If you’re looking for the best plants for pollinators, try goldenrod. This late-season plant provides the nectar that pollinators love. Its stiff goldenrod was a standout in a recent pollinator study, competing with mountain mint for pollinator diversity. Goldenrod grows five feet tall and does well on average to dry soil. Its yellow flowers attract butterflies and bees to feed on its nectar.
Sedum
The tall, succulent herbaceous perennial, Sedum, is an excellent choice for attracting butterflies and other pollinators to your garden. Its clusters of scented purple flowers look lovely against low-light areas and attract bees and butterflies. Sedum is a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t require staking and will thrive in any soil type, but prefers full sun or partial shade. In winter, the dried flower heads remain on the stem, catching snow on top.
The tall form of Sedum can be pruned back before it blooms to avoid it from falling over. If your garden receives full sun, prune it back before July 1. This will also prevent it from blooming too early, which may be a problem in years with early summer temperatures and unseasonably cool conditions in July and August. Tall sedum has numerous varieties, including ‘Vera Jameson’, which has pink flowers and purple foliage.
A popular Sedum variety is Dragon’s Blood. It has deep purple foliage that turns red in autumn. Its clusters of flowers bloom from midsummer to late fall. Another rare variety, Sedum grisebachii, has fine foliage that forms a low mat and a distinctive translucent bump on the end of the leaf. It is a drought-resistant perennial and is ideal for rock gardens and succulent container gardens.
Oregano
If you’re interested in raising pollinators, the best plants for them are those that are fragrant and have flowers that attract pollinators. A study conducted in Jordan found that pollinators are attracted to the flowers of Oregano syriacum, also known as Bible hyssop and Lebanese oregano. Besides honeybees, the plant also attracts other insects, primarily hymenopterans.
Oregano is an aromatic perennial herb native to the Mediterranean region that attracts honeybees. Ideally, it grows in full sun and soil that is well-draining. In addition to being a great plant for pollinators, oregano is also used as an antibiotic and adds a punch of flavor to Greek cuisines. Another popular herb that attracts pollinators is rosemary, a perennial evergreen shrub. While not as fragrant as oregano, rosemary is especially beneficial to pollinators. Additionally, rosemary is used in cooking to improve memory and concentration.
This perennial herb grows well in most climates and is deer resistant. It also forms a good walking ground cover and is suitable for planting in minor paths and under fruit trees. This multipurpose plant will make a great living mulch for perennial gardens and can be propagated from cuttings or seed. This plant is highly adaptable, growing to four feet and beyond. For those who don’t have much space, you can grow it in containers or in a balcony.
Wild geranium
Wild geranium is an excellent choice for pollinators because its flowers self-pollinate when pollinators are not present. They mature for cross-pollination when pollinators are present. After flowers open, the outer and inner rows of anthers develop. By the third or fourth day, the stigma has become receptive. This flower attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Wild geranium has a flowering period of about a month, extending from late spring into early summer. The flowers appear in clusters of two or five flowers at the end of short stems. They have five rounded petals and ten yellow stamens. These flowers are attractive to a wide variety of pollinators, including native bees, bumblebees, sweat bees, mining bees, and honey bees.
The wild geranium is one of the earliest native plants to bloom in spring. This flower attracts a variety of bee species and thrives in little sunlight. Purple coneflower blooms for up to two months and attracts a wide variety of pollinators. It is easy to grow and tolerates clay and dry soil. You can also plant ‘Brookside’ if you are growing this plant for pollination purposes.
Prairie spiderwort
The prairie spiderwort is one of the most popular flowers for bees, with its deep blue blooms in late spring and early summer. It has very low maintenance requirements and grows well in most soil types, including clay. Its flowers open in the early morning, but they close by the time the sun is high in the sky. This allows the flowers to last longer and attract more pollinators.
There are numerous other prairie plants to attract a variety of insects. One of the most prominent is the white wild indigo. This white-flowered cousin of the blue wild indigo was historically used to make blue dye. It also grows in large numbers throughout the region, including several members of the pea family. Other important plant families include sunflower, sedge, and grass. In addition to prairie spiderwort, prairie plants are important for pollinators. Bumblebees pollinate these flowers by pushing the lower part of the flower, known as the keel.
