Last spring, I watched in amazement as my boring backyard transformed into a bustling paradise of butterflies, bees, and even hummingbirds.
The secret? Adding the right plants to attract these wonderful creatures.
If you’re dreaming of a garden filled with the gentle hum of pollinators, I’m excited to share my favorite plants that make it happen!
Top 25 Plants for a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
1. Alliums
These gorgeous plants are like nature’s lollipops! Their perfect globe-shaped flowers never fail to make me smile.
They’re actually related to onions and garlic, but don’t worry – they won’t make your garden smell like a kitchen.
My favorite thing about alliums is how they pop up in spring and keep blooming through summer, bringing in loads of honeybees and other helpful insects.
2. Asters
If you’re looking for a late-season superstar, asters are your best friend.
These native plants produce the sweetest daisy-like flowers in every color imaginable.
What really makes me love them is how they provide crucial late-season nectar for monarch butterflies during their migration – it’s like running a tiny butterfly rest stop!
3. Anise Hyssop
This is hands-down one of my favorite plants for attracting pollinators.
The purple flower spikes smell amazing – like licorice candy – and the bees absolutely go crazy for them.
I’ve counted five different types of bees on mine at once!
4. Bee Balm
Talk about a plant that lives up to its name!
My bee balm patch looks like a party with tubular flowers in red, purple, pink, or white that bring in bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds all day long.
It’s like Grand Central Station for pollinators from late spring through fall.
5. Blazing Star
These tall flower spikes are total showstoppers in my garden.
Native to North America, they’re not just pretty – they’re also incredibly important for local wildlife.
I love watching moths visit in the evening, knowing their babies will munch on the plant too.
6. Catmint
Don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t just for cats!
The mounding habit and blue flowers make it look like waves in my garden, and it blooms forever.
Plus, it’s super tough and can handle both sun and shade.
7. Columbine
These unique spurred flowers look like tiny ballerinas dancing in the spring breeze.
They’re especially important for early-season hummingbirds passing through.
I’ve noticed hawk moths love them too, especially in the evening.
8. Coneflower
These sturdy natives are like an all-you-can-eat buffet for butterflies.
I’ve seen monarchs, fritillaries, and swallowtails all visiting mine.
They’re super easy to grow and keep blooming all summer long.
9. False Indigo
I never knew how stunning false indigo could be until I planted it.
Those tall purple spikes are like nature’s fireworks in late spring.
I love watching the bumblebees work their way up and down each flower spike.
10. Goldenrod
Don’t let anyone tell you goldenrod causes allergies – that’s just a myth!
These yellow plumes are absolute bee magnets in my late summer garden.
Standing up to 7 feet tall, they’re like a golden highway for every pollinator imaginable.
11. Joe Pye Weed
This gentle giant has become my go-to plant for bringing in butterflies.
Growing up to 8 feet tall, it’s like having a butterfly skyscraper in your garden.
I especially love watching monarchs fuel up on it during their fall migration.
12. Lavender
Oh, the heavenly scent of lavender!
This Mediterranean beauty isn’t just for making sachets – it’s one of the best bee-attracting plants I’ve ever grown.
The silvery-green leaves look gorgeous all year, and when it blooms, it’s like having a spa day in your garden.
13. Tickseed
These cheerful flowers never fail to make me smile.
They’re like little sunny faces that bloom their hearts out from late spring to fall.
I’ve noticed carpenter bees and leaf-cutter bees absolutely adore them.
14. Yarrow
This tough-as-nails plant is a pollinator powerhouse in my garden.
The flat-topped flower clusters make perfect landing pads for all sorts of beneficial insects.
I especially love watching tiny beneficial wasps and hoverflies visiting the blooms.
15. Milkweed
If you want to help save monarch butterflies, this is your plant!
Not only do monarchs need it to lay their eggs, but the flowers attract tons of other pollinators too.
Watching caterpillars munch away on the leaves has become one of my favorite summer activities.
16. Borage
This fast-growing herb has surprised me with its popularity among pollinators.
The vivid blue star-shaped flowers look like they’re sprinkled with fairy dust.
Plus, it self-seeds readily, so you’ll get new plants each year without any effort.
17. Cosmos
These easy-going flowers are like the welcome wagon for pollinators.
I love how they dance in the breeze on their tall stems, attracting everything from honeybees to ladybugs.
They keep blooming until frost and make great cut flowers too!
18. Cuphea
Also known as the cigar plant, this is hands-down the best hummingbird magnet I’ve ever grown.
The tubular flowers come in bright colors that seem to glow in the garden.
It blooms non-stop from late spring until frost – talk about getting your money’s worth!
19. Floss Flower
These fluffy little pom-poms are like tiny cheerleaders for pollinators.
They come in the most amazing shades of blue, pink, white, and lavender.
Even though they’re usually grown as annuals, they put on such a show that they’re worth replanting every year.
20. Globe Amaranth
These flowers look like they belong in a Dr. Seuss book!
Their perfect little globe shapes come in the brightest colors imaginable.
I particularly love watching skipper butterflies dart from bloom to bloom.
21. Lantana
This is my secret weapon for attracting butterflies.
The clusters of tiny flowers change color as they age, creating a beautiful kaleidoscope effect.
In warm areas, it can grow into a stunning shrub that blooms practically year-round.
22. Sunflower
Nothing says summer quite like sunflowers!
These gentle giants are absolute bee magnets – I’ve counted five different types of native bees on one flower head.
Plus, after the pollinators are done, the birds come for the seeds.
23. Sweet Alyssum
This low-growing sweetie creates a carpet of tiny fragrant flowers.
It’s perfect for hanging baskets or garden edges where you can enjoy its honey-like scent.
The tiny flowers are especially popular with smaller beneficial insects like parasitic wasps and hoverflies.
24. Zinnia
These are my go-to flowers for filling empty garden spaces.
They’re like butterfly magnets on stems, and they come in every color except blue.
Pro tip: choose single-flowered varieties for the best pollinator access.
25. Oakleaf Hydrangea
This native shrub is the gift that keeps on giving.
Not only does it feed pollinators with its summer flowers, but its peeling bark provides cozy winter shelter for beneficial insects.
I love how the flower spikes start white and slowly age to pink, giving months of changing color.