14 Pollinator Plants to Bring Color to Your Garden

When we think of pollinators, we mostly think of bees. But they come in many shapes and sizes and can be birds, animals, or insects. They transport pollen from one pollinator flower to another which allows plants to breed with one another and produce strong and healthy seeds.

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We can make our gardens pollinator-friendly by choosing suitable plants. The selection of these plants relies on our location and the amount of sunlight our gardens receive.

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Pollinator plants that need full sun

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Zinnia

Bees and hoverflies love vibrant Zinnias, which flourish in sunny spots and bloom from summer to fall, providing a long-lasting food source for pollinators.

Zones: 1-11

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Coneflower (Echinacea)

Perennial, deer-resistant Coneflowers are native to the U.S. Bees and butterflies love these plants, which people can grow from seeds. They come back every year and bloom in late summer.

Zones: 3-9

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Goldenrod (Solidago)

Goldenrod, a nectar-rich plant, attracts various pollinators. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It provides beautiful pollinator flowers from summer to early fall.

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Blazing Star (Liatris Spicata)

A range of pollinators are attracted to the Blazing Star, a native prairie plant with purple-pink flowers. People can grow it from corms or seeds, which they need to sow in early spring after cold storage. The seeds germinate in about six weeks.

Zones: 3-9

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Foothill Penstemon (Penstemon Heterophyllus)

Various pollinators are drawn to the drought-resistant Foothill Penstemon, a wildflower native to California. This plant is ideal for coastal and rock gardens. People can propagate it from seeds, cuttings, or by dividing mature plants.

Zones: 7-10

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Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)

This native plant, with its cone-shaped pollinator flowers, supports monarchs, fritillaries, swallowtails, and painted ladies through its sweet nectar.

Zones: 3-9

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Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Sunflowers, with their brightly colored, disc-shaped flowers, are attractive to various types of bees because of their abundant nectar and appealing scent.

Zones: Grown as an annual in all zones

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Pollinator plants that can grow in partial Shade

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Milkweed (Asclepias Spp.)

Milkweed, a North American wildflower, serves as a food source for the Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillar. It grows well in light or partial shade and can be propagated from seed, making it a perfect plant for pollinators.

Zones: 3-10

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Aster (Symphyotrichum spp.)

Asters are vibrant perennials that draw birds and pollinators. You can grow these plants from seeds. They thrive in full sun or light shade and bloom from late summer to early fall.

Zones: 3-9

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Sweet Joe-Pye Weed – Eutrochium Purpureum

Sweet Joe-Pye weed, a US native plant, attracts bees and butterflies. You can grow it best from spring cuttings and its roots typically set in about 6 weeks.

Zones: 3-8

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Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)

Bee Balm, a North American native, is a vibrant perennial that pollinators love. It's known for its minty citrus scent, a variety of bright colors, and its ability to thrive in part to full sun and moist, well-draining soil.

Zones: 3-9

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Catmint (Nepeta spp.)

Catmint provides a nectar source for pollinators like honeybees and hummingbirds, and it also deters pests. It thrives in full sun to part shade and blooms nearly continuously from spring to fall with proper care.

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Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)

Columbine, an early bloomer, provides a nectar source for migrating Ruby-throated Hummingbirds traveling north from Central America and arriving in the US between mid-March and early May.

Zones: 3-9

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False Indigo (Baptisia spp.)

False Indigo, a native plant with colorful pea-like flowers, provides a nectar source for bees and serves as a larval host for various butterflies and moths.

Zones: 4-9