This perennial plant is a favorite of bees, which love the tiny purple flowers. It grows to about 2 feet tall and spreads to 10 feet, and it attracts a variety of other insects as well. It also has a wide range of flowers, including the monarch butterfly, as well as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It is not a problem to grow it in the garden if you live in a cool climate, and can even overwinter it indoors if needed.
Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’
While native smooth hydrangeas are the best choice for pollinators, most cultivars lack the beneficial characteristics pollinators need. For example, hybridized plants may not offer enough nectar and fragrance, and double-flowering cultivars contain less pollen. A companion plant to hydrangeas is Borage, an edible annual herb. Borage is a great food for bees and other pollinators, and will complement the beauty of this plant.
The dark green foliage of this hydrangea is a perfect backdrop for attracting pollinators. The white flowers are fragrant and bloom in late summer. Its blooms are eight to 10 feet wide and grow between 30 and 40 feet high. It is a versatile plant, suited for zones three to eight. Its blooms are pollinator-friendly, and it can tolerate many different soil types.
The smooth hydrangea is a common plant in gardens. They bloom on new wood and are usually pruned back in the winter to promote vigorous growth in spring. Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ is a well-proportioned mounding cultivar that produces massive clusters of fragrant sterile flowers. Unfortunately, pollinators won’t appreciate the sterile flowers, so consider this when planning your landscape.
Heracleum lanatum
Heracleum lanatum is one of the most important flowering plants for pollinators. The small, white flowers attract a wide variety of insects to your garden. Its large, flat umbels are packed with thousands of tiny white flowers and blooms in early spring. The plants are excellent sources of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators.
The plant grows up to 50 centimetres (20 in) tall and has a hollow stem and bristly hairs. Its leaves are once or twice pinnate and serrated. It produces flower umbels that are flat-topped and divided into three to five lobed segments. These plants are also a great source of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Seven-Son Tree
The Seven-Son Flower is an attractive small tree that blooms in mid to late summer. It attracts bees, butterflies, and beetles to its fragrant white flowers. The flowers have red bracts, which appear like a second set of blooms. After a couple of weeks, the flowers fade and the tree goes dormant. By late fall, it is a gray-tan peeling tree. These flowers attract so many pollinators, the tree is in demand as a plant.
A popular choice for gardeners and landscape designers, the Seven-Son Tree has a simple yet effective flowering habit. Its leaves are disease-resistant and remain attractive throughout the year. The Seven-Son Tree produces fragrant white flowers in spring, which are followed by large red sepals in late summer. The Seven-Son Tree is hardy in zones five to nine. The Seven-Son Tree was first discovered in 1907 by Ernest Wilson and then sent to the Arnold Arboretum to be evaluated. After a short period of neglect, it was forgotten and replanted in the Arnold Arboretum.
Purple coneflower
Whether you are looking for a native plant that will attract bees, butterflies, or birds, you should consider planting a purple coneflower. Its daisy-like flowers have dark purple petals and a dark cone-shaped center. This plant blooms from midsummer through the fall. It grows in USDA plant hardiness zones three through nine. It attracts pollinators by collecting and carrying pollen from the flower to the next flower.
The genus Echinacea contains 11 species of flowering plants, including the purple coneflower. Their common name, echinos, is derived from the spiky cone-shaped seed in the flowerhead. While the species echinacea purpurea is most commonly grown, hybrids are available in a wide array of flower colors and shapes. In fact, the top chart shows a high percentage of seed-propagated cultivars.
The tufted flowers are available in many colors, including lavender, blue, and pink. These bumblebee and butterfly-friendly flowers are ideal for both small and large gardens. Their large flower centres attract bees and butterflies to feed. These plants are easy to grow, and tolerate soil conditions ranging from clay to moderate moisture. They are also suitable for climates zone three through eight. Its blooms can last up to two months, making it a great choice for gardens of any size.
