Sasha CampbellWant to turn your garden into a haven for bees, wasps, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other helpful pollinators? Planting perennial flowers is a fantastic way to do it.
These plants bring vibrant color yearly. They also provide reliable sources of nectar and pollen throughout the seasons.
Even better, many perennials are low-maintenance and easy to grow. This makes them ideal for both new and experienced gardeners.
Below is a list of 35 perennial plants for pollinators.
1. Anise Hyssop
Bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds will go after Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum).
It produces tall spikes of purple, pink, red, or even orange flowers throughout the summer. This perennial herbaceous plant also thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil [1].
2. Asters
Blooming in late summer to fall, asters are crucial for pollinators preparing for winter.
They produce daisy-like flowers that come in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white. Asters offer a vital nectar source when other flowers have faded.
3. Aquilegia (Columbine)
Columbines bloom in early spring. They have delicate, nodding flowers that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bumblebees.
Their unique shape and wide range of colors make for a beautiful addition to any pollinator garden.
4. Astilbe
These shade-tolerant plants bloom with feathery plumes in pink, deep red, or white.
Some moths, bees, and butterflies are happy to gather nectar from astilbe flowers nestled under trees.
5. Aubrieta (Rock Cress)
Aubrieta is an early bloomer that offers a carpet of purple, pink, white, or blue flowers. It is perfect for rock gardens or borders.
Bees especially enjoy this low-growing beauty in spring.
6. Bee Balm (Wild Bergamot)
True to its name, bee balm is great to add to your pollinator-friendly garden. It is a favorite of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Its shaggy flowers come in red, pink, purple, lavender, and white. It adds a wild, cottage-style feel to your garden.
7. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia Hirta)
A pollinator favorite, this sunny yellow flower with a dark center blooms for weeks.
It attracts butterflies, bees, wasps, and other beneficial insects.
8. Bleeding Heart
With its heart-shaped pink and white blooms, this early spring bloomer is attractive to bumblebees. It thrives in partial to full shade.
9. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees love these pollinator-friendly flowers.
With their large daisy-like flowers and spiny centers, they provide a rich nectar source all summer long.
10. Campanula (Bellflower)
Campanula is known for its bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, purple, or white. Bees adore them, and they often rebloom with a bit of deadheading.
11. Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint has soft gray-green foliage and purple flower spikes. It is irresistible to bees.
It also blooms profusely and can thrive in harsh conditions.
12. Coreopsis (Tickseed)
Coreopsis is another plant that is great for attracting pollinators.
This drought-tolerant plant comes in a variety of colors, like orange, purple, pink, yellow, and red [2]. Its long blooming period makes it an excellent food source for pollinators all season.
13. Creeping Phlox
Creeping phlox is one of the earliest perennials to bloom in spring.
It is a low-growing ground cover. Its vibrant pink, purple, or white flowers are perfect for early-season pollinators.
14. Crocosmia
This bold, bright flower attracts hummingbirds like a magnet. Its fiery red, orange, or yellow blossoms add a tropical flair to summer gardens.
15. Daylilies
Butterflies and bees appreciate the bright colors and nectar-rich centers of daylilies.
Individual blooms last only a day. However, the plants produce many flowers throughout the summer.
16. Delphinium
Some varieties are especially good for pollinators, attracting bumblebees and hummingbirds.
Their tall spikes of blue, purple, pink, white, or even yellow flowers are attractive. Just be sure to provide support for these tall growers.
17. Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Echinops is also among the perennial flowers for pollinators. Its striking blue spheres are drought-tolerant and are beloved by bees and butterflies.
They also add a dramatic flair to your flowerbeds.
18. Eryngium (Sea Holly)
With spiky, metallic blue flowers, sea holly may not look inviting to some humans. However, pollinators cannot resist.
It’s also great for dry or poor soil conditions.
19. Foxglove
These tall, bell-shaped blooms are highly sought after by bees. You may see bumblebees climbing into these deep flowers.
Foxgloves bloom in late spring and early summer.
20. True Geraniums (Cranesbill)
Not to be confused with annual geraniums, true geraniums are hardy perennials with long bloom times. Their delicate flowers also attract a variety of pollinators.
21. Geums
These cheery, low-growing perennials bloom in shades of orange, yellow, red, and even pink. Bees and butterflies are drawn to their bright, simple flowers.
22. Hellebores (Lenten Roses)
Hellebores bloom in very early spring, offering nectar when little else is available. Their nodding blooms also provide shelter for visiting insects.
23. Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Heucheras add color to shady spots with their colorful foliage and airy flower spikes. Hummingbirds and bees enjoy the tiny blooms.
24. Hostas
Hostas are grown chiefly for their foliage. However, they also produce bell-like flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees [3].
They bloom in summer and can survive in deep shade.
25. Milkweed
A must-have for monarch butterflies, milkweed is the only plant monarch caterpillars will eat [4]. Its fragrant flowers also attract bees and other butterflies.
26. Penstemon (Beardtongue Plant)
Penstemon’s tubular flowers are ideal for hummingbirds and native bees.
These plants come in a variety of colors. They also tolerate well-drained, slightly alkaline soil.
27. Joe Pye Weed
Not a weed, Joe Pye weed is a towering native perennial. It produces large, fluffy mauve or pink-purple flowers that are rich in nectar.
Butterflies, especially, flock to it.
28. Liatris (Blazing Star)
Liatris features tall spikes of fuzzy, purple blooms that bloom from the top down.
Bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds adore this native wildflower.
29. Russian Sage
Russian sage is both drought-tolerant and bee-friendly.
It sends out airy, purple-blue flowers and grayish-silvery-green foliage. Moreover, it blooms late in the season (mid-summer to fall) and requires minimal maintenance.
30. Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)
These delicate-looking flowers bloom for months and are loved by butterflies and bees alike. They come in soft pastel shades that blend easily with other plants.
31. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum also provides a much-needed nectar source for pollinators when many other plants are fading. They are lovely in late summer and fall.
32. Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisies are classic garden flowers that are irresistible to bees and butterflies. They have bold white petals and bright yellow centers.
33. Verbena (Vervain)
Verbena’s clusters of tiny blooms are rich in nectar, attracting a wide variety of butterflies. They bloom over a long period and do well in hot, sunny spots.
34. Yarrow (Achillea)
Yarrow flowers bloom in flat-topped clusters.
They attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial predatory insects. They are also drought-tolerant and come in a variety of colors.
35. Goldenrod
Goldenrod is also a powerhouse for pollinators.
Its bright yellow flower clusters bloom in late summer and fall. That’s just when bees and butterflies are fueling up before winter.
This plant is easy to grow. It is also drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun.
Takeaway
A pollinator-friendly garden is more than just beautiful; it is vital.
Plant a mix of perennials that bloom from spring to fall. These will attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other helpful insects.
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