Most people know that bees are absolutely essential to a balanced ecosystem and to food production. Let’s not forget that butterflies are important, too, as they pollinate our flowering species and perpetuate symbiotic relationships with native plants.
Really, all pollinators are critical to environmental balance, including flies, ants, and even bats. Many of these species are declining, from honey bees to monarch butterflies, likely due to habitat loss and pesticide use.
The good news is that you can help by planting flowering species that feed these critters, and you’ll love their beautiful blooms just as much as our winged friends. We’ve gathered a list of showy, eye-catching flowering plants that bees and butterflies love to get you started.
Butterfly Weed
If you’ve got butterflies on your mind, then you simply must start with butterfly weed, a species of milkweed. This is one of the more widespread species of milkweed, native to most of the United States. Monarchs rely on milkweed, and planting a species native to your state is most helpful.
This herbaceous perennial is fairly showy, too. In spring and summer, it produces clusters of small, orange, star-shaped flowers that pop against the bright green foliage. Sometimes the flowers lean a bit more yellow.
Bee Balm
Monarda species, otherwise known as bee balm or bergamot, are pretty much bee magnets, with fragrant flowers in a handful of colors. These perennials are native and in the mint family, so they’re super easy to grow.
Bold bee balm blooms are often red, pink, or purple, emerging at the tip of stalks in spring and summer. In ideal growing conditions, expect these natives to spread quickly from both rhizomes and seeds. You can divide your plants every few years if desired.
Dalea
Another option that is great for butterflies is Dalea purpurea, which is often called prairie clover or purple prairie clover. It’s a perennial forb with tall stems that produce flower spikes, though these spikes open in succession over the course of summer.
It’s not uncommon to spot daleas swarming with pollinators. This is a native species with habitats in midwestern prairies. It’s used to control erosion in disturbed sites, and works well as a forage plant for livestock. There are so many benefits to growing dalea.
Yarrow
Pollinators love yarrow, a common herbaceous perennial that grows in most of the United States. You’ll discover yarrow both growing on the side of the highway and in neighbors’ yards; it’s extremely versatile and low-maintenance.
Yarrow species have flat corymbs, with cultivars available in pretty much every warm color. While the most standard yarrow is white, you can also find it with red, yellow, and pink blooms. Not sure which to choose? Try ‘Colorado Blend’ for an array of different hues.
Coneflower
You can pretty much never go wrong with coneflower, a native plant with classic, bold showy flowers that are loved by bees, butterflies, and any other passersby. The most common coneflowers are pale purple or pink, but you can find them in red, yellow, and white, too.
These perennials can reach about four feet tall and bloom all summer long. For a dainty white flower that will complement any other shades in your garden, try ‘White Swan.’ Birds also love to eat the seeds.
Joe Pye Weed
Joe pye weed is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with purple, fragrant blooms. A member of the aster family, it thrives in moderate climates in zones 4 through 9. This species can grow up to seven feet tall.
It’s no wonder why this showy plant attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects; its flowers actually smell like vanilla. They bloom in summer and into early fall. Joe pye weed is beloved by bees and is crucial in the production of honey.
Sunflower
There are more than 100 species of sunflower, and they have a lot of traits in common. They usually consist of yellow or warm-toned blooms on tall stalks, they bloom in summer, and they attract lots of pollinators.
You can find all sorts of cultivars of varying heights. There are also plenty of sunflower types that branch out instead of forming a central flower. If you want to grow the tallest sunflower in the neighborhood, try growing ‘Mammoth.’
Zinnia
Zinnias may be the ultimate showy flower for a bright and beautiful garden. You can find zinnias in many colors, from traditional shades like pink to unusual hues like light green. Plus, there are taller zinnias and more compact varieties.
Butterflies and bees flock to these blooms. They’re also super low-maintenance and easy to grow from seed. Just plant them in moist but well-draining soil in a spot with decent light, and you’re all but guaranteed to get zinnias.
Lavender
For a daintier flower, consider growing lavender. These perennials max out at about three feet tall, so they can provide some textural and height diversity in a garden of tall plants. Pollinators love the scent, and so will you.
Lavender plants need well-draining soil to thrive, and they don’t like to get their feet wet. These perennials would rather dry out than sit in soggy soil. Keep this in mind when planting. Otherwise, they may struggle with root rot.
Coreopsis
Coreopsis, commonly called tickseed, is another native aster that sometimes appears as a weed. This perennial’s cheery yellow blooms appear in spring and last through summer, adding a pop of yellow to the landscape in areas that don’t get full sun.
This plant is native in most of the United States, perennial in zones 4 through 9, and the local wildlife appreciate it. Add this to a pollinator garden to attract bees and butterflies. It readily reseeds.
Columbine
There are more than 60 species in the Columbine genus, offering a variety of showy flower color options. These perennials have a unique flower shape that emerges early in the season while you’re impatiently waiting for the rest of your blooms to emerge.
Additionally, while Columbine plants will grow in full sun, they also prosper with just a few hours of direct light per day. If you’re looking to add early blooms to a shady spot, this is a great choice. Just make sure they’re not planted in heavy soil.
