Good Pollinator Plants

Q:  What are some good pollinator plants that support bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects?  

Swallowtail on Coneflower, Echinacea purpura. Photo: Idelle Fisher

A: You have a wide range of choices including:

Perennials (Long-Lived and Reliable)

Plant Name	Bloom Time	Pollinators Attracted
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)	Summer–Fall	Bees, butterflies
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)	Summer–Fall	Bees, butterflies
Beardtongue (Penstemon spp.)	Late Spring–Summer	Bees, hummingbirds
Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)	Summer	Monarch butterflies, bees
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)	Summer–Fall	Bees, butterflies
Rocky Mountain Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea)	Spring–Early Summer	Hummingbirds, bees
Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)	Summer	Native bees
Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium)	Mid–Late Summer	Butterflies, bees

 

Annuals (Great for Filling Gaps and Containers)

Plant Name	Bloom Time	Notes
Cosmos	Summer–Fall	Easy to grow, attracts many pollinators
Zinnias	Summer–Frost	Colorful, long-lasting blooms for bees and butterflies
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)	Summer–Fall	Seeds feed birds, blooms attract bees
Alyssum	Spring–Fall	Low-growing and fragrant; attracts hoverflies and bees

 

Herbs (Edible & Attractive to Pollinators)

Herb	Notes
Lavender	Highly aromatic, attracts bees and butterflies
Thyme	Creeping and low-maintenance; flowers attract bees
Oregano	Tiny flowers support small native bees
Basil	Let some bolt and bloom — great for bees

 

Shrubs and Small Trees

Plant	Bloom Time	Notes
Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)	Early Spring	Supports native bees and birds
Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus)	Late Summer–Fall	Great for late-season pollinators
Blue Mist Spirea (Caryopteris)	Late Summer	Excellent for bees and butterflies
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)	Spring	Native, important nectar source

---

Read our Q & As with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. You can also hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show