Native pollinator plants are an excellent choice for your garden for many reasons, but beyond their aesthetic beauty, the biggest reason is their support for our pollinator pals. Pollinators, like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, can really struggle to find flowers these days. It not only breaks my heart for these little guys, but it’s bad news for all of us. We need pollinators to keep this planet in tiptop shape. So, if you’re interested in adding your own pollinator plants to your garden, (that are easy peasy, by the way) read on!
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I’ve always been enamored with cottage gardens just bursting with a rainbow of colors and textures. And as I’ve studied flowers more and more, I’ve learned quite a bit about their function, too. Many of these ethereal flowers are pollinator plants that give life to the small, but mighty.
So, as it turns out, a flower isn’t just a pretty face! Oh, heavens, no! It’s got brains and brawn and provides essential sustenance for bumblebees, honeybees, sweat bees, butterflies, moths, lightning bugs, hummingbirds, and other intriguing creatures. (Possibly fairies and unicorns, too, but don’t quote me on this!)
We need flowers. And if we all tried just one type of pollinator plant at our own homes, we’d be saving more and more pollinators from hunger, exhaustion, and even extinction.
Ready to plant your pollinator garden? Let’s do this!
This post is all about easy pollinator plants.
Who Runs the World? Pollinators!
There are a lot of science-y articles out there that explain this better than I ever could but, the gist is, pollinators support our food systems. YES. The systems of which we humans all eat. Do you like to eat? I figured that! Same here!
So, to help our pollinators is to be kind, empathetic, AND realistic. Because, realistically, we like food!
Easy Pollinator Plants I Can Vouch For
1. Catmint
Catmint is a tough little cookie, plus a real star when it comes to attracting bees. It thrives in the sunlight and can grow quite tall. This plant can droop once it reaches its full height, so it might work well near a structure or surrounded by other pollinator plants to help support it. Catmint leaves start popping up in the spring, with its peak blooming time being later in the summer.
On a whim, I bought a sad, wilting, end-of-season catmint plant a few years ago. I didn’t know much about catmint other than cats liked it and, just like cats, it loved lounging in the sun. When it resurfaced the following year, this plant was out of this world! It grew about five feet high and produced beautiful white flowers that the bees LOVED.
Suddenly, I felt very full of myself, like I must be gardener of the year, so I took a sprig that had been knocked over by some random guys working at the house (thanks, guys!) and re-potted it. Okay, that plant stayed in the pot outside all through a Kansas City winter and started resurfacing in the spring.
Now that’s a strapping, little plant!
2. Sedum
Sedum is an AMAZING plant for your garden and comes in all kinds of varieties, from ground covers to those like Autumn Joy that have brilliant blooms in various hues of pink, peach, fuchsia, and maroon. These pollinator plants also remind me of hydrangeas, but aren’t as fussy.
Sedum is easy peasy! It likes the sun, is drought-tolerant (which means you hardly have to water it), and attracts bees, butterflies, and lightning bugs! When I bought my sedum, there were so many lightning bugs on its blooms that I stood there for a while and patiently guided them over to other plants in the nursery.
For a long time, my good friend, Sarah, would mention sedum and talk it up. Since it’s got those succulent vibes and I’m a known succulent killer, I was unsure if it would be right for me. However, when those lightning bugs frolicked over its flowers, I knew it must be a sign.
When sedum pops up in the spring, it looks like the most precious roses made out of succulents. I literally have stood in awe of this plant, like, every day. It’s so pretty, feminine, and underrated. It’s not a showoff, but such a beauty.
3. Coneflower
Coneflowers are the classics of pollinator plants. Also drought-tolerant, they’re good with little water and enjoy sunny spots to laze. Coneflowers come in different colors, but most of us might easily recognize the magenta blooms that flit about in cottage gardens.
I’ve mentioned my wonderful neighbor several times on this blog and that’s because, well, she’s wonderful! This is a neighbor who not only bakes us cookies every Friday, but she also gifts me with jewelry and plants! I’m not sure what I love most! She’s in her retirement years and passing on things she treasures, so I guess that’s the best thing of all.
Last summer, my neighbor brought me some coneflowers! I planted them in my front yard and immediately felt cheery. However, don’t be like me and over-water them! Coneflowers are cool with little water, so just let them be and don’t overdo it. (I always overdo it.)
Even though I was a real novice with my first try at these peppy pops of color, I didn’t kill them! They’re back! (You can’t keep a coneflower down for long!) Coneflower leaves start to appear in the spring and, by summer, you’ll see blooms.
