The importance of pollinators in the natural world cannot be overstated. From bees to birds, bats, and butterflies, pollinators are responsible for the pollination of plants, which is essential to the health of the environment and the production of food.
In order to attract these essential pollinators, gardeners can choose flowers that are known to attract them. In this article, we’ll explore the best flowers to attract bees and other pollinators to your garden.
1. Bee Balm
Bee balm is a must-have in any garden looking to attract a healthy bee population. One of the best plants for bees, it grows easily in most climates and will flower vigorously throughout the summer.
Bee balm can be grown from seeds as well as root cuttings. However, be sure that you plant it in a nice, sunny spot in the garden for it to be successful.
Purchase the seeds online.
2. Black-Eyed Susan
Picture via commons.wikimedia.org
This beautiful flower is a popular pollinator-attracting plant. Black-eyed Susan will generously prosper in full sun and soil that drains well.
This flowering plant will give you colors that attract butterflies and other pollinators. Moreover, they grow from seeds or stem cuttings.
3. Sedum (Stonecrop)
These low-maintenance succulents thrive easily with little care on your part. Sedum, also called stonecrop, will flower from early summer to late fall, attracting bees during that entire time.
One of the many nice things about sedum is that there are many varieties [2]. Therefore, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find one that will thrive in your climate and growing space.
Additionally, these bee-attracting plants grow practically anywhere in well-drained soil in a sunny spot. Utilize these pollinating flowers as eye-catching ground covers around trees or as a nice border in your garden.
4. Goldenrod
Among the best flowers for bees and butterflies, this perennial attracts large populations of pollinators because it’s a great source of both pollen and nectar.
Goldenrod is not the most common plant. However, if you add them to your landscaping, you will enjoy beautiful flowers from late summer to early fall. Moreover, they also attract bats.
5. Butterfly Bush
Among the flowers that attract bees and butterflies, the butterfly bush also attracts hummingbirds and moths.
Moreover, you can find it in additional colors such as blue, orange, and white. The purple flowers will also attract wasps.
Depending on your climate, butterfly bush may grow as a bush or as a tree. However, this purple bush prefers the sun but can also survive in partial shade.
It will require a bit of maintenance on your part, but it will be well worth the effort. Furthermore, you can grow them from seeds or cuttings.
6. Coneflower
Coneflower will help attract pollinators throughout its entire flowering season. These bee-pollinator flowers will grow tall and can thrive in a variety of soil types.
Purchase the seeds online.
7. Joe-Pye Weed
Not actually a weed, Joe-Pye Weed puts forth flowers that attract honey bees. Moreover, they will make a stunning addition to your garden, flowerbed, walkway, or wherever you plant them.
The plant comes in different varieties. Although these pollinating flowers can survive in partial shade, they mostly prefer a sunny spot in your yard.
8. Lavender
A fragrant and colorful plant for pollinators, lavender is very successful at attracting bumble bees, honey bees, and other beneficial insects.
The herb blooms from late spring to summer and can be grown year-round if you have a hot and dry climate. Besides, lavender can even tolerate low to moderately fertile soils.
You can plant them in containers or in the ground, and they’ll do well either way.
Purchase lavender seeds online.
9. Snowdrops
If you’re looking for a flower that will be ready as soon as the pollinators are, snowdrops are excellent.
These honey bee flowers start blooming in late winter, sometimes even before the snow has melted (hence the name). However, snowdrops prefer partial shade and well-drained soil.
10. Crocus
Among the flowers that pollinate, Crocus makes an appearance from late winter to early spring, depending on the variety.
You can find them in colors including lavender, blue, purple, yellow, white, and even pink. Besides, they make quite a statement in your yard.
After planting the bulbs in early fall and providing plenty of water, you won’t need to do much to have these beautiful flowers thrive.
11. Sunflowers
Do sunflowers attract bees? Yes, they are flowers that bees love. Not only are sunflowers beautiful and fascinating to look at, but they are also excellent for attracting pollinators.
Look for sunflower seeds that are native to your climate zone, and be sure to plant them after the last possible frost. They grow well in tropical and subtropical climates.
12. Cranesbills
Cranesbills (hardy geraniums) have a long flowering season, taking a break only in winter. However, these plants will need light shade or full morning sun.
Moreover, they will bloom in beautiful shades of pink, purple, blue, or white.
To keep them healthy and attractive to pollinators for as long as possible, make sure they get regular watering but are not waterlogged. Also, prune the plants when necessary.
13. Catmint
Contrary to what its name implies, catmint attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, not cats.
Catmint is a heat- and drought-tolerant plant that can have a long growing season, especially if you trim it about halfway through.
The plant blooms in beautiful shades of violet, lilac, blue, pink, and white.
Purchase catmint seeds online.
14. Foxglove
Picture via commons.wikimedia.org
Foxgloves have a tubular appearance and are very successful at attracting bumblebees and other pollinators.
Moreover, they are biennials that live for one to two years and can survive in nearly any climate.
These vertical growers can be grown from seeds and prefer well-fertilized soil in sun or shade.
15. Borage
Borage is not only pretty but also a fairly low-maintenance flower that attracts pollinators. Additionally, it is drought-resistant and can survive in many climates.
Not only are the blue-colored, star-shaped flowers a nice addition to your garden, but the leaves and flowers of this herb are also edible. Eat them raw or steamed. They also taste very similar to cucumbers.
Purchase borage seeds online.
16. Pansies
If you plant pansies, you’ll enjoy their beauty from spring through fall.
They grow from seeds and are available in a wide variety of colors. Pollinators love pansies and will thank you for planting them.
Pansies will need full sun (at least 6 hours daily) and a fairly mild climate. However, they will maintain themselves pretty easily once established.
17. Peony
For a nice spring-through-summer flower that grows in most climates, peonies are excellent bee flowers.
They prefer full sun and, once established, will emit a lovely fragrance that is attractive to bees as well as hummingbirds. They also benefit from cold weather to help their bud formation, but be sure to keep them out of harsh winds.
18. Phlox
All varieties of Phlox attract bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. As such, these make for a beautiful and excellent addition to any garden hoping to attract more pollinators.
Night-blooming Phlox attracts bats and moths.
19. Nasturtium
With edible flowers and leaves and vibrant colors, nasturtiums make a great addition to your home for you and the pollinators.
They do well in poorer soils, so save the least-ideal soil for them, and they’ll be just fine, as long as they get regular water.
These bee-friendly plants grow from seeds in most climates and flower in the summer through late fall. They will also need full sun to thrive.
Purchase nasturtium seeds online.
20. Chives
Easy to grow in pots, chive flowers provide nectar for leafcutter bees, honey bees, bumblebees, and mason bees. Moreover, they are fast-growing, and their pretty purple flowers are edible.
Order the chive seeds online.
21. Marigolds
Both types of marigolds are a source of food for honey bees and other pollinating insects. Moreover, marigolds help control bad bugs and attract beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps, hoverflies, and ladybugs.
Buy marigold seeds online.
22. Rosemary
Great for nectar-feeding flies and butterflies, rosemary also attracts bees and other pollinators. Moreover, it blooms throughout the spring and summer, and sometimes even in the wintertime.
Purchase rosemary seeds online.
23. Common Yarrow
A brilliant addition to your pollinator garden, the common narrow attracts all kinds of pollinators, no matter where you plant it. Additionally, the plant is used in different parts of the world to treat various ailments.
Takeaway
Adding bushes, shrubs, or flowers that bees and pollinators love to or around your garden will help attract them almost year-round. With that said, plant some of these plants in your yard and garden, and both you and the bees will be happier.
Fantastic list! Thanks so much.