Top Pollinator Plants That Will Attract Bees and Butterflies

The susurrus of cicadas, the nightly chorus of frog song, and the chirp of katydids – all are indicative of summer and its golden hours. With the exception of pests, insect activity adds a dynamic facet to the garden. Pollinators are crucial to the environment, contributing to ecological diversity; without them, entire systems would collapse. 

A garden that is aflutter with butterflies is better than a sterile garden with just pretty flowers. Some pollinator plants extend into fall, ensuring color in the later months. Don’t limit yourself to just daytime plants – night blooming flowers attract a medley of nocturnal pollinators like moths and look like they’re threaded with moonlight. 

Here are some of the top pollinator plants that will bring in bees and butterflies to the garden. 

 

1. Bee Balm         

Bee balm, also known as wild bergamot, stuns meadows with its blazing spikes when planted en masse. The go-to destination for a slew of pollinators, bee balm is popular with butterflies, clearwing hummingbird moths, and hummingbirds. A stalwart perennial, it’ll come back year after year. Near its end, it can look ratty, but for the most part, it displays striking blooms. Besides being a key pollinator plant, it is used in traditional herbal remedies to treat colds and flu. 

2. Yarrow  

Yarrow may not be as luxuriant as some of the other denizens of the garden, but its rustic elegance sets it apart in its own way – its mat of flowerheads draws in bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects throughout the summer. Unlike some of the other plants, whose delicate nature can make gardeners leery, yarrow is extremely reliable. It can thrive in most conditions other than overly rich, wet soil.  

3. Orange Flowering Tea Olive

Orange flowering olive is a fragrant shrub that bears clusters of creamsicle-colored flowers that are attractive to bees. The flowers sadly don’t smell like citrus, but have an apricot-like fragrance. It can be grown as a shrub or small tree, used as hedges, or with other pollinator-attracting plants. In China, flowers are used to scent tea. 

4. Tuscan Blue Rosemary 

Lavender and salvia are all too common in gardens; instead, opt for Tuscan Blue rosemary, a variety of rosemary that produces pretty spires of lavender-blue flowers. Once established, it is highly drought tolerant, making it ideal for sun-beaten Mediterranean-themed gardens that contain a medley of waterwise plants. It can only be grown outdoors year-round in zones 8 – 11, so make sure to grow in a rolling planter and bring indoors for the winter. 

5.  Lantana  

Lantanas are a landing pad for pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Mary Ann lantana is a variety featuring pretty pink flowers intermixed with yellow, and it has improved cold hardiness. While many lantanas are invasive, this lantana is fine, particularly if you’re growing in colder climates. It’s suitable for en masse plantings, rapidly developing a mounding habit that can be easily sculpted into shape. 

6. Zinnias 

One of the best annuals for attracting pollinators, zinnias are prized for their upright blooms. Zinnias can grow surprisingly tall, with varieties reaching 3 to 6 ft in height. They also resemble dahlias to some extent, but with none of the fuss, making them a quick, easy way to fill up garden beds with color. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage the production of new blooms. Seed mixes produce a wide array of colors, perfect for gardeners who want a bit of everything. 

7. Alliums  

If you find those bothersome rabbits encroaching on your turf too often, it’s time to plant alliums. Bees and butterflies flock to alliums in troves, drawn to their pollen-rich blooms, while deer and rabbits are warded off. Purple Sensation is topped with spherical globes that are darker and more intense in color than other allium varieties. 

8. Cosmos 

Cosmos are one of these plants that can be scattered haphazardly in the garden, yet will still yield plenty of airy blossoms. Its open-faced flowers are a beacon for a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects like hoverflies and lacewings. While the latter may not be as appealing, they help curtail pest populations.  

9. Hardy Fuchsia 

If you live in a moderate climate, hardy fuchsia is a recommended plant to grow. Its specialized, tubular flowers are primarily pollinated by hummingbirds, but will also attract a variety of secondary insect pollinators. Occasionally, you may see butterflies flitting among the less tightly-packed varieties; the white-lined sphinx moth, also visits hardy fuchsias for nectar.

10. Parsley and Dill  

Ladybugs are often overlooked, but they are just as important. The white blooms of dill, fennel, and parsley are a pollinator magnet for those flighty beetles. Both dill and parsley prefer well-drained, organic soil. 

11. Virginia Mountain Mint  

When it comes to attracting a bevy of insects, mountain mints are the clear winner. Whenever you go sightseeing in the garden, you’ll notice the wispy spires dotted with many insects, some that are unusual in nature. Virginia mountain mint is generally not an aggressive spreader, though you can grow it in raised garden beds for peace of mind. 

12. Rattlesnake Master 

Named for the erroneous belief that it served as a powerful antidote to rattlesnake venom, the sap of rattlesnake master was used in Native American ceremonies to prevent snakebites. The flowers themselves are odd, with a passing resemblance to sea holly, yet its strength lies in its ability to attract pollinators. Few plants rival rattlesnake master’s ability to attract insects, including uniquely-pattered species such as the Eryngium stem-borer moth. Despite its unusual appearance, it’ll look at home with a mass of coneflowers and black-eyed susans in no time.