Coneflowers are a must if you’re looking for pollinator plants!
4. Lilacs
Lilacs are such inspiring flowers. Their large, puffy blooms made of tinier blooms speak to a romantic’s heart. Along with that, they have a fragrant scent that will stop you in your tracks because it’s so endearing and lovely.
Common lilacs come in a variety of shades. My lilacs are mostly purple, but I do have a few white blooms. I have one hybrid type of plant that blooms in purple and white! It just can’t decide! I get it, though. I have major decisiveness problems myself.
Pros of Lilacs
- They smell amazing!
- They are sooooo pretty!
- Lilacs are basically self-sufficient. I usually lightly prune the dead branches once a year, plus the guys that planted them for me (Spoiler: I didn’t plant these myself!) fertilize them in the late summer or fall.
- Lilacs can grow REALLY tall, so they make a great privacy border. I think my tallest are probably over 20 feet.
- I’ve noticed bumblebees fancy my lilacs which can bring you much happiness if you fancy bumblebees!
Cons of lilacs
- The leaves aren’t evergreen, so if you’re wanting a privacy hedge, then it won’t be super duper private in the winter.
- Lilac blooms stay vibrant and amazing for about 2-3 weeks. This isn’t very long, so that’s why you have to enjoy them while they’re here!
5. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a must-have for your herb garden! It has a refreshing citrus scent that mosquitoes hate, which makes me love it more. And it’s hardy and will survive cold winters like a champ. If you’re a structured kind of gardener, don’t forget that lemon balm can spread everywhere, so you might like lemon balm in containers or a raised bed.
Right now, I’m letting my lemon balm do its own thing because naturally ridding my yard of all mosquitoes is my master plan. Not that this will ever happen, but I’m trying to avoid unhealthy sprays this year.
Natural Mosquito Repellent:
Get a rechargeable fan and blow it toward you
when you’re sitting outside.
Heck, get two! Or three!
Blowing a fan has been
one of the few reliefs I’ve found for mosquitos.
I did this last summer when my bestie and I
sat on the patio in the backyard.
It did the job pretty well.
This is the rechargeable, outdoor fan I use.
It’s GREAT and lasts several hours
on its charge.
6. Honeysuckle
There are different kinds of honeysuckle. And they’ll all take over the party if you let them!
I have both Japanese honeysuckle and Amur honeysuckle in my yard. Let me tell you, they are beasts! But, pollinators love their fragrant flowers and, if you have the time and patience to keep up with them, they can be beneficial plants for pollinators.
Japanese Honeysuckle
This is the honeysuckle that comes to mind for most people. It’s a trailing vine that looks amazing on trellises or fences, but also has to be trimmed and maintained or you might be tangled up in its impressively clingy vines! It’ll also grow along the ground, so don’t let it trip you up! (It tripped me up.) My Japanese honeysuckle is growing along a gate, which I periodically prune…or I can’t open the gate! It can also grow pretty strong twisting vines, so make sure you love where you have it or moving it might be a major pain.
Amur Honeysuckle
Also known as the bane of my existence, Amur honeysuckle will get raucous and wild before you know it. I have so many spreading saplings in my yard that I’m constantly pulling them up so they don’t bully my other plants.
Amur honeysuckle also produces fragrant blooms that will enchant bees and birds. In the fall, they produce red berries that the birds will eat when it’s hard to find food.
This plant usually turns into a shrub-like creature that will never die. You want to have a green thumb? Just grow Amur honeysuckle! You can hardly kill it! One version of this plant, though, is a tree and I actually think the one in my yard is really pretty. I trim it when it starts to annoy other ornamental trees around, but if I keep up with it, it’s not a problem.
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7. Hostas
Hostas are some of my favorite plants ever! They come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, colors, and growing temperaments. (Most love shade, but some will take a little more sun.) In the summer, they will produce pretty flowers that are typically purple or white that pollinators are attracted to. I love them so much that I’ll just make a list of pros.
Pros of Hostas
- Extremely easy to divide and start new plants in new places in your yard (free plants, people!)
- Gorgeous, tropical leaves
- Pollinator-friendly
- Bird friendly! Cardinals LOVE to eat the seed pods in the fall, so please leave those up for those guys.
- Some varieties have curled-up, cup-like leaves that hold water for birds, pollinators, and other essential insects. Like tiny bird baths!
