10 Drought-Tolerant Pollinator Plants

Growing pollinator plants can be tough if you live in a hot climate or an area with frequent droughts. While you could keep them alive with extra water, there’s an easier way: create a pollinator garden with drought-tolerant flowers.

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Here are 10 drought-tolerant pollinator plants:

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Coneflower

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Echinacea, or Purple Coneflower, is a hardy, low-maintenance plant that thrives in various conditions and boosts both human immunity and pollinator activity. It's a hit with hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies thanks to its nectar-rich, colorful blooms.

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• Botanical Name: Echinacea
• Hardiness Zones: 3-9
• Exposure to sunlight: Full Sun

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Catmint

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Catmint is an easy-care plant that makes a great border, needs little water, and won't attract deer or rodents. Its purple flowers, a favorite of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, bloom from late spring into fall.

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• Botanical Name: Nepeta
• Hardiness Zones: 3-8
• Exposure to sunlight: Full Sun

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Salvia

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Salvia, also known as sage, is a versatile, long-blooming plant that thrives even in the heat of summer. This hardy, drought-tolerant plant, which comes in various sizes and flower colors, is a magnet for hummingbirds, bumblebees, and butterflies.

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• Botanical Name: Salvia
• Hardiness Zones: 4-10
• Exposure to sunlight: Full Sun to Part Sun

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Lavender

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Despite its reputation, lavender is easy to grow in hot, dry climates and poor soil. If you're in a humid area, try container growing; it's low maintenance, bee-friendly, and can even influence your honey's flavor.

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• Botanical Name: Lavendula
• Hardiness Zones: 5-9
• Exposure to sunlight: Full Sun

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Russian Sage

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Russian Sage is a heat-loving, low-maintenance plant that blooms purple flowers throughout the summer. It's a favorite among pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, especially when placed near pollen plants.

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• Botanical Name: Petrovskia atriplicifolia
• Hardiness Zones: 4-9
• Exposure to sunlight: Full Sun

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Sweet Almond Bush

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Sweet Almond Bush, a resilient, drought-tolerant plant is actually not related to almonds. It smells like almond soap, blooms throughout the summer and fall, and is a big hit with bees!

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• Botanical Name: Aloysia virgata
• Hardiness Zones: 8-11
• Exposure to sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade

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Black-eyed Susan

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Black-eyed Susans are sturdy, drought-resistant plants that bloom quickly from seeds, making them a great choice for attracting a variety of pollinators, including honey bees and butterflies.

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• Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta
• Hardiness Zones: 3-10
• Exposure to sunlight: Full Sun

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Moss Rose

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Moss Rose is a low-maintenance, semi-succulent plant from South America, known for its varied, rose-like flowers. It not only attracts beneficial insects like bees and butterflies but is also resistant to pests and diseases.

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• Botanical Name: Portulaca grandiflora
• Hardiness Zones: 3-9 as Annual, 10-11 as Perennial
• Exposure to sunlight: Full Sun

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Milkweed

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Milkweed is the top choice for your pollinator plants garden if you're a Monarch butterfly fan, as it's their favorite spot to lay eggs. Although it might not be the prettiest, watching these caterpillars transform your garden into a butterfly haven makes it all worth it.

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• Botanical Name: Asclepias
• Hardiness Zones: 4-9
• Exposure to sunlight: Full Sun

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Globemallow

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Globemallow, a long-blooming perennial, stands out for its drought tolerance and its role as a crucial food source for pollinators. It features grayish-green leaves and bright orange flowers, attracting a variety of bees and butterflies.

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• Botanical Name: Sphaeralcea
• Hardiness Zones: 4-9
• Exposure to sunlight: Full Sun

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