The Best Plants to Attract Pollinators, by Region
If you plant it, they will come.
The first of those is straightforward enough, and the second two are taken care of by planting nectar-rich flowers that bloom over a long period of the year. The foliage itself provides habitat – most insect pollinators like dense vegetation to hide out from predators and lay eggs – and the flowers provide the fuel. Plants native to your area are the best bet because they have co-evolved with the native pollinators.
The more diverse your plantings are, the better, as some species are very picky about what they use for food and egg-laying. To get you started, here are a few ideas for pollinator plants native to each area of the country. Extensive regional guides can be found at pollinator.org, a project of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. They even have a handy app.
Northwest
Silver Lupine (Lupinus albifrons)
Flowers: blue/purple, April-May
Size/Type: 3′ tall x 3′ wide shrub
Sun/Water: full sun, low water
Attracts: bees
Hairy Honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula)
Flowers: pink, June-August
Size/Type: 10′ tall vine
Sun/Water: part shade, medium water
Attracts: hummingbirds
Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis)
Flowers: yellow, April-June
Size/Type: 2′ tall x 2′ wide perennial
Sun/Water: part shade, medium-high water
Attracts: bees
Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)
Flowers: white, April-June
Size/Type: 20′ feet tall x 15′ wide tree
Sun/Water: part shade, medium-high water
Attracts: bees, butterflies
Flea Bane (Erigeron spp.)
Flowers: various colors, June-August
Size/Type: 2′ tall x 2′ wide perennial
Sun/Water: full sun, low water
Attracts: bees, butterflies
Southwest
Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens)
Flowers: red-orange, February-May
Size/Type: 10′ tall x 10′ wide shrub
Sun/Water: full sun, low water
Attracts: hummingbirds
Parry’s Agave (Agave parryi)
Flowers: yellow, June-August
Size/Type: 2′ x 2′ perennial
Sun/Water: full sun, low water
Attracts: bees, hummingbirds, moths, bats
Jimson Weed (Datura wrightii)
Flowers: white, May-October
Size/Type: 2′ tall x 2′ wide perennial
Sun/Water: full sun, low water
Attracts: moths
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp.)
Flowers: yellow, April-June
Size/Type: 6′ tall x 6′ wide succulent
Sun/Water: full sun, low water
Attracts: bees
Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina)
Flowers: green/yellow, March-August
Size/Type: 30′ tall x 20′ wide tree
Sun/Water: full sun, low water
Attracts: bees, butterflies
Midwest
Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Flowers: yellow/orange, May-July
Size/Type: 2′ tall x 2′ wide perennial
Sun/Water: full sun, medium water
Attracts: butterflies, hummingbirds
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Flowers: purple, June-August
Size/Type: 2′ tall x 2′ wide perennial
Sun/Water: full sun, medium water
Attracts: bees, butterflies
Sumac (Rhus spp.)
Flowers: white, April-August
Size/Type: 8′ tall x 8′ wide shrub
Sun/Water: full sun, low water
Attracts: butterflies, bees
Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba)
Flowers: white, June-September
Size/Type: 6′ tall x 6′ wide
Sun/Water: full sun, medium-high water
Attracts: bees
Wild Indigo (Baptisia spp.)
Flowers: blue/purple, March-June
Size/Type: 4′ tall x 4′ wide
Sun/Water: part sun, medium-low water
Attracts: bees
Southeast
Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata)
Flowers: yellow, May-July
Size/Type: 2′ tall x 2′ wide perennial
Sun/Water: full sun, low water
Attracts: bees, butterflies
Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis)
Flowers: purple/blue, May-June
Size/Type: 3′ tall x 3′ wide perennial
Sun/Water: part sun, low water
Attracts: butterflies, hummingbirds
Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora incarnata)
Flowers: multi-colored, May-July
Size/Type: 10′ tall vine
Sun/Water: full sun, medium water
Attracts: hummingbirds, butterflies
Painted Buckeye (Aesculus sylvatica)
Flowers: white, April-May
Size/Type: 12′ tall x 12′ wide shrub
Sun/Water: shade, medium-high water
Attracts: bees, hummingbirds
Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora)
Flowers: yellow, July-October
Size/Type: 3′ tall x 3′ wide perennial
Sun/Water: full sun, low water
Attracts: bees, butterflies
Northeast
Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Flowers: white, May-June
Size/Type: 6” tall x 6′ wide groundcover
Sun/Water: part sun, low water
Attracts: bees
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Flowers: red, August-October
Size/Type: 3′ tall x 3′ wide perennial
Sun/Water: part sun, high water
Attracts: bees, hummingbirds
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Flowers: yellow, June-September
Size/Type: 2′ tall x 1′ wide perennial
Sun/Water: full sun, medium water
Attracts: bees, butterflies
Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana)
Flowers: white, July-August
Size/Type: 10′ tall vine
Sun/Water: part sun, medium-high water
Attracts: bees
Mapleleaf Viburnum (Vibrunum acerifolium)
Flowers: white, May-June
Size/Type: 5′ tall x 5′ wide shrub
Sun/Water: part sun, medium water
Attracts: bees
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by Brian Barth, Modern Farmer
June 23, 2017
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