- Great for shade gardens
- Helps control weeds
- Anyone can grow hostas. They’re such an awesome plant for beginner gardeners.
Cons of Hostas (Or Hosta Con artists?)
Who else loves hostas? Rabbits and slugs! If you have these tiny tyrants in your yard, there are a few compassionate things you can do to coax them away from those luxurious, luscious leaves.
Don’t get me wrong: I LOVE BUNNIES. They are gentle, peaceful, and sentient creatures who deserve a good meal just like the rest of us. However, they will decimate your whole hosta garden in one sitting! Thankfully, hostas keep growing through spring and into the warmer months, but a ravaged hosta bed can quickly go from glam to DAMN IT.
Some natural Bunny deterrents that might work
I have a natural herbal powder I shake around my hostas to deter rabbits. This product is made to be harmless to animals and pollinators, but try to use only when pollinators aren’t in the area. I sometimes have a hard time fully trusting any product that requires some application to your yard. But do your research! Rabbits don’t like the smell, but it won’t hurt them. This is another reason I leave lots of common blue violets (see below), clover, and dandelions to grow in my yard (especially the backyard) because I like providing a safe habitat for these cuties.
I’ve even considered sectioning out a corner of my yard for hostas just for the bunnies. Not exactly sure how I’m going to do this yet, but it’s the dream.
other tips for politely asking bunnies to not eat your hostas
- Garden borders that are slightly higher. I’ve found that adding tiny ornamental edgers can sway bunnies to go in another direction. You could also do this with stones or these faux edgers I love! These landscaping borders are so fun to set up and EASY. However, they’re pricey, especially if you have a large area to cordon off. I would absolutely LOVE to have these higher edger blocks, but, blah, blah, blah, I’m trying to be good with money right now (UGH).
- Plant some mint herbs. I have lemon balm and mojito mint (another GREAT plant) near some of my hostas and I think it helps dissuade the cottontails just a little.
- Raised gardens or pots: I haven’t tried this yet, but it could look awesome, plus be too high for the bunnies to hop!
now let’s talk about slugs
Slugs are important creatures for biodiversity, but those stinkers will chew holes all through your hostas! It will literally look like someone absconded into the night with a hole punch and went to town on your plants!
There are all sorts of less humane ways to deal with slugs, but I’m trying to not be such a human meanie-pants. Slugs aren’t fans of rough surfaces, so things like eggshells, broken-up seashells, and coarse sand will deter them. This year, I’m sprinkling sand around my hosta plants and will report back with my findings.
Other Beneficial Yet Controversial Plants
Okay, y’all. Don’t get together and ride at dawn to come for me on this. But I’m going to admit it: I like dandelions! And do I not only like dandelions, but bumblebees and butterflies like them too!
In my attempt to grow a more natural yard, I’ve tried to maintain a delicate balance of the more “accepted plants in society” with the plants others snub their noses at.
But here’s what I think: I think plants can teach us a lot about acceptance, inclusiveness, and open-mindedness. Plants teach us we all play an important part and that uniqueness is a beautiful thing. Now I will say this: Poison ivy is sort of the psychopath of the plant world, so I don’t feel bad about steering clear of that one. But hey, even poison ivy has some purpose…I hear cows like it! And I like cows, so there we go!
There are lots of benefits to keeping the wild wonders in your yard.
Dandelions
I work by a big window and love to see nature in action. By letting some dandelions linger, our resident bunnies have a scrumptious snack to munch on…and it’s so cute to watch! Other dandelion benefits include:
- Early sources of food for pollinators: Lots of people treat their yards with chemicals and pesticides that poison and kill bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. That’s really sad because these tiny guys are essential to our many ecosystems. If possible, skip toxic lawn treatments and leave some dandelions for our wildlife friends. Here are some tips from the Center for Biological Diversity to support pollinators in your garden.
- Dandelions have medicinal uses! Look it up and see how you can incorporate dandelions into your meals and teas.
- They’re bright and cheerful. Don’t you think we could all use some bright and cheerful influences about now? Yeah, thought so.
- You can literally safely and humanely lure a bee out of your house with them. Watch how I successfully used dandelions to save a trapped bumblebee.
Common Blue violets
Common blue violets bloom in purple, periwinkle, and white and, in my humble opinion, are a very underrated natural plant. When the flowers pop up in the spring across a wide, open space, it can look like a colorful, magical meadow.
You can train it to become puffy groundcover, especially if you’re tired of grass growing high and having to mow all the time. I’m currently trying to move the grass out of my backyard and add more pollinator flowers and shrubs and maintain the natural plants already there.