Clematis
Clematis vines have big, bold blooms that can be up to seven inches wide. These vines are showy and impressive winding up a trellis or up a lamp post. There are clumping species of Clematis too, if you’re in search of something more compact.
These vines do best in full sunlight exposures with a little bit of protection at midday, especially in hotter zones. Clematis usually prefer a lot of water and are heavy feeders, so make sure they’re well -watered and fertilized. Opt for a native species, as some exotic species are invasive.
Cosmos
Cosmos are annuals in the aster family that reseed themselves. Once they start blooming in summer, they’ll keep going until the first frost. They also have the ability to grow almost anywhere in full sun, whether you’re in zone 2 or zone 11.
You can find Cosmos in many colors, including pink, red, yellow, and orange. Bi-color Cosmos are available as well, such as ‘Candystripe,’ which is white or pale pink in the center and dark pink around the edges.
Hardy Hibiscus
Hardy hibiscus flowers are the definition of showy. These big, half-foot flowers can be red, pink, or white, and their tropical appearance will stand out in your garden. These nectar-rich flowers bring bees and butterflies with them, including the hibiscus specialist bee, Ptilothrix bombiformis.
These perennial shrubs can reach six feet in height and in width. Plant a few to create a privacy shrub. They make perfect additions to pool areas, especially in cooler regions that can’t sustain tropical plants.
Coral Honeysuckle
Coral honeysuckle is a must-plant if you want to feed the bees and butterflies. Unlike Japanese honeysuckle, the coral native isn’t invasive. It also boasts clusters of unusual, hanging conical flowers.
Also called trumpet honeysuckle, this perennial will vine around whatever support it finds, looking lovely on an arch trellis. Individual vines can become 20 feet long. Blooms are usually a coral-y, salmon shade, but cultivars with other colors are available.
Purple Passion Flower
Many new gardeners are surprised to learn that the tropical-looking passion flower is native to the southeastern U.S. The alien-like flowers give way to passion fruits, making this a fun vining species to plant along a fence or trellis.
Passion flower flourishes in a variety of locations, too, only needing a few hours of sun (but tolerating more) and continuing to thrive in most soils. Best of all, it’s actually the larval host plant for multiple butterflies, including zebra longwings and both gulf and variegated fritillaries.
Flame Azalea
There are many Rhododendron species to choose from, including the flame azalea. This upright shrub has red-orange blooms that look semi-tropical, even though this perennial is hardy in zones 5 through 7 and native to Appalachia.
Its big flowers attract all sorts of insects, blooming in spring and summer, possibly from May through July. Best of all, you can grow flame azalea in shady areas. They’re not too picky about soil, either, as long as you don’t plant them in clay.
Blue Sage
Blue sage is a clumping perennial with small, blue flowers. While the individual blooms may not be too large and showy, their blue is what makes them noteworthy. Plant blue sage in the midst of all your pink and yellow flowers, and it will be hard to overlook.
This native grows in sandy and rocky soils, as it’s generally pleased with anything that drains well. Blue sage can reach up to five feet in height, but you may want to prune it when it gets really tall. Otherwise, this species sometimes gets top-heavy with flowers and droops.
Lilac
Lilacs are a sure sign that summer is near. These shrubs or small trees bloom in the middle of spring, adding their signature fragrance to the air. If you plant lilacs, pollinators will be interested in the delicate scent as well.
Though lilac blooms are typically light purple, there are multiple cultivars and types available with blooms in slightly different shades. Some have a darker purple color, and some gardeners feel that the fragrance is slightly different, too.
Mexican Sunflower
Planting Mexican sunflowers is like a cheat sheet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Once the last frost is thoroughly behind you, sow some Mexican sunflower seeds directly into the ground. A couple of months later, you will not be disappointed.
A single Mexican sunflower plant reaches about six feet in height and produces seemingly endless branches of orange blooms. It will continue to bloom until the first frost. These annuals are constantly covered with pollinators and hummingbirds.
American Wisteria
A single American wisteria vine can grow up to 40 feet long, making it an excellent choice to line fences and crawl tall trellises. While other popular wisterias are non-natives, this American species is the host plant for multiple butterflies, including the zarucco duskywing and the long-tailed skipper.
This vine has drooping racemes of light purple or bluish flowers. Other cultivars are available, with blooms that are gold, green, red, and white. Note that these vines prefer acidic soil, so check the pH if you want them to prosper.
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susans are biennials or short-lived perennials that clump and reseed, so they’ll return year after year in the right zones. These eastern U.S. natives have classic yellow flowers with brown centers that bloom in bright, dense clumps.
This species is another food source for the larvae of multiple native butterfly species. Also, you can find other varieties and cultivars of black-eyed Susans, like ‘Cherry Brandy’ and ‘Cherokee Sunset,’ to introduce even more color.
California Poppy
Among the best showy plants for native bees and butterflies, California poppies are short-lived perennials, popping up in nutrient-deficient areas with hot, dry soil. Their delicate, cup-shaped flowers are about three inches in width, blooming in spring and summer. They’re typically a shade of yellow-orange.
These dynamic flowers close in the presence of rain and at night. To get the most flowers possible, you’ll want to deadhead them after the pollinators have done their job. In cooler areas, treat California poppies as annuals.
