - 1/2 feet wideBloom time : Summer to fall
Cheerful record - mold bloom are a magnet for honey bee , carpenter bee , Freemason bee , and aboriginal wild bees . Pollinators are attract to the brightly colored petals , scent , and abundant nectar that ’s easy accessible . Learn sunflower .
Pictured : Suncredible ® Yellow sunflowerfrom Proven Winners .
Snow Princess ® sweet alyssum . pic : Proven Winners
SWEET ALYSSUM (Lobularia maritima)
Zones:9 - 11 , unremarkably rise as an annualExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Mounding open habitHeight / Spread:4 to 10 inch marvelous , 10 to 48 inch full , with trailing branch up to 36 inches longBloom time : Spring until frost
Tiny fragrant flowers flower from spring until frost for a continuous seed of ambrosia . angelic alyssum attracts and put up many dissimilar types of bee , butterflies , parasitic wasps , and hoverflies . find out angelic genus Alyssum .
envision : Snow Princess ® " sweet alyssumfrom Proven Winners .
' Queeny Lime Orange ' zinnia . Photo : All - America Selections
ZINNIA (Zinniaspp.)
Zones:10 - 12 , most often develop as an annualExposure : Full sunHabit : Upright or compact bushy habitHeight / Spread:6 to 48 inch tall , 6 to 36 inches wideBloom clip : Summer to ice
bright colored peak pull a wide-cut scope of pollinators including hummingbirds , butterfly , and bees . individual - petaled flower grow more nectar than those with double blooms . Learn zinnias .
SHRUBS FOR POLLINATORS
Sugar Shack ® button bush . photograph : Proven Winners
BUTTON BUSH (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Zones:5 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : upright piano shaggy habitHeight / Spread:5 to 12 feet tall , 4 to 8 feet wideBloom time : Early summer to other crepuscule
One of the good bush for supporting pollinator , this US aboriginal produces fragrant ashen pincushion flowers that appeal to hummingbirds , honey bee , native bees , and butterfly include skippers , swallowtails , fritillaries , and monarchs . Button bush is a host works for several eccentric of good moths . get word buttonbush .
see : Sugar Shack ® button bushfrom Proven Winners .
Low Scape Mound ® chokeberry . Photo : Proven winner
CHOKEBERRY (Aroniaspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:8 inches to 12 feet grandiloquent , 18 inch to 10 feet wideBloom time : springtime
Native to woodlands , bogs , and swamps of the eastern U.S. , chokeberry is a low - upkeep shrub with fragrant white bloom that appear in spring . The blooms are a food root for many pollinators , primarily little bee . Learn chokeberry shrub .
visualise : Low Scape Mound ® chokeberryfrom Proven Winners .
Gatsby Moon ® oakleaf hydrangea . Photo : Proven Winners
OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Zones:5 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : vertical bushy habitHeight / Spread:3 to 8 ft improbable and wideBloom time : former spring to summer , with flower heads endure into fall
This deciduous shrub has showy bloom spike that are a nectar source for bees , wasp , and butterfly . The peeling bark provide sheltered fleck for overwintering pollinating insects . Learn oakleaf hydrangeas .
Pictured : Gatsby Moon ® oakleaf hydrangeafrom Proven Winners .
Vanilla Spice ® summersweet . exposure : Proven winner
SUMMERSWEET (Clethra alnifolia)
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sunshine to fond shadeHabit : Upright shaggy habitHeight / Spread:3 to 8 feet tall , 3 to 6 feet wideBloom prison term : Mid to tardy summer
Summersweet is a deciduous bush that flowers in mid to late summertime at a sentence when many other plants have end up bloom . hummingbird , butterflies , and bee rely on the fragrant white flowers as a recent season intellectual nourishment source . Learn summersweet .
Pictured : Vanilla Spice ® summersweetfrom Proven Winners .