More Reasons to Love Common Blue Violets
- The leaves and flowers can be mixed into salads and other dishes. I haven’t tried this yet, but I feel like it’s only a matter of time!
- Fritillary butterflies use common blue violets as their host plants for laying eggs. And have you seen fritillary butterflies? They are such gorgeous little guys.
Ground Ivy
Ground ivy, also referred to as Creeping Charlie, can stir various reactions in people, depending on the people. I think its tiny lavender-hued flowers are very sweet and charming, while others want to completely eradicate the fast-growing plant.
While ground ivy has the propensity to crowd out and overtake other plants, we don’t necessarily have to let it do that! It is work to do so, but if you pull back the growth from your plants, I’ve noticed you can have your frou frou plants with some ground ivy nearby as enchanting groundcover. Both worlds, people!
Bees enjoy these early blooms of spring, but don’t take my word for it. Take my video evidence’s word for it!
And when ground ivy and common blue violets kind of intermingle and form this blanket of purple, it really does feel kind of magical.
Not that this is the only deterrent I’m trying in my garden, but I think having this puffy plant around builds a natural barrier around my hostas, which is a good thing with our mischievous bunny friends lurking near.
Mock Strawberry
While mock strawberries aren’t as fancy as real strawberries, they’re cute and produce tiny yellow flowers that some pollinators dig and therefore I will call pollinator plants! Tinier critters like bunnies, birds, and squirrels are also into the small, red fruits, which stay pretty inconspicuous in your yard overall.
I have a little dedicated patch of mock strawberry by my coneflowers and hostas!
Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon are trees or shrubs that produce vibrant periwinkle, lavender, blue, magenta, or white flowers. Part of the hibiscus family, these blooms have a tropical feel, especially with their summertime appearance, adding splashes of color to your garden.
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are all enthralled with the Rose of Sharon flowers. As am I!
Other Cool Things About Rose of Sharon
- Practically zero-maintenance: I’m still learning to properly prune my Rose of Sharon trees so that I can have more blooms, so more to come on that!
- They will spread. A LOT: Depending on your tastes, this can be good or annoying! But, if you like to share plants with friends, Rose of Sharon (’cause you’re sharin’!) will produce volunteer saplings you can easily dig up and give to others. If you have the space, they can grow into a lovely row, creating a border or hedge effect.
- Fallen blooms make fun hair accessories for your dog, which leads to fun photo ops.
- Rose of Sharon are easily identifiable, so you can be a major showoff to everyone you know when you see a Rose of Sharon plant out and about. You can say things like, “Ooo, look at that vivid Rose of Sharon tree!” or “I just love me some Rose of Sharon!” I’m sure they’ll all be impressed.
- Again, pollinators will flit and flop about these flowers…dazzling and earth-saving all in one!
How to Teach Kids to Help Pollinators
- Show them how to be gentle with bugs and other creatures, as in don’t stomp or squish them. (Mosquitoes are probably an exemption!) Tell kids not to kill bees, butterflies, moths, and fireflies. Teach them how to rescue and release creatures who sneak inside your home.
- Plant pollinator flowers together. And tell them why you’re planting them.
- Get kids to help you pick out flowers at the nursery.
- Visit a botanical garden together.
- Experience a butterfly conservatory or habitat to see the wonder of these beautiful creatures.
- Give them books to read about pollinators and the planet. Or just find a good YouTube video!
- Let them listen to planet heroes like Dr. Jane Goodall and Steve Irwin.
- Volunteer at a community garden.
- Share other everyday eco-conscious ideas and examples with them.
What’s Next for Your Blooming Garden of Pollinator Plants?
By now, I hope you have some very cheery garden ideas and know which pollinator plants suit your gorgeous garden. Please let me know if you have any questions or what your faves are in the comments! Keep growing, y’all!
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This post is so helpful! I love flowers and having plants in the garden but I have no clue about them, I often go for what looks nice lol so having a guide like this is so helpful! Also The ohoto with your little dog in the common blue violets is SO CUTE!
Thank you, Katherine! Yes, it’s a process learning what works and especially what’s easy! Once I started with one plant that turned out well, it gave me the confidence to try other flowers and herbs, etc. Currently, I’m trying to figure out roses, but it’s quite possible I leveled up too much at this point, haha! Oh, thank you for your sweet note about Cosette 🥰 She’s my little helper (most of the time)! 🤣